> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.givechariot.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.givechariot.com/gift-processing/account-numbers.md).

# Account Numbers

### Accounts Versus Account Numbers

Most of us are used to having **one account number for each bank account**, so it's natural to think they're the same thing. Technically, though, they're different.

Your **bank account** is where your money is actually held. An **account number** is a set of banking instructions that tells the banking system where to send money.

Modern banking infrastructure allows **multiple account numbers to route money into the same underlying bank account.** Chariot uses this capability to give each [Sources](/getting-started/sources.md) its own unique account number.

<figure><img src="https://2623134947-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FYeSwaMWBAjiYfXgDU5ZT%2Fuploads%2FnRyZ7Mn9Rj7EDXnLabgg%2FGroup%202.png?alt=media&amp;token=f23ad07c-94bd-447b-a60c-a93f07edd67a" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* Fidelity Charitable → Account Number A → Your Chariot Account
* Benevity → Account Number B → Your Chariot Account
* YourCause → Account Number C → Your Chariot Account

All three account numbers route money into the exact same Chariot account. You don't have three accounts, three balances, or three places to manage your money. The only difference is the path the money takes to get there.

***

### Why does Chariot do this?

When a payment arrives through Account Number A, Chariot knows it came from Fidelity Charitable. When a payment arrives through Account Number B, Chariot knows it came from Benevity.

This means your team doesn't have to investigate incoming payments or rely on inconsistent descriptions to figure out where funds came from. Chariot can identify the source automatically and use that information to help reconcile the payment with the right donation data.

One bank account. Multiple account numbers. One balance.

The unique account numbers simply give Chariot more information about where each payment came from.

***

### Where can I find the right account number?

Each linked source has its own unique account number. You can find the account and routing numbers, along with a bank letter, directly on that source's page in Chariot.

<figure><img src="https://2623134947-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FYeSwaMWBAjiYfXgDU5ZT%2Fuploads%2FoTLSgvqmG1Ph0NsN8H9c%2Fimage%20884.png?alt=media&amp;token=14910777-15c9-48b4-beda-7fe41c5335ff" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
When adding or updating your banking information with a source, **always use the account number shown on that source's page.**
{% endhint %}

For example, when updating your banking information with Fidelity Charitable, use the account number shown on your Fidelity Charitable source page.

While all of these account numbers route funds to the same Chariot account, using the account number assigned to that specific source is what allows Chariot to properly identify where the funds came from.


---

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