SELF-SERVICE CHECK CASHING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150294282A1
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCR Voyix Corporation
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Goodwin, John C., Roth, Harris
• Granted Patent: US 10,796,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals

Abstract

A self-service check cashing system and method which performs preliminary tests on a check to reduce queue length at attendant check cashing stations. An example method includes obtaining an amount of a check from a customer by the self-service terminal, obtaining information from an image of a check by the self-service terminal, performing a plurality of tests by the self-service terminal, including tests using the information from the image to determine whether the check was properly completed; and displaying instructions to the customer by the self-service terminal to go to an attendant terminal to complete a second phase of the check cashing transaction when the self-service terminal determines that the test results were positive.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A method of operating a self-service terminal to perform a check cashing transaction comprising:

obtaining an image of a check from a mobile device of a customer through a web server of a financial institution associated with the customer by the self-service terminal. obtaining information from the image of the check including a check number by the self-service terminal;

performing a plurality of tests by the self-service terminal, including tests using the information from the image to determine that the check was properly completed;

determining from the server that the check number is not stored within a bad check database by the self-service terminal; and

displaying instructions to the customer by the self-service terminal to continue the check-cashing transaction.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the tests comprises comparing the amount from the customer with a corresponding amount determined from the image of the check.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the tests comprises determining whether the check image contains an endorsement signature.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the tests comprises determining whether the check image contains a payee signature.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the tests comprises determining whether issue date information obtained from the check image is later than a current date.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the tests comprises determining whether not-valid after date information obtained from the check image is earlier than a current date.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the tests comprises determining whether payee information obtained from the check image includes multiple payees.

27. A method of staging a check cashing transaction comprising:

receiving an image of a check from a mobile device of a customer by a server;

receiving a unique identifier of a self-service terminal from the mobile device by the server when the customer is located at the self-service terminal to perform the check cashing transaction; and

initiating the check cashing transaction at the self-service terminal including sending the check image to the self-service terminal using the unique identifier by the server.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the self-service terminal is for identifying items and for completing payment for the items using the check as part of the check-cashing transaction.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving comprises:

hosting a web page by the server for display by the mobile device; and

uploading the image from the mobile device via the web page by the server.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving comprises:

uploading the image from the mobile device via a mobile application on the mobile device by the server.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a request to compare the check against a bad check database from the self-service terminal by the server;

performing a comparison of the check to the bad check database by the server; and

sending a result of the comparison to the self-service terminal by the server.

32. A method of staging a check cashing transaction comprising:

hosting a web page by the server for display by the mobile device;

uploading an image of a check from the mobile device via the web page by the server;

uploading a unique identifier associated with a self-service terminal from the mobile device by the server when the customer is located at the self-service terminal to perform the check cashing transaction, wherein the check cashing transaction includes purchase of items and payment for the items using the check; and

initiating the check cashing transaction at the self-service terminal including sending the check image to the self-service terminal using the unique identifier by the server.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving a request to compare the check against a bad check database from the self-service terminal by the server;

performing a comparison of the check to the bad check database by the server; and

sending a result of the comparison to the self-service terminal by the server.