Document:

EX-10.01

Exhibit 10.01

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.

2005 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

This Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made effective as of May 6,
2009 (the “Grant Date”) between MoneyGram International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and Anthony P. Ryan who is an employee of the Company (the “Optionee”).

WHEREAS, in connection with the Optionee’s employment with the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries, the Company desires to grant to the Optionee an option to purchase shares of the
Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) on the date hereof pursuant
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Company’s 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”);

WHEREAS, the Human Resources and Nominating Committee (the “Committee”) has determined that it
would be to the advantage, and in the best interest, of the Company and its shareholders to grant
the option provided for herein to the Optionee as an incentive for Optionee’s increased efforts
during Optionee’s employment with the Company or one of its Subsidiaries;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

1. Grant of Option.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby grants
to the Optionee on the Grant Date, an option to purchase up to 8.0 million shares of
Common Stock at the option price set forth in Section 2 (the “Option”).

The foregoing award is a Non-qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan, which is
incorporated herein by this reference and made part of this Agreement. The Option is not an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”).

2. Option Price.

The per share purchase price of the shares subject to the Option shall be the higher of $1.50
or the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the Grant Date (the “Option Price”), subject to
appropriate adjustment as may be determined by the Committee from time to time in accordance with
Section 9.

3. Term of Option and Exercisability.

The term of the Option shall be for a period of ten years from the Grant Date, terminating at
the close of business on May 6, 2019 (the “Expiration Date”) or such shorter period as is
prescribed in Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement. Subject to the provisions of Sections 4, 5 and 6
of this Agreement, 50% of the Option shall vest and become exercisable based on a time-vesting
schedule (the “Time-Based Option”) and the remaining 50% of the Option shall vest and become
exercisable based on performance-based vesting criteria (the “Performance-Based Option”).

(a) Time-Based Option: Subject to the Optionee’s continued employment with the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries on the applicable “Time-Vesting Date” set forth in the table below, the
Time-Based-Option shall vest as follows:

	 	 	 	 	 
	Time-Vesting Date

	 	Aggregate Percentage Vested Time-Based Option

	
 
	 	 	 	 
	On the Grant Date

	 	 	15	%
	 

	 	 	 	 
	On March 15, 2010

	 	 	35	%
	 

	 	 	 	 
	On March 15, 2011

	 	 	55	%
	 

	 	 	 	 
	On March 15, 2012

	 	 	75	%
	 

	 	 	 	 
	On March 15, 2013

	 	 	90	%
	 

	 	 	 	 
	On March 15, 2014

	 	 	100	%
	 

	 	 	 	 

If the Optionee’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is terminated on or
prior to the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date, the unvested portion of the Time-Based Option
shall be forfeited as described in Section 5 hereof.

(b) Performance-Based Option: Subject to the Optionee’s continued employment with the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the applicable Performance-Vesting Date (as defined below),
the Performance-Based Option shall vest as follows:

(i) 50% of the Performance-Based Option (“Tranche 1 Performance-Based Option”) shall vest in
full (A) so long as the Common Stock trades on a United States securities exchange or trading
market (which, for the purpose of Section 3(b), shall include an over-the-counter market on the OTC
Bulletin Board or Pink Sheets), on the earlier of (x) the date that the daily closing price of the
Common Stock on the principal United States securities exchange or trading market on which the
Common Stock is traded (the “Applicable Market”) equals or exceeds two (2) times the Option Price
for any period of twenty (20) consecutive trading days during the five-year period following the
Grant Date or (y) if there is a Change in Control (as defined below) during the five-year period
following the Grant Date, on the date of such Change in Control, in the event the per share
consideration in such Change in Control equals or exceeds two (2) times the Option Price, or (B) in
the event the Common Stock does not trade on a United States securities exchange or trading market
(such cessation, a “Going Private Event”), on the earlier of (x) following a Subsequent Public
Offering (as defined below), the date during the five-year period following the Grant Date on which
the Equity Value (as defined below) of a share of Common Stock would result in the Investors (as
defined below) having value in their equity securities of the Company (assuming conversion into
Common Stock of all convertible securities then held by the Investors) equal to or exceeding two
(2) times the aggregate amount invested by the Investors in such securities or (y) if there is a
Change in Control during the five-year period following the Grant Date, on the date of such Change
in Control if the aggregate value of the cash, marketable securities and other consideration
received by the Investors pursuant to such Change in Control, together with any distributions or
proceeds previously received by the Investors, in each case, in connection with the equity
securities of the Company held by the Investors, is equal to or exceeds two (2) times the aggregate
amount invested by the Investors in securities of the Company (any of such dates, a “2X Performance
Vesting Date”); and

