Payments Canada has released best practices and formatting guidelines for Canadian routing numbers, or CACPA codes, to improve straight-through processing for domestic and international wire transfers sent within or to Canada. The guidance is aimed at payment originators and is intended to reduce misdirected or delayed transactions by standardising how Canadian beneficiary routing information is provided. The document centres on correct use of the nine-digit CACPA code, which identifies the Canadian financial institution and the specific branch or transit number where the payee’s account is held, alongside a properly formatted creditor account number. It also states that domestic and international payments should include the creditor’s full legal name and address to align with travel rules. Payments Canada describes the document as a non-binding industry guideline intended to provide a common understanding of payment routing rather than create legal rights or obligations.
Payments Canada2026-05-28
Payments Canada issues CACPA routing number formatting guidelines to improve straight-through processing for payments to and within Canada
Payments Canada has issued non-binding best practices and formatting guidelines for Canadian routing numbers (CACPA codes) to improve straight-through processing of domestic and international wire transfers to Canada. The guidance standardises use of the nine-digit CACPA code, creditor account number, and inclusion of the creditor’s full legal name and address to reduce misdirected or delayed transactions and align with travel rules.