Decision of the European Central Bank of 16 September 2010 on the authenticity and fitness checking and recirculation of euro banknotes (ECB/2010/14) (2010/597/EU)

ANNEX I BANKNOTE HANDLING MACHINES

1. General technical requirements

1.1. To qualify as a banknote handling machine, a machine has to be capable of processing batches of euro banknotes, classifying the individual euro banknotes and physically separating the euro banknotes according to their classifications without the intervention of the machine operator, subject to Annex IIa and IIb. Banknote handling machines need to have the required number of dedicated output stackers and/or other means to ensure the reliable separation of the euro banknotes processed.

1.2. Banknote handling machines have to be adaptable to ensure that they are capable of reliably detecting new counterfeits. Moreover, they have to be adaptable to enable the setting up of more or less restrictive fitness sorting standards, if applicable.

2. Categories of banknote handling machines

Banknote handling machines are either customer-operated machines or staff-operated machines:

Table 1

Customer-operated machines

A. Customer-operated machines where cash is deposited with customer tracing
1.	Cash-in machines (CIMs)	CIMs allow customers, by using a bank card or other means, to deposit euro banknotes in their bank accounts, but do not have any cash-dispensing function. CIMs check euro banknotes for authenticity and allow for traceability of the account holder; fitness checks are optional
2.	Cash-recycling machines (CRMs)	CRMs allow customers, by using a bank card or other means, to deposit euro banknotes in their bank accounts and to withdraw euro banknotes from their bank accounts. CRMs check euro banknotes for authenticity and fitness and allow for tracebility of the account holder. For withdrawals, CRMs may use genuine fit euro banknotes that have been deposited by other customers in previous transactions
3.	Combined cash-in machines (CCMs)	CCMs allow customers, by using a bank card or other means, to deposit euro banknotes in their bank accounts and to withdraw euro banknotes from their bank accounts. CCMs check euro banknotes for authenticity and allow for traceability of the account holder; fitness checks are optional. For withdrawals, CCMs do not use euro banknotes that have been deposited by other customers in previous transactions but only euro banknotes loaded separately into them
B. Other customer-operated machines
4.	Cash-out machines (COM)	COMs are cash dispensers which check euro banknotes for authenticity and fitness before dispensing them to customers. COMs use euro banknotes loaded into them by cash handlers or other automated systems (e.g. vending machines)

Table 2

Staff-operated machines

1.	Banknote processing machines (BPMs)	BPMs check euro banknotes for authenticity and fitness
2.	Banknote authentication machines (BAMs)	BAMs check euro banknotes for authenticity
3.	Teller assistant recycling machines (TARMs)	TARMs are cash recycling machines operated by cash handlers that check euro banknotes for authenticity and fitness. For withdrawals, TARMs may use genuine fit euro banknotes that have been deposited by other customers in previous transactions. In addition, they keep euro banknotes in safe custody and allow cash handlers to credit or debit the bank accounts of customers
4.	Teller assistant machines (TAMs)	TAMs are machines operated by cash handlers that check euro banknotes for authenticity. In addition, they keep euro banknotes in safe custody and allow cash handlers to credit or debit the bank accounts of customers

Where customers feed euro banknotes to be deposited into TARMs or TAMs, or take the euro banknotes dispensed by these machines, these machines have to be considered customer-operated machines and have to classify and treat the euro banknotes in accordance with Annex IIa.

3. Types of banknote handling machines

The Eurosystem tests types of banknote handling machines. Types of banknote handling machines can be distinguished from each other through their specific detector systems, software and other components for the performance of their core functionalities. These are: (a) the authentication of genuine euro banknotes; (b) the detection and separation of euro banknotes suspected to be counterfeit; (c) the detection and separation of unfit euro banknotes from fit euro banknotes, if applicable; and (d) the tracing of objects identified as suspect counterfeit euro banknotes and of euro banknotes that are not clearly authenticated, if applicable.