Can a bank routing number be 6 digits?
Yes, a bank teller can and often will ask the reason for a large or unusual cash withdrawal. This is not because they are being intrusive, but because they are required to comply with strict federal and internal anti-money laundering (AML) and "Know Your Customer" (KYC) regulations. Financial institutions are mandated to monitor transactions to detect potential fraud, money laundering, or financial exploitation of vulnerable individuals. If you request a withdrawal that is out of character for your typical banking behavior, the teller is trained to ask questions to verify that the request is legitimate and that you are not being coerced by a scammer. By asking why the money is needed, they can assess risk and ensure that the transaction is safe for you. If you refuse to answer, the bank may delay or deny the transaction to protect your assets and satisfy their legal compliance obligations, which are intended to safeguard both the customer and the bank from illicit financial activities.