U.S. Postal Money Orders are issued with a maximum value of $1,000.

ALL U.S. Postal Money Order presented for cash or deposit $500.00 or greater, or when multiple money orders aggregate to $500.00 or more, must be verified for validity using the Postal Service Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. The IVR system can only verify money orders issued at least 48 hours ago and not older than 90 days. The U.S. Postal Service provides a positive pay interactive phone system which enables financial institutions to verify U.S. Postal Money Orders.

If there is reason for suspicion concerning the validity of any U.S. Postal Money Order regardless of the amount, a call to the Postal Service IVR system is required. U.S. Postal Money Orders can also be cashed at a U.S. Post Office.

To verify a U.S. Postal Money Order:

• Call the Money Order Verification System at 1.866.459.7822. 
• To use the system you will need the following:
  • Money Order serial number (11 digits)
  • Money Order dollar amount (1-6 digits)
  • Money Order Post Office ID (6 digits)
• Only 1 money order can be verified at a time, but additional lookups are allowed per call.
  • The system will prompt you to enter additional money order lookups.

Possible responses from the system:

• Verification that the money order was issued by the Postal Service in the dollar amount entered.
  • Once the item is verified, write the following in the upper left hand corner of the item:
    • First initial / last name of associate performing the verification
    • Date and time of verification
    • Any additional confirmation/verification information provided by the U.S. Postal Service IVR system.
      
      
• Response that the money order does not matcha money order in the issued database.
  • Money order may be outside the 2 to 90 day timeframe; 
  • Could be the wrong combination of serial number and dollar amount, or 
  • It could be fraudulent.

If a money order does not match the USPS database, do the following:

• Double check the numbers and try again. 
• Check the issue date to make sure it is between the 2 to 90 day issue timeframe.
• Check the Security Features of a U.S. Postal Service Money Order. 
• Follow the prompts to speak with a help desk representative for additional verification.

If validity cannot be verified a hold may be warranted. If a hold is placed, these items are considered "next day" items and a hold may only be placed in accordance with Reg CC procedures.