Bank of America routing number for Virginia

Updated regularly • Verified banking data • Covers ACH transfers, direct deposit, checks, and wire routing details

Quick Answer

The Bank of America routing number for Virginia is 051000017. Use this for direct deposit, ACH transfers, recurring bill payments, and paper checks. For domestic wire transfers, use 026009593. For international wires, the SWIFT code is BOFAUS3N.

Two things worth understanding upfront about Virginia’s routing number. First, 051000017 is shared with more than a dozen other states — including Wisconsin, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. If you see 051000017 listed for those states and wonder if your Virginia number is wrong, it isn’t. Virginia is where this routing number originated — Bank of America’s registered address for 051000017 is P.O. Box 27025, Richmond, VA 23261. The number belongs to Virginia; other states use it as the Bank of America default because they didn’t have an established regional bank for BofA to acquire. Second, if you work for the federal government or military in Virginia, you may encounter payroll systems — including TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) and Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) — that handle direct deposit differently from private employers. The routing number is the same (051000017), but the setup process and timeline may differ.

What Is the Bank of America Routing Number for Virginia?

The routing number for Bank of America accounts opened in Virginia is 051000017. This applies statewide — whether your account was opened in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Richmond, Alexandria, Arlington, Newport News, Hampton, Roanoke, or anywhere else in the state.

This 9-digit number identifies Bank of America to other financial institutions when processing electronic transactions. Bank of America’s own registered mailing address for this routing number is P.O. Box 27025, Richmond, VA — which means Virginia is, in the Federal Reserve’s records, the home jurisdiction of 051000017. When your employer submits payroll, when the IRS deposits a refund, or when you link your account to another bank, this number tells the payment network which institution to route funds through before your account number directs them to you specifically.

Why 051000017 Appears for So Many States — and Why Virginia Is the Home State

051000017 is the most widely shared routing number in the Bank of America system, used by more states than any other BofA number. Understanding why Virginia is its home — and why other states use it — removes any doubt about whether the number is correct for a Virginia account.

Bank of America grew into a national institution through two parallel paths: acquiring established regional banks (which brought their own routing numbers), and expanding into new states by opening branches (which required assigning a default routing number to new accounts). Virginia was where Bank of America established its East Coast operational headquarters — with its main routing address registered in Richmond. When the bank opened branches in states where no major regional bank was acquired, new accounts in those states were assigned to 051000017, the Virginia-origin default number.

The result: states like Wisconsin, Alabama, Hawaii, and Montana use 051000017 not because they have any particular banking relationship with Virginia, but because Bank of America expanded into those markets by opening branches rather than through acquisition. Virginia’s number became the default by virtue of being where Bank of America’s East Coast processing infrastructure was anchored.

What this means for Virginia customers: when you see 051000017 on pages for other states, that’s correct for them — but 051000017 is also definitively the right number for Virginia, and Virginia is where this number actually lives in the routing system. You’re not sharing a number that “belongs” to another state. The other states are the ones borrowing Virginia’s number.

When Virginia Customers Use This Routing Number

You’ll need 051000017 any time you’re electronically connecting a payment or deposit to your Virginia-opened Bank of America account. The most common situations:

• Employer payroll / direct deposit: When HR asks for your bank details to set up your paycheck — whether you work for a private employer, a federal agency, a defense contractor, or a military branch.
• Federal government payroll (civilian): Virginia has one of the highest concentrations of federal civilian employees in the country, particularly in Northern Virginia. Federal payroll is processed through the National Finance Center (NFC), the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), or agency-specific payroll systems — all of which accept 051000017 for Bank of America direct deposit.
• Military pay (DFAS): Active duty service members at Fort Belvoir, Quantico, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Naval Station Norfolk, and other Virginia installations receive pay through DFAS. Use 051000017 for Bank of America direct deposit setup through myPay.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions and withdrawals: Federal employees and military members with TSP accounts may need a routing number for contribution elections or withdrawal deposits. Use 051000017 for any Bank of America direct deposits tied to TSP.
• Federal and state government deposits: IRS tax refunds, Social Security, veterans benefits, and Virginia state income tax refunds from the Virginia Department of Taxation.
• ACH transfers between banks: Moving money between your Bank of America account and another institution.
• Recurring bill payments: Auto-pay for utilities, rent, insurance, student loans, or subscriptions.
• Linking to payment apps: Connecting Bank of America to PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, or similar platforms.
• Paper checks: Your routing number is pre-printed on your Virginia-opened Bank of America checks as 051000017.

