How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
USP Atwater keeps inmate funds in a commissary account, which the inmate uses to buy items not regularly issued by the institution. If you send money through MoneyGram, formatting matters: enter the inmate's 8-digit register number immediately followed by their last name as the account number, and include receive code 7932. Do not send money to the institution's street address. Mailed funds get routed to a processing center in Des Moines, Iowa for handling. Some facilities offer additional deposit options like online payment portals, lobby kiosks, phone payments, or mailing a money order, but available methods and fees depend on the vendor and state. Double-check the vendor instructions and the register number before submitting payment to avoid delays.
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Before sending money through MoneyGram ExpressPayment, confirm that your recipient has physically arrived at a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility. MoneyGram payments require the inmate's BOP register number and name in a specific format—send too early or use incorrect details, and your payment may get delayed or land in the wrong place.
Sending money is one of the easiest ways to support someone at USP Atwater, but a couple of common mistakes can get a payment delayed or rejected. Follow the rules below, paying close attention to the "do not mail money to the facility" requirement and the exact MoneyGram account-number format.
Use the inmate’s 8-digit register number immediately followed by their last name as the account number. Add receive code 7932 to the MoneyGram payment.
No. Don't send money to the institution's street address. Mailed funds are handled through a processing center in Des Moines, Iowa.
It holds the inmate’s funds so they can purchase items not regularly issued by the institution.
Before you put miles on your car, make one call. A quick check-in with USP Atwater can save you from arriving on the wrong day, showing up before you're approved, or discovering your loved one isn't available to visit.
Whether you're planning a visit or staying in touch by phone, confirm the latest rules directly with the facility first. Schedules and access can shift, and a quick call can save you a wasted trip.
Getting approved to visit at USP Atwater starts before you ever plan the trip. You need to be on the inmate's approved visiting list and cleared by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) before you can walk through the door.
