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Sending Money

How to Send Money to Someone at FCI Marianna (and avoid sending it to the wrong place)

Sending money is usually straightforward, but one common mistake causes a lot of delays: mailing funds directly to the prison's street address. Here's how to get money to someone at FCI Marianna using the approved options, with the exact details that matter.

• 4 min read Verified from official sources

Don't send money to FCI Marianna's physical (street) address. The Bureau of Prisons routes mailed payments through a centralized processing center in Des Moines, Iowa, not through the institution itself. If you address money to the prison directly, it can be delayed, rejected, or posted to the wrong person because processing depends on the exact inmate details you provide.

Reminder: Before you send anything, confirm the person’s full name and register number exactly. A small typo can be enough to send money to the wrong place or keep it from posting.

For a fast electronic deposit, FCI Marianna accepts MoneyGram ExpressPayment (per Bureau of Prisons guidance). When everything is entered correctly, the money goes straight into the person's account once it posts.

Timing matters. Funds sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time post within 2 to 4 hours. Processing runs seven days a week, including holidays, so you're not limited to business days.

Heads-up: Transfers sent after 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time won't post until 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time the next morning. If you're watching the clock, check your MoneyGram transaction details so you know exactly when it went through.

Prepare Moneygram

  • ✓ Inmate’s full name (spelled exactly as the BOP has it)
  • ✓ Inmate’s BOP register number (double-check every digit)
  • ✓ Facility name: FCI Marianna
  • ✓ Confirmation the person has arrived and is assigned (so the register number and name match the current record)
  • ✓ You are using MoneyGram’s ExpressPayment option for BOP deposits
  • ✓ Recipient and payment details entered exactly as required by MoneyGram for BOP inmate deposits
  1. Gather the exact inmate details - use the person’s full name and BOP register number, and make sure it matches their current status at FCI Marianna.
  2. Choose MoneyGram ExpressPayment - this is the electronic method the BOP accepts for inmate deposits.
  3. Enter the information carefully - type the register number and name exactly as confirmed, then review it before you submit.
  4. Confirm the transaction details - check that you selected the correct ExpressPayment option and that the recipient details follow MoneyGram’s BOP instructions.
  5. Keep your receipt or confirmation - you will want the reference information if anything posts late or needs to be traced.

Tip: Most problems come from a misspelled name or a wrong register number. Slow down for 30 seconds and re-check both before you hit submit.

Once your deposit is received, it goes into the person's commissary (trust) account at FCI Marianna. Think of it like a bank balance the institution maintains. It's used for commissary purchases. If you sent via MoneyGram during the daily window, the funds typically post within 2 to 4 hours and become available to spend at that point.

Good to know: Commissary funds are used to buy items and articles that are not issued regularly by the institution.

If the money doesn't show up when expected, start with the basics. Double-check the name and register number you entered against what you were given. Review the recipient details on your ExpressPayment deposit. Then check the MoneyGram transaction status and the time you sent it. Transfers sent after 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time won't post until 7:00 a.m. the next morning.

  1. Review your receipt - confirm the inmate name and register number are correct, and note the time the transfer was sent.
  2. Check your transaction status with MoneyGram - use your reference or confirmation info to see whether it was accepted and processed.
  3. Contact MoneyGram support if needed - have the transaction reference ready so they can trace it.
  4. Contact the facility if you need to confirm inmate/account details - you are responsible for entering the correct information, so verifying the exact name and register number can prevent repeated errors.

If you mailed money to the institution’s street address by mistake: Act quickly and follow the guidance from the vendor and the facility. Misaddressed mailed funds can be hard to recover.

This article intentionally does not list the Des Moines processing center mailing address. Using an outdated or copied address is one of the most common ways funds get misrouted. Follow the current MoneyGram ExpressPayment instructions and any Bureau of Prisons guidance for mailed funds, and ask for help if you're unsure.

When in doubt, pause and verify. Confirm the person's name, register number, and sending method before you pay. Sending money to the wrong place can create long delays, and sometimes a loss you can't easily fix.

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