Method of operating an image-based self-service check depositing terminal in response to a fault condition

A method of operating a publicly-accessible image-based check depositing terminal to allow a bank customer to conduct a check deposit transaction in an unattended environment when the check depositing terminal is in a non-fault condition and to allow an individual who is a non-customer to service the check depositing terminal when the check depositing terminal is in a fault condition, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a customer identification card from the bank customer when the check depositing terminal is in a non-fault condition and the bank customer is conducting a check deposit transaction at the check depositing terminal;
• receiving a non-customer identification card from a bank employee who has responsibility for servicing the check depositing terminal to clear the fault condition;
• reading from the non-customer identification card data which is representative of an account number of a reconciliation account associated with a bank;
• receiving from the bank employee a check which has been recovered from the terminal by the bank employee while servicing the check depositing terminal to clear the fault condition;
• capturing an image of the check received from the bank employee;
• transporting the check received from the bank employee to a check storage bin after the image of the check has been captured;
• and
• transmitting to the bank the captured image of the check together with the data which has been read from the non-customer identification card and is representative of the account number of the reconciliation account associated with the bank.

A method of operating a publicly-accessible image-based check depositing terminal to allow a customer to conduct a check deposit transaction in an unattended environment when the check depositing terminal is in a non-fault condition and to allow an individual who is a non-customer to service the check depositing terminal when the check depositing terminal is in a fault condition, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a customer identification card from the customer when the check depositing terminal is in a non-fault condition and the customer is conducting a check deposit transaction at the check depositing terminal;
• receiving a non-customer identification card from an employee of a third party transit company who has responsibility for servicing the check depositing terminal to clear the fault condition;
• reading from the non-customer identification card data which is representative of an account number of a reconciliation account associated with a financial institution;
• receiving from the employee of the third party transit company a check which has been recovered from the terminal by the employee while servicing the check depositing terminal to clear the fault condition;
• capturing an image of the check received from the employee of the third party transit company;
• transporting the check received from the employee of the third party transit company to a check storage bin after the image of the check has been captured;
• and
• transmitting to the financial institution the captured image of the check together with the data which has been read from the non-customer identification card and is representative of the account number of the reconciliation account associated with the financial institution.