Real-World Examples

Setting Up Federal Government and Military Direct Deposit

Virginia has the highest concentration of Department of Defense personnel and federal civilian employees of any state. Setting up direct deposit in these environments is similar to private employment in principle but different in practice.

For federal civilian employees: Your agency’s payroll system — whether NFC, DFAS, or an agency-specific HR portal — will ask for your routing number and account number. Enter 051000017 for Bank of America. Changes to federal civilian payroll direct deposit typically take effect within one to two pay periods, though some agencies process changes faster. Consult your HR office for the specific cutoff timeline at your agency.

For active duty military through DFAS myPay: Log into myPay at mypay.dfas.mil, navigate to “Pay Changes,” and select “Net Pay Advice / Direct Deposit.” Enter 051000017 as the routing number and your Bank of America account number. Military direct deposit changes typically take effect within one to two pay periods. Submitting after the monthly cutoff (usually around the 15th) means the change won’t take effect until the following month’s pay.

For TSP contributions or withdrawals: If you’re designating a bank account for TSP withdrawals or loan payments, enter 051000017 as the routing number through your TSP online account at tsp.gov. TSP deposits follow ACH processing timelines — typically 1–3 business days after the designated date.

Setting Up Private Employer Direct Deposit

For private sector employers — including the many defense contractors, technology companies, and professional services firms in Northern Virginia’s Dulles Corridor and Tysons area — your payroll form or portal will ask for your routing number and account number separately. Enter 051000017 as the routing number. Your account number is the longer string of digits at the bottom of your check, typically 10–12 digits long.

Northern Virginia’s defense contractor market — Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, Leidos, General Dynamics IT, Northrop Grumman, and many others — uses large enterprise payroll systems that process thousands of employees at once. A routing number error in these systems doesn’t get corrected mid-cycle. Submit the correct number the first time to avoid waiting a full pay period for a fix.

Virginia Department of Taxation State Tax Refund

Virginia has a state income tax, so Virginia residents file both a federal return (IRS) and a state return (Virginia Department of Taxation). Both support direct deposit and both use the same routing number for your Bank of America account: 051000017.

When filing your Virginia state return (Form 760) electronically, enter 051000017 for the routing number in the direct deposit section. Virginia state refunds for e-filed returns with direct deposit typically arrive within 2–4 weeks. Federal IRS refunds typically arrive within 21 days for e-filed returns. A wrong routing number on either return delays your refund and requires the agency to reissue a paper check, adding 4–8 weeks in most cases.

Linking Bank of America to PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App

When adding your Bank of America Virginia account to a payment app, link manually using your routing and account number, or verify instantly through your Bank of America login. If linking manually, use 051000017.

Because 051000017 is shared across many states, most payment apps have it well-indexed and auto-fill it correctly when you select “Bank of America” from a bank list. That said, some apps default to 026009593 (the wire number) for all Bank of America accounts. If an app populates 026009593, override it with 051000017 before finalizing the link. Micro-deposit verification eliminates this risk entirely — the app sends two small test deposits and you confirm the amounts, with no routing number entry required.

The DMV Tri-State Area: DC, Maryland, and Virginia Accounts

Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland together form one of the most economically integrated metro areas in the country — and one of the most common sources of Bank of America routing number confusion. The three jurisdictions use three different Bank of America routing numbers:

• Virginia: 051000017
• Washington DC: 054001204
• Maryland: 052001633

Many DMV residents open Bank of America accounts in one jurisdiction and then work, move, or hold accounts in another. A federal employee who opened their Bank of America account in Maryland before taking a job at a Virginia agency still uses 052001633 — Maryland’s number — for their direct deposit setup, not Virginia’s 051000017. A person who moved from DC to Arlington still uses 054001204 until they open a new account in Virginia.

The Bank of America app is the only reliable way to confirm which number applies to your specific account in the DMV area. Don’t assume based on your current state of residence.

ACH Transfers Between Banks

When moving money between your Bank of America account and another institution — a Navy Federal Credit Union account, a Pentagon Federal Credit Union account, a brokerage, or a high-yield savings account — the outside institution will ask for Bank of America’s routing number and your account number. Use 051000017. Standard ACH transfers settle in 1–3 business days. See how ACH payments are processed for a full timeline.

Ordering or Verifying Checks

When reordering checks through Bank of America or a third-party printer, confirm the routing number in the order preview is 051000017 before submitting. Checks printed with the wrong routing number are returned unpaid. Virginia’s active real estate market — particularly in Northern Virginia — means checks are still commonly used for security deposits, HOA payments, and closing-related disbursements where a returned check carries real consequences.

