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Adobe Stock April 28, 2022 Mitch Strohm is a regular contributor for Bankrate. Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, he has been reporting on the finance space for more than 12 years. Since 2010, Mitch has written and edited articles for Bankrate on topics including mortgages, banking, credit cards, loans, home equity and personal finance. His work has also been seen on sites including Business Insider, Clark Howard, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, Interest.com and Bankaholic.com. David Schepp is a wealth editor for Bankrate, focusing on deposits and consumer banking content. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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Several different types of institutions issue money orders, including post offices and grocery stores. Consumers purchase the money order by paying the amount they intend to send plus a fee to the issuer. Generally, money orders can be purchased for any amount up to a certain number. At the post office, for example, you can send up to $1,000 with a single money order anywhere within the U.S. With the purchase of a money order, the sender receives a paper document, similar to a check, that includes the payment amount. The document requires the sender to fill out some information, including: The payee’s name and address The payment amount The sender’s name and address A memo for what the payment is for Once the fields are filled in, the money order can be sent to the payee. The payee can cash or deposit it like a check, without the risk of it bouncing, since the full amount was already paid. When to use money orders
There are certain circumstances when money orders can be safer or more convenient than personal checks or cash. Some of these circumstances include: You don’t have a bank account. Money orders are prepaid and don’t require that you have a checking account. They allow you to pay bills and receive payment without being tied to a financial institution. You want to send money in the mail. If you aren’t comfortable mailing a check that contains your bank account information, and you’d rather not mail cash, sending a money order can be safer. Like a check, only the recipient can cash it. You don’t want to bounce a check. Money orders are prepaid, so there’s no chance that the bank can return it due to insufficient funds in the sender’s account. How much money orders cost
The cost of a money order — in addition to the amount to be sent — depends on where it’s purchased, but fees generally range from $1-$5. Here’s what you can expect to pay at various places for a domestic money order: U.S. Postal Service: $1.45 for amounts up to $500, $1.95 for amounts of $500.01 to $1,000 Walmart: Up to $1 Kroger: 84 cents with a Kroger Shopper’s card, 88 cents without a card Wells Fargo: $5 International money orders aren’t as widely available, and institutions that carry international money orders tend to charge more. The U.S. Postal Service, for instance, charges an issuing fee of $12.25. Where to cash a money order
Money orders can be cashed at a number of different locations, including banks, grocery stores or check-cashing stores. You’ll typically get the best deal, however, by cashing it at the same place it was issued. That’s because some institutions charge a fee for cashing orders from other issuers. Money orders can also be deposited directly into a checking or savings account by bringing them to the bank. To cash a money order: Take the money order to a bank, credit union, grocery store or post office. Sign the back of the money order — be sure to sign it at the counter and not beforehand. Present your ID and the money order to the teller or clerk. Receive payment. If the order is deposited into a bank account, it may take a couple days for the funds to become available. What to do if you lose a money order
If a money order is lost or stolen, contact the issuer as soon as possible and explain what happened. The issuer may be able to replace or refund the lost money order. If your money order hasn’t been cashed, the issuer might be able to cancel it. Be prepared to provide details, including the money order’s tracking number, purchase date and amount, as well as the receipt, if possible. It can take up to 30 days for the issuer to confirm the money order’s loss or theft. Depending on the issuer, you may have to pay a fee. For example, Western Union charges $15 for a refund — $3 for money orders of less than $20 — if you have a receipt or $30 for any refund without a receipt. The Postal Service charges a flat rate of $6.95. Are money orders safe
Money orders are generally a safe alternative to cash or checks, since only the payee can cash or deposit it for the amount printed on its face. As long as you save the receipt, you can track your payment and recover any funds if it’s lost, stolen or damaged. There are plenty of scams involving money orders. Make, so be sure to verify the funds with the issuer if you aren’t sure it’s legitimate. Report any suspected fraud to the . Bottom line
Like checks, money orders are paper documents that allow for the purchaser to specify the payee and amount. On the other hand, they are prepaid, so they can function similarly to cash. There’s no risk of a money order bouncing, and if it’s lost or stolen, you can often receive a refund or cancel it. If you’re looking for a secure, inexpensive way to send or receive funds, money orders can be a good option. –Staff writer René Bennett contributed to this article. SHARE: Mitch Strohm is a regular contributor for Bankrate. Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, he has been reporting on the finance space for more than 12 years. Since 2010, Mitch has written and edited articles for Bankrate on topics including mortgages, banking, credit cards, loans, home equity and personal finance. His work has also been seen on sites including Business Insider, Clark Howard, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, Interest.com and Bankaholic.com. David Schepp is a wealth editor for Bankrate, focusing on deposits and consumer banking content. Related Articles