An automated transaction machine including an extensions for financial
services (XFS) layer is provided. An application interface portion of the
XFS layer is operative to communicate with an application layer of the
ATM which may include terminal applications. A hardware interface portion
of the XFS layer is operative to communicate with a hardware layer of the
ATM which may include hardware devices of the ATM and associated service
providers. A diagnostic application is operative to determine whether
problems exist in the application layer or the hardware layer of the ATM
by causing a plurality of hardware devices to perform predefined
operations using the XFS layer and by monitoring the operations. The
diagnostic application is operative to output a determination as to
whether a problem with the ATM is associated with the components of the
application or hardware layers of the ATM responsive to the success or
failure of the operations.