You can deposit a money order the same way you deposit a check: at a bank teller window, through an ATM, or in some cases through your bank’s mobile app. The process takes just a few minutes, and most banks don’t charge a fee to deposit one. Here’s what you need to know about each method, how to endorse the money order correctly, and when your funds will be available.
Depositing at a Bank Teller
Walking into your bank branch is the most straightforward option. Bring the money order, a government-issued photo ID, and your account information (a debit card, ATM card, or deposit slip all work). Do not sign the back of the money order before you arrive. The teller will ask you to endorse it in front of them, which means signing on the back where indicated. This rule exists to prevent fraud, and tellers at banks and post offices alike follow it.
Once you’ve signed and handed over the money order, the teller completes the deposit and gives you a receipt. Hold onto that receipt until the funds clear and appear in your account. If there’s ever a dispute about the deposit, that receipt is your proof.
Depositing at an ATM
Most banks with deposit-capable ATMs let you feed a money order into the machine just like a check. Insert your debit or ATM card, select the deposit option, choose your account, and slide the money order into the slot. The ATM will scan the money order and display the amount for you to confirm.
Before heading to the ATM, endorse the money order by signing the back. Unlike the teller window, there’s no one watching you sign, so you’ll need to do it beforehand. Some people write “For deposit only” along with their account number above their signature as a precaution. This restrictive endorsement means the money order can only go into that specific account, protecting you if it’s lost or stolen before you reach the machine.
Depositing Through a Mobile App
Some banks and credit unions allow you to deposit money orders through their mobile banking app using your phone’s camera, just as you would with a check. Not every institution permits this, so check your bank’s list of eligible deposit types before you try. Banks that do accept mobile deposits of money orders typically also accept personal checks, business checks, government checks, and cashier’s checks through the same feature.
To make a mobile deposit, endorse the back of the money order with your signature and any additional information your bank requires (many ask you to write “For mobile deposit only” or include your account number). Open the app, select the deposit function, photograph the front and back of the money order, enter the amount, and submit. Make sure the images are clear, well-lit, and show all four edges of the money order. Blurry or cropped photos are the most common reason mobile deposits get rejected.
After your mobile deposit is accepted, hold onto the physical money order for at least a few days until the funds appear in your account. Don’t try to deposit the same money order a second time at an ATM or branch, as that can trigger a fraud flag.
When Your Funds Become Available
How quickly you can use the deposited money depends on the type of money order and how you deposited it.
- U.S. Postal Service money orders deposited in person: Federal rules under Regulation CC require your bank to make these funds available by the next business day. This is the fastest option.
- Other money orders deposited in person: Money orders from Western Union, MoneyGram, or convenience stores follow standard check-clearing timelines. Your bank must make the first $275 available the next business day, with the remainder typically available within two business days.
- ATM or mobile deposits: When you don’t deposit in person with a teller, your bank can extend the hold by one additional business day. So a USPS money order deposited at an ATM may take up to two business days instead of one.
Business days are Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. If you deposit a money order on a Friday afternoon after your bank’s cutoff time, the clock doesn’t start until Monday.
Your bank can place a longer “exception hold” in certain situations, such as when the deposit is unusually large, the account is brand new, or there’s reason to suspect the money order may not be valid. If this happens, the bank is required to notify you at the time of deposit, explaining why the hold was placed and when the funds will be released. Exception holds can stretch availability to seven business days or more in rare cases.
Filling Out the Money Order Before Deposit
If you received a money order made out to you, it should already have your name on the “Pay to” line and the sender’s information filled in. All you need to do is endorse the back. But if someone handed you a blank or partially completed money order, make sure the “Pay to” or “Pay to the order of” line has your name on it before you try to deposit. Banks will reject a money order that doesn’t match the name on your account.
Keep the detachable receipt stub if the money order has one. That stub contains the serial number and purchase details, which you’d need if the money order were lost or you had to track the payment later.
Where Else You Can Deposit
Credit unions accept money order deposits using the same methods as banks. If you don’t have a traditional bank account, some prepaid debit card providers and online banking platforms also accept money order deposits by mail or mobile app, though processing times tend to be longer. Mailing a money order for deposit can take several days just for delivery, plus whatever hold period applies after that.
If you’d rather convert the money order to cash instead of depositing it, you can cash it at the issuing location (a post office for USPS money orders, for example), at your bank, or at a check-cashing store. Check-cashing stores typically charge a percentage-based fee, while your own bank usually cashes it for free.