Transaction processing system
A system for optimizing the transfer of funds from an account holder to an associate. The system identifies the geographic location of a first financial institution involved in the transaction. The system selects from a plurality of financial institutions a second financial institution which is located near the first financial institution to be involved in the transaction. Selecting a second financial institution nearby the first financial institution facilitates the transaction and reduces the time transaction funds are unavailable.
The disclosed embodiments relate generally to financial transactions and, in particular, to using financial institution information to increase the efficiency of financial transactions.
BACKGROUNDConventional financial transactions only support traditional financial transfers from one financial institution to another. The use of various systems, including clearinghouse systems to facilitate the transfer of funds can cause undesirable delays during which the funds may not be accessible.
SUMMARYThe present invention includes systems and methods for modifying the routing of funds from an account holder to an associate to increase the efficiency of the transaction. An account holder authorizes the transfer of a predetermined amount of account holder funds to an associate. The location of a receiving financial institution associated with the associate is determined and a transfer financial institution is selected from a plurality of financial institutions based upon proximity to the receiving financial institution. Funds are transferred from the transfer financial institution to the receiving financial institution and the account holder's account is debited the amount of the transfer. The transfer financial institution is selected from the plurality of financial institutions to decrease the time associated with the transfer of the funds. The features and advantages described in this summary and the following detailed description are not all-inclusive. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification and claims presented herein.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
As shown in
When the account holder (106) wishes to use the system (100), the account holder (106) accesses the manager's website (148) via a network (150) and provides identifying information (152) to create a user account (154) (
Alternatively, the account holder (106) may provide the information (152) telephonically, via electronic mail, via facsimile or by any suitable method of communication (
The website (148) presents the account holder (106) with an interface (160) which prompts the account holder (106) to click a button (162) which causes the server (134) to display a request page (164) via a secure socket layer (SSL) or similar security protocol (
The account holder (106) has multiple options to deposit funds into the account (170). The account holder (106) or a third-party may provide an associate financial institution (182) with routing and account numbers associated with the account (170). The associate financial institution (182) may be any type of financial institution. The associate financial institution (182) may transmit the funds and information regarding the transfer to an automated clearinghouse (184) that transmits the funds to a holding account (122) associated with the routing and account numbers. The system (100) then credits the account (170) with the funds.
Alternatively, the account holder (106) may add funds directly to the account (170) by using the client (156) to access a deposit funds webpage (186) residing on the server (134) (
Alternatively, the system (100) may be configured to allow the account holder (106) to deposit the funds directly from an account associated with a third party financial institution, the account holder (106) obtains from the system (100) dynamically generated routing and account numbers (200) for the deposit to reduce the transfer time associated with each transaction (
The account holder (106) provides the dynamically generated routing and account numbers (200) to the third-party financial institution (182) along with transfer instructions, whereafter the third-party financial institution (182) transmits the funds and information regarding the transfer to an automated clearinghouse (184) that transmits the funds to a financial institution (130) and holding account (124) associated with the routing and account numbers (200). The system (100) then credits the account (170) with the funds.
If the ACH system (184) is used, the associate financial institution (182) is the ODFI. The account holder (106) forwards authorization for the transaction to the ODFI via accounts receivable entry (ARC), point of purchase (POP), prearranged payments and deposits (PPD), telephone initiated-entry (TEL) or web-initiated entry (WEB) authorization. The ODFI then forwards the authorized request to an ACH operator, which passes it on the receiving depository financial institution (RDFI). In this case, the RDFI is the financial institution (130) associated with the holding account (124), which credits the account holder's account (170) with the funds.
The system (100) dynamically generates the routing and account numbers (200) to optimize the fund transfer process. When the account holder (106) sends (214) the system (100) the predetermined information (204) by pressing the submit button (212), the system (100) collects (216) the predetermined information (204) and uses it to collect (218) additional the predetermined information (220) (
Using the predetermined information (204) and (220), the system (100) determines (222) the optimal holding account (122), (124) or (126) to receive the funds. This determination may be based upon which of the holding accounts (122), (124) or (126) are insured, which are under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and/or National Credit Union Administrations (NCUA) insurance limit and by what amounts, as well as which of the holding accounts (122), (124) or (126) offer the greatest return on investment. Once the system (100) dynamically determines (222) the optimal holding account (122), (124) or (126) to receive the funds, the system (100) returns (224) the routing and account numbers (200) associated with that holding account (124) to the account holder (106) by displaying the routing and account numbers (200) on the webpage (202). In determining the optimal holding account, the system (100) may weight all factors equally. Alternatively, the system (100) may employ algorithms contained within the system software (146) to determine the optimal holding account to receive the deposited funds. Preferably the optimal holding account (124) as determined by the system (100) is located closest to the third-party financial institution (182) to reduce the transfer time associated with the deposit and thereby reduce the time during which the funds are not available.
