Method and system for remote delivery of retail banking services5220501Abstract A practical system and method for the remote distribution of financial services (e.g., home banking and bill-paying) involves distributing portable terminals to a user base. The terminals include a multi-line display, keys "pointer to" lines on the display, and additional keys. Contact is established between the terminals and a central computer operated by a service provider, preferably over a dial-up telephone line and a packet data network. Information exchange between the central computer and the terminal solicits information from the terminal user related to requested financial services (e.g., for billpaying, the user provides payee selection and amount and his bank account PIN number). The central computer then transmits a message over a conventional ATM network debiting the user's bank account in real time, and may pay the specified payees the specified amount electronically or in other ways as appropriate. Payments and transfers may be scheduled in advance or on a periodic basis. Because the central computer interacts with the user's bank as a standard POS or ATM network node, no significant software changes are required at the banks' computers. The terminal interface is extremely user-friendly and incorporates some features of standard ATM user interfaces so as to reduce new user anxiety. Claims What is claimed is: Description FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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MAJOR HOME BANKING OPERATORS
Operator Name of Service
Est. Users
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Bank of America Homebanking 37,000
Manufacturers Hanover
Excel 7,000
Citibank Direct Access
15,000
Chase Manhattan Spectrum 5,000
Madison Bank Home Teller 2,000
Princeton Telecom
licensed to banks
2,000
Harbinger Computer
licensed to banks
2,000
Prodigy licensed to banks
10,000
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Source: Teleservices Report, Arlen Communications, 1987
Videotext Industry Association, 1988
Prodigy (a joint venture between IBM and Sears) is the primary major operator actively pursuing the national market. Much like the banks, Prodigy targets personal computer users (with modems) with extensive videotext service (e.g. airline reservations, and home shopping). Unlike the banks, however, bank services are secondary and Prodigy hopes to offset some of its high costs with advertising revenues. Even if Prodigy succeeds, its services are aimed at a high-end, technology-user--not the broader market comprising the majority of bank customers. Telephone banking operators have recently begun to allow customers to pay bills from home. Some such telephone billpaying systems involve voice response technology to provide automatic handling of limited customer financial transactions (thus eliminating the requirement for human operators to answer and handle customer calls). Several independent telephone billpaying services have emerged (e.g. Checkfree and Merchants Network), but most billpaying services are offered by individual banks. Recent voice-response technology advances have enabled telephone banking and billpaying to become the banking industry's fastest growing retail product. Payments Systems, Inc., a leading electronic funds transfer consulting firm, estimates that 5-7 million U.S. households use telephone banking in 1988 versus approximately 2 million in 1985. Nonetheless, telephone billpaying has serious limitations because of its lack of a visual interface (i.e., display). Telephone voice response systems only permit the presentation of very limited, simple alternatives. Sophisticated service offerings are not practical because of their reliance on complex branching alternatives which can not be easily remembered by users. As a consequence, telephone billpaying users easily lose track of their place; confirmation and review of payments is limited; users need to keep track of payee code numbers on separate paper lists; and user options such as scheduling payments become exceedingly complex and thus virtually impractical. Telephone billpaying service providers have high cost structures and, despite advances in voice-response technology, telephone billpaying has serious inherent service limitations. Telephone banking is convenient but has inherent limitations which make billpaying and other complex financial services very hard-to-use. ATMs, on the other hand, are very easy-to-use, but lack the convenience of a telephone. ATM usage has grown dramatically in the past decade. There are now approximately 140 million cardholders in the U.S. Japan has over 135 million ATM cardholders, and Europe has 122 million cardholders. Approximately 25% of U.S. households use ATM cards or more times per month. These cardholders have demonstrated a high degree of comfort with electronic banking. These customers tend to be under 40, upwardly mobile, and convenience-oriented. See, for example, Kutler, "Marking Effort is Needed to Swell Ranks of ATM Users", Consumer Survey, American Banker pp 73-76; "Survey of ATM Networks and Debit Card Users", The Nilson Report (1987 Ed.); and "Three-Quarters of Households to Use ATMs by Year 2,000", Bank Systems and Equipment p 38 (September 1987). While ATMs are very easy-to-use, they currently allow users to access only a limited number of bank teller services. A bank's own ATMs are typically connected by direct line to the bank's data processing system. The bank's data processing system, in turn, communicates with a regional (or national) "ATM Network"--a specialized digital packet network which communicates ATM and POS (point of sale) transactions among banks using standardized message protocols. These ATM networks and associated digital switches permit someone using the ATM of one bank to access an account in another bank, for example. ANSI and others have established standards on ATM digital message protocols and other features of ATMs. A more-or-less standard, generic ATM interface has developed in the banking industry, making it relatively easy for a user to use any ATM on the ATM network once has he learned how to interact with this more-or-less standard interface. Of course, ATMs produced by different manufacturers may differ in key placement, number of keys, key legends, screen size, etc. However, there has been a trend toward standardization so as to minimize user discomfort with using a "foreign bank" ATM. Of course, a bank customer wishing to use the ATM network to conduct a financial transaction typically has to travel to a nearby ATM (e.g., at a local bank branch). Moreover, most ATMs generally do not permit customers to pay bills or conduct other complex financial transactions--typically limiting the user to withdrawals, account inquiries, account transfers, and, if the ATM the user accesses is that of his own bank, deposits. It is known to utilize the ATM network to conduct financial transactions other than in the manner discussed above. The following references are generally relevant to use of an ATM network/switch for processing various types of financial transactions: ITS Develops SHAZAM Bill Payer For Consumer and Merchant Convenience", ITS Current, pp 3-5 (March 1988); Levy, J., `The Delicate Balance of ATM Industry Standards", The EFT Sourcebook, pp 35-38 (1988) National Directory of Shared ATM/POS Networks 1987 Edition, TransData Corp.; Interregional Sharing Model of the Shared Network Executives Association, pp 467-70; Zimmer, "A Leading Analyst Investigates Whether the ATM Market Has Reached Its Saturation Point or is Poised for Expansion", American Banker, p 13, Vol. 152, No. 234 (Dec. 1, 1987); Garsson, "NCR Universal Credit Union Claims A First with Home Banking Services", American Banker, p 10 (Aug. 24, 1983); Anderson, "Electronic Funds Transfer is Reaching the Point-of-Sale; Banks, Retailers Look to EFT Transactions to Lessen Processing Costs, Increase Market Share", American Banker, p 32 (Jul. 28, 1982); and "Electronic Networks Springing Up All Over: Systems Linking Automated Teller Machines, Point of Sale Devices are Established or Contemplated in Several Areas of the Country", American Banker, p 2 (Mar. 19, 1982). It appears from the articles referenced above that others in the past have explored the use of an ATM network/switch to route point-of-sale and/or billpaying data requests and transactions. For example, the National Directory reference (see above) claims that four ATM networks provide participants with home banking services (although this claim may actually be false). The "Shazam" system, under development in Iowa, permits a customer to pay bills to prespecified accounts using a bank ATM or special purpose ATM type "billpaying terminal" located in a branch bank and communicating directly over the ITS ATM network. The MAC system permits a PC-based home banking service provider to use the network to perform limited functions such as balance inquiry and funds transfers. Aggregated bill payments are transmitted to banks using the MAC network as a simple data carrier at the close of the banking day in batch mode. Some point-of-sale (POS) systems do exist which are capable of automatically generating debit requests and applying such debit requests to an ATM network (e.g., to result in immediately debiting a purchaser's account). Specifically, it appears that some such POS systems include a "concentrator" central computer connected to local modems. The local modems receive incoming calls over dialup telephone lines from remote POS stations located at retail sites. When a purchaser makes a purchase, he provides a magnetic stripe card which is encoded with identity and account information readable by the remote POS terminal. The purchaser also is required to input his PIN (personal identification number) for security reasons. The POS station automatically dials the central computer and transmits an identification of the retailer; purchaser bank and account information; and a dollar amount to be debited. The central computer reformats the POS request into a standardized POS debit request message which it transmits over the ATM network. The transmitted debit request causes the purchaser's bank account to be immediately debited, and may also provide a feedback message to the remote POS terminal indicating that the purchaser had an account balance exceeding the purchase amount and that the purchase amount has been successfully debited from the purchaser's bank account. Additional mechanisms cause the debited funds to eventually be paid to the retailer. The following patents are generally relevant to prior dedicated home banking terminals and associated systems/networks: U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,845 to Hale et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,478 to Hale at al U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,397 to Grant et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,059 to Benton U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,951 to Benton U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,276 to Benton et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,647 to Atalla et al The two Hale patents relate to a specific dedicated home banking terminal and associated system. Grant et al broadly teaches a system which integrates banking and brokerage services via a data communications gateway between the two systems. The three Benton patents relate to details concerning personal banking/financial transaction terminals. Atalla et al teaches a portable banking terminal including data encryption capabilities and discusses communicating over data communications lines with a data switch (see FIG. 1 and associated text). The following patents relate to banking terminal security considerations: U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,968 to Hennessy et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,712 to Okano et al The following additional patents are of general interest as representing the state of the art: U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,414 to Benton U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,535 to Simmons U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,926 to Lenaerts et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,795 