{"slug":"cashiers-check-vs-money-order","title":"Cashier's Check vs Money Order","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","faqCount":7,"faqs":[{"question":"Is a cashier's check safer than a money order?","answer":"Neither is named safer. Regulation CC defines a cashier's check as a direct obligation of the bank. USPS calls a postal money order a safe alternative to cash and personal checks. The CFPB says a money order is funded up front, so it can't bounce the way a check might. The CFPB also says counterfeit money orders and bad checks are a common scam, and that a bank can take the money back if a deposited check was fraudulent, even after a withdrawal."},{"question":"What's the maximum money order amount?","answer":"USPS says you can send up to $1,000 in a single domestic money order anywhere in the United States. Notice 123 sets the same maximum of $1,000. Chase lists a money order for an amount up to $1,000. Wells Fargo says checking and savings customers can purchase money orders valued up to $1,000 each. The CFPB says money orders are usually available only in smaller amounts, up to $1,000."},{"question":"Can I get a cashier's check without a bank account?","answer":"Bank of America says it will not provide a cashier's check unless you have a Bank of America checking or savings account. Wells Fargo says checking and savings customers can order a cashier's check. A money order is the instrument the CFPB says does not need a checking account. USPS says you can buy a postal money order at any Post Office with cash or a debit card, and that you cannot pay with a credit card."},{"question":"How much does a USPS money order cost?","answer":"USPS lists $2.65 for $0.01 to $500, and $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000. A postal military money order issued by a military facility is $0.85. Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026, matches those fees. You pay the dollar value plus the issuing fee. Confirm a bank or store fee with that seller. Chase lists $5 for a money order up to $1,000. Wells Fargo lists $5 per money order."},{"question":"How fast do the funds become available?","answer":"Regulation CC says a USPS money order deposited in a payee's account, in person to an employee of the depositary bank, must be available the next business day. A cashier's check deposited in a payee's account, in person to an employee, must be available the next business day, and the bank may require its special deposit slip. If that deposit is not made in person to an employee, the same section says the second business day. Amounts over $6,725 on one banking day, and amounts over $6,725 in a new account, can take longer. The CFPB says a bank can take the money back if the check was fraudulent, even after you withdrew it."},{"question":"What happens if a money order is lost?","answer":"USPS says you cannot stop payment on a postal money order, and that a lost or stolen money order can be replaced. USPS says loss or theft may take up to 30 days to confirm, an investigation may take up to 60 days, and there is a $23 processing fee to replace a lost or stolen money order. Notice 123 lists a $23 money order inquiry fee, and that fee covers a copy of a paid money order. The CFPB says a money order can be cancelled or reissued if it is lost or stolen. Take the receipt to a Post Office to start an inquiry."},{"question":"Can a cashier's check or money order be fake?","answer":"Yes. The CFPB says this is a common scam: someone sends a counterfeit money order or a bad check for more than the price and asks for the difference back. Do not send money to that buyer. Alert the bank or credit union. USPS says a domestic money order can't be more than $1,000, and that the words and numbers for the amount should match. USPS says to verify a money order at tools.usps.com/money-orders.htm or 1-866-459-7822, and to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 about fraud."}],"faqPageSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#faq","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"Cashier's Check vs Money Order — FAQ","description":"Frequently asked questions about Cashier's Check vs Money Order","dateModified":"2026-10-06T00:00:00.000Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#article"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#faq-speakable","cssSelector":[".faq-answer"]},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#q1","name":"Is a cashier's check safer than a money order?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#a1","text":"Neither is named safer. Regulation CC defines a cashier's check as a direct obligation of the bank. USPS calls a postal money order a safe alternative to cash and personal checks. The CFPB says a money order is funded up front, so it can't bounce the way a check might. The CFPB also says counterfeit money orders and bad checks are a common scam, and that a bank can take the money back if a deposited check was fraudulent, even after a withdrawal.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#q2","name":"What's the maximum money order amount?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#a2","text":"USPS says you can send up to $1,000 in a single domestic money order anywhere in the United States. Notice 123 sets the same maximum of $1,000. Chase lists a money order for an amount up to $1,000. Wells Fargo says checking and savings customers can purchase money orders valued up to $1,000 each. The CFPB says money orders are usually available only in smaller amounts, up to $1,000.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#q3","name":"Can I get a cashier's check without a bank account?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#a3","text":"Bank of America says it will not provide a cashier's check unless you have a Bank of America checking or savings account. Wells Fargo says checking and savings customers can order a cashier's check. A money order is the instrument the CFPB says does not need a checking account. USPS says you can buy a postal money order at any Post Office with cash or a debit card, and that you cannot pay with a credit card.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#q4","name":"How much does a USPS money order cost?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#a4","text":"USPS lists $2.65 for $0.01 to $500, and $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000. A postal military money order issued by a military facility is $0.85. Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026, matches those fees. You pay the dollar value plus the issuing fee. Confirm a bank or store fee with that seller. Chase lists $5 for a money order up to $1,000. Wells Fargo lists $5 per money order.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#q5","name":"How fast do the funds become available?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#a5","text":"Regulation CC says a USPS money order deposited in a payee's account, in person to an employee of the depositary bank, must be available the next business day. A cashier's check deposited in a payee's account, in person to an employee, must be available the next business day, and the bank may require its special deposit slip. If that deposit is not made in person to an employee, the same section says the second business day. Amounts over $6,725 on one banking day, and amounts over $6,725 in a new account, can take longer. The CFPB says a bank can take the money back if the check was fraudulent, even after you withdrew it.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#q6","name":"What happens if a money order is lost?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#a6","text":"USPS says you cannot stop payment on a postal money order, and that a lost or stolen money order can be replaced. USPS says loss or theft may take up to 30 days to confirm, an investigation may take up to 60 days, and there is a $23 processing fee to replace a lost or stolen money order. Notice 123 lists a $23 money order inquiry fee, and that fee covers a copy of a paid money order. The CFPB says a money order can be cancelled or reissued if it is lost or stolen. Take the receipt to a Post Office to start an inquiry.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#q7","name":"Can a cashier's check or money order be fake?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order#a7","text":"Yes. The CFPB says this is a common scam: someone sends a counterfeit money order or a bad check for more than the price and asks for the difference back. Do not send money to that buyer. Alert the bank or credit union. USPS says a domestic money order can't be more than $1,000, and that the words and numbers for the amount should match. USPS says to verify a money order at tools.usps.com/money-orders.htm or 1-866-459-7822, and to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 about fraud.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/cashiers-check-vs-money-order","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}}]}}