<PAGE>
                                                               Exhibit 10.8(i)

Shami Patel
1166 Pleasant Hill Circle
Lafayette, Ca. 94549

     RE:  EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Dear Shami:

This Employment Agreement (this "Agreement") sets forth our agreement
concerning certain terms of your employment by TRM Corporation (the
"Company") as of April 9, 1999.

1.   EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     1.1  EMPLOYMENT

          (a)  You will hold the position of Vice President, Finance and
               Chief Financial Officer of the Company and perform those
               duties as are generally associated with such a position.  You
               will report to the President and Chief Executive Officer and
               the Board of Directors of the Company.  You also agree to
               perform such acts and duties as the President and Chief
               Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the Company
               may reasonably direct, to comply with all applicable policies
               and procedures of the Company, and to devote such time, energy
               and skill to your assignment as the President and Chief
               Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the Company
               considers reasonably necessary for the performance of your
               duties.  You and the Company understand and agree that
               circumstances may arise in which you and the Company may
               mutually agree to change, in whole or in part, the scope of
               your responsibilities and the title of your position.

          (b)  Your employment with the Company will continue under this
               Agreement until terminated by you or the Company as provided
               in paragraph 2.1, below.  Notwithstanding the designation of a
               term for this Agreement, your employment with the Company will
               be on an "at will" basis with both you and the Company
               retaining the right to terminate the employment relationship
               at any time and for any reason, without liability on the part
               of the Company or any affiliated or related corporation for
               the termination, except as expressly provided in this
               Agreement. Your last day of employment with the Company is
               referred to herein as your Separation Date.

<PAGE>

Shami Patel Employment Agreement
April 9, 1999
Page 2 of 5

     1.2  SALARY. During the first term of this Agreement, you will be paid
          the annualized equivalent of $150,000 as base salary, payable in
          installments on regular Company paydays.  The first term shall end
          on December 31, 1999.  Thereafter, your base salary shall be set
          annually by the President and Chief Executive Officer or the Board
          of Directors of the Company.

     1.3  BENEFITS. In addition to your base compensation, you have been
          guaranteed a first year bonus of $50,000 providing you are still
          employed on December 31, 1999.  You will be given an opportunity to
          earn additional bonus in calendar year 1999 upon the achievement of
          performance criteria to be established by the President and Chief
          Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company.
          Thereafter, you will be eligible to receive incentive compensation
          as the President and Chief Executive Officer or the Board of
          Directors of the Company shall approve.  You will also be eligible
          to participate in any benefit plans or programs generally available
          to the Company's management as the Board of Directors shall from
          time-to-time approve, which shall include paid time off (PTO) which
          will accrue beginning on your date of employment at a rate of 20
          days per year.

     1.4  STOCK OPTION. A stock option for 100,000 shares of TRM Stock was
          issued to you on January 11, 1999.  That option will vest 20% per
          year for five years with an exercise period of ten years.  The
          option price of the shares will be based on the closing price of
          TRM stock on the date you accept the employment offer.

2.   TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

     2.1  TERMINATION. The term of this Agreement shall continue until
          terminated earlier as follows:

          (a)  This Agreement may be terminated by you for any reason upon 30
               days' written notice to the Company.

          (b)  This Agreement may be terminated by the Company for any reason
               at any time with 30 days' written notice to you, subject only
               to the obligation of the Company, if you are terminated for
               reasons other than those specified in paragraph 2.2, to pay
               severance pay according to the following formula:

               (i)  Six months' pay plus an additional one month's pay for
                    each year of employment of you by the Company (based on
                    your original hire date of January 11, 1999), up to a
                    maximum of 12 months pay (the "Salary Continuation
                    Period"), plus (ii) all incentive compensation earned but
                    unpaid on or prior to the Separation Date, plus (iii)
                    health insurance for the Salary Continuation Period at
                    the same coverage level as in effect immediately prior to
                    the Separation Date.

                    Severance pay may be paid to you at your option in a lump
                    sum or in regular payroll period installments.


<PAGE>

Shami Patel Employment Agreement
April 9, 1999
Page 3 of 5

          (c)  This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of
               your death or disability. For purposes of this Agreement,
               "disability" shall mean inability to perform all or
               substantially all of your responsibilities for a period of
               more than six (6) months.

          (d)  Eligibility for severance pay is conditioned upon your
               execution of a Release of Claims in a form provided by the
               Company at the time of termination. (sample attached)

     2.2  INELIGIBILITY FOR SEVERANCE PAY. With respect to subparagraph
          2.1(b), you will not be eligible for severance pay under this
          Agreement if:

          (a)  you voluntarily resign or retire from your employment at any
               time and for any reason except because of an involuntary
               reduction in your base salary;

          (b)  the Company terminates your employment for cause (as defined
               in paragraph 2.3, below) or your employment terminates due to
               your death or disability;

          (c)  you breach the terms of paragraph 3; or

          (d)  you fail or refuse to sign the Release of Claims form provided
               by the Company at the time of termination.