to Wolf et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,761 to Sharpe et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,536 to Yamamoto U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,895 to Tateisi et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,663 to Nagata et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,375,500 to Fowler et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,970,992 to Boothroyd et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,648,020 to Tateisi et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,482 to DeAngelis Most banks believe that remote banking is a good idea waiting for an acceptable, cost-efficient, easy-to-use delivery system. Most bank customers dislike the time consuming drudgery they devote every month to paying bills and conducting other banking transactions, and wish a low cost, easier way existed to perform these transactions. Unfortunately, the prior art discussed above does not provide any practical architecture for providing comprehensive banking services (including paying plural bills to user selected payees) in the home or office over standard dialup telephone lines via an ATM network. The present invention provides a solution to many of the problems discussed above. In particular, the present invention provides a practical, cost-effective, workable system and method for delivering banking and other financial services (including billpaying capabilities) to remote sites such as customer homes and offices while avoiding the pitfalls encountered by home banking experiments of the past. The present invention capitalizes on the convenience of the telephone and the widespread familiarity with automatic teller machines. Previous "home banking" applications required a personal computer (PC), a modem, complicated software procedures and considerable training and/or computer knowledge. Home banking was thereby confined to the extremely small niche of sophisticated PC users. Now, with new technology and an established base of 140 million ATM cardholders, the present invention can reach a large market with low cost services: The present invention serves this market by providing a low cost (possibly free) ATM-like terminal, which preferably uses low-cost Applications Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and surface mount technology for low cost and high reliability; The present invention targets remote banking service to 50 million U.S. households owning ATM cards, 21 million of whom show a high degree of comfort with electronic banking; The present invention preferably utilizes ATM and telephone company digital communications networks, thus avoiding a large upfront fixed investment and ensuring low operating costs; The present invention system costs are supported by sharing processing savings with banks, payees and advertisers (who target ads to users based on spending patterns). Briefly, the present invention provides dedicated telephone-based banking terminals to users for home or office use ("home banking"). An asynchronous communications link is connected to a telephone company public data network (or other digital packet network) between the remote terminal and a central computer system operated by the service provider. A central computer system analyzes and processes the user payment instructions--typically processing a user's request for many discrete financial transactions at one time. The central computer stores information about these transactions in a database it maintains, and then generates electronic funds transfer (EFT) requests which it communicates to the user's bank via an ATM network/switch. For example, the central computer system may debit the user's account at his bank (e.g., via a POS debit message passed over the ATM network) and electronically transfer the funds to a holding account or bank. The central computer then distributes the funds (bill payments) to the payees requested by the user. ATM networks have been used for ATM use and more recently for point-of-sale (POS) uses. When combined with new PDN service as in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, ATM networks permit development of a market at minimal upfront, fixed cost and very low variable operating costs. The system provided by the preferred embodiment of the present invention basically acts as a conduit connecting bank depositors with their bank through telephone company gateways and ATM networks. The service provider need not build its own network, and banks need not install new communication lines or software. Since ATM networks have in the past usually provided only limited services (e.g., withdrawal, deposit and account inquiry, and more recently, point-of-sale transaction handling), the present invention offers a new use of the existing ATM networks to provide transactions not previously supported by the networks and also provides a new central computer/communications system performing new functions--in addition to providing a linkage never before existing between two networks (i.e., a digital packet network accessible through dialup telephone gateway, and an ATM network) for the purpose of home banking. Payments can be processed immediately and made using EFT means (automated clearinghouse, direct deposit in concentrator accounts, point-to-point, etc.) through payment network. Certain EFTs are processed through the originating ATM network (or though another ATM network). Payments not made electronically are sent by post in the form of a check and payor invoice information list ("check and list"). In addition, the central computer system can transmit to the user's bank the names of payees and other Federal Reserve Regulation E information through the ATM network using POS formats. This permits the customer's bank to print a unified statement listing for billpaying transactions as well as normal bank transactions (e.g., deposits, debits, and ATM withdrawals). Thus, once entered into the system a user terminal is linked in the preferred embodiment through a gateway to a public data network (PDN) service of a regional telephone company. Telenet and other PDN services have been available for years, and these services remain competitive to the regional telephone companies on an interstate basis. However, the data packet price of local PDN services is usually lower for regional telephone companies (because the cost of their networks is amortized over may users and alternative uses.) The preferred embodiment preferably includes compact inexpensive remote user terminals capable of interfacing with standard dial-up telephone lines. One version of the preferred embodiment terminal is compact in size (3.75".times.8".times.1.75"), portable and simply connects to the user's telephone jack. A second version of the terminal has a telephone handset and associated electronics permitting the consumer to use the device as a terminal or as a conventional telephone. No hardware or installation expense is required. Users operate the terminal intuitively, and users need not have prior computer experience. Since the present invention targets ATM users, the terminal is designed to interact with users in a manner similar to ATM user interaction. Users preferably activate the preferred embodiment terminal by simply turning it on. The terminal automatically dials a central processor system over dialup telephone lines. Users are preferably welcomed in the name of their own bank. They may gain access to services by identifying their account from a menu of authorized household users, then entering their bank ATM personal identification number (PIN). A built-in security device is preferably provided to afford high level security to the user, and the terminal has the capability to transmit encrypted data. Users preferably receive and view messages through a four line (e.g., by 24 or 30 character) liquid crystal display (LCD). Instructions are communicated through a backlit display adjacent to the LCD. Messages are communicated at high speed (e.g, 1200 baud) over dialup lines. The terminal takes advantage of significant human factors research and development performed by the U.S. Department of Defense and adopted by major ATM producers. By positioning selection ("soft") keys next to options displayed on the screen, users can more easily understand and quickly respond to instructions. Users thereby communicate by single-stroke responses to choices displayed, and the service provider has much greater system flexibility with which to format screens and expand services. Moreover, the preferred embodiment terminal and associated user interface to some extent mimics the terminal/interface provided by standard ATMs already in use by millions of bank customers. The preferred embodiment thus eliminates or reduces the level of apprehension may users might harbor toward learning a new terminal and interface. When a typical new user first uses the terminal provided by the present invention, he intuitively knows how to navigate through the user interface/menu structure because the user interface is (at least superficially) similar to that of ATMs he has used in the past. Of course, the user interface and terminal provided by the present invention offer far more functionality than is available through a standard ATM, and in fact are extremely different from the standard ATM terminal/interface. However, the user's initial impression is perhaps the most important and the typical user's first impression to the terminal provided by the present invention is that it is "like" an ATM and can be operated intuitively without reading a user manual and without any steep learning curve. The primary market for the services provided by the present invention is 21 million highly active ATM users who will view the invention as a convenient, comfortable extension of current ATM services. The services may also appeal to certain non-ATM users, who will be attracted to the expanded services (e.g., billpaying) provided by the present invention. The major emphasis in designing the terminal and its support system is service and ease-of-use. This has been achieved by adopting a number of features contained in the popular ATM machines employed by banks, such as for example: 1) Keyboard and Screens: The latest ATM machines contain simple uncluttered keyboards usually consisting of an alpha/numeric keypad, a cancel key, enter key and a number of "soft" (i.e., programmable) selection keys adjacent to the screen which have no fixed function. The function of these soft keys is described on the screen and is related to service that is being provided. Older machines tend to have multiple dedicated function keys that perform one specific function. The user must push the proper function keys in the correct sequence to complete the transaction in which he is interested. These keyboards tend to be cluttered and confusing. The displays associated with this type of keyboard are usually limited to several lines of text. The dedicated key keyboard design approach is necessary because the limited size of the display precludes the presentation of multiple alternatives among which a user may select. Newer machines have larger video displays consisting of from four to eight lines and "soft" keys that fulfill different functions depending on information provided on the screen. Users are presented with multiple choices and asked to select the desired alternative. The user pushes the "soft" key that corresponds to the selection he wishes to make. Similar to the newer ATM machines, the terminal provided by the present invention contains a four line by, for example, 24-character LCD display (many ATMs use video displays), four "soft" keys, a cancel and a numeric keypad. In addition, the terminal provided by the present invention contains a HELP key and two screen control keys labeled PRIOR and NEXT. Unlike ATM machines a user who needs assistance can obtain it regardless of "where he is" in the transaction process by pushing the HELP key. Contact sensitive help provides explanations regarding the transaction in which he is involved. The screen control keys permit the user to scroll forward and backward when reviewing lists. Using the NEXT key also permits movement from one screen to the next at the user's pace. The CANCEL key permits the user to correct erroneous input or back out of certain transactions when he has mistakenly chosen an alternative. 