Abstract: A system for providing enhanced services in a multi-channel interactive distributed environment includes at least one automated teller machine and at least one computer. A server is coupled to the automated teller machine and the computer. The server is operable to provide information tailored to a user based on a stored user profile. This tailored information is provided to the user when the user is accessing the server via either the computer or the automated teller machine.

Abstract: A customer at an enrollment section (12) uses a self-dial telephone (14) to make a toll-free call to a customer service operator at a workstation (26). The operator activates a check-cashing card (18) obtained by the customer at the enrollment section, which includes enrolling a checking account against which the customer wishes to cash checks. The customer can subsequently use the activated card with automatic teller machines (57) to cash checks in transactions that are entirely automated, and that do not require the customer to have funds available for withdrawal from an institutional account. Each automatic teller machine interacts with a switch system (42), which in turn interacts with a host system (37), in order to determine whether to proceed with the check-cashing transaction. If authorization is granted, a dispense amount is determined by deducting one or more fees from the amount of the check, and the customer is then paid the dispense amount in cash.