The system (100) may also split the funds into a plurality of holding accounts (122), (124) or (126). Alternatively, the system (100) may receive the funds in a single holding account (124), before moving some or all of the funds to additional accounts (122) and (126) as desired. The system (100) may also use “real-time” information relating to the holding accounts (122), (124) or (126), other transactions and the proposed routing to dynamically select the optimal holding account (124).
The foregoing process is used to create multiple user accounts and receive funds from multiple sources. The system (100) uses these funds to seed multiple holding accounts (122), (124) or (126) across multiple financial institutions (128), (130) and (132). The system (100) may also use algorithms within the software (146) to analyze the flow of funds through the system (100), using past data to anticipate future needs and deposit new funds accordingly.
The system (100) may also transfer funds between holding accounts (122), (124) or (126) to optimize the return on investment and to position the system (100) to handle anticipated future transactions more efficiently. Using information from the system (100), the manager (102) may open new holding accounts in new financial institutions or close existing holding accounts in other financial institutions to take advantage of changing returns on investment, or to locate accounts within or closer to financial institutions with increasing transaction activity.
For transfers between users (116) and (118) having accounts associated with the system (100), the system (100) may simply make a bookkeeping entry, crediting and debiting the user accounts, without having to actually transfer any funds between financial institutions (128), (130) and (132).
When the account holder (106) wishes to transfer funds to an associate (108), the account holder (106) provides the system (100) with transfer instructions. The account holder (106) may provide the manager (102) the transfer instructions via the client (156) or via a third-party device, such as a magnetic strip reader (226), check reader (228), parking meter (230), RFID reader (232) or any other third-party device (234). Although the following describes the account holder (106) providing transfer instructions to the system (100) via the client (156) across the network (150), it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, that the account holder (106) may provide the transfer instructions to the system (100) via any conventional or known financial transaction processing device or process.
When the account holder (106) wishes to transfer funds to an associate (108), such as a merchant, the account holder (106) connects via the client (156) to the server (134) via SSL. The server (134) returns the webpage (148), which the account holder (106) uses to enter security information, such as the username (172) and password (174) to access the account holder's account information (236) stored on the user database (142) located on the server (134). The account holder (106) selects the transfer funds webpage (238) by clicking the transfer button (240) on the account webpage (180).
The account holder (106) enters fund transfer instructions (242) on the transfer funds webpage (238) (
The system (100) collects (258) the predetermined information (244) at the server (134) and determines (260) whether the account holder's account (176) contains sufficient available funds to execute the fund transfer instructions (242). If the account holder account (176) does not contain sufficient available funds to complete the transaction, the system (100) returns (262) an error message (264) to the account holder (106) in the form of an transfer error webpage (266), where the account holder is prompted to send (256) corrected transfer instructions (242) (
If the account holder account (176) does contain sufficient available funds to complete the transaction, the system (100) uses the collected predetermined information (244) to collect (268) additional predetermined information (270). As an example, the system (100) may use the routing number (248) to obtain the geographic location and routing subnet of a third-party financial institution (272) associated with the transfer account (250) from the financial institution database (144) located on the server (134). The system (100) may collect additional information from cached or “real-time” third-party providers, such as the ACH (184).
Using the predetermined information (244) and (270), the system (100) determines (274) the optimal holding account (122), (124) or (126) from which to transfer the funds. This determination may be based upon the amount of funds in the holding accounts (122), (124) or (126), which accounts are insured, which are under the FDIC and/or NCUA insurance limit and by what amounts, as well as which of the holding accounts (122), (124) or (126) offer the least return on investment. Once the system (100) dynamically determines (274) the optimal holding account (122), (124) or (126) from which to transfer the funds, the system (100) initiates (276) the transfer of funds to the financial institution (272) and associated transfer account (250).
In determining the optimal holding account from which to transfer the funds, the system (100) may weight all factors equally. Alternatively, the system (100) may employ algorithms contained within the system software (146) to determine the optimal holding account to receive the deposited funds. Preferably the optimal holding account (122) to transfer the funds, as determined by the system (100) is located closest to the financial institution (272) and associated transfer account (250), to reduce the transfer time associated with the transfer and thereby reduce the time during which the funds are not available.
