Currency dispense and control system with anti-theft features

A currency dispense and control system that securely dispenses currency in response to a request made by a user of the currency dispense and control system, comprising:

• an ATM system including ATM hardware assembled, interconnected, and operated to interface with and utilize an electronic fund transfer system that enables remote authorized control of the currency dispense and control system and thereby facilitates immediate user withdrawal of an authorized amount of currency;
• and
• a currency control module that (1) effects dispensation of on-site currency independently of requiring authorization from any electronic fund transfer network, (2) defines and maintains a set of users entitled to access the currency control module, and (3) generates a timed delay between dispensations and does not effect dispensation of additional currency during the timed delay,
• wherein the currency dispense and control system determines whether the request requires approval from an electronic fund transfer network based on reading magnetically embedded data stored on a user card, the magnetically embedded data, when processed by the currency dispense and control system, bearing information that prompts the currency dispense and control system to use or not to use any electronic fund transfer network.

A currency dispense and control system that securely receives and dispenses currency in response to a request made by a user of the currency dispense and control system, comprising:

• an ATM system that (1) magnetically reads data in a magnetic stripe of a user account identification card inserted into a magnetic card slot of the currency dispense and control system;
• (2) receives from the user a user personal identification code and a specified amount of currency to be deposited into or withdrawn from a user bank account;
• (3) accesses via an electronic fund transfer network a central computer that (a) verifies the accuracy of the user's personal identification code by comparing it to a master list of user identification codes and (b) provides information relating to the user bank account;
• and (4) accepts from or dispenses to the user the specified amount of currency;
• and
• a currency control module that (1) effects immediate storage and dispensation of on-site currency independently of any electronic fund transfer network, (2) defines and maintains a set of users entitled to access the currency control module, and (3) generates a timed delay between dispensations and does not effect dispensation of additional currency during the timed delay,
• wherein the currency dispense and control system determines whether the request requires approval from an electronic fund transfer network based on reading magnetically embedded data stored on the user account identification card, the magnetically embedded data, when processed by the currency dispense and control system, bearing information that prompts the currency dispense and control system to use or not to use any electronic fund transfer network.

A method in a currency dispense and control system for currency dispensation, comprising:

• receiving from a user a request to dispense currency, the request to dispense currency including a desired withdrawal amount;
• authenticating the user based on a user identifier and a personal identification code;
• determining whether the request to dispense currency requires approval from an electronic fund transfer network based on reading magnetically embedded data stored on a user card, the magnetically embedded data, when processed by the currency dispense and control system, bearing information that prompts the currency dispense and control system to use or not to use any electronic fund transfer network;
• if the request to dispense currency is determined not to require approval from an electronic fund transfer network, determining independently of any electronic fund transfer network whether the user is authorized to receive the desired withdrawal amount by comparing the desired withdrawal amount to a maximum dispensation amount stored within the currency dispense and control system;
• and
• if it is determined independently of any electronic fund transfer network that the user is authorized to receive the desired withdrawal amount, dispensing an amount of currency equal to the desired withdrawal amount.

A currency dispense and control system for dispensing currency in response to a request made by a user, comprising:

• means for receiving from a user a request to dispense currency, the request to dispense currency including a desired withdrawal amount;
• means for authenticating the user based on a user identifier and a personal identification code;
• means for determining whether the request to dispense currency requires approval from an electronic fund transfer network based on reading magnetically embedded data stored on a user card, the magnetically embedded data, when processed by the currency dispense and control system, bearing information that prompts the currency dispense and control system to use or not to use any electronic fund transfer network;
• means for determining independently of any electronic fund transfer network whether the user is authorized to receive the desired withdrawal amount by comparing the desired withdrawal amount to a maximum dispensation amount stored within the currency dispense and control system;
• and
• means for dispensing independently of approval from any electronic fund transfer network an amount of currency equal to the desired withdrawal amount if the user is authorized to receive the desired withdrawal amount.

A currency dispense and control system that dispenses currency in response to a request made by a user, comprising:

• a card reader for reading data stored on a magnetic stripe of a user card;
• a communication module for connecting to one or more electronic fund transfer networks;
• a bill dispenser for dispensing currency;
• and
• a processor coupled to the card reader, the communication module, and the bill dispenser, the processor configured to:
• determine whether the request requires approval from an electronic fund transfer network based on reading magnetically embedded data stored on the user card, the magnetically embedded data, when processed by the currency dispense and control system, bearing information that prompts the currency dispense and control system to use or not to use any electronic fund transfer network;
• operate in an automated teller machine mode if it is determined that the request requires approval from an electronic fund transfer network, the automated teller machine mode approving dispensation of currency in response to the request made by the user using an electronic fund transfer network;
• and
• operate in a currency control mode if it is determined that the request does not require approval from an electronic fund transfer network, the currency control mode approving dispensation of currency in response to the request made by the user independently of any electronic fund transfer network by comparing a desired withdrawal amount to a maximum dispensation amount stored within the currency dispense and control system.