Walgreens and Western Union have been working in collaboration since 2015. According to Walgreens.com, Western Union is available at all Walgreens locations as of 2023. You can learn more about the relationship between these two companies here.
Many Walgreens locations even host self-service Western Union kiosks, making it easy to send and receive money fast. However, not all Walgreens locations have these kiosks, so in some cases you may have to visit the customer service desk to send or receive your money.
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How Does It Work?
Western Union offers a method for quickly transferring money between any Western Union partner location, which includes Walgreens.
Initiating a Western Union money transfer through Walgreens can happen in a number of ways, including by visiting the store in person to initiate your money transfer or by initiating the transfer online.
Western Union money transfer costs vary depending on how much money you’re sending and where your recipient is located. You can use the Western Union fee estimator tool here to predict how much you will be charged for your money transfer. Transfer fees are generally charged to the sender, not to the recipient.
Money Order Vs. Money Transfer
All money transfers that happen through Western Union at Walgreens are considered money transfers. You cannot purchase or cash money orders through Western Union at Walgreens.
A money transfer is pretty straightforward. It simply means that one party is transferring money to another party, and in this case, Western Union facilitates that transfer.
A money order, on the other hand, is a pre-ordered amount of money that is distributed to a certain individual and can be cashed on demand for a designated amount. Money orders function similar to checks, but they are a bit more complicated and typically cost money to purchase.
Western Union money transfers have been around for a very long time, and are considered one of the safest, fastest, and most reliable money transfer options available.
How To Use Western Union At Walgreens
There are four basic ways to use Western Union at Walgreens. You can…
- Send your money transfer online for pickup at a Walgreens location
- Initiate a transfer online through the Western Union app or WU.com and pay in store at a Walgreens location
- Use a Western Union self-service kiosk at a participating Walgreens location
- Initiate your money transfer at the customer service desk at any Walgreens location
For each of these methods, you will need to provide a valid payment method, such as a debit card or credit card with sufficient funds for your money transfer. You will also need to provide the full legal name of both you and the person receiving your money transfer as it appears on your government-issued IDs, plus your receiver’s location.
You must be 18 or older to send or receive a Western Union money transfer.
To learn more about the requirements for sending a Western Union money transfer, click here.
Sending Money
To send money through Western Union at Walgreens, start by either visiting WU.com or the Western Union app. Alternatively, you can also just visit any Walgreens location in person to start your transfer.
If you initiated your transfer online, you can complete your transfer by paying with cash in person at any Walgreens location. You can also initiate your entire transfer in person by visiting the Walgreens customer service desk or finding a Western Union kiosk.
At a kiosk, you will be asked to enter your full name and contact information, the full name and location of your sendee, and your payment information.
The standard Western union transfer limit is $3,000 per transaction, unless you get verified for higher transaction limits (up to $50,000). Many sources online have shared inaccurate information about Western Union’s daily transfer limits, but our information is verifiable through Western Union’s website here.
Receiving Money
If you have been sent money through Western Union to pick up at a Walgreens location, all you have to do is show up at the Walgreens location where your money was sent and visit the customer service desk or a Western Union kiosk.
To pick up the money from a customer service associate, simply let them know that you need to pick up a Western Union money transfer. They will ask to see your ID to check that your name matches the name on your money transfer. Once your identity has been verified, you will receive your payment in the form it was sent. Western Union money transfers can be received as cash, bank transfers, digital payments, and more.
Generally speaking, you can receive up to $3,000 via a Western Union money transfer.
FAQs
Are money transfers at Walgreens through Western Union safe?
Yes. Western Union is one of the most well established money transfer services in the world, and it is widely regarded as being extremely safe and secure.
How long does Western Union take to transfer money?
Western Union transfers generally take just a few minutes.
Can you pick up your Western Union money anywhere?
No. When you send a Western Union money transfer, you send it to a specific location. Your recipient must pick up their money transfer at that location, otherwise they will not be able to access the transfer.
Does Walgreens cash Western Union checks (money orders)?
This is unclear. Some sources online claim that Walgreens can cash Western Union money orders, but several other sources state that Walgreens does not handle money orders at all. As far as we can confirm, the only Western Union services available at Walgreens are money transfers and bill pay through Western Union kiosks.
