A method 30 and system 10 for facilitating safe handling of a physical medium of financial exchange, such as cash notes is provided to prevent cash-in-transit heists. The method 30 includes physically marking 33, using a first processing device 8, cash with a unique owner identifier which is associated with the owner of the cash, and physically invalidating 34 the cash through cutting, staining or stamping it. Once invalidated, the worthless cash can be transported risk-free to a desired cash processing facility. Upon arrival, the method includes verifying 44, using an authentication module 24, authenticity of the unique owner identifier and cash notes themselves. If verification fails, law enforcement is notified. If passed, the cash is destroyed 38, using a second processing device 9 which digitizes, using a digitizer 22, the cash notes and transfers a digital equivalent value, which is credited to the owner's account, to an electronic record keeping system 12.

A system remotely accesses an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) machine by detecting insertion of a customer bank card into the ATM. The insertion of the customer bank card is detected by the ATM. The system initiates a connection to a mobile device upon the detection of the insertion. The system then unlocks the ATM when the mobile device accepts the connection, and unlocks the ATM when a banking transaction has been completed, where the banking transaction completed by a remote user operating the mobile device. The system automatically disconnects the connection to the mobile device, and automatically unlocks the ATM after a predetermined time period has elapsed. The system automatically ejects the customer bank card from the ATM when the ATM is automatically unlocked.

A computer vision card reader and/or point of sale device is described. The device is configured to sense when a user inserts a card into a card reader and to determine when a user departs or is about to depart from the device without retrieving the card. The device may issue an audible or visible alert to the user, reminding the user to retrieve the card. The device may additionally send a notification to a mobile device associated with the user that reminds the user that he has left a card at the point of sale. In some embodiments, message sent to the user contains a code and, upon entry of the code, the point of sale or card reader device returns the card to the user.

A system remotely accesses an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) machine by detecting insertion of a customer bank card into the ATM. The insertion of the customer bank card is detected by the ATM. The system initiates a connection to a mobile device upon the detection of the insertion. The system then unlocks the ATM when the mobile device accepts the connection, and unlocks the ATM when a banking transaction has been completed, where the banking transaction completed by a remote user operating the mobile device. The system automatically disconnects the connection to the mobile device, and automatically unlocks the ATM after a predetermined time period has elapsed. The system automatically ejects the customer bank card from the ATM when the ATM is automatically unlocked.

An improved financial terminal automatically reconfigures into different financial processing terminal types. In one embodiment, the terminal comprises a housing; a card reader configured to accept at least a portion of a card having an integrated circuit; at least one display; at least one processor; and at least one memory configured to store machine readable code, the machine readable code comprising a first kernel corresponding to a first transaction type and a second kernel corresponding to a second transaction type.

An improved financial terminal automatically reconfigures into different financial processing terminal types. In one embodiment, the terminal comprises a housing; a card reader configured to accept at least a portion of a card having an integrated circuit; at least one display; at least one processor; and at least one memory configured to store machine readable code, the machine readable code comprising a first kernel corresponding to a first transaction type and a second kernel corresponding to a second transaction type.

A highly reliable automatic transaction apparatus and control method thereof which are capable of suppressing unauthorized transactions and the like are proposed.

A plurality of modules which each execute processing required for the payout transaction, an overall control unit which controls each of the modules, and a security control unit are provided in an automatic transaction apparatus; the security control unit holds in advance a first list in which content of signals which are exchanged between the overall control unit and each of the modules at the time of a normal payout transaction is recorded in the order in which the signals are exchanged, sequentially records the content of the signals which are exchanged between the overall control unit and each of the modules at the time of the actual payout transaction in a second list in the order in which the signals are exchanged, and issues a signature approving operation of the modules when there is a match between the content of the first list and the content of the second list, and the modules execute a corresponding operation when the security control unit has issued the signature.

An improved financial terminal automatically reconfigures into different financial processing terminal types. In one embodiment, the terminal comprises a housing; a card reader configured to accept at least a portion of a card having an integrated circuit; at least one display; at least one processor; and at least one memory configured to store machine readable code, the machine readable code comprising a first kernel corresponding to a first transaction type and a second kernel corresponding to a second transaction type.

A computer vision card reader and/or point of sale device is described. The device is configured to sense when a user inserts a card into a card reader and to determine when a user departs or is about to depart from the device without retrieving the card. The device may issue an audible or visible alert to the user, reminding the user to retrieve the card. The device may additionally send a notification to a mobile device associated with the user that reminds the user that he has left a card at the point of sale. In some embodiments, message sent to the user contains a code and, upon entry of the code, the point of sale or card reader device returns the card to the user.

A card dispenser is provided comprising a capture chamber configured to receive a card dispensed from a read position by a card feed mechanism, the capture chamber comprising walls defining an exit aperture for dispensing a card to a user. A capture flap is moveable from a first orientation to a second orientation, wherein in the first orientation the capture flap is arranged to block the exit aperture so as to prevent a card from passing through said exit aperture, and in the second orientation the capture flap is arranged to guide a card through said exit aperture. If a first output is received from a communication module, the capture flap is held at the first orientation such that a card dispensed from a read position moves under the influence of gravity through the capture chamber into a card bin. If a second output is received, the capture flap is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation such that a card dispensed from the read position slides along the capture flap under the influence of gravity through the exit aperture.