     2.3  DEFINITION OF CAUSE. For purposes of this Agreement, "cause" for
          termination shall be defined as (i) any misappropriation of funds
          or property of the Company by you; (ii) the conviction of or plea
          of guilty or nolo contendere by you of a felony or of any crime
          involving moral turpitude; (iii) your engagement in illegal,
          immoral or similar conduct tending to place you or the Company, by
          association with you, in disrepute; (iv) indulgence in alcohol or
          drugs to an extent that renders you unable or unfit to perform his
          duties hereunder; or (v) your gross dereliction of duty.

3.   CONFIDENTIALITY

     3.1  PRESERVATION AND NON-USE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. You
          acknowledge that you have a fiduciary duty as an officer and
          employee of the Company not to discuss Confidential Information
          obtained during your employment with the Company. For purposes of
          this Agreement, "Confidential Information" means any and all
          confidential or proprietary information concerning the Company or
          its affiliates, joint venturers or other related entities ("The
          Company Group"), the disclosure of which could disadvantage The
          Company Group.  Confidential Information includes trades secrets as
          defined under the Uniform Trades Secrets Act.


<PAGE>

Shami Patel Employment Agreement
April 9, 1999
Page 4 of 5

          Except pursuant to your employment by the Company and as directed
          by the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Board of
          Directors of the Company, you agree not to use Confidential
          Information, during the term of this Agreement or after its
          termination for a period of five years, for any personal or
          business purpose, either for your own benefit or that of any other
          person, corporation, government or other entity.

          You also agree that, except pursuant to your employment by the
          Company as directed by the President and Chief Executive Officer
          and the Board of Directors of the Company, you will not disclose or
          disseminate any Confidential Information, directly or indirectly,
          at any time during the term of this Agreement or after its
          termination, to any person, agency, or court unless compelled to do
          so pursuant to legal process (e.g., a summons or subpoena) or
          otherwise required by law and then only after providing the Company
          with prior notice and a copy of the legal process.

     3.2  COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE.  You also agree that while employed by the
          Company, and for a period of one year after the termination of
          employment, you shall not compete with the Company, either directly
          or indirectly, in the geographical areas where the Company does
          business, and you shall not perform services for or own an interest
          in any business that does so.

4.   RETURN OF PROPERTY

          On or before your Separation Date, except as agreed to by the
          Company, you will return all property belonging to The Company,
          including, but not limited to, all documents, business machines,
          computers, computer hardware and software programs, computer data,
          telephones (cellular, mobile or otherwise), pagers, keys, card
          keys, credit cards and other Company-owned property.

5.   RIGHT TO CONSULT WITH ATTORNEY

          You have the right to consult with an attorney or financial advisor
          at your own expense regarding this Agreement.


<PAGE>

Shami Patel Employment Agreement
April 9, 1999
Page 5 of 5

6.   DISPUTE RESOLUTION

          You agree that any dispute (1) concerning the interpretation or
          construction of this Agreement, (2) arising from your employment
          with or termination of employment from the Company, (3) relating to
          any compensation or benefits you may claim, or (4) relating in any
          way to any claim by you for reinstatement or reemployment by the
          Company after execution of this Agreement shall be submitted to
          final and binding confidential arbitration.  Except as specifically
          provided herein, the arbitration shall be governed by the rules of
          the American Arbitration Association or such other rules as agreed
          to by the parties.  Each party shall be responsible for its or his
          own costs and attorneys' fees relating to mediation and
          arbitration.  Both parties agree that the procedures outlined in
          this paragraph are the exclusive methods of dispute resolution.

7.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT

          This Agreement contains the entire agreement between you and the
          Company concerning the subject matters discussed herein and
          supersedes any other discus-sions, agreements, representations or
          warranties of any kind.  Any modification of this Agreement shall
          be effective only if in writing and signed by each party or its
          duly authorized representative.  This Agreement supersedes all
          prior employment agreements between you and the Company or any
          corporation affiliated with or related to the Company. The terms
          of this Agreement are contractual and not mere recitals. If for
          any reason any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid in
          whole or in part, such invalidity shall not affect the remainder of
          this Agreement.

          This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of
          the state of Oregon (without regard to the conflicts of laws
          provisions thereof).

          In order to reflect your voluntary acceptance and agreement with
          these terms, please sign and return the enclosed copy of this
          letter.


                                       Sincerely,
                                       TRM CORPORATION

                                       By:  FREDERIC P. STOCKTON
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          President and CEO

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT:
I have read this Agreement and voluntarily enter into this Agreement after
careful consideration and the opportunity to review it with financial or
legal counsel of my choice.

                                            SHAMI PATEL
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Shami Patel