Banking system computer determines nearest bank able to process a customer's transaction request, provides directions to the bank, and sends transaction request information and customer's image to the bank before the customer arrives at the bank

#This invention relates to banking systems controlled by data bearing records that may be classified in U.S. Class 235, Subclass 379.

#Automated banking machines may include a card reader that operates to read data from a bearer record such as a user card. Automated banking machines may operate to cause the data read from the card to be compared with other computer stored data related to the bearer or the bearer's financial accounts. The machine operates in response to the comparison determining that the bearer record corresponds to an authorized user, to carry out at least one transaction which may be operative to transfer value to or from at least one account. A record of the transaction is also often printed through operation of the automated banking machine and provided to the user. Automated banking machines may be used to carry out transactions such as dispensing cash, the making of deposits, the transfer of funds between accounts, and account balance inquiries. The types of banking transactions that may be carried out are determined by the capabilities of the particular banking machine and system, as well as the programming of the institution operating the machine.

#Other types of automated banking machines may be operated by merchants to carry out commercial transactions. These transactions may include, for example, the acceptance of deposit bags, the receipt of checks or other financial instruments, the dispensing of rolled coin, or other transactions required by merchants. Still other types of automated banking machines may be used by service providers in a transaction environment such as a bank to carry out financial transactions. Such transactions may include for example, the counting and storage of currency notes or other financial instrument sheets, the dispensing of notes or other sheets, the imaging of checks or other financial instruments, and other types of transactions. For purposes of this disclosure an automated banking machine or an automated taller machine (ATM) shall be deemed to include any machine that may be used to carry out transactions involving automated transfers of value.

#FIG. 1 is an example schematic representation of a computer system used in a banking operation.

#FIG. 2 is an example floor plan of the interior of a banking facility.

#FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic diagrams of a method associated with processing banking customer transactions using a welcome terminal.

#Incorporated herein by reference in their entirety are the disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,438,220; 7,438,222; 7,438,221; 7,438,219; 7,431,204; 7,433,844; 7,431,206; 7,428,984; 7,424,972; 7,416,112; 7,418,592; 7,419,089; 7,419,093; 7,404,515; 7,405,724; and 7,392,937. These patents disclose devices and systems used to carry out banking transactions, as well as features, methods, and capabilities that may be used in connection with the exemplary devices, systems, and methods described herein.

#Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown an example schematic representation of a banking computer system 100. It should be understood that while only an exemplary number of each component of the banking computer system 100 may be shown in the exemplary banking computer system 100 of FIG. 1, in other exemplary embodiments the banking computer system 100 may contain any number of the same or different network components.

#The exemplary embodiment may include a communication network 102. The network 102 may extend within a banking office building or other facility, or may be distributed among a plurality of banking office buildings or facilities. In the exemplary embodiment the network 102 comprises a data transport network environment such as a packet-switched TCP/IP-based global communication network. In the exemplary embodiment the network 102 may comprise a number of network devices such as routers, bridges, gateways, firewalls and any other device known in the art to allow the network 102 to be operable to provide communications between connected devices and systems. The network 102 may be a suitably comprised network including various message transport mechanisms such as, for example, Ethernet, Token-Ring, TM., 802.11, or other wire-based or mobile-based data communication mechanisms.