If the ACH system is used, the financial institution (128) associated with the optimal holding account (122) is the ODFI. The account holder (106) may initiate the authorization for the transaction through the system (100) to the ODFI via accounts receivable entry (ARC), point of purchase (POP), prearranged payments and deposits (PPD), telephone initiated-entry (TEL) or web-initiated entry (WEB) authorization. The ODFI then forwards the authorized request to an ACH operator, which passes it on the receiving depository financial institution (RDFI). In this case, the RDFI is the financial institution (272) and associated transfer account (250), which credits the transfer account (170) with the funds.
The system (100) may also split the transfer, transferring funds from two or more holding accounts (122) and (124), to further optimize factors associated with the transfer, such as maintaining individual transfers under the FDIC and/or NCUA insured limit. Alternatively, the system (100) may transfer funds from one or more holding accounts (122) and (124) into another holding account (126) before making the transfer. The system (100) may also use “real-time” information relating to the holding accounts (122), (124) or (126), other transactions and the proposed routing of the transaction, to dynamically select the optimal holding account (124) from which to transfer the funds.
Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full, intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method comprising:
- (a) providing an account holder account associated with an account holder;
- (b) providing an associate account associated with an associate;
- (c) transferring a predetermined amount of account holder funds from the account holder to the account holder account;
- (d) crediting the account holder account an amount associated with the account holder funds;
- (e) comingling the account holder funds with other funds to create a fund pool;
- (f) depositing portions of the fund pool with a plurality of financial institutions;
- (g) requesting a transfer of payment funds from the account holder to an associate associated with an associate financial institution;
- (h) identifying a predetermined receiver characteristic associated with the receiving financial institution;
- (i) selecting from the plurality of financial institutions a transfer financial institution having a predetermined transfer characteristic;
- (j) authorizing a transfer of at least a portion of the payment funds from the transfer financial institution to the receiving financial institution;
- (k) transferring at least a portion of the payment funds from the transfer financial institution to the associate financial institution;
- (l) debiting the account holder account an amount associated with the transfer; and
- (m) crediting the receiver account an amount associated with the transfer.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the associate financial institution is a receiving depository financial institution.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transfer financial institution is an originating depository financial institution.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transferring the payment funds from the originating depository financial institution to the receiving depository financial institution through a financial clearinghouse.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the financial clearinghouse is an automated clearinghouse.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined receiver characteristic is a geographic location.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined transfer characteristic is a geographic location.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined transfer characteristic is a transfer time;
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring the payment funds from the transfer financial institution to the receiving financial institution through a financial clearinghouse.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the financial clearinghouse is an automated clearinghouse.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- (a) selecting from the plurality of financial institutions a supplemental transfer financial institution having a third predetermined transfer characteristic;
- (b) authorizing a supplemental transfer of a supplemental portion of payment funds from the supplemental transfer financial institution to the receiving financial institution; and
- (c) transferring the supplemental portion of payment funds from the supplemental transfer financial institution to the receiving financial institution.
12. A method comprising:
- (a) receiving account holder funds from an account holder;
- (b) comingling the account holder funds with a third party funds to create a fund pool;
- (c) dividing the fund pool into a plurality of fund groups;
- (d) depositing the fund groups in a plurality of financial institutions;
- (e) receiving a transfer request from the account holder to transfer an amount of the account holder funds to an associate;
- (f) identifying a receiving financial institution associated with the receiver;
- (g) selecting from the plurality of financial institutions a transfer financial institution having a predetermined transfer characteristic relating to the receiving financial institution; and
- (h) transferring at least a portion of the amount of the account holder funds from the transfer financial institution to the receiving financial institution.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the receiving financial institution is a receiving depository financial institution.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transfer financial institution is an originating depository financial institution.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transferring the payment funds from the originating depository financial institution to the receiving depository financial institution through a financial clearinghouse.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the financial clearinghouse is an automated clearinghouse.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein said predetermined transfer characteristic is an estimate of the time involved in processing a transfer of at least a portion of the amount of the account holder funds from the transfer financial institution to the receiving financial institution.
18. A method comprising:
- (a) receiving account holder funds from an account holder;
- (b) depositing first funds into a first transfer financial institution located at a first location;
- (c) depositing second funds into a second transfer financial institution located at a second location;
- (d) receiving a transfer request from the account holder to transfer an amount of the account holder funds to a receiving financial institution;
- (e) selecting a transfer financial institution from the first financial institution and the second financial institution, based upon proximity to the receiving financial institution; and
- (f) transferring at least a portion of the amount of the account holder funds from the transfer financial institution to the receiving financial institution.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the receiving financial institution is a receiving depository financial institution.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the transfer financial institution is an originating depository financial institution
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 5, 2010
Publication Date: Aug 11, 2011
Inventor: Benjamin P. Milne (Newton, IA)
Application Number: 12/658,278
International Classification: G06Q 40/00 (20060101); G06Q 20/00 (20060101);