Does Walmart Cash Western Union Money Orders In 2026?

The short answer is no, Walmart does not cash Western Union money orders as of 2022.

I know that can be disappointing if you have a Western Union money order you need to cash. But don‘t worry, you still have plenty of options! In this guide, I‘ll walk you through exactly where you can cash Western Union money orders, how Walmart‘s own money order services work, and tips to make the process smooth.

Whether you need to send or receive funds, this guide will provide everything you need to know about using money order services through Walmart and Western Union. Let‘s dive in!

Why You Can‘t Cash Western Union at Walmart

Walmart offers money order services and partners with companies like MoneyGram and Ria Financial to provide money transfers. However, Walmart does not work directly with Western Union.

You might be wondering why Walmart doesn‘t partner with Western Union, since they are one of the largest money transfer companies worldwide.

There are a few potential reasons driving this:

• Exclusive Partnerships – Walmart may have exclusive partnerships with MoneyGram and Ria that prevent them from also working with Western Union.

• Competitive Rates – Walmart may get better wholesale rates from MoneyGram and Ria compared to Western Union, saving costs.

• Brand Recognition – Walmart may prefer building brand recognition for their own services like Walmart2Walmart.

• Technical Integration – Connecting to Western Union‘s systems may involve technical work and costs.

The bottom line is that Walmart has chosen to partner with other money transfer companies rather than offer Western Union services in their stores.

Cashing Western Union Money Orders

Just because you can‘t cash Western Union at Walmart doesn‘t mean you‘re out of luck. There are still tons of places you can go to cash out a Western Union money order quickly and easily.

Here are the most popular places I recommend checking out:

Banks and Credit Unions

Many local banks and credit unions have partnered with Western Union to provide money order services, even if you don‘t have an account with them. Call ahead to check if they‘ll cash out Western Union money orders for non-customers.

Over 13,000 banks and credit unions in the US are part of Western Union‘s trusted agent network. And unlike Walmart, these institutions will cash Western Union money orders.

Western Union Agent Locations

In addition to banks, Western Union has over 500,000 agent locations worldwide including grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, check cashing stores, and more.

Use Western Union‘s locator tool to find nearby agent options to cash your money order. I always find this super helpful to find somewhere close by.

Top chains that are Western Union agents include Albertsons, Circle K, Ace Cash Express, and others. As long as you see the Western Union signage, they should cash out the money orders.

Grocery Stores

Major grocery store chains like Kroger, Safeway, Publix and others allow you to cash Western Union money orders directly at the customer service desk.

I‘ve had good luck cashing out money orders at grocery stores near me when I need the cash quickly. There‘s usually no extra fees as long as you have valid ID.

Convenience Stores

Some of the most popular convenience store chains that offer Western Union money order cashing include:

• 7-Eleven
• Circle K
• Speedway
• Pilot/Flying J
• QuickChek
• Wawa

These stores make it super convenient to cash out your money order when you‘re already stopping in to grab a coffee or snack.

The next time you have a Western Union money order, check if one of these major convenience store chains is nearby to save yourself a trip.

How Much Does Cashing Out Cost?

When you cash a Western Union money order, are there any fees you have to pay as the recipient?

The good news is there are typically no fees charged to the recipient of a money order when cashing out.

The sender who originally purchased the money order paid a fee at the time of purchase. This fee covered the costs for both sending and cashing the money order.

For example, sending a $500 Western Union money order domestically may cost around $15 in fees, depending on location. But as the receiver, you won‘t pay any additional charges when cashing out.

Of course, if you cash a money order at a check cashing store or exchange, they may charge a small additional convenience fee. But there are no direct Western Union fees, which is great.

Walmart Money Order Fees

Since you can‘t cash Western Union at Walmart, you may want to get a new money order sent via Walmart instead.

Here‘s a quick look at Walmart‘s current money order fees so you know what to expect:

Money Order Amount	Fee
Up to $500	$0.70
$501 – $1,000	$1.25
$1,001 – $5,000	$1.50

One thing I really like is Walmart offers a 5% discount on fees for sending domestic money orders under $1,000. That can add up over time!

Walmart also allows you to send money orders up to $5,000. Other stores often limit to $500 – $1,000.

So if you need to send a large amount or want the lowest fees, getting a Walmart money order issued to the recipient is a great option.

Walmart vs Western Union Prices

To compare, here‘s an overview of current Western Union money order fees:

Money Order Amount	Walmart Fee	Western Union Fee
$100	$0.70	$8
$250	$0.70	$12
$500	$0.70	$15
$750	$1.25	$22
$1,000	$1.25	$27

As you can see, Walmart offers significantly lower fees than Western Union on money order transfers, especially under $500.

Their discounted rates on lower amounts make them very affordable for quick, domestic send offs. You can often save $5-15 per transfer with Walmart.

However, Western Union does have a massive global agent network for international transfers that Walmart can‘t match. So if sending money abroad, Western Union likely still has better reach.

Pro Tips for Walmart Money Orders

If you decide to get a money order from Walmart, here are some pro tips:

• Know the Hours – Walmart MoneyCenters are open 8am-8pm on weekdays, 10am-6pm Sundays. Holiday hours vary.

• Bring Valid ID – To send or cash a money order, you‘ll need a valid government-issued photo ID.

• Fill Out Carefully – Completely fill out the money order with recipient details and account numbers. It can‘t be amended!

• Keep the Receipt – Hold on to the confirmation receipt as proof of purchase in case anything goes wrong.

• Cash During Open Hours – You can cash out a Walmart money order anytime the MoneyCenter or service desk is open.

• Check Locations – Some Walmarts don‘t have MoneyCenters, so check store finder before going.

Following these tips will make your Walmart money order experience smooth and hassle-free!

Money Order Safety Tips

I want to provide some quick safety tips when using money orders in general:

• Go to Trusted Agents – Only purchase/cash from authorized Western Union and Walmart locations. Beware scams.

• Pay with Cash – Using debit/credit to buy a money order opens you to potential fraud if stolen. Pay cash.

• Double Check Info – Carefully enter details when filling out a money order to avoid errors. Triple check!

• Only Sign When Cashing – Never sign a money order when purchasing. Only sign upon cashing out.

• Keep Receipts – Hold on to receipts as proof and for reference numbers in case issues arise.

• Cash Quickly – Cash out money orders ASAP to avoid potential loss or theft. Don‘t hold for long periods.

Following basic precautions goes a long way in keeping your money secure!

The Bottom Line

I know it can be confusing trying to figure out where you can cash Western Union money orders locally. Hopefully this guide provided some clarity!

While Walmart doesn‘t offer Western Union services, tons of other retailers and financial institutions are ready to help. You have plenty of options to get your money order cashed out quickly and safely.

And for sending affordable domestic transfers, Walmart money orders are a great alternative with competitive rates.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help sort through money order issues and make the process smooth.