Can You Cash A Money Order At The Post Office?

Primal takeaways

• A coin order is a safety alternative to cash or a personal check; information technology works like a cheque so you can cash it or deposit it into a bank business relationship.

• When using cash or personal checks put y'all at gamble, or they aren't accepted for payment, yous tin can use a money lodge instead.

• You tin use cash or a debit card to purchase money orders at the post part, Walmart, Western Union and your depository financial institution or credit matrimony.

How do money orders piece of work?

A money order is a slice of paper that's a safe alternative to cash or personal checks. You specify who will receive the coin order, and both you and that person must sign it for it to exist valid, which cuts downwardly on theft.

You also prepay for a money society , at a location such every bit a U.Southward. post office, Walmart or Western Union. Keep in mind that many have a $1,000 limit, including those that you purchase at banks.

How can I buy a money order?

• Have everything yous need: Be prepared with cash or a debit card, the name of the payee and the amount you want to ship. Paying with a credit card might be possible, but will commonly toll extra.

• Fill it out: In improver to the payee'southward name, you'll demand to add your name (and possibly your accost) and sign the coin order. (For footstep-by-step instructions, bank check out NerdWallet'southward guide on how to make full out a money order .) Be careful to ensure that everything is accurate because you won't be able to change the information afterward.

• Keep the receipt:  The receipt will be a carbon copy of the money society or a paper slip recording the information entered on the money social club.

• Rail your money order:  Your receipt will also take a tracking number that you tin apply to verify that the money order got to the intended recipient. If whatever problems ascend, contact the place where you lot bought the coin order to get assist.

Where tin can I get a money club? How much does a money social club cost?

Domestic money orders have a range of costs, from under a dollar upwards to around $v, depending on where yous buy them. You'll get a ameliorate bargain at Walmart or a convenience store or supermarket, and you'll typically pay more at a bank.

Not all providers offering international money orders; some post offices do, but they price more, although there'southward a discount for those purchased at military post offices. And no affair where you lot buy them, it's safer to buy in person.

Provider	Price
Walmart	Upwards to 88 cents
Money transfer agents (convenience stores, supermarkets, etc.)	Depends on the provider. For instance, San Francisco-area Western Union providers oftentimes accuse around $1.
U.Southward. Mail service	Upward to $500: $1.25 $501-$1000: $1.70 Military coin orders: 45 cents International (up to $700): $ten.25
Banks and credit unions	Depends on the financial institution. Often around $v.
In the market for a provider? Here are our best ways to send coin .

What does a money order cost at some of the biggest U.Southward. banks?

Note that many banks will only sell coin orders to accountholders.

Bank	Details
American Express® National Depository financial institution, Member FDIC iv.five NerdWallet rating	Money orders non offered.
Bank of America 3.5 NerdWallet rating	Money orders not offered.
Chase 3.5 NerdWallet rating	$5 for up to $1,000; free for premium accounts. Must exist purchased in a branch.
Wells Fargo iii.five NerdWallet rating	$5 for upwards to $1,000. Must be purchased in a branch.

+ Click here for more banks and what they accuse

A smart way to monitor your money

Rail your cash, cards, and bank accounts all at the same time.

Can I buy a money order with a credit card?

Some outlets allow you to buy a money order with a credit bill of fare, simply others don't, including Walmart and the U.South. Postal service. In those cases, you'll have to utilise a debit card or cash to buy a coin order.

Fifty-fifty if the provider you choose does allow you lot pay with a credit carte du jour, it'll exist much cheaper not to. That's because credit carte du jour issuers typically treat money orders as greenbacks advances, charging a fee based on the amount of the transfer — often 3% to 5% — and assessing involvement immediately. That interest rate might exist greater than the rate you'll pay on a normal purchase.

When should I use a coin order?

At that place are times when using cash or personal checks tin put you at risk, or they aren't accustomed for payment. Here are four examples of when money orders are the best payment method:

• You need to send coin securely. Unlike checks, money orders don't include your bank account number, and they assistance ensure that only the recipient can use it, unlike mailing cash.

• You don't have a checking business relationship. Since money orders require you to pay in accelerate, you don't need a banking company business relationship and y'all can nonetheless pay bills safely. Another selection: One of NerdWallet'southward best prepaid debit cards  for regular purchases.

• Yous're worried about bouncing a bank check. Because coin orders are prepaid, they can't be rejected for insufficient funds. Another option: A certified check or a cashier'southward check, both of which guarantee payment and don't necessarily accept a $1,000 limit, unlike many money orders. ( Read upwardly on certified checks  and find out more about cashier'due south checks .)

• You're sending money internationally. Non all money orders work abroad, simply U.S. Postal Service money orders can exist sent to almost 25 countries. Another option: A wire transfer, if you need the money there faster and are willing to pay more than. Or check out our best ways to ship money internationally .

Where tin can I cash a coin order?

Your best bet is to cash a money order at the same entity that issued it, whether that's a banking concern branch, post office or other location. Cheque-cashing locations, convenience stores and grocery stores can be alternatives, but sentry out for fees. Wherever you lot get, y'all'll probably need to show identification.

If you don't need the coin right away and y'all accept a bank account, consider depositing it. Banks accept U.S. Postal service money orders as they would regular checks at branches, ATMs or even on a banking app with a mobile cheque deposit function. Don't forget to sign the back of the money gild before depositing.

What practice I exercise if I lost a money lodge?

If you no longer take the money order or you made a error on it, you may be able to cancel it and get a replacement or refund — equally long as the money order hasn't been cashed.

You'll need to bring your receipt and the money order itself, if you lot accept it, to the identify where it was purchased. The issuer will probably take you fill out some paperwork, using information from your receipt, and you'll likely pay a fee. For example, Western Marriage charges $xv to supervene upon a money order. And it can have a month or longer for the issuer to process your merits.

If the coin gild was cashed, you lot may still be able to get your coin back, but you'll generally have to involve the law.

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Money order tracking

Information technology's relatively simple to find out where a coin guild is — as long as you lot've kept your receipt. But the process varies slightly by issuer. The U.S. Postal service, MoneyGram and Western Union allow you to track online with information such as the serial number found on your receipt and the buy amount. Your bank should be able to provide you lot with the aforementioned data.

Without the receipt, you'll likely have to file a inquiry request to find your money order's series number, and that's expensive and fourth dimension-consuming. At MoneyGram, for instance, it costs $40 and can take 60 days to process.

Just be sure to track the money order with the bodily provider — it might exist Western Union or MoneyGram even if you purchased it at a convenience store.

Are money orders prophylactic?

Coin orders are typically a safe payment method, just they tin too be used fraudulently. To protect yourself:

• Try not to exchange money orders with strangers. This isn't always possible, just if you can, inquire to be paid electronically or via another means.

• Scout for red flags. These might include sending extra money dorsum to someone who claims they've paid as well much, or visual cues, such as missing watermarks or amounts more $1,000.

• Verify the funds. If you can't greenbacks the money guild at the identify that issued it, phone call the issuer's official, publicly bachelor telephone number to find out if the document is legitimate.

Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/banking/money-orders

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