How to Send Money to an Inmate at Forest City Using MoneyGram

Before sending anything, confirm the person is actually housed at Forest City and has arrived there. MoneyGram processes deposits seven days a week, including holidays - so if the payment goes to the wrong place, it won't just sit there waiting. A quick check now saves you the headache of chasing down a misdirected deposit later.

• ✓ Confirm they’re currently listed as housed at Forest City (not in transit).
• ✓ Confirm they’ve physically arrived before you send funds.
• ✓ Double-check their 8-digit register number and spell their last name exactly as it appears on BOP records.

MoneyGram ExpressPayment requires a specific "Account Number" format for BOP deposits. Enter the inmate's 8-digit register number immediately followed by their last name - no spaces, no dashes. For example: 12345678DOE. Get even one character wrong, and the payment may not post to the right account.

When MoneyGram asks for company details, enter these exactly: Company Name is "Federal Bureau of Prisons" and City & State is "Washington, DC." Don't abbreviate or substitute - these are required fields.

1. Confirm you’re using Eastern Time for the posting window - MoneyGram’s posting schedule is based on Eastern Time, so convert your local time before you decide whether you’re sending “before 9:00 p.m.”
2. Send the MoneyGram ExpressPayment - Enter the required fields exactly (including the account number format and receive code) and submit your payment.
3. Expect same-day posting for most daytime/evening sends - Transfers sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time are typically posted within 2–4 hours.
4. Plan for next-morning posting if you send late - Transfers sent after 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time are posted at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time the following morning.

Weekends and holidays don’t pause the process. MoneyGram funds are received and processed seven days per week, including holidays, so the timing windows above still apply even when other offices are closed.

The most common problem? Simple data entry errors. A wrong register number, a missing digit, or a last name that doesn't match exactly. Remember: the account number must be the 8-digit register number immediately followed by the last name, no spaces or dashes. Small formatting mistakes can keep the deposit from landing where it should.

If funds don't show up when expected, check what time you sent the transfer in Eastern Time. Payments sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET usually post within 2–4 hours. Payments sent after 9:00 p.m. ET post at 7:00 a.m. ET the next morning. That timing difference explains most "missing deposit" scares.