2) Security: The ATM establishes a user's identify by requiring a card and the use of a personal identification number (PIN). The terminal provided by the present invention uses a slightly different approach in that no card is required (although in at least one configuration a card may be used if desired). The terminal is generally in a more secure location than is an ATM machine. At SIGNON the terminal transmits a unique number that identifies a particular household. The individual selects his name from the authorized household list. He is then requested to enter his PIN in much the same manner as with an ATM machine. The data transmitted from the terminal is encrypted, providing security against line tapping or theft of the line. An ATM uses a bank card to determine who is signing on the machine; in contrast, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, terminal possession is used as an indication of one of several users in a household. 3) Look and Feel: The newer ATM machines are menu driven, the user is presented with a number of alternatives and he selects the one he wishes by using "soft" keys. This is preferable to the user having to follow a list of steps coordinating screen instructions with different dedicated function keys on a nearby keyboard. There is less distraction and confusion when the user is provided alternatives on the screen. He can be given assistance upon request when he is uncertain. There is no limited reading of keycaps or coordination of key colors or reading of sequential instruction lists posted on the machine. In a similar fashion the terminal provided by the present invention is menu oriented. The user can get to his desired service quickly (generally with selections from 1-2 levels of menus). The combination of "soft" keys and menu branching provides a look and feel very similar to an ATM with which he is comfortable and experienced although the terminal provided by the present invention also provides several additional important features which provide increased functionality. 4) Services: The ATM primarily provides balance inquiry, cash withdrawal and check deposit accompanied by a receipt. Some ATMs permit limited bill payment and last date of deposit and withdrawal. Instead of printing out a receipt like an ATM, user of the terminal provided by the present invention receives a statement from his bank at the end of the month. In addition, it is unlike an ATM in that you generally cannot receive money or make deposits through the terminal (unless an additional interface to a debit card or "smart card" is provided). The terminal user is, however, able to pay all bills (present and future or pay periodically), transfer funds (today and in future), obtain balance information, look forward and backward at statement activity (payments, deposits and transfers) transfer funds among accounts and banks, obtain information on bank services and rates anywhere there is a standard telephone RJ-11 jack. With the addition of an alpha keyboard (which may be an expansion feature) the terminal can provide E-mail and other alpha-dominated services. 5) Personal Service: The terminal provided by the preferred embodiment of the present invention is compact and portable and is available for use twenty-four hours a day. The list of payees the user selects can be anyone, not a preselected list as with the few cases where users pay bills from an ATM. The services are available when the user wants, where the user wants. His billpaying time is reduced and he need not contend with stamps, check printing fees, envelopes, and postal delivery. 6) Network Configuration: The ATM machine is usually connected to a bank's computer via telephone or hard line. Accounting information is provided by the bank's computer. Transactions that must be passed to other banks are transmitted through the ATM network. Those ATMs that permit billpaying inventory the bills that are to be paid during the day at the ATM machine and are then posted after the close of the banking day by the bank. The ORL system passes bill payments directly through the ATM interchange (in the form of point-of-sale transactions) for debit and credit of accounts on a real-time basis. To use billpaying features, customers provide the service provider in advance with a list of payees (names, account numbers, addresses). A typical household (owning an ATM card) writes 26 checks per month and the list might, for example include payments for: utilities--telephone, gas, water, electricity, cable TV; residential--rent, mortgage, home, insurance; automotive--gas credit card, auto insurance, auto loan; credit card--AMEX, Visa, Master Charge and others; retail--major department stores; financial--installment loan, taxes, stock broker fees; medical--physician, dentist, health insurance; business--office parking fee, newspapers, magazines; and miscellaneous--child care, tuition, church, vacation home, domestic employees, etc. Users may review past payments and schedule future payments (e.g., timed to meet anticipated funds availability such as paycheck or check deposit). Users may also have the system provided by the present invention automatically pay fixed, recurring payments, such as rent, mortgages, and installment loans. The preferred embodiment of the present invention processes information transmitted through the PDN using a fault-tolerant central processor to ensure system integrity. Once the system provided by the present invention processes user payment instructions, it communicates with the user's bank through a regional or national ATM network. Regional ATM networks (which are usually shared banking cooperatives) have been developed to permit bank customers to access any ATM in their local area. Users are no longer tied to their own bank's ATMs. The Cirrus and Plus ATM networks offer the same service on a national basis by linking required ATM networks. The ATM network application provided by the present invention preferably requires no new hardware or software modifications to ATM communication systems. And, very importantly, unlike other home banking systems (which require specialized software or automated clearing house capability), the present invention requires little or no new software or operating procedural changes at a user's bank. Using an ATM network, the service provider pays customer bills by first debiting the user's account at his network bank--preferably by sending a POS debit message over the ATM network. Such standard POS messages not only permit the service provider to pass payee or other information over the network to the user's bank for use by the bank in generating a unified monthly statement, but also provide an automatic account inquiry/balance check function (so that the user does not overdraw his bank account inadvertently). Funds are transferred through the ATM network to the service provider's holding bank (or a clearing account maintained by the service provider in the user's bank). Payments are preferably processed immediately electronically, where feasible, either immediately or "warehoused" for a short time for transmittal with other user payments to a single payee. Otherwise bills are paid by paper check. Electronic payments can be processed through an Automated Clearing House (ACH) system, (e.g., Federal Reserve) directly to a payee (point-to-point), or to the payee's bank (directly or indirectly through an ATM network or other remittance channel). In recent years, payees have become more receptive to working with electronic payments processors. Aside from minimizing a payee's processing costs and float, the present invention offers payees more predictable cash flow, lower returns (bad checks), and accounting and bookkeeping advantages related to consolidated payments. The invention provides more additional benefits to payees. By processing customer bills as POS debits, liability for payment immediately shifts from the service provider to the ATM network (or bank). Thus, the service provider can advance funds to payees immediately with the comfort that the advance will be covered on the next business day by the customer's bank or the ATM network. This reduces the payee's float by 1-2 days versus conventional electronic billpaying systems. Secondly, payees may hold remittance accounts at banks who are members of the ATM network. Debited funds and billing information may be sent directly to these accounts. Payees who may not otherwise have the capability to accept electronic payments may gain that capability. This reduces the payee's remittance processing costs and permits the bill paying service provider to make fewer, costly paper-based payments. The cost of processing payments is relatively low in terms of equipment and communication costs. Most costs are incurred in responding to user inquiries, correcting payee posting errors, maintenance of payee databases, and coordination between users, payees, and their banks. Higher costs are incurred by payments made by paper check, although these costs are mitigated by interest earned on float due to postal delivery time. Other innovative features provided by the present invention include: A new type of inexpensive ergonomically designed user-friendly dedicated home banking terminal including for example a four line LCD display with associated control buttons "pointing to" the display lines for selection of displayed options and auxiliary "Select One", "Or", "Change Screen", "Enter Number" LED illuminated command prompts that are turned on and off by the central computer system as needed. Advanced "ATM-like" terminal layout: Four line by 24 character liquid crystal display; Four adjacent selection (i.e., "soft", programmable) keys directly referencing the display to be used for selecting alternatives; Two function keys to provide on demand help and cancel functions; Twelve alpha/numeric telephone-type keypad for numeric input and later for limited alpha input plus the "#" and "*" for later communications applications and compliant with present telephone equipment standards; and Two screen control keys that permit scrolling of the screen forward and backward when permitting by system software. Two level access security consisting of a unique terminal identification ("signature") automatically transmitted upon establishment of the asynchronous communications link and an ATM type PIN number entered by the user for system verification. Onboard PIN and data encryption (DES or other standard) provided by ROM resident random number generation algorithm activated by a seed maintained in RAM and a real-time clock. LED backlit instruction panel adjacent to and working in conjunction with the active LCD display controlled main system software. Dual purpose terminal operating as a data entry and display device and alternatively, as a push button (tone/pulse) telephone communications set--including a common keypad used for tone generation for telephone communications and for data entry. A dual isolated circuit keypad containing a double contact low cost switch to activate two unrelated circuits as input to the microprocessor and the telephone tone generator. Data terminal that automatically transmits tone blocking signal to prevent intervention by call interrupt service. The visual interface, flexibility and ability to recall information that permits the present invention to enjoy significant demand for automated billpaying without a telephone's limitations. Look and feel of the software-user interface in coordination with a 4.times.24 LCD display and selection and control keys to provide rapid communications of financial transaction information to main computer system. A terminal device that can act as a pass-through of analog voice signal to an externally attached on internally provided telephone or alternately transmit data (asynchronously). A terminal device operating at low power levels permitting the trickle charge of internal storage batteries from a telephone line source. A terminal device that can store numerical data and transmit from a memory buffer upon command from an internal microprocessor. A terminal device employing a 96 (up to 120) character LCD displaying the amount of information capable of being contained in a single