Compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including the order in which they may appear within listing categories. If it’s not, the crook will be richer and you’ll be the loser, because you’re responsible for the checks or money orders you deposit or cash. Still, a money order can be easier to get because you don’t need a bank account in order to buy one. Coronavirus is a 'monster that has snuck into our homes' This added layer of assurance makes it an attractive option for anyone who requires a large sum at once and doesn’t want to risk dealing with a bounced check. Plus, money orders typically come with a maximum amount. A post office money order will cost approximately $1.20 for amounts under $500 and $1.60 for amounts over $500 and up to $1000. Post offices may refer to the Targeting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing at your post office training binder issued in September 2009. If you're at a post office and in need of cash immediately or you do not have a bank account, you can use the check to purchase a money order, then convert that into cash. Two of the additional products that post offices offer are money orders and cashier’s checks. Many large food stores, like Ultra, charge only 49cents. Cashier's checks may only be purchased at a bank. If you’re sending a large amount and the recipient needs to access that cash as soon as possible, they will experience a much shorter wait time with a cashier’s check. While these stores have security measures in place and take your money to pay for the money order, they don’t specifically guarantee the funds as a bank does with a cashier’s check. A certified check is also issued by a bank and verifies that both your signature is legitimate. Pay the dollar value of the money order plus the issuing fee. ... Money Order: Money Orders are a printed order for payment of a specified sum, issued by a bank or post office. Money orders are also typically cheaper, usually costing less than $2. Go to any Post Office location. For example, the post office only allows money orders up to $1,000. All of the information on the check is filled out by the teller in advance so you only have to deliver it to the recipient once it’s ready. Money orders are one of the safest ways to make a payment to a business or a person because they offer greater security and are traceable because they have serial numbers that can be verified easily. Military money orders can also be purchased from a military post office facility and cost $.40 each. They offer a multitude of other products and services to their customers that can make them a convenient alternative solution. All content is written objectively and meant to provide a neutral opinion. If the cashier's check was paid for with a personal check, debit or credit card, the amount of the cashier's check is taken from the account used for purchase when the check is cashed. NFL's most underrated coach won't make any excuses. You may not realize that your local post office sells shipping supplies and many offer other services besides simply sending out the mail. What does this mean for you? Report Save. However, you may be able to find a place that doesn’t require this step. This is a good solution for people who can’t perform a wire transfer and want to conduct a financial transaction with an entity located in another country. You’ll notice that each cashier’s check contains some security features to help prevent counterfeit checks from being created. In order to obtain either a cashier’s check or a money order, you need to pay the full amount upfront in cash (or sometimes with a debit card), and the issuer charges a fee for the service. Receiving a personal check carries a much higher risk for the lender in this situation because there is no guarantee the funds are actually in your account. While Crediful does not feature every company, financial product, or offer available, we are proud that the information, reviews, guides, and other tools found on our site are entirely objective and available to you free of charge. MyPostOfficeLocation.com is not part of, or affiliated with, the official United States Postal Service (USPS). Fill out the money order at the counter with a retail associate. Cashing a check—a personal one or from wages—is not possible at a postal station.