1. A system for reading a plurality of information channels provided on a card, each corresponding to a respective transaction type, said system comprising: a card reader comprising: a plurality of reading heads respectively associated with said information channels; a plurality of signal processing circuits respectively connected to the outputs of said reading heads; and, a card sensor for sensing when a card inserted into said card reader is in a position to be read; means responsive to said card sensor for causing said reading heads to read information recorded on all of said information channels and for storing as data at respective storage locations signals at the outputs of said plurality of signal processing circuits; means for selecting an information channel corresponding to a desired transaction; and, means responsive to said selecting means for extracting for processing stored data corresponding to a selected channel.