Fedwire Routing Code Checker
Validate Federal Reserve wire routing numbers with ABA checksum verification, confirm Fedwire Funds Service participation, and look up CHIPS UIDs for large-value US dollar transfers.
Fedwire is for same-day, irrevocable, large-value US dollar transfers. Operating hours: Sun 9pm ET through Fri 6:30pm ET. No weekend processing. See the payment rail comparison below for Fedwire vs ACH vs CHIPS vs FedNow.
9-digit ABA routing number (same format as wire/ACH routing)
For international high-value transfers, use SWIFT with GPI tracking:
US Payment Rails: Fedwire vs ACH vs CHIPS vs FedNow
Choosing the right payment rail for US dollar transactions depends on amount, speed requirements, and finality.
| Feature | Fedwire | ACH | CHIPS | FedNow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Federal Reserve | NACHA / Fed | The Clearing House | Federal Reserve |
| Speed | Real-time (RTGS) | 1-2 days (SACHA: same day) | Real-time (with netting) | Under 20 seconds |
| Finality | Irrevocable | Revocable (2 days) | Irrevocable | Irrevocable |
| Max Amount | No limit | Bank-set (typically $1M+) | No limit | $500,000 |
| Availability | Sun 9pm-Fri 6:30pm ET | Business days (SACHA: M-F) | Business days | 24/7/365 |
| Typical Fee | $15-$35 | $0.01-$3 | $0.50-$1.50 | $0-$3 |
| Best For | Real estate, M&A, legal escrow, interbank | Payroll, bill pay, recurring transfers | Large international USD transfers | Consumer instant payments |
| Participants | ~8,000 banks | All US banks | ~50 major banks | Growing (2023+) |
What Is Fedwire and Who Uses It?
Fedwire Funds Service is the Federal Reserve's real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system for large-value US dollar transfers. It has operated since 1918 and is the backbone of the US financial system's high-value payment infrastructure. When two banks need to transfer large amounts of money with immediate, irrevocable finality, Fedwire is the primary mechanism.
The key characteristics that distinguish Fedwire from other payment systems are immediate settlement (each payment settles individually, in real time, not in batches), irrevocability (once a Fedwire payment is made, it cannot be reversed by the sender), and settlement in central bank money (the Federal Reserve's own balance sheet, eliminating counterparty risk).
Common use cases for Fedwire include real estate closings (where a buyer's bank must transfer purchase funds to an escrow or title company with same-day certainty), corporate mergers and acquisitions, interbank settlements, securities transactions, and large-value commercial payments where the recipient requires guaranteed, irreversible same-day funds.
Fedwire vs ACH: Choosing the Right US Payment Rail
The choice between Fedwire and ACH often comes down to three factors: urgency, amount, and irrevocability requirements. Fedwire settles in real time, costs $15-$35 per transaction, and is irreversible. ACH processes in batches (1-2 business days), costs cents per transaction, and can be reversed within two business days. For recurring payroll, supplier payments, and consumer transfers, ACH is almost always the right choice. For time-sensitive, large-value transactions where the recipient needs certified, irreversible funds that day, Fedwire is the correct rail.
CHIPS (Clearing House Interbank Payments System), operated by The Clearing House, is a private-sector alternative primarily used for international correspondent banking and large interbank transactions. CHIPS uses a netting algorithm that reduces the actual funds transferred, making it more capital-efficient than Fedwire's individual gross settlement. CHIPS participants are a subset of Fedwire participants, roughly the 50 largest financial institutions.
FedNow, launched in July 2023 by the Federal Reserve, is the newest US payment rail. It enables instant transfers 24/7/365 with a maximum of $500,000 per transaction. FedNow fills the gap between ACH's delay and Fedwire's business-hours limitation, though adoption across US banks is still growing.
Looking for standard US bank routing numbers? Use our ABA Routing Number Checker. For international wire transfers, check our IBAN Validator. For European payment timing, see the SEPA Transfer Time Calculator.
Fedwire participant data sourced from Federal Reserve Banks public participant list. ABA checksum validated per ABA standard. Data last updated: January 2025.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Fedwire Funds Service is the Federal Reserve's RTGS system for large-value US dollar transfers. Payments are irrevocable, settle individually in real time, and finalize in central bank money. Used for real estate closings, M&A, interbank settlements, and legal escrow. Operates Sun 9pm ET through Fri 6:30pm ET.
Fedwire is real-time gross settlement, irrevocable, no amount limit, $15-$35 fee. ACH is batch processing, 1-2 day settlement, revocable, cents per transaction. Use Fedwire for urgent large transfers needing irrevocable same-day finality. Use ACH for routine payments, payroll, and smaller transfers.
A 4-digit identifier assigned by The Clearing House to each CHIPS participant. CHIPS is a private alternative to Fedwire used for large-value and international USD transactions. JPMorgan's CHIPS UID is 0002, BNY Mellon's is 0001. A bank can be a Fedwire participant, CHIPS participant, both, or neither.
9:00 PM ET Sunday through 6:30 PM ET Friday. Cut-off for same-day processing is 6:00 PM ET. No weekend or federal holiday processing. For 24/7 instant payments, use FedNow (launched July 2023, growing adoption).
No minimum. However, banks charge $15-$35 per Fedwire transaction, making it uneconomical for small amounts. There is also no maximum. In practice Fedwire is used for large transactions where same-day irrevocability is required.
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. Fedwire routing: 021000021. CHIPS UID: 0002. Note JPMorgan may use different routing numbers for ACH or regional accounts.
No. Fedwire only operates between US financial institutions. For international transfers, you need SWIFT. However, many international wires from the US route through Fedwire domestically first, then out via SWIFT to the foreign recipient bank.