In some implementations, an automated teller machine (ATM) may accept a card. The ATM may eject the card at a first time. The ATM may retract the card based on a determination that a threshold amount of time has elapsed from the first time and that the card has not been removed. The ATM may eject the card at a second time after retracting the card. The ATM may retract the card based on a determination that the threshold amount of time has elapsed from the second time and that the card has not been removed. The ATM may provide the card to a card storage compartment of the ATM after retracting the card and based on a determination that the card has been ejected or retracted a threshold number of times.

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 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 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.

An electronic card reader (50) for ATMs, cash machines, or similar devices (100) is provided, the electronic card (50) comprising electronic information storage means (51) and information transmission means (54), the reader comprising: an access port, defining an access slot (11), through which electronic cards (50) can be inserted and extracted, an internal volume (10), adjacent to the access slot (11) designed to at least partially house the electronic card (50), reading means of the information storage means (51), designed to read the electronic information when the electronic card (50) is at least partially housed within the internal volume (10), electronic control means functionally connected to the reading means; optical control means, designed to verify the presence of foreign bodies within the internal volume (10), the control means being functionally connected to the control means and designed to determine if the foreign bodies in the internal volume consisted of the authorized type of electronic card (50).

A system and a method for handling card detainment in a self-service terminal are provided. The system for handling of card detainment in a self-service terminal includes a card detainment handling server, a first self-service terminal and a second self-service terminal, which are communicatively interconnected. The card detainment handling server includes a card detainment information storage module for storing information related to a detained card. The card detainment handling server is also communicatively connected with a bank backend database, i.e. a bank business system, in order to obtain the account information of the detained card and the identity information of the user owning the detained card from the bank backend database and help a card detainment information and identity authentication module authenticate the validity of the card detainment information and the user identity.

A card substitution prevention method for a self-service terminal includes performing, by a card feeding portion of the self-service terminal, an alteration operation in the case that a card exists in a card reader of the self-service terminal, to make the card feeding portion unable to receive another card and prevent the another card from being placed in the card feeding portion. Also provided is a card substitution prevention apparatus for a self-service terminal. The method can effectively protect a card of a customer and prevent the card of the customer from being stealthily substituted, thereby improving service quality of a self-service terminal and maintaining trade credit of a merchant.

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.