How To Fill Out A Money Order Step By Step Bankrate
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Courtesy of Smithsonian National Postal Museum Advertiser Disclosure
We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. How We Make Money
The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. Courtesy of Smithsonian National Postal Museum Written by Banking writer René Bennett is a writer for Bankrate, reporting on banking products and personal finance. June 13, 2022 Edited by Wealth editor David Schepp is a wealth editor for Bankrate, focusing on deposits and consumer banking content. Reviewed by Senior wealth manager, LourdMurray Kenneth Chavis IV is a senior wealth manager who provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management and tax planning services to business owners, equity compensated June 13, 2022 Share
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PREV NEXT allow you to securely send or receive payments, providing an alternative to cash, checks or credit cards. They are similar to , but, because they're prepaid, money orders can't bounce. It's important to know how to fill out a money order correctly, so that it doesn't get canceled or refunded. What you need to fill out a money order
The requirements to fill out a money order vary by institution, whether its Western Union or the U.S. Postal Service. Each institution's money order may differ slightly in appearance as well. Generally, if you're sending a money order, the required information you'll need is: Name of payee (i.e., the person who is being paid) Payee's address Payment amount Your name and address What the payment is for and/or the billing account number You'll also need a form of payment to purchase the money order. Some issuers limit your payment options, too. You likely won't be able to purchase a money order with a credit card. Steps to fill out a money order
1 Fill in the name of the recipient
Write the name of the recipient of the money order in the "pay to" or "pay to the order of" field. This could be a person's name or the name of a business. Print the name clearly in ink. It's important to fill out this section as soon as you purchase the money order, since this will be the only person authorized to cash or deposit it. If the money order is lost or misplaced without a payee's name written down, it could be liable to and someone else could write their name on it. If given the option, fill out your name in the field labeled "from," "purchaser" or "sender." 2 Include your address in the purchaser section
Fill in your address where the money order asks for the purchaser's address. There may be a second address field for filling in the address of the payee. 3 Write the account or order number in the memo field
A memo line allows you to note what the money order is designated for. The memo might specify that it's a purchase for a specific item or a payment toward a debt, for example. If you have an account or order number from the payee, the memo field is also where to include that. Some money orders may say "payment for" or "account number" instead of memo. 4 Sign your name in the purchaser s signature section
Sign the front of the money order where indicated. This section may be labeled Purchaser's signature, Purchaser, From, Signer or Drawer. Don't sign the back of the money order, which is where the payee endorses it. Keep your receipt
Be sure to keep the receipt because it contains a tracking number, which can be used to find out whether the right person cashed the money order. In case the money order is lost or stolen, the tracking number can help to replace it. A processing fee may apply for replacing a money order. The receipt can also help you cancel the money order should your plans change. How to purchase a money order
with cash or a debit card at banks and credit unions, check-cashing businesses, the U.S. Postal Service, many grocery stores and some big-box stores. Avoid using a to purchase a money order, since your credit card company may consider the purchase a cash advance and charge steep fees. Some issuers won't accept credit cards as payment, either. There may be limits on the size of the money order you can purchase. The Postal Service, for example, allows you to buy money orders up to $1,000 if you're sending it within the U.S. On top of the price of the money order, a $1-$10 fee typically applies. Using a money order
Money orders can be a useful alternative to checks or cash for paying bills, paying off debt or making large purchases. They're a safe paper option for those who want to avoid a payment bouncing - they can't bounce since they are prepaid. Money orders also don't require the purchaser to have a bank account, since they can be purchased without one, such as with cash. Additionally, money orders are a good alternative to electronic payments when you prefer or are required to send money through the mail. They don't contain bank account information, so it won't end up in the wrong hands. Plus, as with a check, only the recipient can cash the money order. Bottom line
Money orders can be a useful way to send and receive money. They are a widely accepted way to make a payment, they never expire, and if they are lost or stolen, they can often be replaced. Since money orders are prepaid, unlike checks, they won't bounce, which makes them a secure way to make purchases, pay debts or send money through the mail. Just be sure to fill out every field of the money order and write legibly, so that it's not returned. –Freelance writer Mitch Strohm contributed to a previous version of this article. ON THIS PAGE
Written by René Bennett Banking writer René Bennett is a writer for Bankrate, reporting on banking products and personal finance. Edited by Wealth editor Reviewed by Senior wealth manager, LourdMurray You may also like