Cash App Bank Identification Code (BIC): What It Is and What to Use Instead
December 29, 2023 · James Mallone
Short answer: Cash App doesn’t have a bank identification code (BIC, also called a SWIFT code) you can use to receive money. Cash App doesn’t support wire transfers, domestic or international, so there’s no BIC that will get a wire into your Cash balance. If a form is asking for your Cash App “bank identification code”, it almost always wants your routing number and account number, which you’ll find in the app under the Money tab.
I went looking for this code the first time a payroll form asked for my “bank ID”. Half the pages I found gave a code that doesn’t exist, and some mixed up routing numbers with SWIFT codes. Here’s the straight version.
BIC vs. routing number vs. account number
These three get mixed up constantly. They do different jobs:
| Number | What it looks like | What it’s for | Does Cash App have one? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIC / SWIFT code | 8 or 11 letters and numbers | Identifies a bank for international wire transfers | No: Cash App doesn’t accept wires |
| Routing number | 9 digits | Identifies a US bank for direct deposit and ACH transfers | Yes, shown in your app |
| Account number | Varies | Identifies your individual account at that bank | Yes, shown in your app |
So when an employer, the IRS or a benefits office asks for your bank details, they need the routing number and account number. Nobody in the US needs a SWIFT code to pay you by direct deposit.
How to find your Cash App routing and account number
- Open Cash App and tap the Money tab.
- Tap your Cash balance.
- Your account number and routing number are shown there. Copy them exactly.
One catch: to use these numbers for direct deposit from an employer, Cash App says you need a Cash App Card first. If you haven’t ordered one, do that before you hand the numbers to payroll.
Which bank is behind Cash App?
Cash App isn’t a bank. It works with partner banks for its banking features. Cash App currently names Sutton Bank, The Bancorp Bank and Wells Fargo as partners. Which bank holds your account, and so which routing number you have, depends on your account. That’s why you should use the routing number your app shows you, not one copied from a website (including older articles that list a single “Cash App routing number” for everyone).
What if someone abroad wants to send you money?
Because Cash App doesn’t take wires, a sender overseas can’t wire money straight into your Cash balance. If you need to receive an international transfer, it has to go to a US account that accepts international wires or to a transfer service that pays out to US bank accounts. You can then move the money into Cash App from your linked bank.
A scam to watch for: if someone says they’ve wired money “to your Cash App BIC” and you need to pay a fee to release it, walk away. That wire can’t exist. Cash App doesn’t receive them.
The rest of the setup
If you’re setting up Cash App to get paid, the numbers above are only one piece. My full walkthrough covers verifying your identity, linking a bank, direct deposit and moving money out: how to link Cash App to a bank account or card. If you’re trying to work out which identifier someone wants from you ($Cashtag, account number or card number), I broke that down in what your Cash App account ID actually is.
Sources
- Cash App: Is Cash App a Bank? (partner banks; Cash App Card needed for direct deposit)
- Cash App: Banking with Cash App (finding your account and routing numbers)
- Wise: Can you send a wire transfer with Cash App? (Cash App doesn’t support wire transfers)