Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Hempsey John
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
02/09/2009		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL INC [MGI]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1550 UTICA AVENUE SOUTH, SUITE 100		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
CEO - MGI Limited
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55416		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 12,453
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option (right to buy) (1) 05/13/2006 05/13/2013 Common Stock 5,000 $ 15.5746 D  
Option (right to buy) (1) 02/18/2009 02/18/2011 Common Stock 8,000 $ 19.3208 D  
Option (right to buy) (2) 02/16/2008 02/16/2015 Common Stock 4,400 $ 20.51 D  
Option (right to buy) (3) 02/15/2009 02/15/2016 Common Stock 8,800 $ 27.245 D  
Option (right to buy) (3)   (4) 02/14/2017 Common Stock 7,400 $ 29.255 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Hempsey John
1550 UTICA AVENUE SOUTH
SUITE 100
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55416		       CEO - MGI Limited  

Signatures

Teresa H. Johnson on behalf of John Hempsey 02/25/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) In a spin-off effective on June 30, 2004, Viad Corp ("Viad") distributed to its stockholders the shares of MoneyGram International, Inc. ("MGI"). At the time of the spin-off, holders of Viad stock received one share of MGI stock for each Viad share held on the record date of June 24, 2004. In addition, (a) all outstanding options to purchase Viad common stock were adjusted to consist of options to purchase Viad common stock and MGI common stock; (b) holders of stock units under deferred compensation plans of Viad received one MGI stock unit for each Viad stock unit held on the record date; and (c) holders of Viad restricted stock received one share of MGI restricted stock for each Viad share of restricted stock held on the record date. The securities ownership of the reporting person listed herein consists of the securities of MGI held immediately following the spin-off as a result of the spin-off distribution. The transaction is exempt pursuant to Rule 16a-9(a).
(2) Non-qualified stock option granted pursuant to MoneyGram International, Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
(3) Non-qualified stock option granted pursuant to MoneyGram International, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
(4) The option vests in three equal annual installments beginning on February 14, 2008.

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