Patent ID: 7640205

Claim:
A computer implemented method for determining whether to access additional positive pay information in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction, the method comprising: electronically receiving, by a check authentication system, a request from a check-cashing entity for positive pay status information for a check presented in association with a proposed check-cashing transaction; identifying, by the check authentication system, at least one source of positive pay information by accessing a table indicating the external location of the positive pay information; accessing, by the check authentication system, positive pay information from at least said one of said external location positive pay information sources; electronically storing the accessed positive pay information; accessing, by the check authentication system, additional information about at least one of the set consisting of: characteristics of the proposed check-cashing transaction, characteristics of the identified positive pay information sources, and preferences of the check-cashing entity; and electronically determining, by the check authentication system, whether to access additional positive pay information, based at least in part on at least one of the set consisting of: the accessed positive pay information and the accessed additional information, wherein the above elements are performed by one or more computers associated with the check authentication system.