GB2369914A

GB2369914A - An automated teller machine network

Info

Publication number: GB2369914A
Application number: GB0029942A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeff Davies
Original assignee: NCR International Inc
Current assignee: NCR International Inc
Priority date: 2000-12-08
Filing date: 2000-12-08
Publication date: 2002-06-12
Also published as: GB0029942D0; GB0100830D0

Abstract

An automated teller machine (ATM) is adapted to receive the deposit of cash and/or cheques in a deposit envelope and includes a bar code printer 76 arranged to print a unique bar code on each deposited envelope or a bar code reader 76 to read pre-printed bar code envelopes. The ATM may be part of a network of ATM's having a server in communication with each ATM. The server may store information corresponding to each bar coded envelope. The information may include information on the account to which the contents of the deposited envelope is to be credited. The account information may be entered by the user of the ATM. The information may include details of the time and place of deposit. The network may also have a bar code scanner, located in the back office of a financial institution for scanning said bar code information directly into a bank computer when processing individual envelopes.

Description

AN AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE NETWORK This invention relates to an automated teller machine network and in particular to an automated teller machine network adapted for envelope deposit.

In general, in most countries, the volume of ATM deposits as a fraction of the over the counter (OTC) or branch, deposits is quite small. There are a number of reasons for this: a) customer education... people don't know how to do it b) customer inertia... path of least resistance, status quo. c) many banks give immediate (on-line) credit for OTC deposits but not for ATM deposits. d) customers are fearful about putting their cheques and cash into a black hole, perhaps never to be seen again. e) costs to the consumer: some banks still charge the same or sometimes even more for an ATM transaction than they do for OTC deposit. f) costs to the bank: small volume ATM deposits are actually very expensive because the ATM needs to be cleared regularly, typically everyday. In the branch environment this normally means more work for the branch staff at the end of the day. Some parts of the bank therefore are reluctant to push customer deposits at the ATM.

Nevertheless, there is growing interest in deposits at the ATM. One of the issues however, as outlined in point f) is that the cost to the bank (which they of course pass onto the customer) is quite high. One aspect of the cost is the act of reconciliation and verification of the envelope contents.

The process when using an ATM deposit by envelope in most cases is as follows: The customer simple enters his or her card and PIN, and selects"deposit"

He or she then selects the account to which the funds are to be credited, then enters the total amount.

Generally there is no requirement to list the number of cheques, the value of each or even the total value of cheques, and the value of cash. If this were a simple and easy facility to use, this would add a further layer of confidence for the user, security for the bank and a better overall audit trail. For example, if the same processing centre operator was continually not verifying the right amount of cash, then we might have a problem! a In some instances, the ATM prints out a receipt that the user is supposed to insert into the envelope before depositing into the ATM. This aids reconciliation at the processing centre afterwards. Unfortunately most do not insert the receipt into the envelope, they pocket it, (or throw it away), and of course if the receipt printer is out of order, the whole system falls down as the processing centre has no idea who's deposit is who's! Some customers have complained about the process being too slow and they do not want to be seen at the ATM fumbling around with an envelope, especially if it has cash inside. They would prefer to prepare the envelope at home or in the office where it is a private and secure environment.

Alternatively the ATM deposit mechanism can print a single line of text (up to 80 characters in the most modern devices) on the back of the envelope. Generally, it prints the account number of the account to be credited, but nothing else. If more than one deposit is made to the same account, it is then hard to know which is which-a problem that is exacerbated by having only a small capacity in any one envelope (i. e. there is a limit to the thickness of envelope that can be processed). This is likely to be even more of a problem in remote locations where ATM clearing might not occur daily. Other complaints here are that the printer is not reliable or runs out of ink, or the print is not legible etc.

. When the envelope gets to the main processing centre this causes all sorts of problems as three things need to be done: a) the account to be credited needs to be matched to that particular envelope b) the specific transaction and the envelope needs to be matched c) the envelope contents need to be quickly verified compared to what the customer said he or she put in the envelope.

It is an object of the present invention to address the aforementioned problem.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an automated teller machine (ATM) adapted to receive the deposit of cash and/or cheques in a deposit envelope, characterised in that the ATM has a bar code printer arranged to print a unique bar code on each deposited envelope or a bar code reader to read pre-printed bar code envelopes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an automated teller machine (ATM) network including a plurality of ATMs as described above, and a server in communication with each ATM on which information is stored corresponding to each bar code envelope.

Preferably, said information includes information on the account to which the contents of the deposited envelope is to be credited.

Preferably, the account information is entered by the user of the ATM.

Preferably, the information also includes details of the time and place of the deposit.

