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Empower Federal Credit Union is a full-service institution serving Central New York and eight counties in New York State. Its two precursors, Power Federal Credit Union and Empire Federal Credit Union, were founded in 1939 and 1950, respectively. They merged in 2007 to form Empower FCU.
If you’re a member of Empower FCU, you’ll need the credit union‘s routing number to perform various tasks, including setting up direct deposits and making transfers between accounts or other financial institutions. Not to be confused with your account number, your routing number is a nine-digit number that is essentially your bank’s “address” in terms of processing financial transactions. This makes it an essential number to know.
Fortunately, if you’re a customer with Empower FCU, finding your routing number is a relatively straightforward process. Here’s all you’ll need to know about your Empower FCU routing number.
Empower FCU Bank Routing Number
The routing number for Empower Federal Credit Union is: 221380127.
What Is a Routing Number?
Nine-digit routing numbers, also known as ABA numbers, were created in 1910 by the American Bankers Association to identify financial institutions for check processing purposes. Their use has expanded to identify where all electronic money transfers are coming from, including automated clearinghouse transactions, direct deposits, electronic fund transfers and online banking transactions.
Can Banks Have Multiple Routing Numbers?
It may seem confusing that a bank can have multiple routing numbers, especially when a routing number is supposedly a unique nine-digit code identifying a specific institution. But many large banks, such as Chase, often have different routing numbers for each state in which they operate.
Part of the reason some banks, especially big banks, have multiple routing numbers is that they have absorbed or merged with multiple institutions over time. To facilitate existing or ongoing transfers, these banks simply maintain any ABA numbers they acquire.
How To Find Your Empower FCU Routing Number
The easiest way to find your Empower FCU routing number is to look at your checks. The routing number will be the nine-digit number listed on the lower left corner. Your account number will follow the routing number, so be sure not to mix up the two.
If you don’t have checks or have trouble locating them, you can simply call the credit union to ask. The Empower FCU customer service number is 800-462-5000, or 315-477-2200 for local members.
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Perhaps the easiest way to find the Empower FCU routing number is to simply search the internet. Of course, you should only trust reliable sources, like Empower’s own website, for this information.
Empower FCU SWIFT Code for International Transfers
Routing numbers are traditionally used for domestic transfers. If you want to send or receive money internationally, you might also need to know Empower FCU’s SWIFT code. A SWIFT code, also known as a bank identifier code or BIC, is essentially a routing number for international wire transfers.
Not all banks have SWIFT codes, especially smaller or regional financial institutions. As a New York-based credit union, Empower FCU doesn’t have a SWIFT code.
Final Take
Your nine-digit routing number for your bank is an essential part of any type of money transfer, both incoming and outgoing. If you have an account at Empower Federal Credit Union, be sure to verify that the routing number you have for the credit union is accurate.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about routing numbers and Empower FCU.
- What is a bank's routing number?
- A bank's routing number is a unique identifier for a specific bank. It's used to direct financial transactions to the right place. You can think of a routing number as an account number for your entire bank, with your personal account number being where money is taken from or deposited.
- Is a bank's routing number the same for all locations?
- Most smaller institutions, like Empower FCU, have a single routing number for all locations. However, larger institutions, particularly those in multiple states or that have acquired numerous other banks, may often have more than one routing number.
- Can anyone join Empower FCU?
- Empower FCU has specific requirements for membership, and it's not open to everyone. To qualify, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be employed by or retired from any of Empower FCU's member companies, which literally number in the thousands and can be found on the credit union's website
- Be an immediate relative or share a household with a current Empower member. The definition of "immediate relative or share a household" is pretty broad, including everything from spouses, siblings, parents and children to step-relatives and adoptive relationships.
- Live, worship, work, or attend school in an area included in one of Empower's neighbor areas. These include Buffalo, Binghamton, Elmira (except West Emira and big Flats), Syracuse, Utica, portions of Liverpool, Montgomery County, Nedrow and many more. Consult the credit union's website or contact it directly for specific details.
- Empower FCU has specific requirements for membership, and it's not open to everyone. To qualify, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Is Empower FCU only in New York?
- Yes, Empower FCU currently only operates in New York.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
