ATM SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CASHING CHECKS

• US 20070278286A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated), Western Union
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crowell, Donald R., Sheeran, Richard A., Warburton, Bryan Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/202 Depositing operations within ATMs depositing in general G07D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

Various techniques are provided for dispensing cash from automated teller or similar cash dispensing machines where such machines do not contain or are otherwise unable to dispense coins or certain bill denominations. Such features may be offered in combination with a request to cash a negotiable instrument, such as a check, where some or all of the amount is to be received in cash or deposited into an account. In one particular method, an automated teller machine (ATM) includes a display screen, a data entry device, a receipt printer, a bill dispenser and a reader. According to the method, information is read from a negotiable instrument using the reader. A face amount of the negotiable instrument is received at the ATM from the data entry device. The display screen is employed to display a dispense amount in bills that the ATM is capable of dispensing along with a deposit account where the remaining funds may be deposited. The user may then enter a confirmation using the data entry device to dispense the bills and to deposit the remaining funds in the deposit account. The bill dispenser may dispense the bills, and an approval may be sent to deposit the funds into the deposit account.

Claims

1. A method for cashing a negotiable instrument at an automated teller.

machine (ATM) comprising a display screen, a data entry device, a receipt printer, a bill dispenser and a reader, the method comprising:

reading information from a negotiable instrument using the reader;

receiving a face amount of the negotiable instrument at the ATM from the data entry device;

displaying on the display screen a dispense amount in bills that the ATM is capable of dispensing along with a deposit account where the remaining funds may be deposited;

receiving a confirmation from the data entry device to dispense the bills and to deposit the remaining funds in the deposit account;

dispensing the bills from the ATM using the bill dispenser; and

transmitting an approval from the ATM to a host computer system to deposit the funds into the deposit account.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the dispense amount is determined based at least in part on the lowest denomination of bill that the ATM is able to dispense.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising displaying on the display screen a message indicating the lowest denomination bill offered by the ATM along with a message that any excess funds will be deposited into the deposit account.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising printing a receipt indicating the amount of cash dispensed and the amount deposited into the deposit account.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising displaying on the display screen various options for depositing the funds.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the information read from the negotiable instrument is a MICR line having payor account information.

7. A method for cashing a negotiable instrument at an automated teller machine (ATM) comprising a display screen, a data entry device, a receipt printer, a bill dispenser and a reader, the method comprising:

reading information from a negotiable instrument using the reader;

receiving a requested cash back amount from the negotiable instrument at the ATM from the data entry device;

transmitting the requested cash back amount and the information read from the negotiable instrument to a host computer system;

determining at the host computer system whether the ATM is able to dispense the requested cash back amount;

if the ATM is unable to dispense the requested cash back amount in cash, determining with the host computer system which bill denominations that the ATM is able to dispense;

transmitting to the ATM a dispense amount that the ATM is able to dispense in bills and a deposit amount for the remainder of the requested cash back amount;

displaying on the display screen the dispense amount along with a deposit account where the deposit amount may be deposited;

receiving a confirmation from the data entry device to dispense the bills and to deposit the deposit amount in the deposit account;

dispensing the bills from the ATM using the bill dispenser; and

transmitting an approval from the ATM to the host computer system to deposit the funds into the deposit account.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein the requested cash back amount is the face amount stated on the negotiable instrument.

9. A method as in claim 7, wherein the ATM includes a coin dispenser, wherein the coin dispenser is unable to dispense coins, and wherein the host computer system is configured to determine the dispense amount based on the inability to dispense coins.

10. A method as in claim 7, wherein the ATM is configured to dispense only bills, and wherein the host computer system is configured to determine the dispense amount based on bill denominations that the ATM is capable of dispensing.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the dispense amount is determined based at least in part on the lowest denomination of bill held by the ATM.

12. A method as in claim 7, wherein if ATM is not able to dispense the requested cash back amount, denying a negotiable instrument cashing transaction and performing a deposit with a cash back transaction.

13. A method as in claim 7, wherein the dispense amount is based on a next highest denomination able for dispensing.

14. A method as in claim 7, further comprising displaying on the display screen a message indicating the lowest denomination bill offered by the ATM along with a message that any excess funds will be deposited into the deposit account.