common 128 byte packet data network packet. The terminal is able to transmit a periodic randomly generated code to the main system. The main system is able to verify that this numeric code is correct and assure that terminal communication link security is maintained. The terminal is compact, 8 inches wide by 5.75 inches and 1.75 inches high with the telephone handset. The compact non-telephone model is 8 inches wide by 3.75 inches deep by 1.75 inches high. The compact model can easily slip into a pocket or briefcase, and is approximately 53 cubic inches and weighs less than one pound. The compact portable terminal contains two RJ-11 jacks so that a telephone line can be connected to one and a telephone to the other thereby permitting use alternatively as a terminal or telephone. A terminal with an internal data bus that will permit direct edge connect retrofitting of an aliphatic keyboard and/or card swipe device;. A system architecture connecting asynchronous, remotely located (home or office) dedicated purpose terminals (telephone and/or data) passing through asynchronous gateway onto a packet data network to a fault-tolerant computer which is in turn linked to a single bank or group of banks using the bank's ATM interchange network for the purpose of bill payment and funds transfer and balance inquiry and activity statement. A system architecture connected to a network of electronic switches and/or payees. Use of an online computer which processes customer bill payments and passes payee names and account information through the ATM interchange network to a user's bank for posting to his monthly statement; A system architecture that permits immediate credit of funds to the service provider (upon debit authorization against the user's account, liability for payment of funds passes immediately to bank and interchange network). A system architecture that permits a combination of information access (account balances, account transactions) plus settlements (posting, reconciliation and clearing of funds). Extraction of bill payer and payee information for demographic and marketing analysis and retention in a database. Maintaining such a database of billpaying information and extracting demographic information from this database for use in targeting advertisements or messages (the advertisements can be sent electronically to each home banking user each time he "signs on" his terminal and/or distributed in other ways such as mass mailings which do not violate user confidentiality). Analysis of bill payer payment patterns for the purpose of directing online advertisements or messages targeted to differentiated groups of users. A terminal screen which permits targeted advertising (or messages) without disclosing the user's name or other confidential information to the advertiser (until the user requests disclosure or permits it). A terminal oriented system that permits an immediate customer response to targeted, displayed advertisements (or messages), whose responses are then transmitted online or in batch mode to the advertisement sponsor. A methodology of debits and credits for transferring of funds between banks using online remote terminals communicated through the ATM interchange network. A methodology for debit of bill payments using online, remote terminals communicated through the ATM interchange network. A methodology for use of an ATM interchange network for payee credits on bills. A remote terminal oriented system directed at the ATM user population for home, office or other remote location bill payment, funds transfer and account review. Deposit oriented financing for a remote terminal based system for bill payment, funds transfer and account review; and A cash incentive program for bills paid through a remote terminal based system for bill payment, funds transfer and account review. The present invention extends the convenience of popular automated teller machine (ATM) type service to user (alternatively referred to as customers or consumers) homes, offices and other locations. The present invention provides a highly efficient payments system that offers consumers the following advantages and features: a low cost (possibly free), easy-to-use ATM-like communication terminal which is portable and simply connects to a telephone; an incentive for every bill payment made through the terminal; additional savings from postage, check printing, envelopes, and other costs for each payment made through the terminal; convenience, privacy and estimated time savings of 75% from the drudgery of billpaying. The added benefit of electronic funds transfer, banks and others gain as much as 40% processing cost savings and a new vehicle for remote distribution of services. To attract volume, the service provider may price services to allow users to save money. The present invention provides the possibility of broad market distribution by providing users with a low cost (possibly free), familiar ATM-like terminal. In addition to being provided with a low cost or free terminal, users may save $0.30 in postage, check and others costs for each payment made electronically via the system. This totals to $7.30 per month savings for the average ATM household writing 26 checks a month. A service provider may therefore charge up to $7.80 per month and still permit the user to save money. More important than cost savings, however, is the vast amount of time the invention saves its users. Unlike PC's, telephones and prior terminals, the design of the present invention enables the users to intuitively master the terminal without relying on written instructions. Furthermore, the operations and coordination of system components in the form of modems, communications protocols, new security codes, and operating software is obviated. The present invention relieves a common financial headache--the time-intensive drudgery of billpaying. The system provided by the present invention is a quick, extremely easy-to-use alternative to conventional payments. Initial testing indicates that users can pay bills in 25% of the time needed to pay bills conventionally. Users may preferably receiver a unified monthly statement (from their bank) which consolidates and lists terminal-based transactions with conventional banking transactions (e.g., checks, ATM cash withdrawals, deposits, etc.). Early home banking efforts discovered that users liked using the systems to pay bills. They had only limited interest in other bank and videotext services, so the present invention has reduced its delivery costs by specializing in billpaying. While the present invention provides billpaying services, customers may also use the system to better manage their money. More sophisticated active users may better manage their money by, for example, checking their account balances, viewing payment records, transferring funds between accounts, future dating of bills and funds transfers, and requesting other bank services. Future dating of bills minimizes users float, and users may future date funds transfer to maximize interest bearing balances. Transferring funds between banks is possible with immediate debit or credit within one day (depending upon the ATM network clearing procedures). The present invention thus provides a terminal designed to accommodate additional financial services in the event that users or banks demand (and are willing to pay for) more services. These may include comparative mortgage and CD quotes, tax deduction summaries, loan applications, electronic billing, third party billing, family budgeting tools, tax planning, and insurance services. Limited alphabet-based services (e.g. telephone directory) are also feasible with the terminals of the preferred embodiment and the terminal has the facility to add on an alphabetic keyboard. By displacing paper checks and employing payee information for marketing purposes, the present invention offers significant benefits to the major participants in the payments system: Banks (and other financial institutions) avoid the cost of processing and returning checks and funds transfers. Fully absorbed processing costs range from $0.50 to $1.00 per check (marginal costs vary with volume). The present invention can save banks a substantial amount per paper check displaced. Payees (such as utilities, mortgagors, etc.) avoid paper processing costs and improve cash flow. Typical remittances take 5-8 days to arrive by mail and cost from $0.15 to $0.75 per payment. The present invention can provide a small charge to payees for each electronic payment and deliver payments in 2-3 days. This saves payees money per payment and compares favorably in cost to bank lockbox services. Marketers (such as retailers and banks) can better advertise (or message) through the terminal. By analyzing users' payments, the present invention can target advertising or messages to users for 5-7 seconds after they SIGNON. Users may then respond if they want more information. Targeted (but low readership) direct mail costs advertisers $0.45-$1.00 per piece. Pricing for confirmed leads starts at $5 and increases with the products value. This aspect of the present invention will offer advertisers significant benefits in terms of flexibility and cost savings. The terminal's screen for advertisements permits the service provider to target advertisements to groups of users without disclosing the user's name (and confidential payment data) until the user so indicates his permission (by requesting more information from the advertiser). Payments processors earn interest on user payment float. The present invention debits a user's bank account on the date of payment. The payment is processed immediately, but interest is earned on the funds (float) until cleared. When the system of the present invention cannot pay electronically, it earns interest on float for 5-8 days. A service provider will prefer to process payments by low-cost electronic means, however, providing better money management services for customers. A major obstacle in building any volume-oriented business is the upfront investment required to reach a critical mass of customers. The present invention minimizes this investment by capitalizing on existing systems and customer bases. The present invention piggybacks on the evolving ATM and regional telephone company communications networks. Most ATM networks are bank-owned cooperatives and have excess capacity. These networks are likely to welcome the additional business provided by a system in accordance with the present invention. By working with ATM networks, the system provided by present invention becomes a utility for banks--not a threat to banks. For example, once admitted on to the system, users can be welcomed in the name of their bank. Users also receive a single account statement from their bank, unifying terminal-based activity with conventional banking transactions and check payments. Back-office check processing and funds transfer economies can also be priced to provide costs savings to banks. Participating banks can be encouraged to advertise over the system provided by the present invention system at sharply reduced rates while back-office savings from reduced paper check volume develops. The advertising medium provided by the present invention offers banks an extremely powerful "cross-selling" tool (a critical key to success in retail banking which involves increasing profitability by increasing the number of services sold to a single customer). The present invention thus provides a highly advantageous system which offers an attractive proposition to a variety of participants in the payments system. Users of the invention save time and money and can pay their bills and obtain other banking services wherever there is a telephone jack. Banks save back-office expense and an efficient means to service their customs. Bank owned ATM networks generate volume and earn fees. Payees improve cash float and save on costly processing of paper checks. Advertisers gain a powerful, lost-cost marketing tool. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features and advantages will become better understood by studying the following detailed description of presently preferred exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the attached APPENDIX (which is incorporated by reference herein) and the sheets of drawings, of which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a presently preferred exemplary embodiment of a financial services distribution system in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 1A is a detailed schematic block diagram of the FIG. 1 CPU. FIG. 2 is a bock diagram of revenue sources provided to the operator of the FIG. 1 system; FIGS. 3 and 4 are elevated respective views of alternate embodiments of a presently preferred exemplary remote terminal in accordance with the present invention; FIGS. 3A-3E schematically depict different prompt combinations provided by the FIG. 3 terminals. FIGS. 5A and 5B together are a schematic block diagram of the FIG. 3 terminal; FIG. 6A-6C are different view of an exemplary keypad contact arrangement incorporated within the FIG. 3 terminal; FIGS. 7A-7C and 8A-8B are schematic flow charts of exemplary program control steps performed by the terminals shown in FIGS. 3 and 4; and FIGS. 9-10, 11A-11F, 12-13, 14A-14D, 15, 16A-16B, 17A-17C, 18-19, 20A-20D, 21A-21C and 22 are schematic flow charts of exemplary program control steps performed by the CPU shown in FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a presently preferred exemplary embodiment of a financial services distribution system 50 in accordance with the present invention. System 50 includes a fault-tolerant central computer system 52 (hereafter referred to as "central computer"), a plurality of remote terminals 54, a digital packet network (e.g., "public data network") switch 56 ("PDN switch"), packet assembler/disassembler 58 and associated asynchronous communications interface 60, and a dialup telephone network 62 selectively connecting remote terminal 54 to the communications interface. Data is communicated between remote terminal 54 and central computer 52 through the PDN switch 56, the packet assembler/disassembler 58, the communications interface 60, and dialup telephone lines 62. In the preferred embodiment, PDN switch 56, packet assembler/disassembler 58, asynchronous communications interface 60 and dialup telephone network 62 are entirely conventional and are preferably operated and maintained by a local or regional telephone company. Switch 56 may comprise, for example, a conventional public data network of the type which communicates packets in CCITT X.25 protocol between central computer 52 and packet assembler/disassembler 58. Similarly, packet assembler/disassembler 58 and asynchronous communications interface 60 may comprise conventional telephone company operated subsystems which convert the X.25 packet protocol existing on the PDN network into conventional asynchronous data format (e.g., with seven or eight data bits, a start bit, a stop bit and conventional error checking fields). Asynchronous communications interface 60 initiates and answers dialup telephone communications with remote terminals 54. Thus, remote terminals 54 interface with the remainder of system 50 using standard asynchronous protocol, central computer 52 interfaces with the remote terminals using standard X.25 protocol, and conversions between the two protocols (as well as distribution of the signals generated by the central computer to specific remote terminals) is handled by the conventional PDN switch 56, packet assembler/disassembler 58 and communications interface 60 provided by the telephone company in the preferred embodiment. Central computer 52 also interfaces with banking institutions and with other financial institutions 64 through the existing conventional automatic teller machine (ATM) interchange switch 66 (referred to herein as the "ATM network"). The ATM network is capable of communicating ATM transaction messages as well as point-of-sale (POS) messages in a conventional manner using standard message formats. As explained above, ATM switches 66 communicate data in a specific, conventional interchange format between member banks or between automatic teller machines (ATMs) and member banks 64. In the preferred embodiment, central computer 52 is connected to ATM switch 66 (e.g., via one or more bisynchronous 9600 baud communications lines) and communicates digital signals to ATM switch using standard bisynchronous (e.g., point-to-point, SNA, etc.) communications protocol. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, central computer 52 "looks like" an ATM or POS node connected to the ATM network and associated switch. Central computer 52 may generate account inquiry commands, commands to debit and credit accounts, and the like--just as would a bank's computer serving its ATMs or as would a stand-alone ATM or POS terminal. The ATM interchange switch 66 processes such ATM commands generated by central computer 52 in the same way that they process commands generated by ATMs. Although the ATM interchange is ATM oriented, it is able to serve other terminal devices. For example, the ATM interchange communicates with retail POS terminals which can directly debit and credit a customer's bank account in payment for purchases. It is also possible to provide direct dialup lines for communicating data between member banks 64 and central computer 52 (e.g., using standard communications protocols agreed upon by the bank's data processing system and by central computer 52). Use of the ATM switch 66 and associated network to carry ATM/POS commands generated by central computer 52 avoids the need to provide any software modifications or other overheads within the member banks' data processing systems. Furthermore, use of the ATM switch 66 permits use of the network funds clearing process. Central computer 52 also electronically communicates with additional remote data processing systems such as the Federal Reserve ACH 72 (e.g., via a Federal Reserve Bank data processing system 74), debit networks 76, wholesalers/remittance processors 78, direct payee computer systems 80, third party information providers 82 and advertisers 84. Such additional communications may be over dialup telephone lines if desired--or other special communications arrangements/protocols (e.g., magnetic tape transfer or the like) may be used depending upon particular applications. The link between central computer 52 and the Federal Reserve ACH 72 permits payee commands to be electronically transferred to other banks using the existing Federal Reserve electronic funds transfer system. The link with wholesalers and remittance processors 78 permits the payment of bills to a remittance center who in turn pays payees. The direct computer payee link 80 allows central computer 52 to contact individual desired payee computer systems and directly effect download of payment related data (e.g., pursuant to a daily "clearing " process). The link to advertisers 84 may be used to transfer advertiser copy between the advertiser and the central computer system and to pass back to the advertiser the names of those customers who request information in response to advertisements. FIG. 1A is a schematic block diagram showing central computer 52 in somewhat more detail and also schematically depicting exemplary software modules used by the central computer to perform financial transaction functions. Central processor 52 in the preferred embodiment is a fault-tolerant mainframe computer of conventional design including, for example, multiple redundant processors, a dual interprocessor interbus, a dual-ported controller, and multiple redundant power supplies to ensure against data loss. Through use of this conventional fault-tolerant architecture, the failure of one processor or component does not stop processing but rather merely decreases system throughput. Additional peripheral equipment (e.g., tape drive 88, check printer 86, conventional mass storage device 84, and conventional communications interface/multiplexer 82) facilitate communications and billpaying transactions. Central computer 52 is programmed (i.e., with software modules stored on mass storage device 84) to perform various billpaying and other financial functions and to distribute billpaying and other services to remote terminals 54 on demand. In the preferred embodiment, the software modules executed by CPU 80 are in large part entirely conventional (within new linkages between them) and perform, among other operations, conventional banking, ATM network communications network interfacing, database maintenance, etc. However, certain new software controlled functions (e.g., the terminal handling and associated functions, and the interfaces between the terminal handling and other, conventional software controlled functions) have been provided in the preferred embodiment to provide home banking and billpaying functions not previously available. As mentioned above, many or most of the software-controlled operations performed by CPU 80 in the preferred embodiment are conventional and well-known in the banking industry. For example, it is conventional and well known to communicate standard ATM and POS messages between central computer and an ATM network using conventional off-the shelf ATM and POS software, and central computer 52 in the preferred embodiment utilizes such conventional software to generate and communicate appropriate messages over the ATM network 66. Conventional banking software packages exist which perform a variety of exceeding complex but entirely conventional functions (e.g., maintaining audit trails to ensure transaction reliability, maintaining user account and vender files, provide clearing information at night, etc.) and the preferred embodiment central computer 52 executes such conventional banking software modules to perform such standard functions. Conventional database handling functions are also typically integrated into banking and POS software modules to maintain customer information. The following is a brief description of exemplary general functions performed by the various software control modules provided within CPU 80 shown in FIG. 1A. The manager 80A schedules and coordinates the flow of transactions through the various system modules. As flow control it sends the transactions to the appropriate modules for processing and control of interactions with the external environment. The device (terminal) interface 80B enables the system to communicate with user terminals and the system CRTs. The device interface 80B formats terminal-bound messages for transmission to the terminals 54. In addition, the device interface 80B is responsible for error processing, starting and stopping transaction response timers, updating any fields which are maintained in the user terminal, decrypting and logging of transactions. A detailed description of the terminal interface 80B will be provided shortly. The routing module 80C permits efficient routing of transactions to the appropriate module for servicing. The authorization module 80D is the means by which the system determines the customer identity (through the PIN and other values transmitted by the terminal). User account number and PIN values are transmitted to the user's bank (over the ATM network 66 in the preferred embodiment) for verification. When the authorization module 80D receives verification from the bank the user is cleared for transactions. The settlement module 80E (part of a conventional banking or POS software system) is responsible for closing the current processing day and starting the next. The settlement module 80E provides for flexible cutover times for the network and payee institutions. In addition, this module updates databases files and initiates daily reports by the reporting module. Reporting involves the calculation and reporting of debits and credits and adjustments for the transactions performed on a daily and periodic basis. In addition, system and network activity, reconciliation, interchange settlement and disputed transaction reports are generated. The reporting module 80F in the preferred embodiment is conventional and operates in conjunction with a conventional database query program which permits analysis and specialized report generation concerning customer transaction profiles. The update/refresh module 80G updates databases files following batch processing for a day in a conventional manner. Backup files are generated by this module. A sub-module also permits extracts of database files to be generated and output to tape 