Verify a check, money order, or wire — with real bank data
Resolve any US routing number to its real bank from the Federal Reserve FedACH directory, cross-checked against the FDIC failed-bank list. Then we show you the one step that actually confirms a payment: calling the issuing bank's published number.
Read this first. This tool reports public database facts (the Federal Reserve routing directory and the FDIC bank lists). It does not and cannot tell you whether a specific check, money order, or wire is genuine. The only reliable way to verify a specific instrument is to call the issuing bank or money-order company using a phone number you find yourself on their official website — never a number printed on the check or given to you by the person who sent it.
Look up a routing number
Enter the 9-digit routing number printed at the bottom-left of the check. We'll resolve it to the real bank in the Federal Reserve directory and flag failed/nonexistent banks.
Real banks make funds available in 1–2 days, but a fake check can take weeks to bounce. By then the scammer is gone — and your bank takes the money back from you.
You're "overpaid" and asked to wire back the difference (overpayment scam).
You're asked to deposit a check and send part via Zelle, gift cards, crypto, or wire — that's the tell.
The check is for a job, prize, rental, mystery-shopper, or online-sale you didn't expect.
There's pressure to act fast before the check "expires".
If any of these match: do not deposit, do not wire anything back, and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Data: 18198 active routing numbers (FedACH), 7693 Fedwire participants, 4115 FDIC failed banks. Verified against 2026-06-22.