Methods and systems for exchanging and/or transferring various forms of value

摘要

Methods and systems for exchanging various forms of value, including coins, currency, credit, debit, and/or bank account funds, for prepaid cash cards, credit cards, phone cards and the like (100 and 402). In one embodiment, a value exchange machine includes a coin input region (106), a coin sorting/counting apparatus (112), a card reader (202), and a communications facility (113) configured to communicate with a remote computer network. In another embodiment, a value exchange system includes one or more of the value exchange machines connected to one or more remote computers via a communications link (500). A user wishing to purchase, for example, a prepaid cash card can visit one of the value exchange machines, select a desired transaction, and pay for the card with coins, currency, a credit card, a debit card, and/or bank account funds. After confirming payment, the value exchange machine dispenses the card to the user.