88 or disk. The banking module 80H is conventional and permits customers to pay bills without writing and mailing checks, obtain account balances and conduct funds transfer between accounts. For bill payment the customer's account is debited for the amount of the payment, the payment medium is created (check, ACH tapes, internal transfers) and exception items are segregated for review. The module 80H maintains customer database files, vendor files and transaction files. The banking module 80H provides facilities for marketing information analysis, accounting/audit trails, and customer service reports. The interchange interface module 80I in the preferred embodiment enables the fault-tolerant computer system 52 to interface with the interchange network in a conventional manner. This module 80I converts internal system transaction information to a format that is compatible with that of the network. In addition, a log is conventionally maintained of all transaction communicated between the system and the network. An important feature of the present invention is the use of a conventional ATM network and associated standard ATM and POS message format to facilitate financial transactions not typically supported by the ATM network. As mentioned above, conventional ATM networks typically connect bank mainframe computers and POS (point-of-sale) concentrator computers together. For example, a user having a bank account in bank A (the "on us" bank) connected to the Internet ATM network may use the ATM machine of bank B (a "foreign" bank) to withdraw from his bank A account. The mainframe computer of bank B generates, in response to the user's request via the ATM message specifying the user's PIN (personal identification number), the user's account number, the user's bank and the amount to be withdrawn. This ATM withdrawal message is then sent over the ATM network and is received by the computer of bank A. Bank A checks the message for validity (i.e., to make sure the PIN is correct), determines whether the user has a sufficient account balance to honor the withdrawal request (the message processing thus provide an automatic account balance check), and then processes the request by posting a debit memo against the user's bank account (the bank A computer does not actually withdraw funds from the user's account at this time, but will process the memo during the posting and settlement process later that day). The bank A computer then sends a confirmation message back over the ATM network to the bank B computer confirming that the user's account has been debited and that at clearing time bank A will pay the funds to bank B. Based on receipt of the confirmation message over the ATM network, the bank B computer controls the bank B ATM machine to dispense the requested funds to the ATM user. An ATM "account inquiry" message also exists to permit the user to determine the balance of his bank account(s). Similarly, an ATM "account transfer" message allows a user to transfer funds from one account to another in the same bank (but typically does not permit the user to transfer funds between banks). Similarly, a chain of retail stores may permit processing of so-called "debit cards" (like credit cards, but rather than credit being extended by a lending institution to cover purchases, a debit card results in an immediate electronic debit of the user's bank account). A customer provides the retailer with his debit card which the retailer magnetically reads (e.g., using a "swipe" type magnetic card reader). The customer is then asked by the retailer to secretly key in his PIN into a keyboard, and the retailer keys in the amount of the purchase. A POS debit request digital message is then transmitted either directly over an ATM network (or indirectly via a dialup or dedicated telephone line and a central concentrator computer) for receipt by the user's bank. The POS debit request digital message typically contains the user's bank designation and bank account designation; the user's PIN (which is typically encrypted); the name or other designation of the retailer; and the amount of the purchase. The user's bank computer receives the POS debit request message from the ATM network, processes it for validity (i.e., valid PIN, valid account), ensures the user' s account balance is in excess of the debit request, and then debits the user's account (i.e., by posting a debit memo) and credits the retailer's account electronically (this typically requires the retailer to have worked out an arrangement with the particular user's bank beforehand). The bank transmits a confirmation message to the POS terminal over the ATM network which, when received, assures the retailer that the funds are available and have been transferred to his account. POS credits are also possible using standard ATM network messages. If a customer returns merchandise to a retailer that was paid for using a POS debit, the retailer may initiate a POS credit transaction (essentially the same as the POS debit except that funds are credited to rather than debited from the user's bank account). Technically, some ATM networks handle POS debit messages and ATM withdrawal messages differently in that the ATM withdrawal message is not finalized until the end of day settlement process (that is, debits are held in a pending status during a business day until final reconciliation, settlement, and clearing and creating of funds occurs after the close of a business day). POS debit messages on the other hand result in immediate settlement in real-time (i.e., the payees account is created immediately and liability shifts to the bank/ATM network to clear/collect funds at a later time). For purposes of the arrangements disclosed herein, both types of processes are referred to as "real-time" transactions since the resulting confirmation message over the ATM is in effect a real-time electronic guarantee that the bank and/or the ATM network will pay. In addition, "POS" and "ATM" type messages are sometimes referred to herein generically as an "ATM network transaction message", and such term is defined to encompass both types of messages. Some ATM networks are not capable of handling POS type messages, but rather process only the standard ATM messages. The preferred embodiment of the present invention uses the types of standard messages described above to facilitate electronic billpaying and other financial transactions. For example, a funds transfer from an account in bank A to an account in bank B may be accomplished by generating a POS debit message directed to the bank A account and a POS credit message directed to the bank B account and by then applying both of these messages to the ATM network. The service provider may pay bills by first determining the total amount of all of the bills to be paid at present, generating a POS debit message for application to the ATM network (so as to debit the user's account by that amount and credit the service provider's holding account by the same amount), and then disbursing the funds (electronically or by paper) based on receipt of the ATM confirmation message. Account inquiry may be handled as a standard balance inquiry ATM or POS message or possibly as a "null" POS debit message. One advantage of using POS debits/credits over ATM style messages is that the POS messages are longer and systems software is designed to provide sufficient space in the message to transmit the name of the retailer and other Federal Reserve Regulation E information. The user's bank thereby takes a POS debit (with accompanying payee information) and merges with the user's account file. User thereby receive their usual bank statement that unifies conventional banking activity with their home banking activity. The home banking service provided need not send users an additional statement. The same result can be accomplished with a non-POS ATM message with a payee identifier code located at the ATM switch or the user's bank. Typically, an independent service provider may operate central computer 52 and distribute terminals 54 as part of an ongoing business independent from the banking business. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the sources of revenue provided to the service provider operating system 50. In order to make the operation of system 50 economically feasible, the operator of the system must be able to recover equipment and development costs and also make an additional profit. FIG. 2 shows some of the sources of revenues to the service provider operating system 50. Fist, users of remote terminals 54 may pay a relatively nominal charge (e.g., $4.00-$6.00 per month) for the capability of paying bills electronically from their home. Users may also be asked to pay a deposit charge for the terminal which may then be used by the service provider for finance system expansion. The users' banks also are willing to pay a charge for each check or funds transfer they do not have to process. As is well known, a relatively high charge is associated with processing each check (or funds transfer), and reduction in the number of debits/credits processed constitutes a substantial savings to banks. The user's payees similarly may pay a nominal charge for electronic payments and consolidated payments due to the costs saved because funds are received quicker and processed for less. The service provider will also earn some interest on its float for paper-based payments (i.e., funds debited immediately from users' accounts upon request for payment but not yet payed to the intended payee). Finally, system 50 may be used to distributed advertisements/messages to users via the remote terminals 54--and advertisers can be charged for each advertisement actually distributed. Furthermore, advertisers probably are willing to pay additional for the identity of those customers that request information in response to advertising. The present invention thus fills a marketing niche by providing services to banks, users, payees and advertisers simultaneously--and can generate a revenue by charging each of these entities an appropriate fee the value of the services provided (while also in certain cases earning interest on the float on the funds used to pay bills). In addition to hardware, software and training limitations, conventional home banking systems have high cost structures. These costs may be passed along to users--further inhibiting their demand. The invention permits low-cost delivery and a variety of revenue sources beyond the user. User fees can be kept low--increasing demand. FIGS. 3 and 4 are elevated respective views of alternate embodiments of remote terminals 54 as shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, in the preferred embodiment, the terminals 54 are available in two different types: a model which contains data entry and voice telephone capability (including a telephone handset 100 and associated telephone electronics); and a smaller, pocket-size version (shown in FIG. 4) that contains no telephone voice capability. In the preferred embodiment, the two models each include a telephone connector, but the connector configurations are slightly different between the two models. In the FIG. 3 version, an RJ-11 connector and associated wire is used to connect the terminal 54 to a telephone wall outlet. The FIG. 4 version includes two RJ-11 connectors, one connected the terminal to the wall outlet and the other RJ-11 permits "in-line" connection (if the user desires) to an exiting telephone device. In the preferred embodiment, the FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 terminals operate essentially identically and have similar or identical internal structures--and therefore, the following discussion applies equally to both terminal embodiments (except where indicated to the contrary). In the preferred embodiment, terminal 54 is an asynchronous, portable data processing device operating over unsecured dialup non-dedicated telephone lines. Terminal 54 includes an LCD display 102, screen control keys (including a PRIOR key 104 and a NEXT key 106), an array of selection controls 108, a HELP key 110, a CANCEL key 112, and a standard alpha-numeric keypad 114. A power-ON switch (not shown) may also be provided if desired. In the preferred embodiment, LCD display 102 comprises a standard 4-line by 24-character alpha-numeric liquid crystal matrix-type display device. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, four lines of text of 24 characters each may be displayed simultaneously. Select control array 108 in the preferred embodiment includes four momentary ON keys --each of which "points" to a different line of text currently displayed by display 102. Menu or option selections may thus be effected by displaying the different options on different lines of display 102 and permitting the user to select between the options by depressing the appropriate selection key within array 108 which points to the desired option. An important feature of the present invention is the use of a multi-line alpha-numeric display of optimal site to allow a single standard sized data transmission packet (e.g., 128 bytes long) to completely define the content of the display. In the preferred embodiment display 102 displays only 4.times.24=96 characters--a sufficiently small (and optimal) number of characters to allow all of the characters to be specified within a single 128-byte packet carried by typical PDNs. (The preferred embodiment represents display characters in standard ASCII format so that each character is represented by a byte of data.) This not only minimizes communications costs, but also eliminates the need for a "packet assembler" or associated expensive buffer memory to be incorporated within terminal 54. In the preferred embodiment, terminal 54 is really "dumb" and need not provide any sophisticated processing of received display data but rather may simply display the data exactly as received--and central computer 52 may thus completely define the display state of terminal 54 each time it sends any data to the terminal. This feature provides additional flexibility in terms of display formats (since the central computer 52 completely determines and specifies each and every display format displayed by terminal 54) while keeping the costs of terminal 54 down and nevertheless providing sufficient information for a user-friendly interface. In the preferred embodiment, the alphabetic letters Q and Z are found on the "1" key of keypad 114--thus providing a full alphabetic character selection when needed similar to an ATM). Keypad 114 may be a standard, conventional keypad or it may preferably be of a special design to be described in connection with FIGS. 6A-6C (for the FIG. 3 embodiment). In the preferred embodiment, the significance of depressing the PRIOR and NEXT keys 104, 106 depends upon context (i.e., "where the user is" in the software interface at the time he depresses the key). For example, PRIOR key 104 may in some cases select the screen display which was displayed just prior to the display of the current screen display--and the NEXT key 106 may select display of the next screen display of sequence of predetermined screen displays (assuming there is a "next" screen to be displayed). In other contexts, depressing the NEXT key 106 may serve to confirm a transaction should be performed. In still other contexts, the PRIOR and NEXT keys 104, 106 act as scroll control keys (e.g., to permit the user to scroll through a list too long to be displayed all at once on four-line display 102). Controls 104,106 may thus be termed user interface navigation keys since they generally allow the user to "navigate" through the user interface comprising one or more sequences of screen displays. Terminal 54 also includes light-prompt fields 102A-102D not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 but shown in detail in FIGS. 3A-3E. In the preferred embodiment, these prompt fields are independently illuminated by light emitting diodes controlled by central computer 52, and provide the following four different legends: "Enter Number"; "Select One"; "Change Screen"; and "or" arranged as shown in FIG. 3A. In many instances, all four lines of display 102 will be displaying information but the user needs to be prompted as to what inputs he should next provide (e.g., numerical or alpha-numeric information; or selection from one of different display options). Rather than providing an additional line of relatively costly LCD display 102 to provide this prompt text form, the preferred embodiment includes "light-up" prompt indicators 102a-102d in the form of windows backlit by light-emitting diodes which may be illuminated to provide the desired prompt (or combination of prompts). There are four different combinations of lighted prompts commonly used in the preferred embodiment: "Enter Number" alone (see FIG. 3B); "Select One" alone (see FIG. 3C); "Change Screen" alone (see FIG. 3D); and "Select One", "or" and "Change Screen" all being illuminated simultaneously (see FIG. 3E). Illumination of the "Enter Number" prompts as shown in FIG. 3B would occur, for example, when central computer 52 request a numerical value from the user to be entered via keypad 114. This value might be a number (e.g., the user's PIN, or a dollar amount or a date which a scheduled payment is to be made). The numerical entry sequence is generally completed by entering a confirmation key (e.g., the lowermost of the "pointer" keys 108 or the NEXT key 106). Central computer 52 would control the "Select One" prompt to be illuminated (as shown in FIG. 3C) when the user is to select one of several alternatives displayed on display 102. Typically, the user responds by making a selection--that is, by depressing the one of "soft" (i.e., programmable) keys 108 which points to the line of the display on which the option he desires is displayed. The "Change Screen" prompt (see FIG. 3D) is typically illuminated when the NEXT key 106 is to be depressed (e.g., to confirm a previously entered request, and/or to move on to the next screen in a sequence of screens). FIG. 3E depicts the situation when the prompts "Select One", "or" and "Change Screen" are all illuminated. These prompts would be presented to the user when the user is to either (a) select one of the options displayed on the display 102 (by pushing one of "soft" keys 108), or (b) move on to the next (or previous) screen (by manipulating navigation keys 104, 106). To initiate the terminal session using terminal 54, the user need only depress the power-ON switch of the preferred embodiment. In response to this power-ON switch depression, terminal 54 automatically initializes display 102 and dials an appropriate internally-stored telephone number corresponding to PDN 56 and central computer 52. A modem (not shown in FIGS. 2 or 3) internal to terminal 54 establishes and maintains this communications link with central computer 52. To communicate through terminal 54, the user operates momentary ON keys 104-112 and/or depresses keys of keypad 114. If an error occurs during data entry, the terminal user may push a CANCEL key 112 to correct the error. If he pushes CANCEL key 112 successively, he moves out of the function he has selected (e.g., to erase, one at a time, previously entered digits much as occurs when one depresses the CANCEL key on a standard ATM machine) and may eventually return to a main menu. Help key 110 may be pushed at any time to obtain contact sensitive help prompting. The PRIOR and NEXT keys 104,106 may act as scroll up/scroll down keys in the appropriate context as already described. If during a terminal session a period passes when there is no key activity for a certain time delay, terminal 54 times out and disconnects the telephone link with the PDN switch 56. In the preferred embodiment, transactions requested prior to such communications failure are not processed by central computer 52 unless the user has received a confirmation over terminal 54 that the requested transaction has been processed. FIG. 5A and 5B together are a schematic block diagram of terminal 54. Terminal 54 in the preferred embodiment includes display 102, independently controllable LED prompts 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d (corresponding to the four independent illuminated prompts described above), user controls 104-114, and microcontroller 116 with associated EPROM 118 and RAM 120, an address latch 122, a bidirectional buffer/driver 124, an encryption functional block 126, an LED driver inverter 128, an associated latch 130, an internal modem 132, and a data access arrangement/connector 134. The FIG. 3 embodiment further includes a telephone module 136 and DTMF tone generator 138 connected to and associated with voice handset 100. The power supply 140 (e.g., a replaceable battery) is also provided to power the various components of terminal 54 (or a conventional trickle charger circuit may be used to charge a rechargeable battery from telephone line voltage). Microcontroller 116 is the heart of terminal 54. Microcontroller 116 executes program control instructions stored in EPROM 118 in response to clock synchronization signals provided by the crystal clock 142--preferably by applying address information on address bus lines A8-A15 and on bidirectional address/data bus P0-P7 (latch 122 may be used to latch this portion of the address) and retrieving the resulting instructions in a conventional manner via bidirectional buffer 124 and the multiplexed address/data bus. Microcontroller 116 similarly accesses temporary storage locations in RAM 120 and is capable of reading from or writing to RAM in a conventional fashion (although EPROM 118 and RAM 120 are shown connected in series with one another in FIG. 5B, it will be understood that these components may actually reside in the same package, so that microcontroller 116 may independently access any storage location in either the EPROM or the RAM). Terminal 54 if desired may further include a conventional read/write interface to a conventional "swipe" type magnetic card reader or a conventional "smart card". Such interface may be useful not only to input information to terminal 54 for transmission to central computer 52, but also to store information transmitted by the central computer to the terminal. In one application, for example, central computer 52 may download a credit order to a magnetic card or "smart card" via terminal 54--thus in effect providing electronic cash dispensing. Such downloaded debit cards or "smart cards" may then be used to purchase goods or the like. In the preferred embodiment, microcontroller 116 controls display 102 by writing parallel information to the display (which in the preferred embodiment is an off-the-shelf LCD display module including a 4.times.24 character matrix LCD display and associated internal LCD controller) and by providing appropriate control signals to the display. A conventional encryption arrangement which preferably uses the conventional standard DES Data Encryption Standard (described in, for example, FIPS PUB 46, Federal Information Processing Standard Publication 1977 Jan. 15 U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards) may be used to encrypt and/or decrypt data in a conventional manner and provide encrypted/decrypted result to microcontroller or communications or further processing. The encryption arrangement may alternately comprise any other miniaturized encryption system (such as a system developed by Dr. Ronald Rivest of MIT, Cambridge, Mass. and others and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,829). In the preferred embodiment, secured terminal communications is provided by on-board encryption of the user's PIN (personal identification number) and financial data. The RSA (Rivest, Shamir and Alterman) encryption algorithm (somewhat similar to DES but not requiring passing of keys between the transmitter and the receiver) may be stored in EPROM 118 in the form of program control instructions. The RSA encryption algorithm is driven by a 64-bit seed stored in RAM 120 or other RAM (which should be powered on at all times by a lithium battery) at the time of terminal manufacture. A real-time clock 142 and associated clock power supply 143 are also provided in the preferred embodiment (the RAM storing the seed, the real-time clock, and the clock power supply may be contained within a single package to conserve power if desired). A copy of the seed is preferably also maintained for each terminal 54 by the central computer 52--and the seeds are permuted in the same ways by the algorithms to produce random numbers in response