Currency receiving device and method

A currency receiving device for receiving currency from a user, comprising:

• (a) a safe having a lockable access opening and a transfer slot;
• (b) a local processor, operatively connected to said safe, said local processor having a user interface to communicate with the user;
• (c) a currency counter, operatively connected to said safe, to count the currency deposited by the user;
• (d) a removable currency receptacle, contained within said safe and operatively connected to said currency counter, to receive currency from the currency counter and to store said currency, said removable currency receptacle having a lockable lid;
• and
• (e) a mounting device, to lockably secure and prevent unauthorized removal of said currency receptacle when said currency receptacle is installed in said currency receiving device, said currency receptacle being operatively connected to said currency counter when lockably secured to said mounting device;
• wherein said lockable lid is unlocked when said currency receptacle is installed in said currency receiving device and lockably secured to said mounting device, and wherein said lockable lid is locked when said currency receptacle is released from said mounting device and removed from said currency receiving device.

A method of receiving a deposit of currency from a user, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a currency receiving device, comprising a safe, a local processor operatively connected to said safe, said local processor having a user interface to communicate with the user, a currency counter, operatively connected to said safe, to count the currency deposited by the user, and a removable currency receptacle contained within said safe and operatively connected to said currency counter, to receive currency from the currency counter and to store said currency, said removable currency receptacle having a unique identifier;
• (b) receiving at least one deposit of currency from said user into said currency counter and transferring said at least one deposit of currency into said currency receptacle;
• and
• (c) correlating said identifier with said count of currency deposited by said user.