Systems and methods for servicing cash handling devices

A system, comprising:

• a currency receiving device disposed at a merchant location, wherein the currency receiving device includes a currency recycler and a network interface, and wherein the currency receiving device is configured to (a) accept, via the currency recycler, merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device, (b) in response to a request by a user, dispense, via the currency recycler, merchant currency that was previously inserted into the currency receiving device, (c) count, via the currency recycler, merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device, and (d) transmit to a financial institution, via the network interface, an indication of an amount of merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device over a first predetermined period of time so that the merchant location is provided a credit by the financial institution for all or a portion of the amount of merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device over the first predetermined period of time, said credit provided before the merchant currency is transported to the financial institution;
• and
• a computer system including a network interface coupled to a processor, the computer system in communication with the currency receiving device and configured to:
• remotely monitor the currency receiving device for an amount of merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device;
• determine whether a second predetermined period of time passes during which no merchant currency is inserted into the currency receiving device;
• and
• in response to determining that no merchant currency is inserted into the currency receiving device during the second predetermined period of time, send an alert to a predefined set of individuals, the alert indicating that no merchant currency has been inserted into the currency receiving device during the second predetermined period of time.

A currency receiving device, comprising:

• a currency counter configured to accept and count merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device;
• a currency recycler configured to accept and count merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device and, in response to a request by a user, dispense merchant currency that was previously inserted into the currency receiving device;
• a network interface;
• and
• a processor in communication with the currency counter, the currency recycler, and the network interface, the processor configured to:
• transmit to a financial institution, via the network interface, an indication of an amount of merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device over a first predetermined period of time so that a merchant is provided a credit by the financial institution for all or a portion of the amount of merchant currency inserted into the currency receiving device over the first predetermined period of time, said credit provided before the merchant currency is transported to the financial institution;
• determine whether a second predetermined period of time passes during which no merchant currency is inserted into the currency receiving device;
• and
• in response to determining that no merchant currency is inserted into the currency receiving device during the second predetermined period of time, send an alert to a predefined set of individuals, the alert indicating that no merchant currency has been inserted into the currency receiving device during the second predetermined period of time.