Yes, you can deposit a money order at an ATM at most major banks, and the process works much like depositing a paper check: the machine scans the document, reads the amount, and credits your account, usually with a hold of two to five business days before the full balance is available. Not every ATM handles them, and mobile deposit is generally not an option for money orders, so the ATM or a teller inside a branch are your realistic choices.
Which ATMs Actually Accept Money Orders
Bank-branded ATMs, especially the ones physically attached to a branch, are your best bet. These machines have image-scanning technology that reads money orders the same way it reads checks. Standalone ATMs in convenience stores and gas stations rarely accept deposits of any kind and typically only dispense cash.
Online-only banks and smaller credit unions tend to be more restrictive. Some accept only money orders issued by the U.S. Postal Service or major issuers such as Western Union and MoneyGram, and reject ones from smaller retailers. Check your bank’s app or website before you go. If ATM deposit is not supported, a teller inside a branch is the reliable fallback, since staff can verify the document on the spot.
One boundary worth knowing: mobile deposit through your banking app usually does not work for money orders, including U.S. Postal Service money orders. The formatting and security features differ enough from a standard check that mobile scanning systems often cannot process them.
Filling Out and Endorsing the Money Order
Before you leave for the ATM, confirm the front is completely filled in. The “pay to” line should show your name or the name on your bank account, and the purchaser section should be completed. A blank “pay to” line can get the item rejected by the scanner or flagged in processing.
Flip the money order over and sign in the endorsement area on the back. Your signature should match the payee name on the front. Below your signature, write “For Deposit Only” and your account number. That restrictive endorsement means the money order can only be deposited into your account, not cashed by someone else if it is lost.1Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Does It Mean for a Check to Be Indorsed “For Deposit Only”?
Use black or blue ink. The document should be flat, with no major wrinkles, tears, or smudges that could block the scanner.
Step by Step at the Machine
- Insert your debit card and enter your PIN.
- Choose “Deposit” from the menu, then select the checking or savings account you want credited.
- Feed the money order into the paper slot when it opens, front side up unless the screen shows a different orientation.
- Check the amount the scanner detects against the face value, and correct it before confirming if the reading is off.
- Take the receipt, which usually includes an image of the deposited money order, and keep it until the funds fully clear.
If the ATM Jams or Misreads the Amount
If the machine cannot read the money order, returns it, or credits the wrong amount, don’t walk away without your receipt or the original document. Call your bank’s customer service line right away; the number is usually shown on screen or on the machine. If the ATM keeps the money order without crediting your account, the bank will retrieve it during the next servicing and investigate.
Federal rules give you 60 days from the statement date reflecting an error to formally dispute a deposit mistake.2Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Regulation E – Section 1005.11 Procedures for Resolving Errors Report anything off as soon as you spot it. Resolution gets harder the longer you wait.
When the Money Becomes Available
Federal law treats money orders, including U.S. Postal Service money orders, as “checks” for funds availability purposes.3eCFR. 12 CFR Part 229 – Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks (Regulation CC) The hold schedule is the same one your bank uses for check deposits:
- The first $275 is available by the next business day after deposit. That threshold took effect on July 1, 2025, replacing the earlier $225 figure.4eCFR. 12 CFR 229.11 – Adjustment of Dollar Amounts
- The rest is generally available within two to five business days, depending on how your bank classifies the item.5eCFR. 12 CFR Part 229 – Availability of Funds and Collection of Checks (Regulation CC) – Section 229.12
Your bank’s app or website will show when the hold lifts and the funds move into the available balance.
Large Deposits
If the money order is for more than $6,725, the bank must release the first $6,725 on the normal schedule but can place an extended hold on the amount above that.6Federal Reserve. A Guide to Regulation CC Compliance The extra hold can run several additional business days past the standard window.
New Accounts
If your account was opened in the last 30 days, holds can be much longer. Only the first $6,725 deposited on a single day follows the standard next-day rules for certain items; anything above that can be held for up to nine business days.7eCFR. 12 CFR 229.13 – Exceptions
Exception Holds
A bank can also apply an “exception hold” that delays access for additional business days. The main triggers are a specific, fact-based doubt about whether the money order will be paid; a recent overdraft history (six or more overdraft days in the last six months, or two or more days overdrawn by $6,725 or more in that period); and emergency conditions such as equipment failures or communication outages.7eCFR. 12 CFR 229.13 – Exceptions The bank cannot apply the collectibility hold just because the item is a money order; it needs a reason tied to that specific deposit. When an exception hold is used, the bank must send you a written notice showing the deposit date, the amount held, the reason, and the new availability date.
The Fraud Risk Behind Money Order Deposits
A common scam involves someone sending a money order for more than an amount owed and asking you to return the “overpayment.” If the money order turns out to be counterfeit and you have already withdrawn against it, the bank will claw back the full amount and your account can be left overdrawn.8Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Someone Bought Something I Was Selling Online and Sent Me a Check or Money Order for More Than the Price – Should I Be Worried?
Knowingly depositing a forged or altered money order is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 500 – Money Orders Even an unknowing deposit of a counterfeit item can lead the bank to close your account.
Only accept money orders from people or businesses you trust. If one arrives unexpectedly or is written for more than the amount agreed, contact the issuer to verify it before you go anywhere near a deposit slot. Tell your bank right away if you suspect a money order is fake.