15. A method as in claim 7, further comprising printing a receipt indicating the amount of cash dispensed and the amount deposited into the deposit account.

16. A method as in claim 7, further comprising displaying on the display screen various options for depositing the funds.

17. A method as in claim 7, wherein the information read from the negotiable instrument is a MICR line having payor account information.

18. A method as in claim 7, further comprising storing at the host computer system data on requested cash back amount along with the bills actually dispensed.

19. An automated teller machine (ATM) that is configured to provide a cash payment based on a negotiable instrument, comprising:

a housing;

a processor enclosed within the housing;

a reader electrically coupled to the processor that is configured to read information from a negotiable instrument;

a data entry device electrically coupled to the processor, wherein the data entry device is configured to receive a face amount of the negotiable instrument;

a display screen coupled to the housing, wherein the display screen is configured to display a dispense amount in bills that the ATM is capable of dispensing along with a deposit account where the remaining funds may be deposited;

wherein the data entry device is further configured to receive a confirmation to dispense the bills and to deposit the remaining funds in the deposit account;

a bill dispenser configured to dispense the bills from the ATM;

a receipt printer; and

a communications device that is configured to transmit an approval from the ATM to a host computer system to deposit the funds into the deposit account.

20. An ATM as in claim 19, wherein the dispense amount is determined based at least in part on the lowest denomination of bill that the ATM is able to dispense.

21. An ATM as in claim 19, wherein the ATM is configured to display on the display screen a message indicating the lowest denomination bill offered by the ATM along with a message that any excess funds will be deposited into the deposit account.

22. An ATM as in claim 19, wherein the printer is configured to print a receipt indicating the amount of cash dispensed and the amount deposited into the deposit account.

23. An ATM as in claim 19, wherein the ATM is configured to display on the display screen various options for depositing the funds.

24. A system for cashing a negotiable instrument, the system comprising:

an automated teller machine (ATM) comprising a display screen, a data entry device, a receipt printer, a bill dispenser and a reader; and

a host computer system capable of communicating with the ATM;

wherein the ATM is configured to read information from a negotiable instrument using the reader, to receive a requested cash back amount from the data entry device, and to transmit the requested cash back amount and the information read from the negotiable instrument to the host computer system;

wherein the host computer system is configured to determine whether the ATM is able to dispense the requested cash back amount, and, if the ATM is unable to dispense the requested cash back amount in cash, to determine which bill denominations that the ATM is able to dispense, and to transmit to the ATM a dispense amount that the ATM is able to dispense in bills and a deposit amount for the remainder of the requested cash back amount; and

wherein the ATM is configured to display on the display screen the dispense amount along with a deposit account where the deposit amount may be deposited, to receive a confirmation from the data entry device to dispense the bills and to deposit the deposit amount in the deposit account, to dispense the bills from the ATM using the bill dispenser, and to transmit an approval from the ATM to the host computer system to deposit the funds into the deposit account.

25. A system as in claim 24, wherein the ATM includes a coin dispenser, wherein the coin dispenser is unable to dispense coins, and wherein the host computer system is configured to determine the dispense amount based on the inability to dispense coins.

26. A system as in claim 24, wherein the ATM is configured to dispense only bills, and wherein the host computer system is configured to determine the dispense amount based on bill denominations that the ATM is capable of dispensing.

27. A system as in claim 24, wherein the dispense amount is determined based at least in part on the lowest denomination of bill held by the ATM.

28. A system as in claim 24, wherein if ATM is not able to dispense the requested cash back amount, the host computer system is configured to deny a negotiable instrument cashing transaction and to instead perform a deposit with a cash back transaction.

29. A system as in claim 24, wherein the dispense amount is based on a next highest denomination able for dispensing.

30. A system as in claim 24, wherein the ATM is configured to display on the display screen a message indicating the lowest denomination bill offered by the ATM along with a message that any excess funds will be deposited into the deposit account.

31. A system as in claim 24, wherein the receipt printer is configured to print a receipt indicating the amount of cash dispensed and the amount deposited into the deposit account.

32. A system as in claim 24, wherein the ATM is configured to display on the display screen various options for depositing the funds.

33. A system as in claim 24, wherein reader is configured to read from the negotiable instrument a MICR line having payor account information.