In a device for depositing and distributing bank notes, the deposited bank notes, in particular bank note bundles, are separated, conveyed through an insertion channel (A, B, C) with no branching channels, temporarily stored and checked. The check result, in particular the bank note value, is then displayed. If the client requests it, and/or depending on the check results, the bank notes are returned from the temporary storage (20) through return channel (E, F) that has only one branching channel (24b). The client may thus manually check the result of the automatic sum and/or value determining operations, if they seem incorrect to him. The bank notes may be conveyed to a final storage through the single branching channel (24b). An extremely fault-proof bank note depositing system is thus obtained that also allows the introduced bank notes to be returned in their original order of introduction to the client that introduced them and wishes to check them again. This gives to the client that introduces bank notes into the system the highest possible feeling of trust.