Abstract: A system and method for the online settling of a transaction is provided. The system includes a server configured to determine a set of curves or planes defining acceptable settlement conditions for the financial transaction, enabling the user to select an acceptable settlement condition using interactive controls or computer implemented controls engageable by the user, such as sliding selectors or rotatable dials or the like, or controls enabling placement of points on a curve or curves. In certain instances, movement or engagement of one control may result in movement or alteration of another control, reflecting interaction between the parameters being controlled as dictated by rules established on behalf of the party to the transaction. The result, once the computer implemented controls present an acceptable settlement condition for the user, is a settlement condition wherein both user and the party to the transaction resolve the transaction on jointly acceptable terms.

Abstract: A method is provided of operating a self-service check depositing terminal to provide an acknowledgement receipt. The method comprises identifying a depositor, receiving one or more checks from the depositor, generating a check deposit receipt associated with the transaction, obtaining an electronic mail (email) address associated with the identified depositor, attaching the check deposit transaction receipt to the email, printing an acknowledgement receipt which contains the email address, and delivering the printed acknowledgment receipt to the depositor. In another embodiment, the printed acknowledgement receipt may contain a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the check deposit receipt.

Abstract: A computerized method and system for managing risk associated with a Hedge Fund is disclosed. Information relating to Hedge Funds is gathered and stored as data in preparation for a risk inquiry search relating to a Hedge Fund. Documents and sources of information can also be stored. A subscriber, such as a Financial Institution, can submit a Hedge Fund descriptor for which a risk inquiry search can be performed. The risk assessment or inquiry search can include data retrieved resultant to augmented retrieval methods. Scrubbed data as well as augmented data can be transmitted from a risk management clearinghouse to a subscriber or to a proprietary risk system utilized by a subscriber, such as a risk management system maintained in-house. Risk inquiry searches can be automated and made a part of standard operating procedure for any transaction conducted by the subscriber in which a Hedge Fund is involved.

Abstract: A computerized method allowing insurance customers to enter details of their individual risk factors like age, as well as various customer designed risk scenarios, and receive information on the payout amounts that various insurance plans will deliver based upon both the individual risk factors and the customer designed risk scenario. In one embodiment, a method for allowing travelers going to a foreign country, where the traveler may be unaware of prevailing costs for various medical contingencies, to enter the traveler's risk factors like age and various adverse medical scenarios, and be informed both as to the costs of medical treatment in that country and the benefits that a variety of travel medical insurance plans will provide under these scenarios. These plans may then be evaluated according to different user selected parameters. The method can be implemented using computerized servers and client devices communicating using standard internet protocols over the internet.

Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a pre-defined score distribution for financial transactions are disclosed. A number of memory spaces are defined for a memory structure. Transaction data for the financial transactions is received by the system. Each of the financial transactions is scored based on the transaction data to generate a batch of scores for the financial transactions. A score range is divided into k bins, where each of the k bins representing one memory space of the memory spaces of the memory structure. The batch of scores are aggregated by storing a count of each score of the batch of scores in an associated memory space of the plurality of memory spaces, and a percentile is computed for each score in the batch of scores based on a set of values associated with the count of each score. Each new financial transaction is scored to generate a new score, and a new percentile is assigned to the new score according to the set of values.

Abstract: Order flow information is used to provide traders with an enhanced market data feed. The external market data are overlaid with detailed internal customer order flow data to produce an enhanced virtual order book that more accurately reflects the best price and quantity available to traders at the receiving location and also the market liquidity behind that current best price. If a market impact overlay processor at a particular location closer to the exchange has access to customer order flow data from other more remote locations, the resultant enhanced virtual order book may not only be shared with traders at the closer location but also may be broadcast to market impact overlay processors at the remote locations, which may further enhance the shared data with more recent customer order flow data that would have not been received at the closer location at the time the enhanced data was broadcast.

Abstract: An issuing system for issuing unmodifiable and/or unforgeable hardcopy documents or securities includes a server and a plurality of issuing machines connected to the server via a network. Each of the issuing machines receives an ID recording medium provided by a potential purchaser, retrieves an identification recoded in the received ID recording medium, requests the potential purchaser to input request for a transaction of the security or fixed rate financing instrument, processes the requested transaction by retrieving information via a network from the server, and prints out on demand a hardcopy of the security or fixed rate financing instrument as purchased by the potential purchaser and a checksum thereon. A method for forming a new market with the issuing system.

Abstract: Some embodiments include systems and methods for linking a card with a merchant account. A financial institution that issues the merchant card to a merchant acts as both issuer and acquirer for the merchant. The merchant uses the merchant card to accept other financial cards as payment. Funds due the merchant are added to an available balance of the merchant card rather than depositing the funds in a settlement account. The funds can be added to the available balance before the transactions settle and can be accessed by the merchant. The financial institution also authorizes transactions when the merchant uses the merchant card as a regular cardholder to make payment. The merchant name can be changed on a per transaction basis if desired.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating and applying insurance costs. For vehicle insurance under one embodiment of the present invention, insurance costs are calculated on a per-mile basis in a nonlinear fashion, assigning different levels of risk based upon the distance driven by a customer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first miles or kilometers driven by a customer are assigned a greater level of risk than later-driven miles or kilometers. The present invention provides an actuarial method that more closely conforms the cost of insurance for a particular vehicle to its annual mileage by creating a Rate Per Mile Factor (RMF), where the RMF is expressed as a function of annual mileage.

