A method and machine for preparing and dispensing documents relating to financial transactions. The machine contains an ink jet printer for printing the documents and a bar code reader mounted for movement with the print head of the printer for reading bar codes on each document before or during printing. The machine includes a control unit having personal computer architecture including a CPU, memories and input/output devices. One of the devices is a modem allowing communication with a remote supervisory location. Operation of the machine is controlled from the remote supervisory location, which provides periodic authorization to continue to prepare and dispense documents in response to transaction reports transmitted from the machine to the remote supervisory location. A wide variety of documents can be prepared and dispensed under control of software in the control unit.