Currency recycler

Abstract

A cash recycler that is configured to allow deposited money to be dispensed (recycled) in a withdrawal transaction. In one embodiment, multiple currency recyclers could be used at multiple stores of a retail establishment and collectively work from one pending balance. Embodiments are also contemplated in which multiple accounts at one recycler location. In some cases, the currency recycler provides provisional credit for deposits of coinage and checks. In some cases, transactions made on the currency recycler could be settled to any financial institution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium storing a program for processing financial transactions of a retailer having a plurality of retail locations including a first retail location with a first currency recycler and a second retail location with a second currency recycler, according to a process comprising the steps of:
 storing a first recycler identifier indicative of a first recycler unit, a second recycler identifier indicative of a second recycler unit, and a retailer identifier indicative of a retail store using the first recycler unit and the second recycler unit;   associating a first recycler account balance with the first recycler identifier, a second recycler account balance with the second recycler identifier, and a retailer account balance with the retailer identifier;   associating a first location identifier indicative of a store location at which the first recycler unit is being used with the retailer identifier and a second location identifier indicative of a store location at which the second recycler unit is being used with the retailer identifier;   receiving a transaction request via the network interface that includes the retailer identifier and either the first location identifier or the second location identifier; and   adjusting the retailer account balance pursuant to the transaction request regardless of whether the transaction request includes the first location identifier or the second location identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction request includes either the first location identifier or the second location identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving a plurality of transaction requests including both the first location identifier and the second location identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein if the transaction request is a deposit transaction for a deposit amount and includes the first location identifier, the process includes the step of adjusting the retailer account balance by crediting the retailer account balance by the deposit amount. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 4 , wherein if the transaction request is a withdrawal transaction for a withdrawal amount and includes the first location identifier, the process includes the step of adjusting the retailer account balance by debiting the retailer account balance by the withdrawal amount. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , further including the step of determining whether the transaction request is for a depository account. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein responsive to determining that the transaction request is for a depository account, the process includes the step of processing the transaction by adjusting the retailer account balance. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 6 , wherein responsive to determining that the transaction request is for a non-depository account, the process includes the step of periodically making a batch settlement of one of more transaction requests by communicating with a third party financial institution. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions to direct the processor to perform the adjusting step on more than five days of the week. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction request is for a manual deposit of coins, bills, or checks and a provisional credit is provided in response to the manual deposit. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium storing a program for processing financial transactions of a retailer having a plurality of retail locations including a first retail location with a first currency recycler and a second retail location with a second currency recycler, according to a process comprising the steps of:
 storing a first recycler identifier indicative of the first recycler unit, a second recycler identifier indicative of the second recycler unit, and a retailer identifier indicative of a retail store using the first recycler unit and the second recycler unit;   associating a first recycler account balance with the first recycler identifier, a second recycler account balance with the second recycler identifier, and a retailer account balance with the retailer identifier;   adjusting the retailer account balance responsive to transaction requests by both the first currency recycler and the second currency recycler;   wherein the first currency recycler sends a transaction request to the remote computing device responsive to a user selecting a transaction on the first currency recycler, the transaction request includes the retailer identifier and the first currency recycler identifier, and the remote computing device is configured to adjust the retailer account balance in response to receiving a transaction request from the first currency recycler; and   wherein the second currency recycler sends a transaction request to the remote computing device responsive to a user selecting, a transaction on the second currency recycler, the transaction request includes the retailer identifier and the second currency recycler identifier, and the remote computing device is configured to adjust the retailer account balance in response to receiving a transaction request from the second currency recycler.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein if the transaction request from the first currency recycler is a deposit transaction for a deposit amount, the remote computing device is configured to adjust the retailer account balance by crediting the retailer account balance by the deposit amount. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein if the transaction request from the first currency recycler is a withdrawal transaction for a withdrawal amount, the remote computing device is configured to adjust the retailer account balance by debiting the retailer account balance by the withdrawal amount. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the remote computing device is configured to determine whether a transaction request is for a depository account. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein responsive to determining that the transaction request is for a depository account, the process performs the step of adjusting the retailer account balance. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein responsive to determining that the transaction request is for a non-depository account, the process performs of the step of periodically making a batch settlement of one of more transaction requests by communicating with a third party financial institution. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the remote computing device is configured to adjust the retailer account balance more than five days of the week responsive to communications from one or more of the first currency recycler and the second currency recycler. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium storing a program for processing financial transactions of a retailer having a currency recycler having a housing, a processor located within the housing, a currency routing assembly disposed within the housing to move currency to at least one stacker, a display communicably linked to the processor, and an input device configured for selection of at least one option presented on the display, according to a process comprising the steps of:
 presenting a plurality of transaction types for selection by a user on the display, wherein the plurality of transaction types includes at least a manual processing transaction;   initiating a manual deposit at the currency recycler in response to receiving a selection of the manual processing transaction using the input device; and   providing an account of the user with provisional credit for the amount of the manual deposit in response to receiving input regarding the amount for the manual deposit and the types of currency for manual deposit.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the currency includes at least one of coins, bills, or checks. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further directed to:
 request a register identification for the manual deposit; and   responsive to receiving the register identification, associating the manual deposit with the register identification for reconciling a point of sale system associated with the currency recycler.