Methods and systems for exchanging and or transferring various forms of value

A method for transferring funds to an account, the method comprising:

• providing a coin-counting machine having a coin-input region, a coin discriminator, and a communication facility, wherein the communication facility is operatively connectable to at least one remote computer associated with the account;
• receiving a plurality of coins from a user in the coin-input region of the coin-counting machine;
• discriminating at least a portion of the received coins with the coin discriminator to determine a total value of the received coins;
• receiving an input from the user defining a portion of the total value to be transferred to the account;
• and
• transmitting funds information to the remote computer via the communications facility, the funds information being at least partially related to the portion of the total value.

A method for adding value to a card, the method comprising:

• providing a coin-counting machine having a coin-input region, a coin discriminator, and a card writer, the card writer being configured to write information to cards;
• receiving a plurality of coins from a user in the coin-input region of the coin-counting machine;
• discriminating at least a portion of the received coins with the coin discriminator to determine a value of the received coins;
• and
• writing value information to a card with the card writer, the card being at least temporarily placed in the proximity of the card writer by the user, the value information being at least partially related to the value of the received coins.

A method for exchanging coins for items of value, the method comprising:

• providing a coin-counting machine having a coin-input region, a coin discriminator, a user interface, a communication facility, and an outlet for dispensing items of value;
• receiving a plurality of coins from a user in the coin-input region of the coin-counting machine;
• discriminating at least a portion of the received coins with the coin discriminator to determine a value of the received coins;
• receiving an input from the user via the user interface, the user input causing the communication facility to transmit first information to a remote computer, the first information being associated with the user;
• in response to transmitting the first information to the remote computer, receiving second information from the remote computer, the second information being associated with an item of value selected by the user;
• and
• in response to receiving the second information from the remote computer, dispensing the item of value to the user via the outlet, wherein at least a portion of the value of the received coins is applied to the cost of the item of value.

An apparatus for providing prepaid cards to users, the apparatus comprising:

• an enclosure;
• a user interface positioned at least proximate to the enclosure and accessible to a user positioned outside the enclosure, the user interface configured to receive instructions from the user related to a prepaid card;
• a coin-input region positioned to receive a plurality of coins from the user for transfer into the enclosure;
• a coin discriminator positioned within the enclosure to receive the plurality of coins from the coin-input region, the coin discriminator configured to discriminate at least a portion of the received coins to determine a value of the received coins;
• and
• a card dispenser positioned within the enclosure, the card dispenser configured to dispense a prepaid card to the user at least partially in response to receiving a card selection via the user interface, and further in response to discriminating at least a portion of the received coins, wherein the dispensed prepaid card has a card value related to the value of the received coins.