Abstract: A method for making a payment includes the steps of determining a payment amount due from a payor to a payee, identifying the payee when the payee enters identifying information at an automated payment station, verifying an amount of a payment due to the payee, and receiving at the payment station an election by the payee to receive a check or cash as the payment. If the payee selects a check, a check is printed for the payee at the payment station, whereas if the payee selects cash, cash is dispensed to the payee at the payment station. The payment station may be a kiosk similar in appearance to an ATM machine, but with the capability to both print checks and dispense cash in response to a user election.