(ii) the remaining 50% of the Performance-Based Option (“Tranche 2 Performance-Based Option”)
shall vest in full (A) so long as the Common Stock trades on a United States securities exchange or
trading market, on the earlier of (x) the date that the daily closing price of the Common Stock on
the Applicable Market equals or exceeds three (3) times the Option Price for any period of twenty
(20) consecutive trading days during the five-year period following the Grant Date or (y) if there
is a Change in Control during the five-year period following the Grant Date, on the date of such
Change in Control, in the event the per share consideration in such Change in Control equals or
exceeds three (3) times the Option Price, or (B) in the event of a Going Private Event, on the
earlier of (x) following a Subsequent Public Offering, the date during the five-year period
following the Grant Date on which the Equity Value of a share of Common Stock would result in the
Investors having value in their equity securities of the Company (assuming conversion into Common
Stock of all convertible securities then held by the Investors) equal to or exceeding three (3)
times the aggregate amount invested by the Investors in such securities or (y) if there is a Change
in Control during the five-year period following the Grant Date, on the date of such Change in
Control if the aggregate value of the cash, marketable securities and other consideration received
by the Investors pursuant to such Change in Control, together with any distributions or proceeds
previously received by the Investors, in each case, in connection with the equity securities of the
Company held by the Investors, is equal to or exceeds three (3) times the aggregate amount invested
by the Investors in securities of the Company (any of such dates, a “3X Performance Vesting Date”).
The 2X Performance Vesting Date and the 3X Performance Vesting Date are each referred to as a
“Performance-Vesting Date.”

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the 2X Performance Vesting Date and/or the
3X Performance Vesting Date does not occur on or prior to the earlier of the fifth anniversary of
the Grant Date and a Change in Control (absent a substitution of the applicable Options), the
Tranche 1 Performance-Based Option and/or Tranche 2 Performance-Based Option, as applicable, shall
be forfeited on such earlier date. Except as set forth in Section 5 hereof, if the Optionee’s
employment with the Company is terminated prior to the 2X Performance Vesting Date and/or the 3X
Performance Vesting Date, the Tranche 1 Performance-Based Option and/or Tranche 2 Performance-Based
Option, as applicable, shall be forfeited, as described in Section 5 hereof.

For purposes hereof, the “Equity Value” shall mean the average daily closing price of the
Common Stock over a consecutive twenty (20) day trading period.

For purposes hereof, “Subsequent Public Offering” shall mean a firm commitment underwritten
public offering of shares of the Company or other event the result of which is that shares of the
Company are tradable on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, NASDAQ National
Market or similar market system, in each case, after a Going Private Event.

For purposes hereof, “Investors” shall mean the “Investors” as defined in that certain Amended
and Restated Purchase Agreement, dated March 17, 2008, by and between the Company and the other
parties thereto, and their respective affiliates (not including the Company).

4. Effect of Change in Control. 

Notwithstanding the vesting provisions contained in Section 3 above, but subject to the other
terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, from and after a Change in Control (as defined
below) the following provisions shall apply:

(a) If the Optionee is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the date of a
“Change in Control”, any portion of the Time-Based Option not previously vested shall vest
immediately prior to the consummation of the Change in Control, unless the Time-Based Option or any
such portion thereof shall have been previously terminated in accordance with the terms of the Plan
and this Agreement.

(b) If at the time of the Change in Control, the per share Fair Market Value of an Option does
not exceed the per share Option Price, then this Option, whether vested or unvested, shall
immediately terminate in full and be of no further force or effect; and

(c) If at the time of the Change in Control, the per share Fair Market Value of an Option
exceeds the Option Price, then the Committee, in its sole discretion, may:

(i) provide the Optionee a reasonable amount of time (such period of time to be determined by
the Committee in its sole discretion) to exercise the vested and unexercised portion of this Option
(including any portion that may have vested pursuant to Section 4(a)) that is outstanding at the
time of the Change in Control and, if not exercised within such period, have this Option terminate
in full and be of no further force or effect with respect to any unexercised portion of such
Option;

(ii) provide for the termination of this Option in exchange for payment to the Optionee of the
excess of (x) the Fair Market Value of the vested portion of the Option that is outstanding and
unexercised at the time of the Change in Control over (y) the aggregate Option Price for such
vested portion of the Option; or

(iii) if the Change in Control involves the merger or consolidation of the Company with or
into another entity, provide for the substitution by the surviving entity or its direct or indirect
parent of awards with substantially the same terms as this Option in accordance with Section 422 of
the Code and Section 12.2 of the Plan.

(d) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 4, if a Change in Control occurs, and
after giving effect thereto (i) the Common Stock no longer trades on a United States securities
exchange or trading market, and (ii) the Optionee’s employment is terminated by the Company without
Cause (as defined in Section 5 below) or he resigns for Good Reason, then any portion of Time-Based
Options not previously vested shall automatically accelerate and become vested.

(e) For purposes of this Agreement, “Change in Control” shall mean (i) a sale, transfer or
other conveyance or disposition, in any single transaction or series of transactions, of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets, (ii) the transfer of more than 50% of the outstanding
securities of the Company, calculated on a fully-diluted basis, to an entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”)), or (iii) the merger, consolidation reorganization, recapitalization or share exchange of
the Company with another entity, in each case in clauses (ii) and (iii) above under circumstances
in which the holders of the voting power of the outstanding securities of the Company, as the case
may be, immediately prior to such transaction, hold less than 50% in voting power of the
outstanding securities of the Company or the surviving entity or resulting entity, as the case may
be, immediately following such transaction.

5. Effect of Termination of Employment.

If the Optionee’s employment is terminated, the following shall apply:

(a) if the Optionee’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is terminated for
Cause (as defined below) or the Optionee resigns without Good Reason, (as defined below), any
portion of the Option that has not vested on the date of the Optionee’s termination of employment
shall be immediately forfeited, and any portion of the Option that has vested may be exercised
until the earlier of (i) the Expiration Date, or (ii) the date that is thirty (30) days after the
date of the Optionee’s termination of employment.

(b) if the Optionee’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is terminated by
the Company without Cause, or the Optionee terminates his employment for Good Reason, any portion
of the Option that has not vested on the date of Optionee’s termination of employment shall be
forfeited, and any portion of the Option that has vested may be exercised until the earlier of
(i) the Expiration Date and (ii) the date that is two hundred seventy (270) days after the date of
the Optionee’s termination of employment.

(c) if the Optionee’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is terminated due
to a Disability (as defined below), the Option may be exercised until the earlier of (i) the
Expiration Date and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of the Optionee’s
termination due to Disability.

(c) if the Optionee’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is terminated due
to death, the Option may be exercised by the Optionee’s personal representative or the
administrators of the Optionee’s estate or by any Person or Persons to whom the Option has been
transferred by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution until the earlier of (i) the
Expiration Date and (ii) the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of the Optionee’s
death.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in (b) or (c) of this Section 5, if the date on which
the Optionee ceases to be an employee of the Company due to Disability or death is within six (6)
months of the Grant Date of the Option, and the Optionee is an officer or director of the Company
subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, this Option shall not become fully exercisable until
six (6) months and one day after the Grant Date.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean (A) Optionee’s willful refusal to carry
out, in all material respects, the reasonable and lawful directions of the Board that are within
Executive’s control and consistent with Optionee’s status as a senior executive of the Company and
his duties and responsibilities hereunder (except for a failure that is attributable to Optionee’s
illness, injury or Disability) for a period of 10 days following written notice by the Company to
Executive of such failure; (B) fraud or material dishonesty in the performance of Optionee’s
duties hereunder, (C) an act or acts on Optionee’s part constituting (x) a felony under the laws of
the United States or any state thereof, (y) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or (z) a
material violation of federal or state securities laws, (D) an indictment of Optionee for a felony
under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, (E) Optionee’s willful misconduct or
gross negligence in connection with Optionee’s duties which is materially injurious to the
financial condition or business reputation of the Company, (F) Optionee’s material breach of the
Company’s Code of Ethics, Always Honest policy or any other code of conduct in effect from time to
time to the extent applicable to Optionee, and which breach has a material adverse effect on the
Company, or (G) Optionee’s breach of the Employee Trade Secret, Confidential Information and
Post-Employment Restriction Agreement which breach has an adverse effect on the Company.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” with respect to the Optionee shall mean: (A)
the assignment to the Optionee of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Optionee’s
position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or
responsibilities immediately, or any other action by the Company or any of its subsidiaries which
results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this
purpose an isolated, insubstantial or inadvertent action not taken in bad faith; (B) any reduction
of the Optionee’s base salary, or annual bonus opportunity then in effect, unless such reduction is
consistent with similar reductions applied to other senior management of the Company, (C) the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location
which is more than forty (40) miles distant from the office at which he is based on the date hereof
or from the Company’s current office in Denver, Colorado, or (D) the failure of Company to obtain
within one year of the date hereof shareholder approval of the amendment of the Company’s 2005
Omnibus Incentive Plan described in Section 10(r) of the Option Agreement; provided that either of
the events described in clauses (A) or (B) of this Section shall constitute Good Reason only if the
Company fails to cure such event within 30 days after receipt from Executive of written notice of
the event which constitutes Good Reason. The Company may require the Optionee to relocate to
Denver, Colorado area under clause (c) above only in connection with a move of the Company’s
corporate offices to that location and only if in connection therewith the Company shall reimburse
the Optionee for his reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of moving and closing on the purchase of a
new home (which shall not include any protection against diminution in value of property or similar
“make-whole” payment).

For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean that Optionee becomes
physically or mentally incapacitated and is therefore unable for a period of six (6) consecutive
months or for an aggregate of nine (9) months in any twenty-four (24) consecutive month period to
perform his duties. Any question as to the existence of the Disability of Optionee as to which
Optionee and the Company cannot agree shall be determined in writing by a qualified independent
physician mutually acceptable to Optionee and the Company. If Optionee and the Company cannot
agree as to a qualified independent physician, each shall appoint such a physician and those two
physicians shall select a third who shall make such determination in writing. The determination of
Disability made in writing to the Company and Optionee shall be final and conclusive for all
purposes of the Agreement

6. Forfeiture and Repayment Provisions. Unless a Change in Control (as defined above)
shall have occurred after the date hereof:

(a) The right to exercise this Option shall be conditional upon the fact that the Optionee
has read and understood the forfeiture and repayment provisions set forth in this Section 6, that
the Optionee has not engaged in any misconduct or acts contrary to the Company as described below,
and that the Optionee has no intent to leave employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
for the purpose of engaging in any activity or providing any services which are contrary to the
spirit and intent of the Post-Employment Restriction Agreement.

(b) The Company is authorized to suspend or terminate this Option and any other outstanding
stock option held by the Optionee prior to or after termination of employment if the Optionee
engages in any conduct agreed to be avoided pursuant to the Post-Employment Restriction Agreement.
If, at any time within two (2) years after the date of the Optionee’s termination of employment
with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Optionee engages in any conduct agreed to be
avoided pursuant to the Post-Employment Restriction Agreement, then any gain (without regard to tax
effects) realized by the Optionee from the exercise of this Option, in whole or in part, shall be
paid by the Optionee to the Company. The Optionee consents to the deduction from any amounts the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries owes to the Optionee to the extent of the amounts the Optionee
owes the Company hereunder.

(c) Misconduct.

(i) The Company is authorized to suspend or terminate this Option and any other
outstanding stock option held by the Optionee prior to or after termination of employment if
the Company reasonably determines that during the Optionee’s employment with the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries:

(1) The Optionee knowingly participated in misconduct that causes a misstatement of the
financial statements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or misconduct which represents a
material violation of any code of ethics of the Company applicable to the Optionee or of the Always
Honest compliance program or similar program of the Company; or

(2) The Optionee was aware of and failed to report, as required by any code of ethics of the
Company applicable to the Optionee or by the Always Honest compliance program or similar program of
the Company, misconduct that causes a misstatement of the financial statements of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or misconduct which represents a material violation of any code of ethics
of the Company applicable to the Optionee or of the Always Honest compliance program or similar
program of the Company.

(ii) If, at any time after the Optionee exercises this Option, in whole or in part, the
Company reasonably determines that the provisions of Section 6(c) applies to the Optionee,
then any gain (without regard to tax effects) realized by the Optionee from such exercise
shall be paid by the Optionee to the Company. The Optionee consents to the deduction from any
amounts the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owes to the Optionee to the extent of the
amounts the Optionee owes the Company under this Section 6.

7. Method of Exercising Option; Payment of Option Price; Delivery of Purchased Shares.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Optionee may exercise the
Option by following the procedures established by the Company from time to time. In addition, the
Optionee may exercise the Option by written notice to the Company as provided in Section 10(l) of
this Agreement that states (i) the Optionee’s election to exercise the Option, (ii) the Grant Date
of the Option, (iii) the Option Price of the shares, (iv) the number of shares as to which the
Option is being exercised, (v) the manner of payment and (vi) the manner of payment for any income
tax withholding amount. The notice shall be signed by the Optionee or the Person or Persons
exercising the Option. The notice shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price for
all shares designated in the notice. To the extent that the Option is exercised after the
Optionee’s death, the notice of exercise shall also be accompanied by appropriate proof of the
right of such Person or Persons to exercise the Option.

(b) Payment of the Option Price shall be made to the Company through one or a combination of
the following methods:

(i) cash, in United States currency (including check, draft, money order or wire transfer
made payable to the Company); or

(ii) delivery (either actual delivery or by attestation) of shares of Common Stock
acquired by the Optionee more than six (6) months prior to the date of exercise having a Fair
Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option Price (only full shares of Common
Stock shall be utilized for payment purposes). The Optionee shall represent and warrant in
writing that the Optionee is the owner of the shares so delivered, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, security interests and restrictions, and the Optionee shall duly endorse
in blank all certificates delivered to the Company.

(c) Upon any exercise of the Option, and subject to the payment of the Option Price under
Section 7(b) and of all tax obligations under Section 8, the Company shall deliver the shares
purchased in certificate form or, if the Company so permits, in book entry form. The certificate(s)
shall be registered in the name of the Optionee, the Optionee’s transferee, or if the Optionee so
requests, in writing at the time of exercise, jointly in the name of the Optionee and another
person with rights of survivorship. If the Optionee dies, the certificate(s) shall be registered in
the name of the person entitled to exercise the Stock Option in accordance with the Plan.

8. Taxes; Accounting Treatment.

(a) The Optionee acknowledges that the Optionee will consult with his personal tax adviser
regarding the income tax consequences of exercising the Option or any other matters related to this
Agreement. If the Optionee is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in order to
comply with all applicable federal, state, local or foreign income tax laws or regulations, the
Company may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state,
local or foreign payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the Optionee’s sole and
absolute responsibility, are withheld or collected from the Optionee.

(b) In accordance with the terms of the Plan, and such rules as may be adopted by the
Committee, the Optionee may elect to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligations arising
from the exercise of the Option by (i) delivering cash (including check, draft, money order or wire
transfer made payable to the order of the Company), or (ii) delivering to the Company shares of
Common Stock acquired by the Optionee more than six (6) months prior to the date of exercise having
a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes (only full shares of Common Stock shall be
utilized for payment purposes) in accordance with the provisions set forth in Section 7(b)(ii).
The Optionee’s election must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is
determined.

(c) The Company acknowledges and agrees that for tax and accounting purposes, the Option will
be treated the same as all other non-qualified stock options issued by the Company that contain
substantially the same performance vesting features.

9. Adjustments.

In the event that the Company engages in a transaction such that any dividend or other
distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Common Stock, other securities or other
property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares or other
securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase shares or other
securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the shares
covered by the Option, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential
benefits intended to be made available under this Agreement, the terms of this Option (including,
without limitation, the number and kind of shares subject to this Option and the Option Price)
shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 4(c) of the Plan.

Upon a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, adjust the terms of this
Option (including, without limitation, the number and kind of shares subject to this Option and the
Option Price) by taking any of the actions permitted under this Agreement and in accordance with
Section 4(c) of the Plan.

10. General Provisions.

(a) Interpretations. This Agreement is subject in all respects to the terms of the
Plan. A copy of the Plan is available upon the Optionee’s request. Terms used herein which are
defined in the Plan shall have the respective meanings given to such terms in the Plan, unless
otherwise defined herein. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent with
the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern. Any question of administration or
interpretation arising under this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee, and such
determination shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties in interest.

(b) No Rights as a Shareholder. Neither the Optionee nor the Optionee’s legal
representatives shall have any of the rights and privileges of a shareholder of the Company with
respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option unless and until such shares are issued
upon exercise of the Option. Except as expressly provided by the Plan, no adjustment shall be made
for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the issuance of any purchased
shares and the delivery of any certificate or certificates for such shares.

(c) No Right to Employment. Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall be construed
as giving the Optionee the right to be retained as an employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. In addition, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, may at any time
dismiss the Optionee from employment, free from any liability or any claim under this Agreement,
unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.

(d) Termination of the Plan; No Right to Future Grants. By entering into this
Agreement, the Optionee acknowledges: (a) that the Plan is discretionary in nature and may be
suspended or terminated by the Company at any time; (b) that each grant of an option is a one-time
benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of options,
or benefits in lieu of options; (c) that all determinations with respect to any such future grants,
including, but not limited to, the times when the option shall be granted, the number of shares
subject to each option, the Option Price, and the time or times when each option shall be
exercisable, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (d) that the Optionee’s participation
in the Plan is voluntary; (e) that the Option is not part of normal and expected compensation for
purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, bonuses, pension or retirement benefits or
similar payments; (g) that the right to purchase Common Stock ceases upon termination of employment
for any reason except as may otherwise be explicitly provided in the Plan or this Agreement; (h)
that the future value of the Option is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty; (i) that if
the underlying shares do not increase in value, the Option will have no value; and (j) the
foregoing terms and conditions apply in full with respect to any prior option grants to the
Optionee.

1

(e) Option Not Transferable.

(i) Except as otherwise provided by the Plan or by the Committee, the Option shall not
be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and the Option
shall be exercisable during the Optionee’s lifetime only by the Optionee or, if permissible
under applicable law, by the Optionee’s guardian or legal representative. The Option may not
be pledged, alienated, attached or otherwise encumbered, and any purported pledge, alienation,
attachment or encumbrance of the Option shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or
any Subsidiaries of the Company.

(ii) None of the purchased shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of this Option shall
be assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, given away or in any other manner disposed of
or encumbered, whether voluntarily or by operation of law, unless such transfer is in
compliance with all applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.

(f) Reservation of Shares. The Company shall at all times during the term of the
Option reserve and keep available such number of shares of Common Stock as will be sufficient to
satisfy the requirements of this Agreement.

(g) Securities Matters. The Company shall not be required to deliver any shares of
Common Stock until the requirements of any federal or state securities or other laws, rules or
regulations (including the rules of any securities exchange) as may be determined by the Company to
be applicable are satisfied.

(h) Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation or liability
arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be assignable by the Optionee.

(i) Successors and Assigns; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Optionee and their respective heirs,
successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or
implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the Company and the Optionee, and their
respective heirs, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies,
obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

(j) Headings. Headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Agreement
solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way
material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Agreement or any provision
hereof.

(k) Governing Law; Arbitration. The internal law, and not the law of conflicts, of
the State of Minnesota will govern all questions concerning the validity, construction and effect
of this Agreement. Any controversy, dispute or claim arising under or in connection with this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the existence, validity, interpretation or breach hereof
and any claim based on contract, tort or statute) shall be resolved by a binding arbitration, to be
held in Minneapolis, Minnesota pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act and in accordance with the
then-prevailing National Rules of Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration
Association (the “AAA”). The AAA shall select a sole arbitrator. Each party shall bear its own
expenses incurred in connection with arbitration and the fees and expenses of the arbitrator shall
be shared equally by the parties involved in the dispute and advanced by them from time to time as
required. It is the mutual intention and desire of the parties that the arbitrator be chosen as
expeditiously as possible following the submission of the dispute to arbitration. Once such
arbitrator is chosen, and except as may otherwise be agreed in writing by the parties involved in
such dispute or as ordered by the arbitrator upon substantial justification shown, the hearing for
the dispute will be held within sixty (60) days of submission of the dispute to arbitration. The
arbitrator shall render his final award within sixty (60) days, subject to extension by the
arbitrator upon substantial justification shown of extraordinary circumstances, following
conclusion of the hearing and any required post-hearing briefing or other proceedings ordered by
the arbitrator. Any discovery in connection with arbitration hereunder shall be limited to
information directly relevant to the controversy or claim in arbitration. The arbitrator will
state the factual and legal basis for the award. The decision of the arbitrator in any such
proceeding will be final and binding and not subject to judicial review and final judgment may be
entered upon such an award in any court of competent jurisdiction, but entry of such judgment will
not be required to make such award effective. Any action against any party hereto ancillary to
arbitration, including any action for provisional or conservatory measures or action to enforce an
arbitration award or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any thereof may be brought in
any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction location within the State of Minnesota, and
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or
state court located within the State of Minnesota over any such action. The parties hereby
irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may
now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such action brought in such court or any
defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such action. Each of the parties hereto
agrees that a judgment in any such action may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law.

(l) Notices. The Optionee should send all written notices regarding this Agreement or
the Plan to the Company at the following address:

MoneyGram International, Inc.

EVP, General Counsel & Secretary

1550 Utica Avenue South, MS GHQ 8020

Minneapolis, MN 55416

(m) Amendments. The Company may amend this Agreement at any time; provided that,
subject to Section 9 hereof and Section 7 of the Plan, no such amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuation or termination shall be made without the Optionee’s consent, if such action would
materially diminish any of the Optionee’s rights under this Agreement; provided, however, the
Company may amend this Agreement in such manner as it deems necessary to comply with applicable
laws.

(n) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan and the other agreements referred to
herein and therein and any schedules, exhibits and other documents referred to herein and therein
constitute the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto in respect of the
subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous arrangements,
agreements and understandings, both oral and written, whether in term sheets, presentations or
otherwise, among the parties hereto, or between any of them, with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.

(o) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or
incapable of being enforced by any law, all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated
hereby are not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. If any provision of this
Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties
as closely as possible in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as
originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

(p) Optionee Undertaking. The Optionee agrees to take such additional action and
execute such additional documents the Company may deem necessary or advisable to carry out or
effect one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed either on the Optionee or upon this
Option pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

(q) Counterparts. For the convenience of the parties and to facilitate execution,
this Agreement and the Notice may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same document.

(r) Certain Option Shares Subject to Forfeiture. Section 4(d) of the Plan contains a
limitation on the number of option shares that may be granted to Executive in any year. Company
hereby agrees to seek approval of an amendment of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company at or
prior to the next shareholders’ annual meeting of the Company in order to permit the full amount of
the Option Shares to be awarded as provided herein. Except with respect to 500,000 Option Shares
to which this Section 10(r) shall not apply (allocated pro-rata between the Time-Based Option and
the Performance-Based Option) (the “Excepted Option Shares”), the Option granted hereunder (other
than the Excepted Option Shares) will not vest and are subject to forfeiture if the shareholders of
the Company do not approve such amendment to the Plan at or before such meeting. For the avoidance
of doubt, this Section 10(r) shall not apply with respect to the Excepted Option Shares.

* * * * * * * *

By signing below, the Optionee accepts this Option and the terms and conditions in this
Agreement and the Plan.

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:

Title:

OPTIONEE

Signature:

Print Name: Anthony P. Ryan

[THIS IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE ABOVE-REFERENCED PARTIES]

2EX-10.02

Exhibit 10.02

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as of May 6, 2009 by and between MoneyGram
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries,
successors and permitted assigns under this Agreement, the “Company”) and Anthony P. Ryan
(“Executive”).

The Company employs Executive as its President and Chief Executive Officer, and Executive
serves as a director on the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”);

Executive’s employment with the Company is at-will;

Executive is a Participant in the Amended and Restated MoneyGram International, Inc. Executive
Severance Plan (Tier I) (the “Severance Plan”) and the MoneyGram International, Inc.
Special Executive Severance Plan (Tier I) (the “Special Severance Plan”);

The Company is willing to provide Executive with severance benefits described in this
Agreement and the benefits provided by the MoneyGram International, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive
Plan Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (“Option Agreement”) as consideration for
Executive’s relinquishment of certain rights to severance payments and benefits Executive may have
under the Severance Plan.

In consideration of the promises and mutual covenants herein and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is mutually acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:

1. Definitions.

a. “Cause” shall mean (A) Executive’s willful refusal to carry out, in all material
respects, the reasonable and lawful directions of the Board that are within Executive’s control and
consistent with Executive’s status as a senior executive of the Company and his duties and
responsibilities hereunder (except for a failure that is attributable to Executive’s illness,
injury or Disability) for a period of 10 days following written notice by the Company to Executive
of such failure, (B) fraud or material dishonesty in the performance of Executive’s duties
hereunder, (C) an act or acts on Executive’s part constituting (x) a felony under the laws of the
United States or any state thereof, (y) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or (z) a material
violation of federal or state securities laws, (D) an indictment of Executive for a felony under
the laws of the United States or any state thereof, (E) Executive’s willful misconduct or gross
negligence in connection with Executive’s duties hereunder which is materially injurious to the
financial condition or business reputation of the Company, (F) Executive’s material breach of the
Company’s Code of Ethics, Always Honest policy or any other code of conduct in effect from time to
time to the extent applicable to Executive, and which breach has a material adverse effect on the
Company, or (G) Executive’s breach of the Employee Trade Secret, Confidential Information and
Post-Employment Restriction Agreement which breach has an adverse effect on the Company.

b. “Disability” shall exist if Executive becomes physically or mentally incapacitated
and is therefore unable for a period of six (6) consecutive months or for an aggregate of nine (9)
months in any twenty-four (24) consecutive month period to perform Executive’s duties. Any
question as to the existence of the Disability of Executive as to which Executive and the Company
cannot agree shall be determined in writing by a qualified independent physician mutually
acceptable to Executive and the Company. If Executive and the Company cannot agree as to a
qualified independent physician, each shall appoint such a physician and those two physicians shall
select a third who shall make such determination in writing. The determination of Disability made
in writing to the Company and Executive shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of the
Agreement.

c. “Good Reason” with respect to the Executive shall mean: (A) the assignment to the Executive
of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Executive’s position (including status, offices,
titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities immediately, or any other
action by the Company or any of its subsidiaries which results in a diminution in such position,
authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial or
inadvertent action not taken in bad faith; (B) any reduction of the Executive’s base salary or
annual bonus opportunity then in effect unless such reduction is consistent with similar reductions
applied to other senior management of the Company, (C) the Company or one of its subsidiaries
requiring the Executive to be based at any office or location which is more than forty (40) miles
distant from the office at which he is based on the date hereof or from the Company’s current
office in Denver, Colorado, or (D) the failure of Company to obtain within one year of the date
hereof shareholder approval of the amendment of the Company’s 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan described
in Section 10(r) of the Option Agreement; provided that either of the events described in clauses
(A) or (B) of this Section shall constitute Good Reason only if the Company fails to cure such
event within 30 days after receipt from Executive of written notice of the event which constitutes
Good Reason. The Company may require the Optionee to relocate to Denver, Colorado area under clause
(c) above only in connection with a move of the Company’s corporate offices to that location and
only if in connection therewith the Company shall reimburse the Optionee for his reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of moving and closing on the purchase of a new home (which shall not include
any protection against diminution in value of property or similar “make-whole” payment).

2. At-Will Employment. Executive’s employment is at-will and may be terminated by either
Executive or Company at any time and for any reason.

3. Termination by the Company without Cause or Resignation by Executive for Good Reason. If
at any time on or after expiration of the Severance Period set forth in the Special Severance Plan,
Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (other than by reason of death or
Disability), or Executive resigns his employment for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to
receive the following severance payment and benefits, which shall at all times be made so as to
satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended:

a. Salary Severance. A sum equal to One Million Eight Hundred Thousand ($1,800,000) Dollars,
which shall be payable in equal monthly installments on the last day of each month over the
eighteen month period following the date of termination and in accordance with the Company’s normal
payroll practices in effect as of the date of Executive’s termination of Employment;

b. Group Medical and Dental Insurance. Continuation of Executive’s group medical and dental
insurance under one or more of Company’s group medical and dental insurance plans for eighteen (18)
months, and Executive shall be required to pay no more for such coverage than the Executive would
have been required to pay had the Executive continued in active employment with Company; and

c. Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance. Continuation of Executive’s basic and supplemental
life insurance coverage for eighteen (18) months on the same terms as if Executive were still
employed, and Executive shall be required to pay no more for such coverage than Executive would
have been required to pay had Executive continued in active employment with Company.

Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall not be entitled to the above-described
severance payment or benefits in the event Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause or
in the event Executive resigns his employment without Good Reason or in the event of Executive’s
death or Disability.

4. Relinquishment of Rights under Severance Plan. Specifically in consideration of and in
exchange for Executive’s right to the severance payment and benefits set forth in Section 3 above
and the benefits provided by the Option Agreement, Executive hereby forever and irrevocably
relinquishes any rights Executive may have as a Participant under the Severance Plan.

5. Miscellaneous.

a. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

b. Entire Agreement/Amendments. This Agreement and the other agreements, plans and documents
referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the provision of
any severance rights, payments or benefits by Company to Executive. If any provision of any
agreement, plan, program, policy, arrangement or other written document between or relating to the
Company and Executive conflicts with any provision of this Agreement, the provision of this
Agreement shall control and prevail. This Agreement may not be altered, modified, or amended
except by written instrument signed by the parties hereto.

c. No Waiver. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this
Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of such party’s rights or deprive such
party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of
this Agreement.

d. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall
be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

e. Survivorship. The respective rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall survive
any termination of Executive’s employment to the extent necessary to preserve such rights and
obligations.

f. Successors; Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.

g. Notice. For the purpose of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided
for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered
by hand or overnight courier or three days after it has been mailed by United States registered
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set forth
below in this Agreement, or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other
in writing in accordance herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only
upon receipt.

If to the Company:

MoneyGram International, Inc.

1550 Utica Avenue South, Suite 100

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416

	 	 	 	Attention: Chairman of the Human Resources and Nominating Committee of the Board

If to Executive:

To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of the Company.

h. Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement
such Federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable
law or regulation.

i. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

1

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.

MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.

By:

Title:

EXECUTIVE

Signature:

Anthony P. Ryan

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE ABOVE-REFERENCED PARTIES]

2

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