Method and system for automated value transfer

A method for obtaining a cash withdrawal from a dispensing unit comprising:

• enabling the dispensing unit, in response to a first numeric string, to receive a second numeric string, wherein the first numeric string is associated with a disbursement account available to a plurality of unrelated users and the second numeric string is associated with a predetermined cash amount;
• entering the second numeric string into the dispensing unit;
• and
• obtaining a subset of the predetermined cash amount from the dispensing unit.

A method for authorizing cash withdrawals from a dispensing unit comprising:

• enabling the dispensing unit, in response to an essentially unique first numeric string, to receive a second numeric string;
• receiving the second numeric string at the dispensing unit;
• and
• authorizing a cash withdrawal from the dispensing unit if the second numeric string matches an expected value and if the first numeric string meets predetermined criteria based on either a historical usage pattern associated with the first numeric string or on promotional rules.

A method for transferring value, comprising:

• activating from a first location a representation of a predetermined value associated with an essentially unique identification string;
• receiving at a second location comprising a cash dispensing unit the essentially unique identification string;
• and
• responsive to a numeric string and the essentially unique identification string, authorizing a disbursement, at the cash dispensing unit, of a cash amount.

A method for transferring value, comprising:

• receiving from a first location a signal to activate a representation of a predetermined value associated with an essentially unique identification string;
• receiving from a second location comprising a cash dispensing unit the essentially unique identification string, wherein the essentially unique identification string is routed from the second location to an authorizing system according to routing information input into the cash dispensing unit;
• and
• responsive to the essentially unique identification string, authorizing, by the authorization system, a disbursement from the cash dispensing unit of an amount of the predetermined value.

A system for transferring value comprising:

• information received comprising an essentially unique string and an amount associated with the essentially unique string;
• a disbursement account available to a plurality of unrelated users;
• an authorizing system for authorizing disbursements from the disbursement account;
• and
• a cash dispensing unit operable to
• receive the essentially unique string,
• transmit the essentially unique string to the authorizing system, and
• dispense the amount in response to an authorization of disbursement from the disbursement account.

A card for transferring value comprising:

• a first storage medium comprising a magnetic stripe, wherein the first storage medium stores information identifying the card;
• a second storage medium, wherein the second storage medium stores a string associated with a transferred value;
• and
• a calling code printed on the card for communicating the string to a remote user,
• wherein responsive to the input of the string, a cash dispensing unit dispenses a cash equivalent of the transferred value to the remote user.