Wire Transfers: Use a Different Number

Wire transfers move through the Fedwire network — not ACH — and require a different routing number. Using 051000017 for a wire will cause it to fail or be returned.

• Domestic wire transfers (within the U.S.): Use 026009593
• International wire transfers: Use SWIFT code BOFAUS3N along with routing number 026009593 and your account number. Some destination countries also require a Bank of America branch address — the registered Richmond, VA address (P.O. Box 27025, Richmond, VA 23261) is the address associated with this routing number.

If you’re receiving a wire into your Bank of America Virginia account, provide the sender with 026009593, your full account number, and Bank of America’s name and address. For a full comparison of ACH vs wire, see ACH vs wire transfers explained.

How to Verify Your Bank of America Routing Number

In the Bank of America Mobile App

1. Open the Bank of America app and sign in.
2. Tap the account you want to check — checking or savings.
3. Tap Information & Services or the account details section.
4. Select View account & routing numbers.
5. Your routing number and account number will both appear. For a Virginia-opened account, this will show 051000017. If you have multiple accounts opened in different states or DMV jurisdictions, verify each individually — they may have different routing numbers.

In Bank of America Online Banking

1. Log in at bankofamerica.com.
2. Click on the account you want to verify.
3. Click Information & Services in the account menu.
4. Select View account & routing number.
5. Both numbers will be displayed.

On a Paper Check

Look at the bottom-left corner of any Bank of America check issued on a Virginia account. The first 9-digit number is the routing number — 051000017. The longer number to its right is your account number, and the number at the far right is the check number.

Call Bank of America

Call 1-800-432-1000 or the number on the back of your Bank of America debit card. After verifying your identity, a representative can confirm the routing number tied to your specific account.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using 026009593 for ACH or direct deposit. That’s Bank of America’s domestic wire routing number for all states — not Virginia’s ACH number. Using it for direct deposit or ACH will result in a failed or delayed transaction. The correct Virginia ACH number is 051000017.
• Using Maryland’s (052001633) or DC’s (054001204) routing number for a Virginia account. In the DMV area, it’s easy to assume your routing number matches a neighbor’s. It only does if your account was opened in the same jurisdiction. Verify in the app.
• Assuming your routing number updated when you moved within the DMV area. Moving from Maryland to Virginia, or from DC to Northern Virginia, does not change your existing Bank of America routing number. It stays tied to where the account was opened.
• Being confused by 051000017 appearing for other states. The number is correct for Virginia — it’s just also used as the default for states where Bank of America expanded without an acquisition. Virginia is the origin state for this number.
• Using the wrong routing number for DFAS or TSP setup. Military and federal employee payroll systems have specific fields for routing and account numbers. Double-check that 051000017 is in the routing field — not the account number field — before submitting.
• Trusting auto-filled routing numbers in payroll systems or apps without verifying. Some systems default to 026009593 for all Bank of America accounts. Always confirm the field shows 051000017 before submitting.
• Confusing routing number and account number. The routing number is always exactly 9 digits. Your account number is longer. Both appear at the bottom of your check.

What Happens If You Enter the Wrong Routing Number

The outcome depends on what was entered and what type of transaction was involved.

If the routing number doesn’t correspond to any bank: The transaction is rejected within 1–3 business days and funds return to the sender. For federal agency and military payroll, you’ll need to resubmit through your payroll system and wait the applicable processing window — which may mean a full pay period for federal employees or a full month for military pay.

If you use 026009593 for Virginia ACH: Because 026009593 is a valid Bank of America routing number, the transaction may not be immediately rejected — it may attempt to process through an alternate pathway and return with a delay. This soft failure is harder to catch and takes longer to resolve than a clean routing rejection.

If you use a DMV neighbor’s routing number (Maryland’s 052001633 or DC’s 054001204): The transaction may route to the wrong Bank of America processing region and your account number won’t match. Funds are returned within 1–3 business days, but you’ll need to resubmit with the correct number and wait another processing cycle.

If the routing number is correct but the account number is wrong: The most serious scenario. If the incorrect account number matches a real Bank of America account belonging to someone else, funds can deposit there. Recovering misdirected ACH payments requires a formal dispute and can take weeks. Contact Bank of America at 1-800-432-1000 immediately and document everything.

See typical bank transfer timelines for context on what’s normal versus what warrants a call to Bank of America.

