Abstract: A user device, for example a smart phone, is used to apply for an online loan. The user device includes a camera which allows the user to capture an image of a document in the possession of the user. The image is transmitted to a remote computer system which carries out an automated loan decision making process to determine whether to provide an online loan to the user as a function of, inter alia, the image of the document. The automated loan decision making process can use the image to determine information about the user of the device who is requesting an online loan. The user device determines when to capture an image of the document when it is properly positioned within the frame of the camera and/or as a function of when it is properly focused in the frame of the camera.