Chase does not sell money orders at its branches or online
Chase stopped offering money orders several years ago. If you have a Chase account and need a money order, you cannot get one through Chase itself — not at a branch, not through online banking, and not by phone. This is a hard stop, not a temporary policy.
The reason Chase discontinued the service is straightforward: money orders are a declining product. Fewer people use them each year as digital payments and bill pay options expand. Chase made the business decision to stop handling them entirely rather than maintain the infrastructure for a shrinking customer base.
If you need a money order, you have other options that are often faster and more convenient than a bank visit would have been anyway.
Key Takeaways
- Chase branches do not issue money orders, and this policy applies to all Chase customers regardless of account type.
- Walmart, grocery stores, and post offices sell money orders for $1 to $5 per order, depending on the amount and location.
- Money orders cost less and process faster at retail locations than they historically did at banks.
- You need cash or a debit card to buy a money order at most retailers; credit cards are usually not accepted.
Where to buy a money order instead
Walmart is the fastest option for most people. Every Walmart location sells money orders at the customer service desk. The fee is typically $0.88 for amounts up to $1,000. You can pay with cash or a debit card. No appointment needed, and the transaction takes about five minutes.
The U.S. Postal Service sells money orders at every post office. The fee is $1.45 for amounts up to $500, and $1.95 for $500 to $1,000. You can pay with cash, debit card, or check. Post offices have longer hours than banks in many areas, including Saturday service at most locations.
Grocery stores — Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, and others — sell money orders at the customer service counter. Fees range from $1 to $3 depending on the chain and the amount. Hours are typically longer than bank hours, and many are open seven days a week.
Check-cashing stores and payday lenders also sell money orders, usually for $2 to $5 per order. These are more expensive than the other options and should be your last resort, but they are available in most neighborhoods and often have evening or weekend hours.
What you need to buy a money order
You need the exact amount of money you want on the order, plus the fee. If you want a $500 money order from Walmart, bring $500.88 in cash or have that amount available on a debit card.
You do not need to be a customer of any bank or store to buy a money order. You do not need an ID in most cases, though some locations ask for one. You do need to know who the money order is payable to — the recipient's name — before you arrive.
Bring the recipient's exact name as they want it to appear on the order. If you are unsure of the spelling or the full legal name, ask the recipient before you go to the store. Money orders are difficult to correct after they are issued.
How long a money order takes to clear
A money order issued by Walmart or a grocery store typically clears within one to three business days once the recipient deposits it. A postal money order may take slightly longer — up to five business days — depending on the recipient's bank.
The recipient deposits the money order like a check, either at their bank branch or through mobile deposit if their bank offers it. They do not need to do anything special; the money order is treated as a check.
If you need the money to arrive faster, a digital payment through your Chase account — a wire transfer, ACH transfer, or Zelle if the recipient is enrolled — will arrive the same day or next business day and costs nothing.
When you actually need a money order
Money orders are useful when the recipient does not have a bank account or does not want to share their banking details with you. A landlord asking for a money order instead of a check is the most common scenario. Some utility companies and government agencies also accept money orders.
If the recipient will take a personal check, a check is free and works the same way. If they want a may provide payment, ask whether they accept digital transfers — Zelle, ACH, or wire — which are faster and cost nothing from Chase.
Money orders are also useful if you do not have a checking account and need to send a may provide payment. In that case, a money order from Walmart or the post office is your most straightforward option.
Money order limits and restrictions
Most retailers cap a single money order at $1,000. If you need to send more than $1,000, you can buy multiple money orders, but each one costs a separate fee. A $2,500 payment would require three money orders and three fees.
Some post offices have slightly different limits — a few cap orders at $500 — so ask before you buy if you need an order over $1,000.
Money orders cannot be sent electronically. You must deliver the physical order to the recipient or mail it. If you mail it, send it through the postal service with tracking, not through regular mail, because a lost money order is difficult to replace.
If you need to cancel or replace a money order
If you bought a money order and need to cancel it, contact the issuer — Walmart, the post office, or whichever store sold it to you. You will need the receipt and the money order number. The process takes several weeks, and you may not get a full refund if the money order has already been cashed.
If you lost a money order or it was never received, the issuer can issue a replacement, but again, you need the receipt and the original money order number. This is why keeping your receipt is important.
If the money order was already cashed by someone else, you cannot recover the money. This is one reason to use digital payments when possible — they are reversible if something goes wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I order a money order online from Chase and pick it up at a branch?
No. Chase does not sell money orders through any channel — online, by phone, or in person. You will need to go to Walmart, a grocery store, or the post office instead.
Does Chase offer any alternative to a money order?
Yes. If the recipient has a bank account, a wire transfer, ACH transfer, or Zelle payment through your Chase account will arrive faster and cost nothing. Ask the recipient which method they prefer before you buy a money order.
Can I use my Chase credit card to buy a money order?
Most retailers do not accept credit cards for money orders. Walmart, the post office, and grocery stores typically accept cash or debit cards only. Using a debit card is the fastest option if you do not have cash.
What happens if the money order gets lost in the mail?
Contact the issuer with your receipt and the money order number. They can issue a replacement, but the process takes several weeks. For this reason, mail money orders through the postal service with tracking, not regular mail.
Is a money order safer than a check?
A money order is may provide by the issuer, so it will not bounce like a check can. However, once cashed, it cannot be reversed. A digital payment through your Chase account is safer because it can be disputed if something goes wrong.