A system for facilitating a check-cashing transaction in accordance with the present invention comprises a check-cashing apparatus and a host system in communication with the check-cashing apparatus. The check-cashing apparatus has input devices for receiving check data and identification data from a user. The host system includes one or more processors configured to receive check data, identification data, check image and membership data input by the user at the check-cashing apparatus. The host system can authenticate the identification data by applying a validation algorithm to the identification data or by cross-referencing the data against one or more databases containing validated identification data. If the check cashing apparatus includes a device for capturing biometric information, the identification data can also be authenticated by comparing the biometric information captured at the time of the transaction with stored biometric information relating to the user. The host system can authenticate the check data by: converting one or more of the data fields of the check image into a format capable of being processed. The converted data is then compared to the check data input by the user. The host system can calculate a score for each data field based on a probability that the converted data from the check image matches the check data input by the user. The processor determines automatically whether to approve the check by applying a risk assessment guidelines.