A self-service deposit terminal for bank notes, in the deposited notes are subjected to an acceptance procedure in which the deposited notes are passed through a note validator and a decision is made regarding the validity of the notes, so as to differentiate between: a) authentic notes; b) counterfeit notes; and c) suspect notes. Reject notes are then separated from authentic notes and diverted to a purge bin. On route to the purge bin counterfeit notes are marked, so as to render them unusable and suspect notes are marked without rendering them unusable.