Abstract: A money handling kiosk or appliance including an interface device coupled to a general purpose computer and at least one money handling peripheral device. The money handling kiosk preferably includes a secure housing disposed about the interface board or device and money handling peripheral devices. One money handling appliance includes a general purpose computer having a display screen and a touch input screen as well as a bar code reader and a magnetic strip reader. The kiosk can further have at least one bill validator and one coin validator. The interface device can be coupled to, and communicate with, several brands or models of money handling peripheral devices of the same type. The interface device can act to encapsulate the functionality of the various money handling peripheral devices.