to real-time. During communications with the central computer 52, the terminal 54 may use the seed to periodically generate a pseudo-random number for encryption. This same seed is used by central computer 52 to generate the same pseudo-random number. Because the seeds and the algorithms are the same (assuming the real-time clocks can be periodically resynchronized with one another), the generated random numbers are also identical to one another. The real-time clock 142 of terminal 54 may be periodically adjusted by the central computer 52 to ensure synchronization. A user signing onto terminal 54 enters his PIN which is added to (or is otherwise transformed using a reversible process) the random number generated by the seed by microcontroller 116. This composite number is transmitted in encrypted form to central computer 52 where the same random number generated independently by the central computer is used to recover the original PIN. The PIN and central computer 52 (using standard encryption techniques compatible with those used on the ATM network 66) for transmission over the ATM network. Preferably, the user's PIN, the unique terminal identification ("ID") stored within the terminal EPROM 118, and all financial (i.e., "amount") information passed between the terminal 54 and the central computer 52 is encrypted. However, it may not be necessary or desirable to encrypt other information passed between the terminal and the central computer (e.g., the screen display text information transmitted by the central computer 52 to the terminal 54) since such encryption adds to the time needed to process the information. A very high level of security is provided by the techniques discussed above. No key or seed is passed between the terminal 54 and the central computer 52, thus preventing an eavesdropper from obtaining the key and "spooking" the line ("spooking" refers to the process by which an eavesdropper can listen into and follow the exchange between the terminal and the central computer long enough to synchronize his terminal with the real terminal 54 and then capturing the line to replace the real terminal with his terminal--thereby "taking over" the exchange). Preferably, the RAM storing the seed information within the terminal will lose its stored information if any attempt is made to "peel and read" the RAM and its contents. All sensitive information (PIN, terminal ID and financial information) is encrypted so that anyone "listening in" would receive in clear form only standard information available to all users--with all of the information needed to perform financial transactions (i.e., PIN terminal ID, amounts, account numbers) being encrypted. Preferably, limits would be provided with respect to the real-time adjustment provided by clock 142 so that someone trying to "crack" the encryption algorithm could not derive the seed by supplying a series of known real-times. And, of course, someone stealing a terminal 54 is not provided with access to a user's bank account because the thief would also have to know the user's PIN. Microcontroller 116 scans using input controls 104-114, and executes appropriate program control instructions in response to depression of such controls. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the same keypad 114 preferably used to dial the telephone and to provide alpha-numeric inputs to the terminal microcontroller 116. While it is certainly possible to perform the various telephone functions (including DTMF tome generation) with an appropriately programmed microcontroller 116, in the presently preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention the voice telephone functions are performed independently of microcontroller 116 and associated components--with the only overlap between the telephone functions and the terminal functions being that keypad 114 controls both the telephone and the terminal. Thus, in the FIG. 3 terminal embodiment, DTMF tone generator 138, telephone module 136, and handset 100 are used solely for telephone functions--with terminal telephone dialing being performed independently by microcontroller 116 and modem 132. An inexpensive way to provide a dual function keypad 114 such that the keypad interfaces essentially independently with both terminal 54 and the telephone DTMF tome generator 138 is shown in FIGS. 6A-6C. FIG. 6A is a top view in plane of a single key 200 of keypad 114 including dual electrical contact portions 202,204. Preferably, the dual contact portions 202, 204 are identical to one another--with the only difference being that one of the contact portions 202 is connected to telephone DTMF block 138 while the other contact portion 204 is connected to microcontroller 116. FIG. 6B is a side view and cross-section of a single key structure 200 of keypad 114 in the preferred embodiment. Key structure 200 includes a dome 206, a conductive rubber pad 208, a separator insulator layer 210, and contact portions 202,204 mounted on a common printed circuit board 212. In the preferred embodiment, the DTMF block 138 is preferably implemented by circuitry provided on an upper surface 212a of printed circuit board 212 facing conductive rubber pad 208. As shown in FIG. 6A, contact portion 202 preferably comprises a conventional interdigitated pair of conductors with contact between the interdigitated conductors being established by conductive rubber pad 208 whenever dome 206 is depressed. Similarly, contact between interdigitated conductors of contact portion 204 is established by conductive rubber pad 208 whenever dome 206 is depressed --but in the preferred embodiment no circuitry associated with contact portion 204 is located on PC board upper surface 212 (and instead, pass through connections 214 are used to connect the contact portion to microcontroller 116). In the preferred embodiment, the distinct conductive rubber contact pads 208a,208b provide electrical isolation between the circuitry of terminal 54 and circuitry of DTMF module 138. In the preferred embodiment, dome 206 is preferably a flat type with a short stroke and tactile feedback. Conductive rubber pads 208a,208b preferably have contact resistance of less than 50 ohms to provide good electrical contact between the interdigitated contact conductors. The switch shown in FIGS. 6A-6C provides a short stroke, limited tactile feedback, relative simple design, that is, contamination proof and long lasting in operation, provides a low profile and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and provides complete electrical isolation between microcomputer 116 and DTMF block 138. FIGS. 7A-7C are flow charts of exemplary program control steps performed by microcontroller 116 in the preferred embodiment terminal 54. Upon initially applying power to terminal 54, microcontroller 116 clears all flags and interrupts, enables all interrupts, initializes a buffer pointer, turns off LEDs 102a,102b,102c and 102d enables a keyboard interrupt, initializes display 102--all in a conventional manner (block 250). Microcontroller 116 then waits for a key 104-114 to be depressed (decision block 252). FIG. 7B is a flow chart of a keyboard interrupt routine performed by microcontroller 116 to detect the a key 104-114 has been depressed (and which key has been depressed). Whenever a key is depressed, microcontroller 116 sets a keyboard flag (block 254) and then reenables keyboard interrupts (block 256) before turning to the FIG. 7A routine. Upon detection by FIG. 7A decision block 252 that the FIG. 7B keyboard interrupt routine has detected depression of a key, microcontroller 116 pauses a short time period (to provide for debounce of the key; block 258) and then waits for the key to be released (decision block 260). When the key has been released, all flags are cleared (block 262) and the microprocessor 116 decodes the scanned-in information to determine which key was depressed (block 264). Terminal 654 then transmits the key identity via modem 132 over the telephone line to the FIG. 1 central computer 52 (block 266) and waits for transmits to be completed (decision block 268). Once transmission is complete, control returns to decision block 252 to await depression of the next key. At any time during the FIG. 7A routine, it is possible for terminal 54 to receive data from central computer 52. FIG. 7C is a flow chart of an exemplary program control steps performed by microcontroller 116 when modem 132 receives a character from central computer 52. In the preferred embodiment, the character input interrupt routine shown in FIG. 7C simply sets a character input flag (block 270) and then calls an incoming character process routine (block 272), a detailed flow chart of exemplary program control steps of which is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. In the preferred embodiment, terminal 54 may operate in either the command mode or display mode. In the command mode, characters received by modem 132 are used to initiate various actions by the components of terminal 54. In the display mode, the received characters are simply displayed (i.e., communicated to the display controller for display 102). The terminal 54 in the preferred embodiment toggles between the command mode and the data mode in response to control signals embedded in the data stream it receives. Thus, for example, all ASCII characters may be displayed on display 102, but terminal 54 may interpret all characters preceded by "escape" characters as command characters and interpret such command characters rather than displaying them. Decision block 274 tests whether the incoming character is a command or a character to be displayed (preferably based upon a bit or combination of bits preceding or otherwise contained within the incoming character, as mentioned above). The incoming character is merely to be displayed ("no" exit of decision block 274), microcontroller 116 outputs the character to display 102 (block 276), enables the serial port interrupts to permit receipt of the next character (block 280) and returns to the calling program (block 282) (the position at which characters are displayed in determined in the preferred embodiment based on the position of the last character to be displayed, with an entire replacement screen display being sent to the terminal 54 from the central computer 52 each time any data is transmitted to the terminal). If, on the other hand, the incoming character is a command, microcontroller 116 decodes the command and effects an appropriate response. For example, if the incoming command is to activate LED 102a (decision block 284), microcontroller 116 asserts the appropriate data on the address/databus to latch an appropriate control signal and to latch 130 so that LED 102 is illuminated (block 286). Similarly, if the incoming command indicates that LED 102a is to be turned off (decision block 300), microcontroller 116 causes latch 130 to latch appropriate data such that LED 102a is dark (block 302). LED 102b-102d are controlled independently in a similar manner by blocks 288-298 and blocks 304-314. If the incoming command received by modem 132 indicates that display 102 is to be turned on (decision block 316), microcontroller 116 generates an appropriate command signal to activate the display (block 318). Similarly, central computer 52 can command the terminal 54 to turn off display 102 (blocks 320,322) or to clear the display (blocks 324.326). In the preferred embodiment, a string of characters to be displayed by block 276 is followed by an end of line command character and upon receipt of such end of line character (tested for by decision block 328), any characters in excess of the line length, 24, are ignored (block 330). If the received control character is a carriage return on the other hand (block 332), microcontroller 116 moves the display character to the beginning of the next line (block 334) so that the next character output for display by block 276 is displayed at the beginning of the following line of display 102. EXEMPLARY PROGRAM STEPS PERFORMED BY CENTRAL COMPUTER 52 First provided will be a brief overall description of an exemplary remote terminal 54 user session accessing the financial service functions performed by central computer 52. Subsequent to that discussion will be provided a detailed description of exemplary progr | ||||||