A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING CURRENCY

摘要

A magnetic stripe card with an encoded card number including a bank identification number and an account number is issued to a customer with a value selectable by the customer. The central card processor establishes a zero balance database including the card numbers, but with blank fields for the customer data and the value of the account. When a customer purchases a card, the sales agent transmits to the central database computer which fills in the blanks in the database, activating the account, and transmits an acknowledgment. The card can be immediately used in ATM or other remote terminals to acquire cash or purchase goods and services. The customer inputs a PIN number which is provided with the card, or an alternative PIN number selected by the customer.