Cardless automated teller transactions

An apparatus for providing automated payroll distribution without the requirement of a card, comprising:

• an input device, the input device being configured to generate an input signal corresponding to a customer identifier in response to actuation of the input device by a customer;
• a biometric device configured to receive biometric information about the customer;
• a storage device including a database of customer information, the customer information including stored biometric information and a stored payroll amount for the customer;
• a cash dispenser, and
• an electronic processor configured to:
• receive the input signals from the input device,
• receive biometric information from the biometric device,
• access the database of customer information in response to the input signals to obtain data about the customer identified by the customer identifier, the data including stored biometric information for the customer,
• compare the received biometric information to the stored biometric information,
• cause the cash dispenser to dispense an amount of cash that equals or is less than the payroll amount when the received biometric information matches the stored biometric information, and
• when the received biometric information does not match the stored biometric information, transmit the received biometric information to a remotely-located service center for comparison with biometric information stored at the remotely-located service center.

A retrofit module for configuring an automated teller machine having an input device, a card reader, and a cash dispenser to provide automated transactions without requiring the use of a card, the retrofit module being configured to be connected to the automated teller machine and comprising:

• an input/output port configured to receive an input signal from the input device of the automated teller machine, the input signal corresponding to a customer identifier and being generated in response to actuation of the input device by the customer;
• a biometric device configured to receive biometric information about the customer;
• a storage device including a database of customer information, the customer information including stored biometric information for the customer;
• and
• an electronic processor connected to the input/output port, the biometric device, and the storage device, the processor being configured to:
• receive the input signal from the input/output port,
• receive biometric information from the biometric device,
• access the database of customer information in response to the input signal to obtain data about the customer identified by the customer identifier, the data including stored biometric information for the customer,
• compare the received biometric information to the stored biometric information, and
• transmit a notification message to the input/output port, the notification message indicating that the customer's identity has been established when the received biometric information matches the stored biometric information,
• when the received biometric information does not match the stored biometric information, transmit the received biometric information to a remotely-located service center via the input/output port for comparison with biometric information stored at the remotely-located service center.

A method for providing automated financial transactions without requiring the use of a card, comprising the steps of:

• in response to user-entered identification information, collecting biometric data about the user,
• comparing the biometric data to data in a local database to verify an identity of the user,
• if the comparison succeeds, connecting to a banking network provider for completion of the financial transaction,
• if the comparison fails, connecting to a remote service center,
• transmitting the biometric data to the remote service center for comparison with data in a larger, remote database, and
• if the comparison with data in the larger, remote database fails, contacting a human operator for a determination of whether the financial transaction may be completed.

A method for performing an automatic cardless financial transaction without requiring the use of a card, comprising the steps of:

• receiving user-entered identification information,
• in response to the identification information, searching a local database for local information about a user associated with the identification information, including biometric information,
• causing biometric data about the user to be collected,
• comparing the collected biometric information with the local information about the user,
• if the collected biometric information matches the local information, completing a financial transaction requested by the user, wherein completing the financial transaction includes making a connection to a banking network provider,
• else, making a connection to a remote service center and transmitting the user-entered identification information and the received biometric information to the remote servicing center for comparison with information in a larger, remote database, and
• if the transmitted information matches the information stored in the larger, remote database, receiving a transaction authorization from the remote servicing center authorizing completion of the financial transaction.

A system for providing automated financial transactions without requiring the use of a card, comprising:

• input means for receiving a user-entered user identifier;
• biometric means for collecting biometric data about a user;
• local storage means for storing information about users;
• local processing means for:
• receiving the user-entered identifier;
• accessing information about the user in the storage means using the user identifier;
• comparing the collected biometric data with the stored information about the user to attempt to determine a user identity;
• if the attempt to determine the user identity is not successful, connecting to a remoter server means;
• and
• transmitting the collected biometric data and the user identifier to the remote server means;
• and
• a remote server means connectable to the local processor means, the remote server means comprising a remote storage means for storing information about users, the remote storage means being larger than the local storage means, the remote server means for:
• receiving the transmitted collected biometric data and user identifier;
• accessing information about the user in the remote storage means using the user identifier;
• comparing the collected biometric data with the stored information about the user to attempt to determine a user identity;
• and
• if the attempt to determine the user identity is successful, transmitting a transaction authorization to the local processing means.