Cashing US domestic money orders in Canada

Accepting US green stripe USPS money orders?

[lgn1]

The United States Post Office has these domestic money orders with the wording, 'cashable only in the USA and its possessions".

The interesting thing is, that Canada and the USA shares a MICR encoding standard, so that the money
orders are processed by machines and not humans, once you get pass the teller stage.

I have been cashing these US domestic money orders for years at the CIBC bank in Canada with no hassle.

Recently I have switched banks, and the tellers will not accept these, however the banking machine at the new bank is happy to take them.

The trick is with these, is to get them beyond the human checking (teller), as the banking clearing systems are happy to process them.

Anybody have any similiar experiences in Canada or other countries with these US domestic money orders.

[Bubba Scruggs]

Sorry, could you explain that a bit more? So if I have a green PO money order I can deposit it into an ATM?

[Raymond]

I received a US postal money order before when I was living in Montreal. I tried cashing it at Nova scotia bank, HSBC, and Royal bank. None of them would do it.

[lgn1]

And neither will TD. It appears that CIBC is the only bank that will take them at the teller.

The ScotiaBank ATM will take them just fine.

Like I said, tellers are liable for losses, if they break bank policy, so they are more relunctant to take these. The person(s) opening banking machine deposit envelopes, is proabably not bound by the this policy, since the deposit is a done deal.

The trick is getting them in the system, as they are actually valid in Canada, despite what the US post office writes on them.

[rexrhino]

I believe that the teller has some options to decide in these kinds of things. Sometimes they let you deposit them (if they are in a good mood that day), sometimes they tell you they cannot do it, and sometimes they will tell you that it must be held for a certain number of weeks.

I think that in any bank, there is a lot of things the teller CAN do for you, but usually will not do for you unless they like you, they are in a good mood, or whatever.

[andmunn]

I in fact work for RBC Royal Bank, and like some people have said, these checks (which states only cashable in the US and territories) have no problem clearing - and therefore can be taken.

However, most tellers have a policy that they won't accept these checks, because it states clearly only to be cashed in the US and territories.

Again - any ATM will do the trick. The people processing ATM deposits aren't looking to verify anything, that's why it clears without problems.

[Bubba Scruggs]

I just spoke to a friend who deposited one into an ATM from an ebay transaction and had it returned, so no guarantees. :-/

[lgn1]

Your friend has rotten luck. I have deposited cheques
without a signature at an ATM and they were processed.

Must have been a new trainee.

[Bubba Scruggs]

I've routinely deposted cheques without a signature myself (just not the green postal orders).

Oh, I should add her bank was RBC.

[kodaks]

I agree with andmunn, when I try to cash a US money order at Royal Bank, sometimes they accept it and sometimes thay don't.