Patent ID: 7653599

Claim:
A method for providing a prepaid card to a user, the method comprising: providing a value exchange machine having a card reader, a communications facility, and a card dispenser; displaying at least first and second transaction options to the user with the value exchange machine, wherein the first transaction option corresponds to purchasing the prepaid card with a card, and wherein the second transaction option corresponds to purchasing the prepaid card with at least one of cash, coins, and bank account funds; receiving at least a first transaction selection from the user corresponding to the first transaction option; reading information from a card submitted to the card reader by the user, the card being submitted for at least partial payment for the prepaid card; communicating with at least one remote computer via the communications facility to receive authorization to charge an amount to an account associated with the card submitted by the user to at least partially pay for the prepaid card; receiving authorization from the remote computer to charge the amount to the account associated with the card submitted by the user; in response to receiving the authorization from the remote computer, receiving the prepaid card from a card hopper positioned within the value exchange machine and automatically reading an identification number from the prepaid card in the value exchange machine; associating the identification number with a prepaid card value in a remote database, wherein the prepaid card value is different than the amount charged to the account associated with the card submitted by the user; after reading the identification number from the prepaid card, issuing the prepaid card to the user from the card dispenser; subtracting the prepaid card value from the amount charged to the account associated with the card submitted by the user to determine the difference; and dispensing a redeemable cash voucher to the user, the redeemable cash voucher having a voucher value that is at least approximately equal to the difference.