Check accepting and cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method
View Patent ↗An automated banking machine operates to carry out financial transactions responsive to data bearing records including account data read from user cards. The banking machine may accept checks and dispense cash to users. The machine is operated to acquire image and magnetic data from deposited checks to determine the genuineness of checks and the authority of a user to receive cash for such checks. Cash may be dispensed to the user from the machine in exchange for the deposited checks.
1. A method comprising:
(a) receiving user data usable to identify a user account, through at least one input device of an automated banking machine, wherein the machine includes a card reader, wherein at least some of the user data is received through operation of the card reader reading data from a user card;
(b) receiving a check into the machine from a user of the machine;
(c) generating image data corresponding to visual appearance of at least a portion of the check through operation of the machine;
(d) reading visible indicia on the check through operation of the machine;
(e) determining check data corresponding to at least a portion of the indicia through operation of the machine;
(f) sending at least one first message including data corresponding to the check data and the user data through operation of the machine to a transaction host,
wherein the at least one first message does not include the image data generated in (c);
(g) receiving with the machine from the transaction host responsive to the at least one first message sent in (e), at least one second message, wherein the at least one second message includes transaction identifying data and transaction authorization data;
(h) subsequent to (g), operating the machine to cause the image data generated in (c) and the transaction identifying data received in (g) to be communicated independent of the transaction host through at least one network to a check image server associated with check processing, wherein the check image server differs from the transaction host.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the machine includes a cash dispenser, and further comprising:
(i) dispensing cash from the machine.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein in (g) the at least one second message further includes instruction data, and wherein in (i) cash is dispensed responsive to the instruction data received in (g).
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein (d) includes reading at least one character in a micr line on the check, and wherein (e) includes determining data corresponding to the at least character in the micr line.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein (d) includes reading at least one amount on the check, and (e) includes determining at least one numerical value corresponding to the at least one amount.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein (e) includes determining a numerical value corresponding to a courtesy amount appearing on the check.
7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the at least one first message sent in (f) includes at least some data corresponding to data included in the at least one second message received in (g).
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the at least some data sent in (f) and received in (g) corresponds to a terminal identifier which identifies the machine.
9. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (g) the transaction identifying data includes data corresponding to a transaction number.
10. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (g) the transaction identifying data includes data corresponding to a business date.
11. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (g) the transaction identifying data includes data corresponding to an entity responsible for the operation of the machine.
12. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (g) the transaction identifying data includes data identifying an entity offering check cashing services through the machine.
13. The method according to claim 5 wherein in (g) the at least one second message includes instruction data, and further comprising:
(i) indicating through an output device on the machine that at least one of the user and the user's account has been credited a value associated with the check, responsive to the instruction data received in (g).
14. The method according to claim 13 and further comprising crediting the user's account a check value associated with the check.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the machine includes a cash dispenser, and further comprising:
(j) receiving at least one input corresponding to a request to dispense cash to the user,
(k) dispensing cash from the machine through operation of the cash dispenser responsive to the at least one input received in (j).
16. A method comprising:
(a) receiving user data usable to identify a user account, through at least one user data reader device of an automated banking machine;
(b) receiving a check into the machine from a user of the machine;
(c) generating image data corresponding to visual appearance of at least a portion of the check through operation of the machine;
(d) reading visible indicia on the check through operation of the machine;
(e) determining check data corresponding to at least a portion of the visible indicia through operation of the machine;
(f) sending at least one first message including data corresponding to the check data and the user data through operation of the machine, to at least one remote computer,
wherein the at least one first message does not include the image data generated in (c);
(g) subsequent to (e), receiving with the machine from the at least one remote computer, at least one second message responsive to the at least one first message, wherein the at least one second message includes transaction identifying data and transaction authorization data;
(h) subsequent to (g), sending in associated relation at least a portion of the image data generated in (c) and the transaction identifying data received in (g) through operation of the machine to at least one remote computer associated with processing the check.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one remote computer in (f) and (g) includes a transaction host, wherein the at least one remote computer in (h) does not include the transaction host.
18. The method according to claim 16 wherein in (e) the check data includes at least one of
a character included in a micr line, and
a numerical amount.
19. The method according to claim 16 wherein the machine includes a cash dispenser, and further comprising:
(i) dispensing cash from the machine through operation of the cash dispenser.
20. A method comprising:
(a) operating an automated banking machine to receive from a user of the machine during a check transaction, user data usable to identify a user account;
(b) operating the machine to receive a check from the user during the check transaction;
(c) operating the machine to generate check image data corresponding to a visual appearance of the check received in (b);
(d) operating the machine to determine check data from the check image data generated in (c);
(e) operating the machine to send at least one transaction message to a transaction host,
wherein the at least one transaction message includes the user data received in (a) and the check data determined in (d);
(f) operating the machine to receive from the transaction host responsive to the at least one transaction message sent in (e), at least one return message,
wherein the at least one return message includes authorization for the check transaction and a transaction identifier assigned to the check transaction; and
(g) operating the machine to cause the check image data generated in (c) and the transaction identifier received in (f) to be communicated independent of the transaction host, from the machine to at least one check processing computer,
wherein the at least one check processing computer does not include the transaction host.