Abstract: The invention is directed to an automatic financial transaction surveillance system wherein an apparatus generates a video image signal that represents a financial transaction of a situation involving a financial transaction at an automatic teller machine or at a retail point-of-sale situation. A data entry mechanism is employed to generate an alphanumeric transaction information data signal that represents the nature of the transaction. A video camera arrangement generates a video image signal that represents a transaction of an actual situation in which the financial transaction is taking place. A transaction information module is responsively electrically coupled to the video image signal generating camera arrangement and to the data entry mechanism that generates the alphanumeric transaction information data signal.