Sterilizing media cassette

A sterilizing media cassette is described for docking with a self-service terminal or a docking terminal. The sterilizing media cassette has a body having a lower portion and four sides. The body is adapted to hold a stack of media items such as banknotes on support members positioned above the lower portion of the body. A lid is provided that couples to the body. The lid forms an enclosed inner space when coupled to the body. UV light sources are mounted on each an inner surface of the body and the inner surface of the lid. A controller activates the UV light source to sterilize the stack of media items. This may be done for a predetermined fixed period of time after the sterilizing media cassette is docked with a self-service terminal or a docking terminal. Ozone and/or heat may also be used for sterilization of the media items.