Preferably, the network further includes a bar code scanner, located in the back office of a financial institution for scanning said bar code information directly into a bank computer when processing individual envelopes.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of processing envelopes deposited in ATMs in a network as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, including the steps of: a) receiving an envelope in an ATM within the network; b) printing a bar code on the envelope or reading a pre printed bar code on a deposited envelope ; c) storing information on a server which relates to said bar code ; and d) accessing said stored information at financial institution's back office by scanning said bar code.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an Automated Teller Machine, in accordance with the present invention ; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the user interface of the Automated Teller Machine of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a network in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. l shows an automated teller machine 12 in the form of an ATM 12 in more detail. The ATM 12 includes a display module 36 and encrypting keypad module 38, a magnetic card reader/writer (MCRW) module 40, a receipt printer 42, a cash dispenser module 44, an ATM central processor (CPU) module 46 for controlling the operations of various modules and a network connection module 48 for communication with server 14. The network connection module may also be configured for connection with the Intranet 32, through server 14.

A proprietary internal bus 52 interconnects all of the modules within the ATM 24. The magnetic card reader/writer module 40 forms part of a means for verifying a user's authorisation and display module 36 includes a display 58 for the presentation of information to users.

The ATM includes an envelope deposit bin 72 is also provided and is connected to an envelope deposit slot 74, as illustrated in Figure 2. The ATM further includes a bar code module 76, including a bar code writer for printing bar codes on the envelopes prior to their transportation to the deposit bin 72, as will be discussed in detail below.

In another embodiment the bar code module 76 may include a bar code reader in place of or in addition to the bar code writer. In this embodiment pre-printed envelopes (with bar codes) may be utilised, making the deposit process faster for users and avoiding problems attributable to printer error.

Fig. 2 illustrates the user interface of an ATM 12 in accordance with the present invention. The ATM 12 is a standard ATM with a display 52, including Function Display Keys, (FDK's) 56, a card receiving slot 54, a cash dispensing slot 60 and an encrypting key pad 62, a receipt slot 62 Figure 3, illustrates a network in accordance with the present invention, including a network 78 of ATMs 12, a server 80. The network also includes a bar code reader 82 and a display screen 84 both of which re located in the back office 86 of a financial institution.

When a terminal 12 in accordance with the present invention is in use to deposit an envelope, the user deposits the envelope in the normal manner, with the exception that the ATM either writes or reads a bar code as the envelope is deposited.

Also, provided that every single bar code used is different, then each envelope would be unique and there would be no confusion at the processing centre. A 10-digit bar code can provide an enormous amount of deposits, even allowing for spoilage and waste.

The next issue is to have this bar code somehow matched to the transaction the details of which may include time, date, ATM s/n, account number to be credited, card number used at the ATM, total number of cheques, total value of cheques, total value of cash and total value of the transaction. The ATM s/w is configured to capture that information and send it via TCP/IP to the processing centre.

If the ATM prints the bar code at the time the envelope is deposited, it can match the bar code and transaction together, and send the information to the processing centre in one step.

Later that day or the next day, at the main processing centre, the operator simply uses a bar code scanner (possibly a low cost hand held RSG device), and the information relating to the transaction is immediately called up onto his or her screen from a central database/server.

The operator then verifies the total number of cheques, the total value of cheques and the total value of cash. If it matches (which it probably would in 90% of cases) he or she simply presses the"enter"key. The system them automatically prints out the deposit slip and the cash substitution slip (if one is required). The cash is put into a drawer of some kind and the cheques, deposit slip and substitution slip are then clipped together ready for processing by the main cheque processing system.

If there is a discrepancy, the operator can override the stored information. She simply presses (for example)"Fl"if there is an incorrect number of cheques, and then enters the

right number,"F3"if the total value of the cheque (s) is incorrect and enters the right number, and finally"F5"if the cash amount is incorrect, and enters the correct amount.

She presses"enter when finished modifying the transaction details and again the deposit slip and cash substitution slip is automatically and immediately printed.

In the case of a mismatch, a letter is also automatically prepared and sent to the account holder to tell him that the deposit was not verified and list what the contents were said to contain and what actual contents were found to contain.

Modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, if the ATM is arranged with a scanner (in order to allow a user to pay bills at the ATM) that scanner may be used by the user when depositing envelopes instead of a dedicated bar code reader.

Claims

CLAIMS : 1. An automated teller machine (ATM) adapted to receive the deposit of cash and/or cheques in a deposit envelope, characterised in that the ATM has a bar code printer arranged to print a unique bar code on each deposited envelope or a bar code reader to read pre-printed bar code envelopes.
2. An automated teller machine (ATM) network including a plurality of ATMs as claimed in claim 1, and a server in communication with each ATM on which information is stored corresponding to each bar code envelope.
3. A network as claimed in claim 2, wherein said information includes information on the account to which the contents of the deposited envelope is to be credited.
4. A network as claimed in claim 3, wherein the account information is entered by the user of the ATM.
5. A network as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the information also includes details of the time and place of the deposit.
6. A network as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the network further includes a bar code scanner, located in the back office of a financial institution for scanning said bar code information directly into a bank computer when processing individual envelopes.
7. A method of processing envelopes deposited in ATMs in a network as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6, including the steps of: e) receiving an envelope in an ATM within the network; f) printing a bar code on the envelope or reading a pre printed bar code on a deposited envelope ; g) storing information on a server which relates to said bar code; and h) accessing said stored information at a financial institution's back office by scanning said bar code.