William Lipovsky
Short Answer
Publix sells Western Union money orders for around $1 but doesn’t cash them. It does cash personal and payroll checks for varying fees. Find more details of Publix’s money order and check cashing policies below.
Publix Money Order Policy
Publix sells Western Union money orders at all store locations but doesn’t cash money orders of any kind.[1]
The fee to purchase a money order is $0.99. Publix only allows up to $500 to be purchased per money order and you’ll need to show a valid photo ID.[2][3]
You can pay for your money order using cash or a pin-required debit card; you can’t pay with a check, gift card, or credit card.[3]
Tracking & Refunds
Our related research details how to track a money order to determine if the recipient has cashed it.
If you purchase a money order from Publix and then no longer need it, you can get a refund from Western Union; see our step-by-step return instructions.
Note that there are processing fees of $15 to $30 to pursue a refund from Western Union, as well as a $3 refund processing fee for money orders less than $20 if you have your original money order or purchaser’s receipt. Refunds take about 30 days to process.[4]
Publix Check Cashing Policy
Publix will only cash personal and payroll checks at its stores.[1] You can’t cash a tax return check, rebate check, settlement check, utility deposit check, or other types at Publix.
Fees & Limits
Publix check-cashing fees vary depending on the check type and amount.[3]
The largest check Publix will cash is at the discretion of the store manager; some stores implement limits of around $500 or lower.[2]
Requirements
Publix processes checks electronically through the third-party check verification company Certegy.[5]
You must show a driver’s license, state ID, or military ID when cashing a check.[1]
Want to avoid Certegy verification? See our list of check cashing places that don’t use Certegy.
Money Service Hours
Money order and check cashing services are available at the regular customer service desk inside Publix; there isn’t a separate money service counter.
Most stores are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., seven days a week.[6]
Other Options
Since Publix only sells money orders, see our related research for information about where to cash a money order.
We also list more places that sell money orders and grocery stores that cash checks.
Lindsey Desmet
I bought a money order at a Publix store. How can I track if it’s been cashed?
Great question, Melvin! You can call Western Union at (800) 999-9660 to find out whether the money order has been cashed. When you call, select the option to check the status of a money order and then enter the 11-digit money order number. We have updated our article to include this information.
A money order from Publix was returned to me by my realtor so now I no longer need it. Can I bring the returned money order and my receipt back to Publix and get a refund?
Hi Shelby,
If you have a money order you no longer need, turn the money order over and complete the Money Order Tracing/Refund request on the back of the money order. Send the money order and a $15 nonrefundable processing fee to the address on the form. It takes about 30 days to receive your refund.
Just go to Walmart.
I was just curious, ive been to my local Publix three times to cash my payroll check for less than $500. Out of the 3 times, twice ive been told they got hit really hard that day and couldn’t cash my check. Just wondering how Publix doesnt have under $500 in there store?
Tiffany,
That does seem odd, but as with many locations that cash checks, individual store policies and procedures tend to vary by location. I’m sorry they haven’t been able to cash your check on two out of three occasions. You might try one of the other check cashing locations that we’ve listed in our article. I hope you have better luck (and the store isn’t so low on funds) next time!
Visiting Florida from Caribbean, and need to send money out of state about $5000.00 by money order, what documents do I need to buy, could I use my passport or I’d card?
Steve,
Publix prepares money orders through Western Union. In order to prepare a money order, Western Union requires your receiver’s first and last name, country and city to send money. (Some countries may require a state name, too.) If you are sending a prepaid card via Home Delivery, you’ll also need your receiver’s address and phone number. In some cases, depending on the amount of the transfer, you may need to provide identification or other information to meet government requirements. There’s usually no restriction on the amount of money you may send at an agent location for Western Union. However, some countries set limits on how much can be received. If you have questions about a specific amount you’re sending or the type of identification you’ll need at a specific location, you can call Western Union Customer Care at 1-800-325-6000. I hope this helps!
May I use an American Express gift card to purchase a money order at Publix?
Hi Greg,
Generally speaking, it will be tough to purchase a money order with a gift card. Many stores have a policy against accepting gift cards with no name on them for money order purchases. These policies are usually in place to reduce the risk of fraud (debit, credit, or prepaid cards can be verified by checking the customer’s ID against the name on the card; gift cards can’t).
To confirm whether this was the case with Publix, I reached out to a customer support representative and was informed that Publix only accepts debit cards or cash for the purchase of money orders. I hope this helps!
Hi my name is Kenneth , and I just moved down from Michigan to Florida, and my wife and son are up north and I don’t have a bank here until they move down. Well I went to cash my payroll check from rooms to go and was told your policy is that the check must have the employers phone number on the check is this true?
Hi Kenneth,
This is an excellent question! It seems that Publix doesn’t post a specific policy online about what must be included on a payroll check in order for it to be cashed. I’ve reached out to Publix customer support to find out more details about your question. I will update this comment as soon as I get a response from a support representative, and I will update the article accordingly as well. In the meantime, it may be helpful for you to take a look at our article about where to cash a payroll check near you for some other places that may be able to assist you.
Hi Kenneth,
I wanted to let you know that I did hear back from a Publix representative, who informed me that it’s up to individual Publix stores to set requirements about check cashing policies — so this may not be the rule at all Publix locations, but it could be a requirement at your nearest store. I’ve made a note in the article to let other readers know about your experience. I hope you were able to find somewhere to cash your payroll check in the article I mentioned in my previous comment. Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention!