AU7697898A - An automated document cashing system - Google Patents

Description

WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -1 AN AUTOMATED DOCUMENT CASHING SYSTEM Background of the Invention This invention relates to automated banking systems and machines including those which employ or are 5 an improvement on automatic teller machines (ATMs). ATMs are widely available and receive a considerable amount of usage, particularly on weekends, for dispensing cash. For instance, it is not unusual for an ATM to dispense $250,000 worth of cash over one weekend. The ATM user is 10 provided with an ATM card as well as a personal identification number (PIN) or password, so that if the card is stolen or lost, the finder of the card will not be able to use it to withdraw funds using the ATM card because of the lack of the PIN number. Typically, the 15 ATM user will withdraw cash from the user's checking account, savings account or as an advance from a credit card, or transferring money from a savings account to his checking account. In other instances, the ATM user will be ascertaining the user's account balances. In a few 20 instances, some ATMs are now being provided with an incremental revenue opportunity which includes the dispensing of stamps rather than cash for the user. Owners of the ATMs have found them to be relatively profitable, but there is a need for increasing 25 the profitability of the ATMs which are principally now used as cash withdrawal machines. Competing with the banks and with the ATM machines owned by banks are local currency exchanges which perform a number of banking type services for their "profiled customers". Profiled 30 customers are customers who have signed a signature card or who otherwise have a confirmed identity entered into the network of the local currency exchange. These profiled customers are local to the area and are not part of a large area or nationwide network. Often, the 35 currency exchange not only has the profiled customer's WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -2 signature, but the currency exchange agent often recognizes the customer as being one of his frequent users. Currency exchanges commonly cash a large volume of payroll checks for its users. The average fee for 5 such a transaction is 1.6% of the amount of the payroll check. This can be a quite substantial income when a high volume of payroll checks is being cashed. The currency exchange competes with the ATM machines by cashing personal checks for its profiled customers. Most 10 often, a currency exchange will not cash a personal check for a non-profiled customer of the exchange; but if the currency exchange decides to assume the risk and cash such a check, the transaction charges to the customer are extremely high, e.g., $20.00 or 20% of the value of the 15 check being cashed. Another large volume transaction item for a currency exchange is the issuance of money orders or the cashing of money orders. The charge for such transactions is on average about 1.85% of the value of 20 the money order. Other large revenue generators for currency exchanges are fees collected when customers pay bills for utilities, such as telephone, electric, gas, and water, as well as other bills, such as cable, television or credit card bills. Typically, there is a 25 $0.60 per bill service charge for such a bill paying transaction in a currency exchange. The currency exchanges operate under contract with the local utilities and/or credit card companies to provide such a service. While currency exchanges are relatively 30 profitable, one of their costs of the operation is that of the employee theft of money. Also, employees, from time to time, make mistakes when cashing of checks or money orders, or when issuing of money orders. Another shortcoming of the currency exchanges as opposed to ATM 35 machines is that the exchanges are open for limited hours, versus the ATM machines which are generally WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -3 available 24 hours each day. In many instances, people prefer not to let others at a currency exchange or bank have any knowledge of their personal financial affairs and would prefer to use the ATM machines, rather than 5 currency exchanges if the ATM machines provided some or all of the banking type services now provided by the currency exchanges. Often currency exchanges are used by local residents who do not have a checking or savings account 10 with a local bank, and who do not use the ATM machines or have an ATM card. Thus, there is an opportunity to acquire new customers for automatic banking machines if they will have many of the functions performed by a currency exchange or of a full service bank, such as 15 cashing checks or money orders. Another banking function that is performed from one bank to another bank is a wire transfer of funds, which is not generally available to the general public. Rather than going to a bank to wire transfer money, most 20 individuals, as opposed to businesses, commonly wire money through other companies such as Western Union or through the American Express Company. Wire transfer costs are relatively high. There is an average cost of between $13.00 to send a minimum of $200.00 by wire and 25 about $200.00 to send $5,000.00 by wire. There are many instances when people are traveling or when they have a child at college where it would be desirable to be able to transfer money by wire to their child's account so that the child may have immediate access to the money. 30 If available for use in an automated banking machine, such a wire transfer service would provide a relatively inexpensive method of wire transfer for individuals. A new opportunity available to full service banks and to currency exchanges is participation in the 35 United States Federal Government's Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (EBTP). The Program will be WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -4 distributing smart cards for use by recipients of Social Security, Veteran's or welfare benefits for which payments can total as much as one-half trillion dollars per year. People who have EBTP cards are already in the 5 government's network. These smart cards are intended to replace the food stamps, among other things, whose use may lead to embarrassment by the clients. The currency exchanges and the full service banks will be receiving a transactional charge when writing an increase in balance 10 onto the smart card. Also, the service provider will be charging the smart card user a fee for each transaction, for instance, when the smart card's balance is decreased as it is being used to pay for food, a utility bill, etc. This represents a large volume usage that could be 15 available to appropriate electronic automated banking machines if they offered bill paying services and sale of items such as telephone cards, lottery tickets, and the like. Owners of ATMs are beginning to take advantage 20 of such incremental revenue opportunities, e.g., by selling stamps via the ATM machine. This allows the owner of the ATM to gain more revenue from the ATM. For example, end user items such as theater tickets, lottery tickets or stamps can be dispensed from dispensers in an 25 ATM machine. Many end user items do not require the additional security that is required for such things such as cashing checks or money orders. A number of security problems arise with the addition to ATMs of functions performed by full service 30 banks and currency exchanges, such as cashing checks and money orders. The foremost problem is integrity of the document being exchanged for cash, in particular, verification of signatures on checks or money orders being cashed. Also, the ability to read various types of 35 documents and to provide the user with a large number of payment methods requires a relatively sophisticated _WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -5 machine beyond that of current ATMs on the market and in widespread use by the general public. The problem with checks is not only the signature verification of hard-to read handwriting, but also reading the amount, written 5 usually in cursive, on a legal line of the check. In addition, the check has a second line which is the courtesy amount recognition line ("CAR") which is written in numerals representing the value of the check. Most checks also identify the bank and the writer's account in 10 magnetic ink. Another consideration for transactions such as cashing checks, paying bills, or other like things from a remote banking machine is the need to record transaction and to leave an audit trail for later manual review, if 15 required, of the transaction. A semi-automated system has been proposed to aid in the cashing of checks and which reduces the access of the teller to the money. This proposed system would require the user to operate the machine and negotiate the 20 check while in the electronic presence of a teller, who being satisfied that the check should be cashed, then verifies the cashing opportunity and operates the machine to dispense automatically the funds to the machine user. Of course, such a machine requires the attendance and the 25 presence of the teller, and therefore, is still not a fully automated system for cashing checks. Among some of the mechanical problems that have been experienced with the remote ATM-type machines is that of providing change in coins. Already, over a 30 single weekend, ATMs are being severely taxed often completely emptied of their contents, and they do not have changemakers. The addition of a coin changemaker adds considerable expense and maintenance problems to the machine to provide the exact coin change to the user who 35 is cashing a check or performing some other function.

_WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -6 Another practical problem with providing a commercially practical automated banking machine is that of the time needed for the transactions. Preferably, the transactions should be relatively brief and simple so 5 that a minimal number of operator actions, such as touch screen pushes or keystrokes, are required per transaction. If a particular transaction takes more than a minute or two, the system would probably be too slow to adequately service a line of people waiting to use the 10 machine at a busy time on a weekend. Also, if the machine offers a large number of transactions like those of a full service bank or a currency exchange, the machine should provide a wide range of funds delivery or payment options to the user so that the payment can be 15 made by cash, credit card, smart card, or withdrawal from a checking or savings account. There is a need for an automatic banking machine which includes an ATM-like machine that performs and allows a number of service options, such as for example 20 the withdrawing of cash, the depositing of cash, the cashing of a check, the cashing of a money order, the buying of a money order, the transferring of funds by wire, paying a bill and purchasing of end user items. Summary of the Invention 25 In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an automated banking machine system, which performs the usual ATM functions but which additionally cashes money orders and checks for the user without the presence or the assistance of a teller. Additionally, 30 the preferred and illustrated, automated banking machine system allows the depositing of cash into the machine and provides additional functions, such as transferring money by wire, depositing cash into an account or purchasing end user items from the machine. The preferred and 35 illustrated machine provides additional functions, such WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -7 as transferring money by wire, paying bills, or purchasing end user items from the machine. Preferably, several denominations are stored in the machine and any change due for a given transaction is electronically 5 transferred onto a card thereby reducing the need for small denominations and change. The cashing of checks or money orders is achieved by the use of fraud protection measures and procedures to validate the probability that the document 10 is valid and can be cashed or the desired transaction can be completed. The fraud protection procedures can be varied, but it usually involves a comparison feature, such as a comparison of the document signatures with a stored signature, a biometric characteristic of the user 15 with a stored biometric characteristic special to the user, a comparison of the LAR and CAR amounts, etc. A number of procedures are used including the use of the PIN number by the user to obtain sufficient validity at the machine to allow the transaction to be completed. 20 For example, the cursive signature as being that of a profiled or qualified user who has inserted his ATM card into the machine, and to read the amount on the cursive legal line on the check and the dollar amount line (the CAR line), as well as the bank and account 25 identifications printed in magnetic ink characters on the check. In accordance with the preferred check or money order cashing machine embodying this invention, an audit trail for a check or money order cashing transaction is 30 created by taking storing an image, which may be input scanning both the front and/or the back of the document, and for providing a transaction identification tag to retrieve the stored images of the transaction. In accordance with another aspect of the 35 invention, the automated banking system machine not only can cash checks or money orders for the user but also can WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -8 accept cash from the user for completing a number of transactions. The machine recognizes the cash inserted into the machine, totals it, and can provide communication via a modem or the like connected to a 5 banking network to deposit the amount of the cash or portion thereof into the user's account. On the other hand, the cash being deposited can also be used for another transaction such as the payment of a bill or the purchase of a money order. The user will write the 10 amount into the money order blank within the machine. After having been written, the machine will dispense the money order to the user. The automated method and apparatus provides for the cash purchase by the user of items being dispensed from the machine such as lottery 15 tickets, theater tickets, postage stamps or the like. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the method and apparatus provide for the wire transfer of funds to a transferee over a banking network. In order to carry out the wire transfer, the user enters 20 the name of the bank to which the wire transfer is to made and the account number of the person who is to receive the wire transfer. After providing payment for the funds to be wire transferred, the wire transfer is communicated through a modem of the machine to the 25 banking network and thence to the recipient's account in the receiving bank. Preferably, a receipt is issued to the user showing the sum being wire transferred as well as the associated transaction cost. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the payment for the wire 30 transfer can be by cash, a credit card, a smart card or from an account of the user. In accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention, the automated banking machine and apparatus allows the payment of invoices or bills owed by 35 the user. After having been qualified as a user of the automated banking machine, the customer will see a -W0 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -9 display of the selection of bills that are payable through the machine. The user selects the type of bill to be paid and also selects from the display, one of several methods of payment, including the payment by 5 cash. The bill to be paid is inserted into the machine where it is read along with the identity and account number of the bill payee. The reading of the amount and the identification of the payor may be difficult because of the many different formats of such bills. The machine 10 automatically communicates over a modem to a bill payment network. The bill is stored in a bin, and a transaction tag is provided for the bill payment transaction. Preferably, the method of payment includes paying by cash, credit card, smart card or from the user's account. 15 In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the user may pay several bills, and the total for each bill and its associated transactional charges is accumulated. Finally, after payment, a receipt is generated showing the bills paid, the transactional charges, and the total 20 expense incurred by the user in the payment of these bills. It will be seen from the foregoing that the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the invention provides increased revenue opportunities for owners of 25 the automated banking machine to perform many of the services performed by a currency exchange or by a bank while charging a transactional fee for each transaction. Transaction charges may be made for a withdrawal from the user's account, the payment of a transaction, a deposit 30 into the user's account, cashing of a check or money order, transfer of funds by wire, paying bills, purchasing end user items such as theater tickets, lottery tickets, etc. Another aspect of the present invention is to 35 provide an automated banking system which does not need to dispense coins or small denomination change to the WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -10 user. Dispensing coins adds complexity and time as well as frequent maintenance problems and service problems associated with keeping the coin changer apparatus functioning properly and filled with coins. The shutting 5 down of the coin operation due to an empty or broken dispenser would likely result in the automatic banking machine being out-of-service despite being able to perform other non-charge producing transactions. Rather than dispensing coin change, the machine of the present 10 invention will transfer the amount of change onto a credit card or a smart card balance and electronically dispense the same to the user by storing the credit on the stored card balance. Alternatively the machine will deposit the change balance into the user's account. 15 Thus, the necessity for storing and dispensing bulky coin-type change is avoided. Also, in order to limit the amount of servicing that is needed, the preferred machine need not be provided with one dollar bills. The lowest dispensable 20 denomination would be, for example, five dollars. Preferably, the cash bins within the machine are provided with $5.00 and $20.00 bills only, so that the amount that can be dispensed is sufficient for a weekend without being replenished in most instances. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention including a left section, a central section, and a right section; FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the three sections 30 of the machine shown in FIG. 1; FIGS. 2A and 2B are views of an imaging station for scanning a document; FIG. 3 is a left side view of one section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; -WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -11 FIG. 4 is a right side view of the central section of the apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a right side view of the right section shown in FIG. 1; 5 FIG. 6 is a enlarged view of the front of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the various insertion slots or receiving slots on the apparatus of FIG. 1 with identifying indicia thereon; FIG. 7 is a rear view of the machine shown in 10 FIG. 1; FIG. 8 is a flow chart for showing the operations occurring after insertion of the card and for verification; FIG. 8A shows the screen with the instruction to 15 PLEASE INSERT YOUR CARD; FIG. 8B shows a screen prompting entry of a user's password; FIG. SC shows the progression of the password verification operation; 20 FIG. 8D shows the screen when an incorrect password has been entered; FIG. 8E shows that the password is not correct and that the card is being retained; FIG. 8F shows a screen display prompting the 25 user to make a touch screen selection of the language in which the transactions are to be processed; FIG. 9 shows on the screen the money exchange or transactions options available for the user; FIG. 9A is a flow chart which shows the initial 30 welcoming and the various options available to the user; FIG. 10 is a screen prompting a checking or savings step as part of a transaction; FIG. 11 is a screen showing different amounts for withdrawal from checking; 35 FIG. 11A is a flow chart showing the operations for a withdrawal transaction; WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -12 FIG. 12 is a view showing the screen of having an amount prompt for a withdrawing from saving transaction; FIG. 13 is a flow chart with respect to making a 5 deposit; FIG. 13A is a screen showing the prompt for the source of a deposit into checking; FIG. 13B shows a screen providing for entry of the amount of a check to be deposited; 10 FIG. 13C is a screen showing a prompt to endorse or sign the back of the check; FIG. 13D shows the screen with a message of showing progress in confirming; FIG. 13E shows a screen prompting the user to 15 take a transaction receipt; FIG. 13F is a screen with respect to a transaction for a deposit into saving; FIG. 13G is a screen requesting the amount of cash to be deposited; 20 FIG. 13H is a flow chart showing machine operations with respect to a cash deposit; FIG. 13I is a screen showing the amount of cash deposited; FIG. 13J shows a request to deposit the cash 25 into the cash acceptor slot; FIG. 13K shows a machine verification of completion of the cash deposit; FIG. 14 is a flow chart with respect to the document scanning and verification operations; 30 FIG. 15A is a screen that shows an inquiry to the user requesting a decision as to making a further transaction; FIG. 15B is a screen display of a touch screen version of the screen display shown in FIG. 15A; _WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -13 FIG. 16 is a view of the cashing check screen; FIG. 16A is a flow chart showing the operations with respect to cashing a check; FIG. 16B shows a screen for requesting the 5 manual entry of the amount of the check to be cashed; FIG. 16C requests the signing of the back of the check; FIG. 16D is a screen showing a request to re insert the inverted check; 10 FIG. 16DD is a screen requesting the user to re enter the check amount; FIG. 16E shows a bar graph of the progress with respect to the reading of the check; FIG. 16F shows a check cashing and the amount 15 that is available to be received in cash; FIG. 16G shows the completion of the check cashing and the receipt for the amount deposited to the user's account; FIG. 16H is a touch screen display version of 20 the screen shown in FIG. 16B; FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing the operations with respect to cashing a money order; FIG. 17A is a screen shown to the user when cashing a money order; 25 FIG. 17B requests the signing of the back of the money order; FIG. 17C states that the money order cannot be cashed; FIG. 18 shows the screen used when typing in the 30 name of the payee with respect to a money order being purchased; FIG. 18A shows the amount of the money order being purchased; FIG. 18B is a flow chart showing the various 35 operations being performed when buying a money order; -WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -14 FIGS. 18C and 18D show the method of payment and the total transaction at the screen that the money order is being printed and the request to the user to take her receipt; 5 FIG. 19 is a screen display for wiring money; FIG. 19A shows the account to which the money is to be wired and the name of the bank having the account; FIG. 19B shows and requests the entry of the Federal routing code; 10 FIG. 19C shows the account number being added; FIG. 19D shows a screen requesting the amount and shows a service charge; FIG. 19E is a flow chart showing the operations for a wire transfer; 15 FIG. 19F shows the total of the transaction and requests a selection of the method of payment; FIG. 20 is a screen showing a number of bills that can be paid through the apparatus; FIG. 20A shows a telephone bill, service charge 20 and total amount to be charged for payment of the telephone bill; FIG. 20B shows a screen requesting entry of the telephone bill into the scanner slot; FIG. 20C shows the selection of a gas bill for 25 payment as well as a telephone bill; FIG. 20D requests insertion of the gas bill into the scanner slot; FIG. 20E shows the payment for a credit card bill; 30 FIG. 20F shows the amount of payment with respect to the telephone, gas and credit card bills; and the request for the method of payment; FIG. 20G shows the screen when the bill is to paid by credit card; 35 FIG. 20H is a flow chart showing the operations that occur during a bill payment; WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -15 FIG. 20I shows a screen confirming payment of the bills; FIG. 20J is a touch screen display version of the screen shown in FIG. 20; 5 FIG. 21 shows a screen for purchase of items such as stamps, smart cards or telephone cards; FIG. 21A is a flow chart showing the various operations that occur during the purchasing transaction; FIG. 21B shows a screen displaying request for a 10 purchase of three smart cards and one telephone card; FIG. 21C shows the total transaction and requests a selection of the method of payment; FIG. 21D shows a screen showing a $25.00 transaction and showing how much has been inserted to pay 15 for the transaction; FIG. 21E shows that $20.00 has been paid; FIG. 21F shows that $21.00 has been paid; FIG. 21G shows that $24.00 has been paid; FIG. 21H shows that the total of $25.00 has been 20 paid and shows a message on the screen to take the merchandise; FIG. 21I is a touch screen display version of the screen shown in FIG. 21; FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing the various 25 operations with respect to cash payment; FIG. 23 shows the payment of change either by credit to a card or by a deposit into a bank account; FIG. 24 is a block diagram of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and 30 FIG. 25 is a flow chart of a signature verification and character recognition process. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in an automated 35 banking system that includes an apparatus 10 having a _WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -16 housing 12 for housing the components of the apparatus which are to receive an ATM card which can be inserted through an insert, slot or opening 14 in a front wall 16 of the housing. The insert slot 14 will accept the usual 5 ATM card, credit cards, IC cards or smart cards. The card slot 14 is located immediately above a user keyboard 18 and below a user display 20 comprising a touch screen of the type sold by Dyna-Pro under its Model No. DTFP 95633. The user keyboard 18 supplies command signals to 10 a microcomputer 21, in this embodiment a 133 Mhz Pentium based personal computer having a 2.1 gigabyte hard disk drive for storing software, a 32 megabyte random access memory for storing instructions and operands, a 133 Mhz Pentium microprocessor, an ISA bus, a PCI bus, a serial 15 interface, and a parallel interface. (FIG. 3). The microcomputer 21 executes application software under Windows 95, which among other things, responds to keystrokes on the user keyboard 18, and signals from other input devices as set forth below. The 20 microcomputer 21 drives the output display 20 in response to the software it is executing and the various signals it receives from the input devices connected to transfer signals to it. Located immediately behind the insert card slot 25 14 is a magnetic card reader 22 (FIG. 4) which will read the ATM card, send signals to the microcomputer 21 through a serial communication card 21a, and immediately cause initialization, via the microcomputer 21, of all hardware and software parameters for an operation. The 30 touch screen 20 is provided to assist the user in identifying for the machine the area of the image occupied by the account number and dollar amount of a bill, as will be explained. The illustrated keyboard 18 is a very tough, vandal-resistant, industrial keyboard, 35 such as the Model 300 manufactured by Everswitch USA of Silver Springs, Maryland. The preferred display 20 is a _WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -17 flat LCD display panel sold by Sony Corporation. The keyboard and display panels are selected because they are considered to be tough, strong, easy-to-use, and difficult for thieves or criminals to vandalize or to 5 misuse to illicitly obtain funds from the machine. A backup storage device 23 connected to the computer 21 provides further security for the software and data stored on the hard drive. As shown in connection with the flow chart of 10 FIG. 8 entitled "insert card and verify screen", the user will see on the screen display 20 the welcome message and a prompt to insert the banking (or ATM) card and to verify the password with the banking network. The user will be prompted to select English or Spanish as the 15 language for the transactions as shown in FIG 8F. The user will then touch the screen display to select English or Spanish for the transaction language. In the card insert routine 300 a test is made in a step 302 to determine whether the magnetic striped 20 identification card has been placed in the card reader. If it has not, control is transferred to a step 304 prompting the user to insert the card through the card slot. The card is then read in a step 306 and the user is prompted and enters a password in a step 308. A test 25 is made in a step 310 to determine whether the password is verifiable with the banking network when communicated over the modem 29. If the password is not, a test is made in a step 312 allowing the password to be entered three more times. Assuming three unsuccessful tries in a 30 step 314, the incorrect password message is displayed and process loops back to the step 308. If the password is found to be correct after step 310 the transaction is proceeded with in a step 316. If as a result of step 308 the transaction is cancelled, control is transferred to a 35 step 320 testing for whether another transaction has been requested. This may be done by screen prompts to be -WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -18 answered by the user as exemplified by the screen displays shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B. The selection may be made by keypads 26 and 27, as shown in FIG. 15A or by touch screen contact with the appropriately labelled 5 portion of the screen display shown in FIG. 15B. If it is, a service option screen 322 is displayed. If it is not, a test is made in step 324 to determine whether the card is in the card reader. If the card reader does not have a card in it the welcome screen is displayed in a 10 step 326. If the card is in the card reader it is ejected back to the customer in a step 328. In the event that the password is entered more than three times control is transferred to a step 330 causing the card to be eaten or retained and placed in a card bin. In a step 15 332 the message is displayed on the touch screen that the card has been retained and the touch screen after that displays the welcome screen in the step 326. The display shown in FIG. 8A prompts the user to insert the card. After the insertion of the card, the 20 display will prompt the user to please enter the PIN or password number, as shown in FIG. 8B. The processing of the entered password is shown in FIG. 8C. If an incorrect password has been used with the card, then the screen display will display, as shown in FIG. 8D, the 25 phrase "incorrect password", and prompt the user to "please try again". If the subsequent or second password is incorrect, the machine retains the card and the screen display will show on its face, as shown in FIG. 8E, the statement that there still is an incorrect password, and 30 that the card is being retained. The card has been "eaten" by the machine. The card can be retrieved only by contacting the financial institution owning the machine. Having verified the card and having verified the password or PIN number with the banking network over 35 a modem 29 or the like, the machine 10 is ready to proceed with a transaction. The modem 29 communicates WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -19 with the computer 21 through the serial interface 21a to which it is connected. The user display screen 20 will then display the transaction options available to the user, such as those 5 shown in FIG. 9 which include 1) withdraw; 2) deposit; 3) cash check; 4) cash money order; 5) buy money order; 6) wire transfer; 7) bill payments; 8) purchase (lottery tickets, stamps and telephone cards). The display shown in FIG. 9 will be on the panel display 20 and adjacent a 10 pair of flanking additional keypads 26 and 27 (FIGS. 1 and 6), which have arrow keys which are aligned with these options 1-8. That is, the pressing of the arrow key 26a opposite the number "1)" "WITHDRAW" on the screen 20 will initiate a withdrawal. Whereas, the operation of 15 the second arrow key 27a in the right hand bank of keys will initiate a "BUY MONEY ORDER" operation, to be described hereinafter. Assuming the user has selected the "1)" withdrawal option by depressing the arrow key 26a 20 opposite number "1) WITHDRAW", the screen display 20 will then display a request to an account for a withdrawal, i.e., from a checking or savings account. This is shown in FIG. 10 with the display of a "1) CHECKING" and a "2) SAVINGS" on the screen display opposite the arrow keys 25 26a and 26b. Assuming that the user wishes to withdraw money from a checking account, the user will press the arrow key 26a. The screen display 20 will then show the display of FIG. 11 with the display labeled "WITHDRAW FROM CHECKING" and with the monetary amounts "20", "40", 30 "50", "100", "200" and other listed opposite the selection arrow keys 26a-26c and 27a-27c, respectively. By operating one of the particular arrow keys, i.e., the arrow key $20.00 for withdrawal from checking, will signal other positions of the apparatus 10 to perform a 35 number of operations shown on the flow chart entitled "WITHDRAW screen" shown in FIG. 11A.

WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -20 In a step 340 the withdraw screen is engaged and in a step 342 the user is prompted by the screen to insert the card and a verify screen is displayed. If the card is verified control is transferred to a step 344 5 allowing the user to choose from a present withdrawal amount. If the user chooses to cancel the transaction control is transferred to a step 346 testing for another transaction. If the user chooses not to choose from a preset withdrawal amount, the user may enter the 10 withdrawal amount in $5.00 increments in a step 348 or may cancel the transaction and proceed to the other transaction test step 346. Assuming that the withdrawal amount has been entered in $5.00 increments, the withdrawal transaction is performed in a step 350 via 15 checking over the banking network. In a step 352 the cash dispenser dispenses the withdrawn amount and in a step 354 the receipt is printed by the receipt printed. Control is then transferred to the step 346 testing for additional transaction prompts. If there is, the service 20 option screen is then displayed in a step 360. If not, the card is ejected from the card reader in a step 362 and the welcome screen is displayed in a step 364. A connection will then be made by the electronics network and modem via the banking network to 25 access the customer's account in the bank; and then there will be an operation of a cash dispenser 30 (FIGS. 1 and 5) to dispense $20.00 in cash. The cash dispenser communicates with the computer 21 through the serial communication device 21a to which it is connected, as 30 shown in FIG. 24. The cash dispenser 30 herein is a typical cash dispenser unit used in an ATM machine. The illustrated cash dispenser is a G & D America, Inc. Model ACD which is made by Giestcke and Debrient America, Inc. The 35 illustrated cash dispenser 30 has four (4) bins. Each bin can hold four hundred notes. The preferred cash WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -21 dispenser 30 is loaded with four hundred $5.00 notes in one bin. The other three bins are each loaded with four hundred $20.00 notes. Manifestly, more or less bins may be used and also different cash dispensers may be used 5 than that described herein. The illustrated and preferred cash dispenser 30, as shown in FIG. 5, is mounted for sliding horizontally to the right for reloading, and is slid back into the position shown in FIG. 5 where it is supported on slide 10 tracks 32 mounted on the housing 12. The cash being dispensed drops through a chute 36 into a hopper 38 having a pivoted axis door 40. The pivoted access door 40 allows the dispensed cash to drop into a dispensed cash bin 42. As shown in FIG. 6, in order to withdraw 15 dispensed cash the user will reach through a cash bin window 46 in the front housing wall 16 and remove the cash from the bin 42. As shown in FIG. 7A, access to the interior of the housing 12 and to the cash dispenser 30 for the replenishing the cash is through a rear housing 20 door 44. The rear housing door 44 has a double security lock 47a and 47b and a handle 48. With the rear housing door 44 open, the cash bins can be accessed and slid along the tracks 32. The double security lock 47a and 47b provides security for the cash sections in the normal 25 manner of an ATM. If the user had chosen the "SAVINGS ACCOUNT" on the display 20 for withdrawal transaction (shown in FIG. 10), she would have pressed the arrow key 26b opposite the "SAVINGS ACCOUNT" prompt on the screen display 20. 30 As shown in FIG. 10, the display 20 would then show the withdrawal from savings screen having the prompt "WITHDRAW FROM SAVINGS." The user is requested to enter the amount in $5.00 increments of the amount to be withdrawn. In this instance, the user operates the 35 keyboard to type in $500.00, the amount to be withdrawn from savings. In such event, the withdraw screen and WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -22 flow chart shown in FIG. 12 is used to perform the withdrawal from savings by the modem through the banking network, and the cash dispenser 30 is then operated to dispense the cash into the cash bin 42 for removal by the 5 user. For either a withdrawal from savings or a withdrawal from checking, it is preferred to print out a receipt with a receipt printer 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The receipt printer is connected to the computer 21 10 through a parallel communication device 51. The receipt printer 50 dispenses a printed paper receipt which is fed therefrom and is issued, in this instance, from a receipt dispensing slot 52 in the front wall 16 of housing 12. The user will then receive the receipt which shows not 15 only the amount being withdrawn but also the transaction fee. Thus, the total withdrawn from checking or savings for the transaction will include not only the cash dispensed but also the transaction fee, i.e., $1.00 per transaction. 20 The illustrated receipt printer 50 is preferably a Model MP342F, manufactured by Star Micronics America, Inc. of Piscataway, New Jersey. The receipt printer 50 has an automatic cutter for cutting the receipt after printing. Manifestly, other printers or receipt 25 generators may be used than the model described herein. The welcome screen is displayed in a step 220, as shown in FIG. 9A. In a step 222 all hardware and software parameters are initialized. In a step 224 the service options screen is displayed, allowing a choice to 30 enter. The withdrawal screen 226, the deposit screen 228, the check cashing screen 230, the cashing of money order screen 232, buy money order screen 234, the wire transfer screen 236, the bill payment screen 238 or a make purchase screen 240. 35 Assuming now that the user had selected the deposit #2 option as shown in FIG. 9, and wanted to WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -23 deposit into the checking or savings account, the user would have pressed the arrow key 26b of the keypad 26, which is opposite "DEPOSIT". This action results in a request whether to deposit into a checking account or 5 into a savings account. Assuming the deposit was made into the checking account, the flow chart of FIG. 13 shows the steps performed by apparatus 10 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The deposit screen, which is displayed in a step 10 380, requests insertion of the card and displays a verify screen in a step 382. If the card is not inserted control is transferred to a step 384 testing for whether any other transaction is to be carried out. If it is, in a step 386 the service option screen is displayed. If 15 not, in a step 388 the card is ejected and the welcome screen is displayed in a step 390. In the event that the card has been verified a prompt is made to the user in the step 392 as to the type of deposit. If the user elects to cancel the transaction, control is transferred 20 to the step 384. If the user selects "Cash", a cash deposit screen is displayed in a step 394. If they select "Checking", a check deposit screen is displayed in a step 396 and if they choose "Money Order," a money order deposit screen is displayed in a step 398. Control 25 is then transferred to a step 400, causing the selected transaction to be performed by a modem 29 through the banking network. In a step 402 the receipt is printed out and control is then transferred to the other transaction test step 384. 30 The deposit into checking screen display (FIG. 13A) prompts the user with the statement: "WHAT WOULD LIKE TO DEPOSIT IN YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT 1) cash; 2) check; or 3) money order". Assuming that the user has elected to deposit a check, the check transaction will be 35 selected by pressing the arrow key 26b of the keypad 26. As shown in FIG. 13B, a request then will appear on the WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -24 screen display 20 labeled " DEPOSIT CHECK" opposite a window 52 for the amount of the check. In the window 52, the operator will then use the keyboard 18 to enter the deposit amount of $675.52. In this instance, a service 5 charge in the amount of $1.00 will also be displayed, as shown in FIG. 13B to the user. If the user has not endorsed the check, the user will see, upon entering the amount, will be that shown in FIG. 13C, which will request the user to "sign the back of the check", and 10 "when ready to insert the check into a scanner slot". A scanner slot 54 is located above the user display 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. In this instance, the check will be inserted vertically. The illustrated slot 54 is approximately 4" x 9", and the inserted check will be 15 scanned while it is in this vertical position, as will be described hereinafter. As the check enters the slot 54, it is gripped by feed rollers and moved along a feeding track 56 (FIG. 2). The check feeds directly into and stops at an imaging station 55 where the check is scanned 20 or images of the front and the back sides of the check are captured. A scanning and confirm flow chart is shown at FIG. 14. It will be described in greater detail hereinafter with respect to the software control and operations of the machine. As shown in this flow chart, 25 an optical character recognition (OCR) scanner scans the document. A magnetic ink (MICR) reader reads the magnetic ink data on the check, which will include the bank's identification number as well as the user's checking account number with the bank. Also, while the 30 check is in this stopped position, its legal line will be scanned, and the CAR line will be scanned to verify that the check is for the correct amount, in this instance $675.52. Also, while in the vertical stopped position, it is preferred to have a camera unit 58 and 60 (FIG. 2) 35 disposed on opposite sides to capture images of both sides of the check and connected through a SCSI device 59 -WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -25 to the computer 21. The images are stored on a magnetic recording medium in TIFF format and are provided with a tag so that the image file, as shown in FIG. 14, can be later accessed if so desired. 5 At the beginning of the scanning operation, the check image is processed to ascertain if the check has been inserted correctly. In the scanning operation 420 the document is inserted in the scanner slot in a step 422. The scanner using the camera 58 and 60 scans both 10 sides of the documents and reads the magnetic ink via a magnetic transducer in a step 424. The document is placed in the holding area in a step 426 and a determination is made in a step 428 as to whether the document is a check or money order on the basis of the 15 presence or absence of the magnetic ink data. A check is also made in a step 430 to determine whether the document is inserted correctly. If it is not, the document is ejected from the document slot in a step 432 and the touch screen displays if the document is inserted 20 incorrectly in a step 434 following which control is transferred back to the step 422. If the document is not a check or money order as determined in a step 428, control is transferred to a step 440 causing both sides of the document to be saved in a tagged image file 25 format. If the document was inserted correctly as tested for in step 430, both sides of the document are saved in a step 440. In a step 442, the images are analyzed by amount recognition software of the types supplied by Mitek of San Diego, California, in particular its 30 Quickstrokes Version 2.5 software. Control is transferred to that software from step 442 and as may best be seen in FIG. 25, in a step 450 the software is run. In a step 452, the software recognition device is created and initialized. The form files are read in a 35 step 454, which form files include the positions where the courtesy amount recognition and where the signatures WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -26 are likely stored in the fields within the document. In a step 456 the scanned image file is read and in a step 458 the neural network contained within the Quickstrokes software recognizes the characters written in the 5 signature line as well as the characters written in the courtesy amount recognition space and in the amount recognition line. The recognized characters are then evaluated from the standpoint of a present confidence level in a step 460, and character strings representative 10 of those characters are returned to the software set forth in FIG. 14 for further evaluation. Referring now to FIG. 14 in a step 470, the strings representing the signature verification as well as the amount on the document are forwarded to the bank network by the modem 15 29 for confirmation for payout. If there is no confirmation control is transferred to a step 472 causing the document to be ejected from the document slot and in a step 424 a document rejection message is displayed. In a step 476 the current transaction is denied. In the 20 event that the documents are confirmed in a step 470, the check or money order is stacked in an accepted documents bin in a step 478 and confirmation on the current transaction is sent to the banking network in a step 480. If the images are not stored, the check is 25 carried around the U-shaped feed path 61 back to an eject slot 61a in the housing wall 14 for retrieval by the user. The eject slot 61a is parallel with and to the left of the insert slot 54. Assuming that the check has been re-inserted correctly and images of both the front 30 and back have been captured, then the check is sent to an escrow or holding area 64 in the check feed track. The holding area 64 communicates through the serial communication device 21a with the computer 21, as shown in FIG. 24. As best seen in FIG. 4 at the escrow area 35 64, the check is held for either depositing into a store bin 66 if the check has been qualified and accepted, or WO 98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -27 the check depositing transaction, the check will be fed from the escrow area back to the eject slot 61a for removal by the user if failure to verify the signature causes the check to be rejected for deposit. Assuming 5 that the banking network has been connected by the modem 29 to other portions of the apparatus 10 and that the check has been verified, the amount deposited is sent over the banking network to the identified bank and identified account of the user for deposit. The receipt 10 printer 50 is then operated to provide a written receipt to the user showing the amount deposited minus the transaction charge of $1.00. Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the document handling of a money order or a check will now be 15 described in greater detail. The check is inserted vertically through the scanner slot 54 and passes in front of a pair of first infrared sensors 101 and 102, which sense that the check has been inserted. These sensors are on opposite sides of a guide or feed track 20 100 which includes a pair of spaced parallel plates 103 and 103a extending inwardly to the imaging station 55. Immediately beyond the infrared sensors 101 and 102, which detect the insertion of the document, is a pressure roller 105 to push the check against the plate 103. The 25 check is pushed forwardly past a set of infrared sensors 110 and 112, which will detect when the check is fully inserted into the scanner slot and is gripped by a feeding belt 112 that runs through an entry slot 114 between the image scanners 58 and 60 at the imaging 30 station 54. The feeding belt 112 extends through imaging station to a large diameter roller 121 (FIG. 2B). The check pauses in its travel at the imaging station 54, where the image taking video or other scanners 58 and 60 take images of the front and back of the check. Optical 35 character recognition readers read the magnetic ink recognition characters for the bank and for the _WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -28 customer's account. Electronic signals from the image takers 58 and 60 provide information concerning the signature for the check, the legal line and the amount written thereon, and the CAR line and the amount written 5 thereon, all of which are stored magnetically, in this instance, and provided with tag number for later recapture. As best seen in FIG. 2B, a U-shaped track 120 is provided around the large diameter roller 121 to guide 10 the check to reverse its direction of travel and to move into a slot between plates 122 and 123 of the check guide track 100 to a pair of inlet infrared sensors 125 and 126, which sense the check coming into the inlet of the escrow area 64. The feeding belt 112 is a cogged timing 15 belt which carries the checks about the drum 121 and between the plates 122 and 123 to the inlet to the escrow area. The cogged feeding belt is driven by a stepper motor and travels about guide rollers 127. At the escrow or holding area 64, there is 20 provided a large belt driving drum 130 which drives a cogged feeding belt 131 for conveying the check first upwardly and to the left into the holding area and from the latter into the deposit bin 66 above the holding area 64. If the check is to be rejected, the feeding belt 131 25 reverses its direction of travel to eject the check through the eject slot 62. The driving roller 130 includes a stepper motor 132, which is mounted on the top of the roller 130. The stepper motor 132 is reversible in its rotation for rotating a drum 130 and the feeding 30 belt 131 in opposite directions and through a controlled distance. Infrared sensors 125 and 126 sense the passage of the check from the imaging station 55 into the escrow area 64. The feeding belt 131 is guided along and 35 travels past a series of guide rollers 134a, 134b, 134c and 134d to the top of the holding area. The endless _WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -29 timing belt 131 turns about the top guide roller 134d and travels downwardly and to the right past a roller 136 to return to a side of the drum 130, as seen in FIG. 2A. The check is pushed against the timing belt 131 5 to travel with the timing belt by four sets of pressure rollers 140a, 140b, 140c and 140d. At the top of the holding area is another pair of infrared sensors 141 and 142, which sense the arrival of the upper edge of the check and they signal that the check has been moved 10 completely into the holding area with the lower end of the check being at or above the rollers 140a and 134a at the bottom of the holding area and aligned with the eject slot 62. Once the check has been accepted, the stepper motor 132 is turned to drive the drum 130 and the feeding 15 belt 131 to cause the check to travel upwardly into the overhead deposit bin 66. On the other hand if the check is rejected as being unacceptable, the feeding belt travels in the opposite downward direction to push the lower edge of the check through the eject slot 62 and 20 return it to the user. A lower end of the guide plate and a spring guide finger 147 guide the outgoing ejected check to slide and travel along a short guide plate 148 to the aligned eject slot 62. Infrared sensors 150 and 151 (FIG. 2A) at the bottom of the holding track sense 25 when the check has been removed from the eject slot by the machine user. During the deposit transaction, the screen display 20 will show a confirming message, such as shown in FIG. 13D, in the form of a bar that progresses from 30 left to right in window 69 being viewed by the user. As the receipt is generated by receipt printer 50, the screen display 20 (FIG. 13E) will show that $674.52 "WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT. PLEASE TAKE THE RECEIPT WITH YOU." 35 If, rather than depositing the check into a checking account, the user had selected deposit into a W0O98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -30 savings account, the screen will display the deposit into savings account shown in FIG. 13F. Then, the user would press the arrow key 26b for the "CHECK"; and the check would have been deposited the same as described above 5 with respect to deposit into the checking. A cash receipt would have been provided to the user, as was the cash receipt generated for the deposit into the checking account. Assuming that the user had decided to deposit 10 cash into checking and had pushed the #1 cash button 26a of the keypad for the display screen of FIG. 13A or had pressed the same button for a cash deposit into savings (FIG. 13F), the processor would follow the steps of the cash deposit flow chart shown in FIG. 13H. 15 In the cash deposit process 500 as set forth in FIG. 13H the cash acceptor is initialized in a step 502. Money is inserted in the cash acceptor in a step 504 and is accepted thereby. The bills are read and are transferred to a cash bin in a step 506 and the total of 20 the bills presented in added up in a step 508. If the user elects to deposit more bills in the cash deposit in a step 510 control is transferred back to step 504. If not, control is transferred to a step 512 where the deposit transaction is proceeded with. 25 The user display 20 as shown in FIG. 13G for deposit cash would display the prompt "PLEASE INSERT YOUR BILLS INTO THE ACCEPTOR SLOT 60, WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE RIGHTHAND SECTION ABOVE THE CASH DISPENSER." As may best be seen in FIG. 5, the cash dispenser accepting slot 60 30 leads into a cash acceptor module 62, which accepts cash, specifically bills in denominations of $1.00, $5.00, $10.00 or $20.00. As shown in FIG. 24, the cash acceptor module 62 is connected to the computer 21 via a resistor network 62a having a plurality of current limiting 35 resistors. The resistor network is connected to a digital I/O board 62b, in this embodiment a National -WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -31 Instruments PC-DIO-96. The digital I/O board 62b is coupled to the computer 21. The cash acceptor module 62 counts the deposited bills and has a bin in a hopper 64 to receive the counted bills. The cash acceptor module 5 62 is pivotally mounted at 66 to be swung to a dotted line position for emptying deposited bills therefrom. The preferred cash acceptor module 62 merely stacks the inserted bills and counts the same. The cash acceptor module 62 is preferably a Mars Electronic International 10 Cash Acceptor Model AL4-L1-U1M, which is one of several available cash acceptors. It will not only stack the bills and retain them in a machine, but will add up the total amount of cash. The cash flow chart shown in FIG. 13H will be described in greater detail hereinafter in 15 connection with the software and overall control of the machine. The deposit transaction proceed from the flow chart of FIG. 13H back to the flow chart of FIG. 13 to proceed through the modem and banking methods to make the deposit into the user's checking or savings account. The 20 machine 10 will operate the receipt printer 50 to print a receipt to be dispensed to the user through the receipt slot 52, showing the amount deposited less the transaction fee, which is illustrated as $1.00 in this instance. 25 When depositing cash, the illustrated cash acceptor 62 will total the cash received and show this cash being deposited, as shown on the screen 20 which shows that the $20.00 has been deposited after $45.00 more dollars have been deposited, making for a total 30 deposit of $65.00, as shown in FIG. 13J. A receipt will then be printed by the receipt printer 50, and the user will be notified that $65.00 will be deposited in the user's account (FIG. 13K). Assuming that the user, when prompted by the 35 options screen of FIGS. 3 and 9, has elected to press the arrow key 26c to initiate the check cashing transaction, WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -32 the user display 20 will prompt the user to enter the amount of the check into the window 68 (FIG. 16). The flow chart, with respect to cashing a check, is shown in FIG. 16A. 5 The cash check process is entered at a point 520 and as a result, the magnetic card reader accepts a magnetic identification card in a step 522 and displays a verify screen. The user can exit the transaction by transferring to a step 524 where he or she is prompted 10 for another transaction. If not, the amount of the check is entered in a step 526 and the check is scanned and confirmed in a step 528 as set forth previously. The user then enters an amount in a step 530 to be received in cash and the banking network is accessed in a step 532 15 to determine whether the check has a balance from which the check may be cashed. If so, in a step 534 the cash dispenser dispenses cash in the cash amount and in a step 536 the receipt is printed by the receipt printer. Control is then transferred to a step 524 and if another 20 transaction is desired, the service option screen is accessed in a step 526. If another transaction is not wanted, control is transferred to a step 528 causing the card to be ejected from the card reader and in a step 530 the welcome screen is displayed. 25 The user enters through the keyboard 18 the amount, such as $90.00, shown in FIG. 16B, the amount will be scanned and confirmed, and the service charge of $1.00 is shown on the screen display of FIG. 16. The user may select to continue the transaction or to cancel 30 it by pressing the appropriate button of keypads 26 or 27. The touch screen display shown in FIG. 16H allows the user to make the selection by touching the portions of the display labelled either CONTINUE or CANCEL. If the user has not signed the back of the check, the user 35 will be requested to do so (FIG. 16C). If the check was inserted backwards, as it is viewed by the scanner, the _WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -33 check will be returned through the rejected material outlet slot 62. The user will invert the check and insert it now in the correct vertical position into the insert slot 54. From there the check will be carried 5 into the scanning imaging station where cameras 58 and 60 will capture the images of opposite sides of the check. The processor by executing document verification software will then analyze the signature image and compare it with the profile signature of the user. Likewise, the 10 processor, by using the verification software, will also read the cursive legal amount line and the written numerical amount at the CAR line, as will be described hereinafter in connection with the document verification software in greater detail. 15 After re-insertion of the check, the user will be requested to re-enter the amount of $90.00 (FIG. 16D). The check image will again be processed and if the amounts match the keyed-in amount the user display will show an "OK" for the amount (FIG. 16D). During the 20 scanning and the verification operations with communication to the user's account, through the banking modem, the screen will display "OCR" with a movable bar, as shown in FIG. 16E. The next prompt shown on this screen will be to enter the portion of the check amount 25 that the user wants to receive in cash. The cash is selected in $5.00 increments. The machine then informs the user any remaining amount of the check will be received in cash (FIG. 16F). With reference to the specific example given herein as shown in FIG. 16F, the 30 user's screen display 20 will show that there has been a $90.00 check scan with a service charge of $1.00, leaving a balance of $89.00. The operator will have used the keyboard to enter the request for $40.00 cash, in $5.00 increments, as shown in window 70. As will be explained 35 in greater detail in connection with check cashing flow chart of FIG. 16A, the cash dispenser 30 will then be WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -34 operated to dispense $40.00 into the cash bin 56, which the user will then remove. As shown in FIG. 16G, the amount of $40.00 will be deposited in the user's account through the banking network; and the receipt printer 50 5 will print a receipt for the deposit of $40.00. The cashing of the money order is much like cashing a check. It will be described hereinafter in connection with the flow chart shown in FIG. 17, and in connection with the screen of FIG. 17A. 10 The cash money order process is accessed in a step 570. The magnetic card is prompted to be inserted in a step 522 and a verify screen is raised. If the user decides to exit the transaction, she may so signal and control is transferred to a step 574, testing for whether 15 another transaction is desired. Assuming that the card is verified and that the transaction is to proceed, the amount of the money order to be paid out is entered in a step 576. In a step 578 the money order is inserted and scanned and confirmed, and in a step 580, assuming the 20 confirmation occurs, the user enters the amount for the money order to receive in cash. In a step 580 a query is generated by a modem to the banking network to determine whether the amount of the money order is backed by funds. Assuming that it is, in a step 584 the cash dispenser 25 dispenses the cash amount and a receipt is printed in a step 586. Control is then transferred to the other transaction test step. If another transaction is desired the service option screen is displayed in a step 588. if not, the card reader is ejected in a step 590 and the 30 welcome screen is displayed in a step 592. Assuming that the user, when viewing the options available (FIG. 9) had pressed the arrow 26d opposite "cash money order", to institute this transaction, a prompt is then made of the user, as shown in FIG. 17A, to 35 operate the keyboard 18 to enter the amount of the money order, which, in this instance, is $750.00. The screen WO 98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -35 will also show the transaction service charge of $1.00 and the available amount of $100.00 in cash. The cash money order screen displays $100.00 in a window 71 and prompts the operator to enter from the 5 keyboard 18 the amount of cash that the user would like to receive in $5.00 increments. In this instance, the user has entered $100.00 into the window 71. In a manner similar to that used for the scanning of the check, the cameras 58 and 60 photograph both sides of the cash money 10 order and locate the indicia showing the amount of the money order and read the amount indicia. The magnetic ink indicia identifying the issuer and the account of the issuer are read; and the signature on the back of the money order is scanned and confirmed. Then a 15 communications network via a modem is connected to the issuer's account, indicating that the authenticity of the money order is being checked. When the machine 10 receives signals that the money order is authentic, the cash dispenser 30 is then operated to transfer $100.00 20 cash into the cash bin 46 for removal by the user. If the user had not signed the back of the money order, he would have been informed to reinsert the money order, as shown in FIG. 17B. If the money order could not be processed, it would be returned through the reject slot 25 62. The user display 20 would state that the money order could not be processed and that the user should check with his financial institution, as shown in FIG. 17C. Assuming the user had selected, in FIG. 9, the #5 option of buying a money order by pressing the right 30 hand button 27a on the keypad, then the buy money order screens and flow chart would have been operative, as will now be described. The first prompt shown on the purchase money order display 20 (FIG. 18), requests the name of the person to whom the money order is to be paid. In 35 this instance, the name is John Doe, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 18A. Having operated the user keyboard 18 to enter WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -36 the payee's name, i.e., "John Doe," the operator will next enter the amount of $500.00, as shown in window 72 in FIG. 18A. The service charge of $0.50 is shown so that the total amount needed for the purchase of the 5 money is $500.50. As may best be seen in FIG. 18B, it is preferred to provide the purchaser of the money order with a number of options for payment including by cash, by credit card withdrawal from an account of the user, and by a smart card. Or the user may return to the money 10 order, if he so desires. The flow chart for buying a money order is shown in FIG. 18B. In a buy money order transaction, the process is entered via step 600 and the money order recipient's name is entered in a step 602 or if cancellation is desired, 15 control is transferred to another transaction test step 604. Assuming that the recipient's name has been entered, the amount of the money order is entered in a step 606 and in a step 608 a method of payment is chosen causing prompts to occur via a cash payment screen 610, a 20 credit card screen 612, a smart card payment screen 614 or a balance withdrawal screen 616. The particular transaction for payment is then processed in a step 618 and the money order is printed out in a step 620. A receipt is printed in a step 622 and the transaction test 25 604 is then made. If further transactions are to occur, the service option screen is displayed in a step 624. If not, a test is done in a step 626 to determine if the card is in the card reader. If it is, the card is ejected in a step 628 and the welcome screen is displayed 30 in a step 630. The buy money order transaction will be tagged and through the banking network, the printer 76 (FIG. 1) will print the money order. The money order printer 76 is disposed, in this instance, side-by-side with the 35 receipt printer 50, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and is connected to the computer 21 through the parallel -WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -37 communication device 51, as shown in FIG. 24. The printed money order is dispensed from a money order dispensing slot 78, which is adjacent to the receipt printing slot 72 in the front housing wall 16 of the 5 apparatus 10. The illustrated money order printer may be similar to the receipt printer 50 and is available from Star Micronics America, Inc., Model MP3342F. It includes an automatic cutter. As shown in FIG. 18C, the user screen display 20 10 will then display that $500.50 has been withdrawn from the user's account, and that the money order is being printed. Both a money order and a receipt will be issued from the money order slot 78 and the receipt slot 52, respectively. 15 If the user had selected the wire transfer option in FIG. 9 and had depressed the arrow key 27a for wire transfer, the screen of FIG. 19 would be displayed on the user's display 20 prompting the user to use the keyboard 18 to enter the name of the person to whom the 20 money is to be wired. Then the screen display 20 would request the name of the bank, as shown in FIG. 19A, which will be entered, such as First American. The next request of the user is shown in FIG. 19B and that is for the Federal routing code or the routing for the bank for 25 the transfer. The routing is to be typed in by the user using the keyboard. The number "7896654" has been typed in as the federal routing code in FIG. 19B. The account number of the receiver is then requested, as shown in FIG. 19C. The account number in this instance is shown 30 as "987-87654" and has been typed in by the user using the keyboard 18. Having entered the information for the wire transfer to a specific account, the screen display 20 requests the amount to be sent, which in this instance, 35 as shown in window 78 is $850.00. A service charge of 10%, or $85.00 of the $850.00 amount charged is shown to WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -38 the user bringing the transaction total to $935.00, as shown in window 78a. The flow chart for a wire transfer of money is shown in FIG. 19E. The wire transfer process 640 is started with a 5 step 642 for entering information related to the transfer related to the bank the transfer is to be made to as well as the account. In a step 644 the amount to be transferred is entered. In a step 646 the method of paying for the wire transfer is selected, causing control 10 to transfer to a cash payment screen 648, to a credit card screen 650, to a smart card payment screen 652 or to a withdrawal screen 654. Following that, in a step 656 the selected payment transfer occurs and the wire transfer occurs via the modem over the banking network. 15 In a step 658 a receipt is printed and in a step 660 a test is made for whether another transaction is to occur. If it is, a service option screen is displayed in a step 662. If it is not, a test is made in a step 664 to determine if the card is in the reader. If so, the card 20 is ejected in a step 666 and the welcome screen is displayed in a step 668. A request for the method, of payment which can be any of four different payment methods, is shown in FIG. 19F. In this instance, the options of cash, credit 25 card, withdrawal from my account, or smart card may be selected by operating the appropriate keypads 26 and 27 along the display 20, shown in FIG. 19F. After selecting the appropriate method of payment, the machine is then connected over the banking network (FIG. 19E) to the bank 30 to deposit $850.00 in John Doe's account no. 987-87654. The printer will cause a printout of the receipt showing a payment and wire transfer to John Doe of $850.00 and a total transaction fee of $935.00, the latter may be charged by credit card, smart card, or withdrawal from my 35 account, as shown in FIG. 19E. On the other hand, the user could have deposited cash of $935.00 to the cash WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -39 acceptor slot 60, which would then count and hold the cash in the cash acceptor 34. Having finished the transaction, the charge card (if used for payment) would be ejected, as shown in FIG. 19E. 5 Returning again to the options available as shown in FIG. 9, if the operator had pressed the key 47c on the keypad 47 to select the "bill payments" option, then a bill option screen (FIG. 20) would have been shown on the user display 20. The bills which may be paid are 10 listed on the display 20, viz., telephone, electric, gas, cable, water and credit cards. The operator will use one of the keypad buttons on keypads 46 and 47 to select from the screen of FIG. 4 the particular bill to be paid. In the alternative the bill payment selection may be made by 15 touching the appropriately labelled region of the menu display on the touch screen display shown in FIG. 20J. It will be requested on the user display, as shown in FIG. 20A, to enter the amount for the bill selected, such as $129.67 for the telephone bill. Then, the telephone 20 bill may be inserted into the scanning material insert slot 54 where the images of both sides of the bill will be captured. The particular bill payments have to be qualified with the user's account beforehand, and the particular bill has to be recognized so that the amount 25 of the bill and the field of the money can be located as well as the identity of the company--the telephone company, in this instance. The verifier will read the customer's account number, the payee's account number, and the amount of the bill. The position of this data on 30 the bill as well as the script, font, etc. will vary greatly. To aid in reading the bill, a keypad may be provided for operation by the user. Having manually identified for the processor all of the fields on the image of bill, the interpretation of the field image is 35 done in the same manner as analyzing a check or money order. The bill is verified, and if OK, the request is WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -40 then stated as to the total amount to be paid for the transaction. The user then will receive the request to enter the amount to pay on the telephone bill, as shown in FIG. 20A, which in this instance, is $129.67. The 5 service charge of $0.60 will be also displayed to the user on the user display 20 along with the total, which is shown in the window at the bottom of the screen. For instance, the total charge of $130.27 (FIG. 20A) to pay the particular telephone bill. 10 When paying a telephone bill the screen will then interrogate the user as to whether she wishes to pay another bill via an inquiry, such as the inquiry shown in FIG. 20C wherein it is desired to pay a gas bill of $45.22. The sum of $45.22 is entered by the user using 15 the keyboard 18. As shown in FIG. 20D, the user is then prompted to load the gas bill into the scanner slot. The gas bill will be read in the same manner as the telephone bill was read by the cameras 58 and 60. The magnetic or the other optical character recognition information on 20 the bill will be analyzed to connect the payment of $45.22 to the appropriate account to the bill paying network. If the user also decides to pay a gas bill, the user will press "continue". Herein, the user decided to pay a credit card bill of $96.82 as shown in FIG. 20E for 25 a third service charge of $0.60, which will bring the of the total service charges to $1.80. The total amount of the three bills, the telephone bill, the gas bill and the credit card bill plus the service charge will be $273.51. 30 Next, the method of payment is requested (FIG. 20F); and if the user elects to pay with credit card, he will press the keypad button 26b and cause the screen FIG. 20G to be shown on the user panel 20, requesting that the user insert the credit card bill into the slot. 35 The bill payments have been made over the bills payment network and the bills will have been collected in the WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -41 receiver bin. This process is set forth as shown in FIG. 20H. The bill payment process 720 is entered by selecting the type of bill such as telephone bill, 5 electric bill, to be paid in a step 722. The bill is scanned and verified in a step 724 and the amount to be paid is entered manually in a step 726. A test is made in a step 728 to determine whether other bills are to be paid. If so, control is transferred to step 722. If 10 not, control is transferred to a step 730, testing for other transactions. A method of payment inquiry is made in a step 732 and in response thereto, a cash screen is displayed in a step 734 or a credit card payment screen is displayed in a step 736. A smart card payment screen 15 is displayed in a step 738 or a withdrawal screen is displayed in a step 740. After selecting the payment method, the funds are then transferred so that the bill is paid via modem connection in a step 742 and a receipt is printed out in a step 744. If another transaction is 20 desired from step 730, the service option screen is displayed in a step 746. Otherwise, a test is made to determine if the card is in a card reader in a step 748. The card is ejected in a step 750 and the welcome screen is displayed in a step 752. 25 When finished with the bill payment, the screen display shows that $273.51 has been withdrawn from the account in FIG. 20H with a notation that "your bills are paid". As flow chart for the bill payment shows in FIG. 20H, the receipt is printed by the receipt printer 50 30 which then ejects the receipt through the slot 52 to the user. The ATM card is then ejected from the card reader back to the user. If the user had elected in FIG. 9 to buy lottery tickets, stamps or telephone calling cards, the purchase 35 option would be selected by depressing the keypad button 47d to cause the purchase display screen of FIG. 21 to be WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -42 present on the user display 20, which shows the option of buying stamps at $6.50 a booklet, a smart card at $5.00 a card, or a telephone card at $10.00 a card. Obviously, the number of items to be purchased could be enlarged to 5 include lottery tickets or other end user items, which could be dispensed easily through purchasing goods dispensing slots 84, 85 and 86 shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 below three goods dispenser units comprising a lottery ticket dispenser 87, a stamp dispenser 88, a telephone 10 calling card dispenser 89 and a smart card transaction vendor or handler 89a, all connected to the digital I/O board 62b via the resistor network 62a for communication with the computer 21. The dispenser receiving slots are located in the front wall 16 of the housing 12, and the 15 dispensers for the stamps, telephone cards or smart card are mounted on rails 90, as best seen in FIG. 3. The rails 90 allow for sliding movement so that they can be accessed through a rear service door 94 (FIG. 7). The rear service door 94 has its own security lock 96 for 20 denying unauthorized access to the interior of the housing 12 and to the goods dispensers 87, 88 and 89. A central door 97 having a security lock 98 can be opened to access the central portion of the machine 10 having the checks and the bills 66, the cameras 58 and 60, etc. 25 While a variety of dispensers could be used, the illustrated dispensers are card dispensers which are made by Asahi Seiko USA, Inc., Model CD1000. Manifestly, dispensers may be used other than those card dispensers herein described by way of example. 30 As shown in FIG. 21, the user may select one or more of the various items to be purchased. A telephone card may be selected by pushing the key 46c to select one $10.00 card. By pressing the "continue" button, the user is then provided with a screen display, as shown in FIG. 35 21B for buying smart cards or stamps. In the alternative the touch screen display shown in FIG. 21I can be used to -WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -43 make the selection by touching the appropriately labelled region of the screen display. In this instance, three smart cards at $5.00 a card have been selected by operating keypad button 46b to result in a grand total of 5 $25.00 in purchases. The next screen to be shown on the display 20 prompts the user to select the method of payment for the $25.00 purchase. The user will then operate one of the keypads to select by cash, credit, withdrawal from account or smart card as a payment mode, 10 as shown in FIG. 21C. In this instance, the operator has decided to pay with cash and has punched the arrow key 26a on the keypad 26. The screen shown in FIG. 21D will then be provided on the display 20 requesting the insertion of 15 the cash into the cash acceptor slot 60. The cash is then verified as counted, FIG. 21E shows that the user has inserted only $20.00, which has been accepted by the cash acceptor 64 and counted. The screen will then show to the user in FIG. 21F that the payment of $21.00 is 20 insufficient for the total transaction of $25.00. If the user only inserts another $3.00, the transaction screen will show that the payment is still $1.00 short, as shown in FIG. 21G wherein the transaction is $25.00. If another dollar bill is inserted into the machine, then 25 the user will see the screen shown in FIG. 21H, which will inform the user to take his merchandise with him. Dispensing of the merchandise occurs as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 21A, and the machine control operates the receipt printer 50 to print a receipt for the user which 30 will be dispensed at the dispensing receipt slot 52. In order to make a purchase, the purchase process is entered in a step 770. The item to be purchased, such as smart card balance, telephone calling card, stamps or lottery tickets are selected in a step 35 772, or if desired, the transaction can be cancelled, causing control to be transferred to another transaction WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -44 test step 774. Assuming that an item is chosen to purchased such as a lottery ticket, the quantity of the item is prompted for in a step 776 and entered, and a test is made in a step 778 as to whether another purchase 5 is to be made. If it is, control is transferred back to step 772. If not, in a step 780 the method of payment is selected, causing a cash payment screen to be displayed in a step 782 or a credit card screen to be displayed in a step 784, or a smart card payment screen to be 10 displayed in a step 786 or a withdrawal screen to be displayed in a step 778, following which the funds are accepted and the merchandise, such as the lottery ticket, is dispensed, in a step 790. The receipt is printed in the step 792 and another transaction is tested for in 15 step 774. If another transaction is desired, the service options display screen is displayed in step 794. If it is not, a test is made to determine if the card is in the card reader in a step 796. The card is ejected in step 798 and the welcome screen is displayed in step 800. 20 As above described herein, it is preferred not to have any coins or coin changers in the machine; and to provide $5.00 bills as the lowest denomination bills that will be paid out in change. Usually, the cash payment process will follow the flow chart shown in FIG. 22. 25 In order to effect a cash payment for one of the transactions such as the purchase of lottery tickets, transfer of a balance into the smart card or into a checking account or the like, the process is entered in a step 810 and the cash acceptor is initialized in a step 30 812. The currency is accepted in a step 814 and is totaled in a step 816. The accepted bills are stacked in the holding area in step 818 and a test is made to determine whether the total covers the transaction amount in a step 820. If it does not, more money is accepted in 35 a step 814. If the transaction is covered a step is made in a step 822 to determine if change is due. If change -WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -45 is due, it is given in $5.00 increments with the remainder credited to the smart card in a step 824 and the transaction proceeds in a step 826. The $5.00 and $20.00 dollar bills available for 5 change are stacked in the four cash bins. If the payment calculation shows that cash tendered covers the transaction, and that change is due, the change will be in cash in $5.00 increments by operation of the cash dispenser. Alternatively, any remaining change of less 10 than $5.00 will be credited to a smart card or to a bank account to avoid the necessity of storing and handling small denomination bills and coins. The option will be exercised by the user with respect to change as shown on the screen display (FIG. 23). The user can insert a 15 smart card into the card slot 14, and the smart card writer 89a (FIG. 1) will write the change by increasing the balance on the smart card, and then return the smart card to the user. If the user wants to deposit the change into his account, the user will operate arrow key 20 26b to cause the deposit transaction to occur over the banking network. It will be appreciated that although various aspects of the invention have been described with respect to specific embodiments, alternatives and modifications 25 will be apparent from the present disclosure, which are within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims (77)

1. An automated document cashing system comprising: an automated machine having a card receiver for 5 receiving a card, which identifies a qualified user of the machine; a data enterer for entering data including the monetary amount about a document to be processed; a document receiver for receiving the document 10 to be processed; a generator for generating image data from the front and back of the document; an evaluator for evaluating the validity of the document and for confirming that the document has 15 acceptable validity; a reader for reading the amount of the document; and a cash dispenser operated upon acceptance by the evaluating means of the signature to dispense cash 20 automatically to the user.

2. A system in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising means for reading the legal amount line in cursive, and for reading the courtesy amount recognition line, and for comparing the same as being for the same 25 amount prior to operating the cash dispenser.

3. A system in accordance with Claim 2 further comprising a reader for reading magnetic ink character recognition data on the document.

4. A system in accordance with Claim 3 further 30 comprising: an entering device for entering the amount of cash to be received by the user; -WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -47 means for determining the difference between the amount of the document and the cash being received; and means for performing a deposit transaction to deposit the difference in the user's account in a remote 5 bank through a modem with respect to the document being cashed.

5. A system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the document being cashed is a money order and including a display means to inform the user to sign the back of 10 the money order.

6. A system in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a prompt device for prompting the user to indicate what portion of the document amount should be dispensed as cash, and what portion should be deposited 15 in the user's account.

7. A system in accordance with Claim 6 further comprising a selector operable by the user to deposit the deposit portion in a checking account or into a deposit account. 20

8. A system in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a display for showing the amount of a service charge for a given transaction to the user.

9. A system in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a printer for printing a receipt for the 25 transaction.

10. A system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: the cash dispenser only dispenses cash in predetermined amounts; WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -48 a calculator in the system calculates the difference between the cash being dispensed and the amount of the document; and a card writer to write the difference on a card 5 which is returned to the user.

11. A system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: the cash dispenser only dispenses cash in predetermined amounts; and 10 a deposit means deposits the document's value less cash dispensed and a transaction fee in the user's account.

12. A system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: 15 cameras record images from both sides of the document; and a document storage device receives the document and stores the same in the machine.

13. A system in accordance with Claim 1 wherein 20 a feeder feeds a rejected document to the user.

14. A system in accordance with Claim 1 further comprising a transaction record generator for generating a transaction record identifying the document and the amount of cash dispensed. 25

15. An automated banking system for receiving cash from a user and for dispensing cash to a user comprising: an automated machine having a card receiver for receiving a card which identifies a user as being 30 qualified to use the machine; -WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -49 a document receiver for receiving a document to be cashed; a reader for reading the document for the amount and for a valid signature of the user if cash is to be 5 dispensed to the user; a cash dispenser in the automated machine for dispensing cash to the user operable upon an accepted reading by the reader; a cash receiver for receiving cash and for 10 analyzing the amount of cash received from the user; a cash storage in the machine for receiving the cash being deposited by the user; and a transactional operator for operation by the user to perform a transaction upon deposit of sufficient 15 cash by user for the requested transaction.

16. A system in accordance with Claim 15 wherein: the document being cashed is a money order; and a reader is provided for reading the cursive 20 signature on the back of the money order and for verifying the signature as a qualified signature.

17. A system in accordance with Claim 15 wherein: the transaction is payment of a bill from a 25 provider; a bill reader reads the provider's account number and the user's identification from the bill; and a transfer of funds is made by modem through a network to an account of the provider. 30

18. A system in accordance with Claim 17 wherein: WO 98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -50 the cash receiver adds the cash bills received and forwards signals representing the total cash being deposited; and a circuit compares the cash being deposited 5 relative to the amount read from the bill by the bill reader to ascertain if the total cash covers the bills and transaction fee.

19. A system in accordance with Claim 19 further comprising a system for generating change and for 10 writing the change onto a medium.

20. A method of cashing a check or money order document with an automated machine comprising: providing an automated machine having a card receiver for receiving the card which identifies a 15 qualified user for cashing a check or money order document; inserting the card into the machine, reading the data on the card and verifying that the user is qualified to cash a document; 20 entering the monetary amount of the document to be processed; inserting a document into a document receiver within the machine; recording images from the document on the front 25 and the back of the document; evaluating the document for whether or not it has an acceptable validity; reading the amount of the document to be cashed from the document; 30 performing a transaction by a modem through a banking network; and dispensing cash after acceptance of the validity of the document. WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -51

21. A method in accordance with Claim 20 further comprising: reading the magnetic ink characters on the document relating to the account on which the document is 5 drawn; and wherein the transaction by the modem through the banking network includes communication with the bank as specified by the magnetic ink character data on the check. 10

22. A method in accordance with Claim 20 further comprising recording the transaction to show the cash being dispensed and the amount being deposited, if any.

23. A method in accordance with Claim 20 15 wherein the cash being dispensed is only in predetermined, incremental amounts; determining the difference between the cash being dispensed and the amount written on the document; and 20 writing at least a portion of this difference on a card which is returned to the user.

24. A method in accordance with Claim 29 further comprising the dispensing of the cash and only in predetermined, fixed incremental amounts; 25 calculating the difference between the cash being dispensed and the amount of the document; and depositing into the user's account the amount less the transaction fee and the cash dispensed.

25. A method in accordance with Claim 20 30 further comprises generating a transactional audit record for identifying the document, the amount of cash being dispensed to the user, and the transactional fee. WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -52

26. A method of automated banking for receiving cash from a user and for dispensing cash from the machine to the user comprising: providing an automated machine having a card 5 receiver for receiving a card, which identifies the user as being qualified to use the machine; providing a document receiver for receiving a document to be cashed and a reader for reading the document for the amount; 10 providing a cash dispenser for dispensing cash to the user operable upon an acceptable transaction; depositing cash into the machine and calculating the amount of cash being deposited into the machine; and inquiring of the user what transaction is to be 15 performed with the deposited cash.

27. A method in accordance with Claim 26 further comprising: inserting a document to be cashed into the document receiver; 20 reading the cursive signature on the document; verifying the signature as a qualified signature; and dispensing cash to the user.

28. A method of operating an unattended banking machine for performing a number of banking transactions 25 and other transactions by a user, comprising: providing an automated machine having a card receiver for receiving a card which identifies the user as being qualified to use the machine; displaying to the user a list of selected, 30 transactional options including withdrawal of cash option, a deposit of cash option, a cashing check option, a cashing money order option, a buying money order option, a wire transfer screen option, a bill payment option and purchasing option; WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -53 receiving a card and verifying the user as being qualified; reading any document being deposited with respect to the amount on the document and performing a 5 security check on the document; dispensing cash to the user if the security check is within acceptable limits and if the user has selected the option of cashing a check or a money order; and 10 providing the user with a receipt for the transactional option selected by the user upon completion thereof.

29. A method in accordance with Claim 28 wherein the operator is provided with a display screen 15 showing the various options and a manual operator operable by the user to choose one of the transactions available to the user.

30. An unattended banking machine for performing a number of banking and other transactions by 20 a user, said banking machine comprising: a cash acceptor for accepting cash from a user and for totalling the amount of cash received; a cash dispenser for dispensing cash to a user; a user interface and display operable by the 25 user to select transactions, enter commands, and to receive information from the machine; a card acceptor for receiving and verifying a qualified user's card; a receipt generator for generating receipts for 30 the user including the total of the amount of cash received; a document cashing apparatus including a document receiver in the machine; WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -54 a reader for reading the cash amount for the document; and a validator for validating the document as being a valid document within a certain probability prior to 5 the dispensing of cash to the user from the cash dispenser.

31. A banking machine in accordance with Claim 30 wherein a dispenser is provided in the machine for dispensing end user items after payment by the 10 qualified user.

32. A banking machine in accordance with Claim 30 wherein the user interface and display comprises a keypad operable by the user; a display screen to display transactions 15 relating to cash for the user; and a selector operable by the user to choose at least one among several cash transactions available to the user.

33. A banking machine in accordance with 20 Claim 1 wherein the document is a check and comprises: a reader for reading magnetic ink character recognition data of a bank on the check; and a communication network having a modem for connection through a network to the bank identified on 25 the check.

34. A machine in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the document is a money order, and the validator comprises a signature verifier including a reader for reading a cursive signature on the back of a money order. 30

35. A banking machine in accordance with Claim 1 for paying a bill by the user, comprising: -WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -55 a bill acceptor for receiving the bill document; a scanner for scanning the bill document; a modem communication network for communicating to the bill issuer's bank account that the payment being 5 made by the user; and a receipt generator for generating a receipt of the paid bill to the user.

36. A banking machine in accordance with Claim 1 wherein: 10 money order blanks are stored in the machine; signals are generated by the user at the user's interface and display to cause the printer to print the amount on the money order blank to form a money order; and 15 a dispenser dispenses the money order to the machine user.

37. An automated banking system for receiving payment from a user and for wire transfer of funds to a transferee in a banking network, said system comprising: 20 an automated machine having a card receiver for receiving a card which identifies the user as being qualified to use the banking network; an input device to enter the amount to be transferred to another; 25 a keypad to enter the identity of the transferee's account; a payment acceptor for accepting payment by the user for the wire transfer; a verifier to verify that the transferee has an 30 account in the banking network; and a communication system having a modem in the banking network for wire transfer through the banking network to the verified transferee's account. WO 98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -56

38. An automated banking system in accordance with Claim 8 wherein the payment acceptor comprises a cash receiver for receiving and totalling the cash received. 5

39. An automated banking system in accordance with Claim 37 wherein the payment acceptor comprises: a card receiver for receiving a card for payment for the wire transfer; and means for reading the card and for causing a 10 debit on the card related to the cash being transferred by wire.

40. An automated banking system in accordance with Claim 39 wherein the payment acceptor comprises a credit card reader which reads the credit card and 15 performs a charge transaction over a credit card network for an amount related to the cash being wired.

41. An automated banking system in accordance with Claim 37 wherein: payment is made with a smart card; and 20 a smart card reader and debit system reads the card to ascertain an amount on the card sufficient for payment of the cash being wired, and writes down the smart card by an amount related to the amount of cash being transferred by wire. 25

42. An automated banking system in accordance with Claim 37 wherein: a printer prints a receipt for the sender of the wire transfer; and a transactional record system makes and keeps a 30 record of the wire transfer. _WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -57

43. A banking system in accordance with Claim 42 wherein an input device operable by the sender causes connection to the sender's withdrawal account to withdraw therefrom an amount sufficient to pay the wire 5 transfer.

44. A banking system in accordance with Claim 37 wherein a display displays to the user a method of payment from among cash, credit card, smart card or account withdrawal; and 10 a selector is operable by the user to select one of the methods of payment for the wire transfer.

45. An automated banking system for payment of bills through a bills payment network comprising: an automated machine having a card receiver for 15 receiving the user's card and for identifying the user as being qualified to use the machine; a display for displaying a selection of bills payable through a bills payment network; a selector operable by the user to select a bill 20 to be paid from the bills being displayed; the display displaying several methods of payment including payment by cash; a reader for reading the amount of the bill and an identity of a bill payee; 25 a communications network including a modem for connection from the machine to a bills payment network; a bill receiver for receiving and storing the bill being paid; and a transaction recorder for recording the bill 30 transaction and payment.

46. An automated banking system in accordance with Claim 45 further comprising a card reader for reading a payment card for payment and verifying that the -WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -58 payment card is qualified for use with the bill payment network.

47. An automated banking system in accordance with Claim 46 wherein the payment card is a smart card, 5 and further comprising: an analyzer for analyzing that the smart card has sufficient funds thereon to pay the bill; and a smart card writer to write off an amount related to the bill being paid on the smart card. 10

48. An automated banking system in accordance with Claim 46 wherein: the payment card is a credit card; and wherein a credit card communication means is connected through a modem to charge the bill amount to 15 the credit card account of the user.

49. A banking system in accordance with Claim 45 wherein: several bills may be selected for payment; a totalizer totals the amounts paid for each 20 bill and for transactional charges; and a receipt generator generates a receipt showing the bills paid, transactional charges and the total amount paid by the user.

50. A method of providing an automated banking 25 system machine with the capability of wire transfer of funds from a user to a transferee within the banking network, comprising: providing an automated machine having a card receiver for receiving a card which identifies the user 30 as being qualified to use the machine and banking network; WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -59 putting into the machine an identification of the bank through which the transfer is to be made along with the account number of the transferee; entering the amount to be wire transferred to 5 the transferee; providing the machine with a method of payment for the wire transfer; and communicating through the bank system over a modem for wire transfer to the banking network to the 10 verified transferee's account in the receiving bank.

51. A method in accordance with Claim 50 further comprising: depositing cash for the wire transfer; counting the cash received in the machine; and 15 verifying it as being an amount to cover the wire transferred amount and a transaction fee therefor.

52. A method in accordance with Claim 50 further comprising: selecting payment for the wire transfer from a 20 card; and reading the card and causing a debit on the card related to the amount of cash being wired to the transferee.

53. A method in accordance with Claim 52 25 wherein the step of providing a card includes the use of a credit card; and further comprising communicating, over a credit card network, the amount of the cash being wired and the transactional fee which are to be charged to the user's 30 credit card. WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -60

54. A method in accordance with Claim 52 wherein the payment is being made with a smart card and further comprising: reading the smart card to ascertain if the 5 amount on the card is sufficient for payment of the transaction including the cash being wired; writing down on the smart card the amount of the transaction for the wire transfer; and returning the smart card to the user. 10

55. A method in accordance with Claim 50 further comprising: printing a receipt for the transactional cost of the wire transfer; providing the receipt to the user; and 15 recording, internally within the machine, a transaction record of the wire transfer.

56. A method in accordance with Claim 50 further comprising: selecting payment from an account of the user; 20 and connecting via a communication network, including a modem to the user's bank, to withdraw from the user's account, an amount sufficient to pay for the wire transfer transaction. 25

57. A method in accordance with Claim 50 wherein there is provided a display to the user requesting a selection for the method of payment from among the options of paying with cash, the user's credit card, a smart card, or withdrawal from the user's 30 account; and the user selects one of the methods of payment for the wire transfer. WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -61

58. A method for using an automated banking machine for the payment of bills through a bill payment network, comprising: providing an automated banking machine having a 5 card receiver for receiving the user's card and for identifying the user as being qualified to use the machine; a display for displaying a selection of bill transactions that are available to be paid through a 10 bills payment network connected to the automated machine; manually selecting one of the bill transactions for paying a bill from those being displayed to the user; displaying to the user several methods of payment including payment by cash; 15 inserting the bill into the machine for reading the amount of the bill and the identity of the bill payee; communicating over communications network including a modem for connection from the machine to a 20 bills payment network; transmitting the information of payment being received from the user for the bill; and storing the bill being paid in the machine.

59. A method in accordance with Claim 58 25 further comprising: selecting the option of payment by a card; inserting the credit card into the machine for reading; and verifying that the credit card is qualified for 30 use with the bill payment network.

60. A method in accordance with Claim 58 wherein the payment card comprises a smart card and further comprising: -WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -62 reading the funds available for paying the bill on the smart card; and writing off from the smart card an amount to cover the bill payment transaction and the transactional 5 cost.

61. A method in accordance with Claim 58 wherein the payment card comprises a credit card and further comprising communicating through a modem to the credit card account, the amount to be charged to the 10 credit card account because of the wire transfer transaction.

62. A method in accordance with Claim 58 further comprising: selecting several bills for payment; 15 totalling the amount for each bill and its associated transactional charges; and generating a receipt showing the bills paid, transactional charges and the total amount being paid by the user. 20

63. An unattended banking machine for performing a number of transactions by a user, said banking system comprising: a payment acceptor for accepting payment from a user, and for determining the amount of payment received 25 from the user; an interface and display on the machine operable by the user to select transactions, enter commands and receive information from the machine; a card acceptor for receiving and verifying a 30 user's card; a transaction selector actuatable by the user to operate interface and display to perform a transaction for which payment is being made by the user; WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -63 a calculator for determining as transactional change the difference between the amount for the transaction and the payment made by the user; and change means in the machine for transferring an 5 amount of coin or small denominational change to a card or to an account of the user.

64. A banking machine in accordance with Claim 63 wherein: a cash dispenser is provided in the machine for 10 dispensing cash bills of several predetermined denominations in payment of the transactional change; and said change means transfers any remaining change less than the smallest one of the denominations of cash to the card or to the account of the user. 15

65. The banking machine of Claim 63 wherein the change means includes a smart card writer for electronically writing change onto the user's smart card.

66. The banking machine of Claim 63 wherein: the transaction includes cashing a check; 20 a check cashing means evaluates a user's check for payment; and a cash dispenser dispenses a portion of the transactional change in cash and electronically dispenses a remaining portion of the transactional change to the 25 user.

67. The banking machine of Claim 63 wherein: the transaction is a payment of a bill; a bill evaluating means in the machine reads the bill and the amount to be paid; 30 the transfer means totals the cash deposited to pay for the bill; and WO98/59308 PCTIUS98/10788 -64 the change means provides the transactional change to the user.

68. A machine in accordance with Claim 63 wherein: 5 the transaction is purchase of an item; an item dispenser in said machine is operable to dispense the item after the machine has confirmed payment therefor; and the change means electronically dispenses at 10 least a portion of the transactional change onto a card or into a user's account.

69. A machine in accordance with Claim 63 wherein: the interface and display provides a plurality 15 of transactions for selection by the user, and the user select and perform several transactions; the calculator provides the total cost of making the several selected transactions; and said change means electronically dispenses at 20 least a portion of transactional change to the user.

70. A machine in accordance with Claim 63 wherein: the transaction includes a cashing of a document having an amount payable and having a cursive signature 25 thereon; means for evaluating the cursive signature and for confirming that the signature is acceptable; and a cash dispenser being operable upon acceptance by the evaluating means of the signature to dispense cash 30 as partial payment of the amount payable; said change means electronically dispensing any remaining portion of the payment to the user. WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -65

71. A machine in accordance with Claim 70 wherein: the document is a check; a reader for reading an amount on a legal line, 5 which is written in cursive, and for reading a courtesy amount recognition line for the amount written thereon.

72. A machine in accordance with Claim 70 wherein: the transaction is preparation of a money order; 10 means for storing money order blanks in the machine; and a printer for operable by user to print an amount on the money order blank.

73. A method of operating an unattended banking 15 machine for performing a transaction by a user, comprising: providing an automated machine having a card receiver for receiving a card which identifies a qualified user for using the machine; 20 inserting the card into the automated machine and reading the data on the card and verifying that the user is qualified; inserting a payment into the automated machine for payment of the transaction; 25 determining the payment amount received from the user; selecting a transaction for which payment has been made by the user; determining the difference between the cost of 30 the transaction and the amount paid into the machine by the user; determining as transactional change, the difference between the amount for the transaction and the payment received from the user; and WO98/59308 PCT/US98/10788 -66 electronically dispensing as transactional change any coin or small denominal change onto a card or into an account of the user.

74. A method in accordance with Claim 73 5 further comprising: dispensing a portion of the transactional change in bills of predetermined denominations from a cash dispenser in the automated machine; and electronically transferring that portion of the 10 transactional change which is less than the smallest one of the denominations of cash being returned to the user.

75. A method in accordance with Claim 73 further comprising: performing a security analysis on the document 15 and confirming that the document is sufficiently acceptable so as to be treated as a valid document.

76. A method in accordance with Claim 73 further comprising cashing a check document, and comprising the steps of: 20 reading an amount on the legal line written in cursive; and reading an amount from the courtesy amount recognition line.

77. A method in accordance with Claim 73 25 further comprising: generating an image from the front and back of the document; recording images from both sides of the document; and 30 storing the document within the machine.