Abstract: An issuing system for issuing unmodifiable and/or unforgeable hardcopy documents or securities includes a server and a plurality of issuing machines connected to the server via a network. Each of the issuing machines receives an ID recording medium provided by a potential purchaser, retrieves an identification recoded in the received ID recording medium, requests the potential purchaser to input request for a transaction of the security or fixed rate financing instrument, processes the requested transaction by retrieving information via a network from the server, and prints out on demand a hardcopy of the security or fixed rate financing instrument as purchased by the potential purchaser and a checksum thereon. A method for forming a new market with the issuing system.

Abstract: As market conditions descend or ascend an axis of prices, the display of market information is repositioned, at a pre-determined rate if desired, around an item of interest. An item of interest may include the best bid price, the best ask price, the inside market, a moving average, a last traded price, a theoretical value, the result of an equation, or some other item of interest to the trader. According to the present embodiments, market information may be displayed in a region relative to an axis of prices, and when an event occurs, a repositioning signal is initialized causing the axis to be repositioned such that the item of interest is positioned at a pre-determined location in the region. The price axis can be repositioned at a fixed rate or at a dynamically variable rate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for consumer price index determination using panel-based and point-of-sale market research data are disclosed. An example method to determine a consumer price index disclosed herein comprises obtaining panelist market research data determined by monitoring items purchased by a plurality of statistically-selected panelists, obtaining retail site market research data for items sold by a plurality of retail sites, combining the panelist market research data and the retail site market research data to determine weighted equivalent unit pricing information for each group of common items in an item stratum of the consumer price index having substantially similar attributes except for a unit amount, and determining the consumer price index using the weighted equivalent unit pricing information.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for managing Risk by associating a biometric profile with other data relevant to a Risk subject. Computerized systems can receive informational data that relates generally to Risk variables and relate the information to known biometric profiles. Compiled information can be situated and conveyed to a compliance department and be able to demonstrate to regulators that a financial institution has met standards relating to Risk containment.

Abstract: An issuing system for issuing unmodifiable and/or unforgeable hardcopy documents or securities includes a server and a plurality of issuing machines connected to the server via a network. Each of the issuing machines receives an ID recording medium provided by a potential purchaser, retrieves an identification recoded in the received ID recording medium, requests the potential purchaser to input request for a transaction of the security or fixed rate financing instrument, processes the requested transaction by retrieving information via a network from the server, and prints out on demand a hardcopy of the security or fixed rate financing instrument as purchased by the potential purchaser and a checksum thereon. A method for forming a new market with the issuing system.

Abstract: A system receives account access information from a user. The account is then accessed using the received access information. Data is harvested from a web page associated with the account or received from another financial data source. The user's ability to access the account is authenticated based on the obtained information.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a distributing device that distributes edited advertisement data and display terminal devices that display the edited advertisement data distributed to a first place in a predetermined territory. The display terminal devices are each provided with a first reader/writer configured to read out from and/or write in an IC card having stored memory identification data. The data processing system also includes a second reader/writer configured to read out from and/or write in an IC card. The data processing system also includes a hysteresis management device that manages hysteresis data HD1, HD2 from the first reader/writer, correlated with the memory identification data, and hysteresis data HD1 from the second reader/writer, correlated with the memory identification data. The data processing system further includes a hysteresis analysis device that correlates the hysteresis data HD1, HD2 for each of the memory identification data to generate analysis data.

Abstract: A system receives account access information from a user. The account is then accessed using the received access information. Data is harvested from a web page associated with the account or received from another financial data source. The user's ability to access the account is authenticated based on the obtained information.

Abstract: An Internet-based system to market financial and banking services to both participating and registered individuals and business customers. A portion of the transaction fees that are associated with various products and services provided by financial institutions such as checking and savings accounts, loans, trust services and escrow services are converted into charitable contributions which are processed by the system clearing house and then are forwarded to one or more charitable organizations designated by the participating individual or business. “Finders” fees for savings accounts and certificates of deposit will also be converted into charitable contributions.

Abstract: A method for conducting an interactive financial simulation. The method is implemented at least in part by a computer and includes transmitting an initial financial projection for a fictitious company, transmitting a news story, generating a new share price for the fictitious company based on an index, generating a new financial projection for the fictitious company based on a set of decisions selected for implementation by a participant of the interactive financial simulation, and generating a final share price for the fictitious company based on a final set of decisions selected for implementation by the participant.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating limited resources of a securities research department to accounts of the department are disclosed. According to various embodiments, the system includes an account scoring module and a resource matching module. The account scoring module is for generating a score for each account, and the resource matching module is for matching the resources of the department to the accounts based on the scores for each account.