Virginia vs. the DMV Area and Neighboring States: Routing Number Comparison

Virginia borders five states plus Washington DC — all with different Bank of America routing numbers. The DMV jurisdictions are included first given how frequently residents move among them:

State / Jurisdiction	Bank of America ACH Routing Number
Virginia	051000017
Washington DC	054001204
Maryland	052001633
North Carolina	053000196
Tennessee	064000020
Kentucky	051000017
West Virginia	051000017

Note: Kentucky and West Virginia share Virginia’s routing number — they’re among the states that use 051000017 as the Bank of America default. DC and Maryland use different numbers despite being part of the same metropolitan area as Northern Virginia. Always verify your specific account in the Bank of America app, especially if you’ve opened accounts in more than one DMV jurisdiction.

More Bank of America Routing Number Guides

• Browse all Bank of America routing numbers by state
• Bank of America routing number for Maryland
• Bank of America routing number for North Carolina
• Bank of America routing number for Georgia
• Bank of America routing number for Florida

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bank of America routing number for Virginia?

The Bank of America routing number for Virginia is 051000017. Use this for direct deposit, ACH transfers, bill pay, and paper checks — but only if your Bank of America account was originally opened in Virginia.

Why does my Bank of America routing number (051000017) appear for so many other states?

051000017 is Bank of America’s Virginia-origin routing number, assigned as the default for all states where Bank of America expanded by opening branches rather than acquiring an existing regional bank. Virginia is where this routing number is registered in the Federal Reserve system — Bank of America’s address for this number is P.O. Box 27025, Richmond, VA 23261. The other states using 051000017 are borrowing Virginia’s number, not the other way around. Your Virginia number is correct.

I’m a federal employee or military member in Virginia. Is 051000017 the right number for my direct deposit?

Yes, if your Bank of America account was opened in Virginia. Enter 051000017 as the routing number in myPay (DFAS), your agency’s payroll portal, or tsp.gov for TSP-related deposits. If your account was opened in Maryland or DC before you moved to Virginia, your routing number reflects that jurisdiction — verify in the Bank of America app first.

Is 051000017 correct for both Bank of America checking and savings accounts in Virginia?

Yes. Both Bank of America checking and savings accounts opened in Virginia use routing number 051000017 for ACH transactions and direct deposit.

I live in Northern Virginia but my Bank of America account was opened in Maryland. Which routing number do I use?

Use Maryland’s routing number — 052001633 — not Virginia’s. Your routing number is tied to where your account was opened, not where you live. Moving from Maryland to Virginia does not change your routing number. Verify in the Bank of America app to confirm.

Can I use 051000017 for a wire transfer?

No. Wire transfers require 026009593 for domestic wires. Using 051000017 for a wire will cause the transfer to fail or be returned. For international wires, use SWIFT code BOFAUS3N along with 026009593 and your account number.

I moved to Virginia from another state. Is my routing number 051000017?

Only if your Bank of America account was originally opened in Virginia. If you moved from North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, or any other state, your routing number reflects that state’s number. Verify in the Bank of America mobile app to confirm which number applies to your specific account.

How do I set up Virginia state tax refund direct deposit with Bank of America?

When filing your Virginia state return (Form 760) electronically, enter 051000017 as the routing number along with your Bank of America account number in the direct deposit section. Virginia Department of Taxation e-filed refunds with direct deposit typically arrive within 2–4 weeks of acceptance.

Does Bank of America use a different routing number for business accounts in Virginia?

Most Bank of America business accounts opened in Virginia use 051000017 for ACH transfers and direct deposit. If your business account was established through a specialty commercial banking relationship, verify in the Bank of America app or with your business banker to confirm.

How long does military or federal payroll direct deposit take to activate?

For military pay through DFAS myPay: changes typically take effect within one to two pay periods. Submitting after the monthly cutoff (usually around the 15th) means the change won’t take effect until the following month’s pay — keep your existing payment arrangement active in the interim. For federal civilian agencies: timing varies by agency and payroll system, but one to two pay periods is typical. Consult your HR or payroll office for the specific cutoff date at your agency.

Bottom Line

The Bank of America routing number for Virginia is 051000017 for direct deposit, ACH transfers, bill pay, and checks. For domestic wire transfers, use 026009593. For international wires, use SWIFT code BOFAUS3N.

For Virginia specifically: don’t be thrown by 051000017 appearing for other states — Virginia is where this number originated and it’s genuinely correct for Virginia accounts. In the DMV area, don’t assume your routing number matches a neighbor’s account opened in Maryland or DC — all three jurisdictions use different numbers, and moving among them doesn’t automatically change your routing number. And for military members and federal employees, the routing number is the same (051000017) as for any other Bank of America Virginia account — the difference is only in the payroll system you use to set it up and the processing timeline to expect. The Bank of America app confirms your exact routing number in under a minute and is always more reliable than any external source.