Multi-purpose kiosk and methods

Abstract

A method of transferring funds includes providing a first kiosk having a negotiable instrument acceptor. The negotiable instrument acceptor is configured to acquire information from a negotiable instrument. The method further includes providing a first kiosk access device to a first customer. Providing the first kiosk access device includes receiving and storing personal information associated with the first customer. The method also includes, at the first kiosk, acquiring access information from the first kiosk access device, based at least in part on the access information, determining whether to provide access to the kiosk, via the negotiable instrument acceptor, receiving a negotiable instrument, acquiring negotiable instrument information from the negotiable instrument, and, based at least in part on the negotiable instrument information, determining whether to provide the customer access to value represented by the negotiable instrument.

1 . A method of transferring funds, comprising: 
 providing a first kiosk having a negotiable instrument acceptor, wherein the negotiable instrument acceptor is configured to acquire information from a negotiable instrument;    providing a first kiosk access device to a first customer, wherein providing the first kiosk access device includes receiving and storing personal information associated with the first customer;    at the first kiosk, acquiring access information from the first kiosk access device;    based at least in part on the access information, determining whether to provide access to the kiosk;    via the negotiable instrument acceptor, receiving a negotiable instrument;    acquiring negotiable instrument information from the negotiable instrument; and    based at least in part on the negotiable instrument information, determining whether to provide the customer access to value represented by the negotiable instrument.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an access code to the first customer.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising 
 providing a second kiosk having a currency dispenser;    communicable coupling the first and second kiosks;    at the second kiosk, receiving the transaction identifier from a second customer;    receiving a request from the second customer to dispense funds associated with the transaction identifier; and    dispensing the finds from the cash dispenser.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising 
 providing a second kiosk having a currency dispenser;    communicable coupling the first and second kiosks;    at the second kiosk, receiving the transaction identifier from the first customer;    receiving a request from the customer to dispense funds associated with the transaction identifier; and    dispensing the finds from the cash dispenser.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising 
 providing a currency dispenser at the first kiosk;    at the first kiosk, receiving the transaction identifier from a second customer;    receiving a request from the second customer to dispense funds associated with the transaction identifier; and    dispensing the finds from the cash dispenser.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether to provide the customer access to value represented by the negotiable instrument comprises: 
 transmitting the negotiable instrument information to a negotiable instrument verification service; and    receiving a verification message from the negotiable instrument verification service.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the negotiable instrument information includes at least an account number and a financial institution identifier.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the verification message includes a score and wherein determining whether to provide the customer access to value represented by the negotiable instrument further comprises: 
 comparing the score to a predetermined threshold; and    based at least in part on the comparison, determining whether to provide the customer access to the value represented by the negotiable instrument.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a currency dispenser at the first kiosk;    receiving a request from the customer to receive the value represented by the negotiable instrument; and    dispensing the finds from the cash dispenser.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first kiosk comprises an Automated Teller Machine.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first kiosk access device comprises an ATM access card.  
     
     
         12 . A method of transferring money from a sender to a recipient, the method, comprising: 
 providing an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) access card to a first customer, wherein providing the ATM access card includes receiving personal information associated with the first customer and storing the personal information at a host computer system, wherein the ATM access card has an access key associated therewith;    providing an ATM having a check acceptor, wherein the check acceptor includes a Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) reader;    at the ATM, acquiring the access key from ATM access card;    sending the access key to the host computer system;    at the host computer system, determining whether to allow the first customer access to the ATM;    providing a message to the ATM based on the determination, wherein the message includes at least a portion of the personal information associated with the first customer;    at the ATM, receiving a check from the customer via the check acceptor;    acquiring check information from the check using the MICR reader;    sending at least a portion of the check information and at least a portion of the personal information associated with the first customer to a third-party check verification service;    at the ATM, receiving a verification message from the third-party check verification service; and    based at least in part on the verification message, determining whether to allow the first customer access to funds associated with the check.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 receiving an input from the first customer to transfer funds; and    providing a transaction identifier to the first customer.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising 
 providing a kiosk having a currency dispenser;    communicable coupling the ATM and the kiosk;    at the kiosk, receiving the transaction identifier from a second customer;    receiving an input from the second customer to receive the funds associated with the transaction identifier; and    dispensing the finds from the cash dispenser.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 providing a cash dispenser associated with the ATM;    receiving an input from the first customer to receive the funds as currency; and    dispensing the currency to the first customer.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the check instrument information includes at least an account number and a financial institution identifier.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the verification message includes a score and wherein determining whether to provide the customer access to funds associated with the check further comprises: 
 comparing the score to a predetermined threshold; and    based at least in part on the comparison, determining whether to provide the customer access to funds associated with the check.    
     
     
         18 . A method of transferring money from a sender to a recipient, the method, comprising: 
 providing an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) access card to a first customer, wherein providing the ATM access card includes receiving personal information associated with the first customer and storing the personal information at a host computer system, wherein the ATM access card has an access key associated therewith;    providing an ATM having a currency acceptor;    at the ATM, acquiring the access key from ATM access card;    sending the access key to the host computer system;    at the host computer system, determining whether to allow the first customer access to the ATM;    providing a message to the ATM based on the determination, wherein the message includes at least a portion of the personal information associated with the first customer;    at the ATM, receiving currency from the customer via the currency acceptor;    receiving an input from the first customer to transfer funds; and    providing a transaction identifier to the first customer;    providing a kiosk having a currency dispenser;    communicable coupling the ATM and the kiosk;    at the kiosk, receiving the transaction identifier from a second customer;    receiving an input from the second customer to receive the funds associated with the transaction identifier; and    dispensing the finds from the cash dispenser.