An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read card data from user cards corresponding to financial accounts. The automated banking machine also includes a display and a printer to produce records of financial transactions carried out with the machine. The card reader is operative to read and return card information read from the user card responsive. The automated banking machine further includes a sheet detector that is operative to detect at least one property usable to distinguish between the presence or absence of a sheet and/or determine a property of the sheet.