What is a Canadian institution number?

A Canadian institution number is a 3-digit code assigned by Payments Canada to uniquely identify a federally or provincially chartered financial institution. It is used in combination with a 5-digit transit/branch number to form the 8-digit EFT routing code. Institution numbers are also printed on Canadian cheques in the MICR line.

What are the institution numbers for major Canadian banks?

Major Canadian bank institution numbers in 2026: BMO is 001, Scotiabank is 002, RBC is 003, TD is 004, CIBC is 010, Tangerine is 614, EQ Bank is 623. Simplii Financial uses CIBC's institution number 010. Credit unions have their own institution numbers assigned by Payments Canada.

Where do I find my bank's institution number?

Your institution number appears on a void cheque (in the MICR line at the bottom — the 3 digits following your 5-digit transit number), in your bank's mobile app under Account Details, or on your online banking portal. It is also published by Payments Canada in their financial institution directory.

Is an institution number the same for all branches of a bank?

Yes. The institution number is the same for every branch of the same bank across Canada. Only the transit (branch) number changes between branches. For example, all RBC branches use institution number 003 regardless of location. This is why you need both the transit number (branch-specific) and institution number (bank-wide) for EFT routing.

Do credit unions have institution numbers?

Yes. Canadian credit unions have their own institution numbers assigned by Payments Canada, distinct from the Big 5 banks. Credit union institution numbers vary. Members can find their credit union's institution number on a void cheque, in their online banking portal, or by contacting their credit union directly.

What Is an Institution Number in Canada 2026 — Complete Bank List

A Canadian institution number is a 3-digit code that identifies a bank or financial institution, assigned by Payments Canada. It is the same for every branch of that bank across Canada. Combined with a 5-digit transit number, it forms the 8-digit EFT routing code used for direct deposit and pre-authorized payments.

Quick answer: Institution number = 3 digits. Same for all branches. RBC: 003, TD: 004, BMO: 001, Scotiabank: 002, CIBC: 010, Tangerine: 614, EQ Bank: 623.

Canadian Bank Institution Numbers 2026 — Complete List

Bank / Institution	Institution Number
BMO (Bank of Montreal)	001
Scotiabank	002
RBC Royal Bank	003
TD Canada Trust	004
National Bank of Canada	006
CIBC	010
HSBC Canada	016
Laurentian Bank	039
ATB Financial	219
Tangerine Bank	614
EQ Bank (Equitable Bank)	623
Simplii Financial	010 (shares CIBC’s number)

Source: Payments Canada financial institution directory. Verify at payments.ca.

Institution Number vs. Transit Number — Key Differences

Feature	Institution Number	Transit Number
Digits	3	5
Identifies	The bank (all branches)	Specific branch
Same across bank?	✓ Yes	No — varies by branch
Changes if you move?	No	Yes — new branch, new transit
Where it appears	Cheque, app, EFT form	Cheque, app, EFT form
Example (Scotiabank)	002	10130 (branch-specific)

How the Institution Number Is Used

EFT Routing Format

The institution number is the last 3 digits of the 8-digit Canadian EFT routing code:

Format: 0 + [TTTTT transit] + [III institution] = 8 digits
Example (Tangerine): 0 + 40611 + 614 = 040611614
Example (RBC):       0 + [your transit] + 003

CRA Direct Deposit

The CRA My Account direct deposit form requests transit, institution, and account number separately:

Transit number: Your 5-digit branch/transit number
Institution number: Your bank’s 3-digit code (e.g., 003 for RBC)
Account number: Your full chequing account number

Payroll Direct Deposit

Employers and payroll processors (ADP, Ceridian, PayWorks) use the same 3-field format: transit + institution + account. Always provide the institution number as a standalone 3-digit number — not embedded in the 8-digit EFT format unless specifically requested.

Where the Institution Number Appears on a Cheque

Canadian cheques have a MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) line at the bottom with three groups of numbers:

[Cheque number]   [Transit+Institution]   [Account number]
     0001              12345   003             987654321

The middle group is the transit number (5 digits) followed immediately by the institution number (3 digits). The institution number is typically shown in ⑆ brackets as part of the combined transit+institution block.

Simplii Financial: Shares CIBC’s Institution Number (010)

Simplii Financial is a direct banking brand owned by CIBC. It uses CIBC’s banking infrastructure, including CIBC’s institution number 010. However, Simplii has its own CDIC membership and its own account numbers and transit numbers — they are not the same as CIBC branch transits.

If you’re a Simplii customer and someone asks for your institution number, the answer is 010. Your transit number is Simplii-specific and can be found in the Simplii app under Account Details.

Credit Unions and Provincial Banks

Credit unions in Canada have their own institution numbers assigned by Payments Canada, separate from the Big 5 codes listed above. Credit union institution numbers vary widely by institution and province. Members can find theirs:

On a void cheque from the credit union
In the credit union’s online banking portal under Account Details
By calling the credit union’s member services line

Provincial banks (ATB Financial in Alberta, Laurentian Bank in Quebec) also have distinct institution numbers — ATB is 219, Laurentian is 039.

What Happens If You Enter the Wrong Institution Number

If a payroll or CRA direct deposit uses the wrong institution number:

The transfer attempts to reach the wrong bank — it will typically be rejected and returned within 3–5 business days
Your bank then processes the return and you’ll need to resubmit with the correct number
No funds are permanently lost in these scenarios, but processing delays can occur

Prevention: Always use a void cheque PDF (from your banking app) when setting up direct deposits — it eliminates manual entry errors by letting the payroll system read the MICR line directly.

Institution Number vs. SWIFT Code

The 3-digit institution number is used for domestic Canadian transfers (EFT, pre-authorized debit, direct deposit). For international wire transfers, Canadian banks use a SWIFT/BIC code instead:

Bank	Institution #	SWIFT
RBC	003	ROYCCAT2
TD	004	TDOMCATTTOR
Scotiabank	002	NOSCCATT
CIBC	010	CIBCCATT
BMO	001	BOFMCAM2

SWIFT codes are only needed when someone outside Canada is sending you money via wire transfer. For all domestic Canadian transfers, the institution number is used.

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

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