Penmate Inmate Support Guides

Sending money to an inmate at FCI Mendota (MoneyGram ExpressPayment: step-by-step)

When you use MoneyGram ExpressPayment to send funds to someone at FCI Mendota, every detail has to match the Bureau of Prisons format exactly. The account number and receive code are especially critical.

• 3 min read Verified from official sources

Before sending anything, confirm the person is currently at FCI Mendota and get their 8-digit register number. You'll use that register number to build the MoneyGram "account number." A single wrong digit or missing letter can keep the money from posting.

For MoneyGram ExpressPayment, the account number isn't a typical bank account. Enter the inmate's 8-digit register number immediately followed by their last name, with no spaces and no dashes. For example, if the register number is 12345678 and the last name is DOE, you'd enter 12345678DOE as the account number.

Note: Double-check the account number string before submitting. If it's not in the exact 8-digit register number plus last name format (no spaces or dashes), the funds may not post correctly.

When MoneyGram asks for a receive code, enter 7932. This is the code for all BOP inmate deposits through MoneyGram ExpressPayment.

  • ✓ Enter the dollar amount you want to send when prompted.
  • ✓ MoneyGram’s online instructions for this option show “up to $300” as the maximum amount you can send.

How quickly funds post depends on when you send (Eastern Time). Transfers sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST typically post within 2 to 4 hours. Send after 9:00 p.m. EST, and the funds won't post until 7:00 a.m. EST the next morning.

Tip: Need the money to arrive same-day? Send between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST to hit the 2 to 4 hour posting window.

If the money doesn't show up when expected, start by rechecking the account number you entered. It must be the 8-digit register number followed immediately by the last name, no spaces or dashes (for example, 12345678DOE). Keep your MoneyGram receipt or confirmation handy, then compare your send time to the posting windows: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST posts within 2 to 4 hours, while anything after 9:00 p.m. EST posts at 7:00 a.m. EST the next morning. Once you've verified those details, you'll be better positioned to contact MoneyGram or the Bureau of Prisons about any delay.

  1. Rebuild the account number: Use the 8-digit register number followed immediately by the last name, with no spaces or dashes (example: 12345678DOE).
  2. Confirm the receive code and amount: Make sure you used receive code 7932 and entered the dollar amount you intended (the online instructions for this option show up to $300).
  3. Save your confirmation: Keep your receipt or confirmation info so you can reference exactly what you entered if you need to follow up.

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