(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc (N:WMT) has launched a service allowing customers to pick up tax refunds in cash at stores across the United States.
The service, Walmart Direct2Cash, was made available at Wal-Mart stores from Tuesday, the company said.
The world's largest retailer is working with Tax Products Group (TPG), a unit of Green Dot Corp (N:GDOT), and Republic Bank & Trust Co. Wal-Mart will not charge a fee for the service, although customers could be charged up to $7.
Sterne Agee analyst Thomas McCrohan said the service would appeal most to customers without a bank account, who would otherwise pay a higher fee to convert a tax-refund check into cash.
" ... Those without a bank account would likely view this option as more economically attractive," he wrote in a note.
In April, Wal-Mart launched a money transfer service in a direct challenge to the dominance of Western Union Co (N:WU) and MoneyGram (O:MGI), aiming to broaden the financial services it offers to low-income customers.
Wal-Mart's shares closed down marginally at $86.69 on Tuesday. Green Dot's stock closed up 2.6 percent on the New York Stock Exchange.