Financial kiosk

A system for cashing checks, comprising:

• a financial kiosk for check cashing without a prior membership requirement;
• the financial kiosk including means for executing methods embodied in software programs incorporated in the system for check cashing;
• the means for executing methods including determining whether the check is from the group consisting of a new payor and a new customer;
• a new payor and an existing customer, an existing payor and a new customer;
• and an existing payor and an existing customer;
• the means for executing methods including checking both the customer and the payor's status to determine information as to whether both the customer and payor are credit worthy;
• third party processor means in another location from the financial kiosk receiving the information and executing a check-cashing risk assessment process to evaluate the risk involved in cashing the check involving the customer and payor for determining whether to cash the check;
• the third party processor executing a check-cashing risk assessment process to evaluate the risk involved in cashing the check involving the payor of the check presented;
• the third party processor determining for the customer, a fee that will be charged, the number of checks allotted per week, the maximum amount of money that will be allotted, and how many checks cashed will entitle the customer to a check where no fee is drawn;
• the third party processor determining for the payor, a fee that will be charged to the customer, the number of checks allotted per week, the maximum amount of money that will be allotted, and how many checks cashed will entitle the customer to a check where no fee is drawn;
• means for providing an image of the check and the fee for cashing the check on a screen of the financial kiosk;
• means for dispending cash corresponding to the check being cashed minus the fee if the customer accepts payment;
• and
• means for returning the check to the customer when either the third party processor determines not to cash the check and the customer decides not to accept payment.