Wal-Mart launches in-store tax refunds

(Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc 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 , 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 and MoneyGram , 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. (Reporting by Shailaja Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Robin Paxton)