You're standing at the checkout of a new apartment lease, or maybe you're finally setting up that direct deposit for the new job, and suddenly everything halts. You need those nine digits. Specifically, you need the td bank nj routing number. It sounds simple enough until you realize that banks like TD—which grew through a massive series of acquisitions like Commerce Bank—actually use different numbers depending on where you opened your account and what kind of transaction you're doing.
Getting this wrong is a nightmare. A single digit off and your paycheck vanishes into the digital ether for three to five business days while the banks "reconcile" the error. That’s a week of stress nobody needs.
Why New Jersey Is Different
New Jersey is TD Bank's backyard. Back when it was Commerce Bank—the "America’s Most Convenient Bank" folks with the red pens and the coin machines—Cherry Hill was the epicenter. Because of that deep history, New Jersey accounts often carry routing numbers that differ from those in New York or Pennsylvania, even though you might work in Philly and live in Jersey.
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Basically, the routing number is a specialized address for your money. If the account number is your front door, the routing number is the zip code that tells the Federal Reserve exactly which "post office" (bank branch) should receive the electronic transfer.
For the vast majority of personal and business checking accounts opened in the state of New Jersey, the primary td bank nj routing number is 031201360.
Wait.
Don't just copy that and run. There are exceptions. If you are handling a wire transfer—especially an international one—that number might not be the one you want. Domestic ACH transfers (like your Netflix subscription or your employer's payroll) use that 031201360 number. But wires? They often require a specific "Swift Code" or a different transit number entirely to ensure the funds clear the global security hurdles.
The Paper Check Trick
Look at your checkbook. Seriously. It’s the most foolproof way to find what you need.
Down at the very bottom of those checks, you’ll see three distinct groups of numbers printed in that weird, blocky magnetic ink. The first group on the far left? That is your nine-digit routing number. The middle group is usually your account number. The final short string is the check number itself.
If your check says 031201360, you're golden for New Jersey.
But what if you don't have checks? Many of us haven't touched a physical checkbook since 2019. If you’re a digital-only person, you’ve gotta dive into the app. Log into TD Bank’s mobile portal, tap on your account, and look for "Account Details." It’s usually buried under a little "i" icon or a dropdown menu.
Wire Transfers vs. ACH: The Big Confusion
People get these mixed up constantly.
An ACH transfer (Automated Clearing House) is the "slow" way money moves. It’s what happens when you pay your electric bill online. For this, the standard td bank nj routing number works perfectly.
Wire transfers are different. They are "real-time" and generally carry a fee—usually around $25 to $30 at TD. If someone is wiring you money from overseas, they don't just need the routing number; they need the TD Bank SWIFT BIC code. For TD Bank in the U.S., that is typically TDBKUS33.
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If you give a sender in London your NJ routing number instead of the SWIFT code, the money will likely bounce back, and you'll still get charged a "failed transfer" fee by someone along the chain. It sucks. Don't let it happen.
Where People Usually Mess Up
The most common error happens when people move.
Say you lived in Cherry Hill, NJ, when you opened your account ten years ago. Then you moved to Manhattan. You go to a TD Bank in New York City to deposit a check. You might think, "Oh, I'm a New York customer now." Nope. Your account is still "homed" in New Jersey. You must continue using the td bank nj routing number associated with the branch where the account originated.
Banks are organized by "charters." Even if a bank has a logo that looks the same from Maine to Florida, the legal entity holding your money is often tied to the state where you signed the initial paperwork.
A Quick List of What Does and Doesn't Need This Number:
- Direct Deposit: Yes. You need the routing number.
- Automatic Mortgage Payments: Yes.
- Zelle: No. Zelle uses your email or phone number.
- Venmo/CashApp: Yes, if you are linking the "bank account" manually rather than a debit card.
- Ordering New Checks: Yes, though the printer usually has it on file.
Is My Money Safe if I Give This Number Out?
Honestly, a routing number isn't a secret. It’s public information. You can find it on the bottom of every check you've ever handed to a stranger or a landlord.
The danger is when the routing number is paired with your account number. That combination is the "key" to your vault. While you shouldn't post your routing number on social media for fun, you don't need to treat it like a Social Security number. It’s more like your street address—plenty of people can find it, but they still shouldn't be allowed inside without an invitation.
The "Commerce Bank" Legacy
If you're an old-timer in Jersey, you might remember when the routing numbers changed during the TD acquisition. That transition was messy. Some people held onto old checks for years. If you still have a dusty checkbook from the mid-2000s that says "Commerce Bank," do yourself a favor: shred it.
The modern TD systems are much more streamlined now, but using legacy data is the fastest way to get a "Transaction Declined" notification on your phone at 3:00 AM.
Verifying for Businesses
For business owners in the Garden State, the stakes are higher. If you're running a payroll for 50 employees and you input the wrong transit number, you’re looking at a legal and HR nightmare.
Business accounts at TD sometimes use different routing strings if they were set up through the "Government Banking" or "Large Corporate" divisions. If your business isn't just a local LLC but a larger entity, check your most recent PDF statement. The routing number is always printed on the top right or bottom of the first page of your monthly statement. Don't guess.
Actionable Steps to Verify Your Number Right Now
First, log into the TD Bank app or the online banking portal. This is the "single source of truth." Don't rely on a random image from a Google search that might be five years out of date.
Second, check your specific state. While 031201360 is the standard for New Jersey, if you actually opened that account while visiting a friend in Florida or at your college in Massachusetts, that New Jersey number will not work for you. You must use the number for the state where the account was birthed.
Third, confirm the transaction type. If you are doing a "Domestic Wire," call your local NJ branch and ask specifically: "Is there a specific transit number for incoming wires?" Sometimes banks use a centralized processing hub in a different state for all wires, regardless of where you live.
Lastly, do a test run. If you’re setting up a new payment system, try a small transfer of $1 first. It’s better to lose a dollar in limbo than a $2,000 rent payment. Once the $1 clears and shows up in your activity feed, you know your td bank nj routing number and account details are perfectly synced.
Once you have the number confirmed, save it in a secure "Note" on your phone or in a password manager. You’ll likely need it again the next time you switch jobs or upgrade your cloud storage plan. Knowing exactly where to look saves you twenty minutes of hold music later.
Summary of TD Bank NJ Routing Information
- Standard ACH/Direct Deposit (NJ): 031201360
- Alternative NJ Routing (Legacy/Specific Branches): 031201441
- International SWIFT Code: TDBKUS33
- Where to find it: Bottom left of checks, TD Mobile App "Account Info," or your monthly PDF statement.