Combined rewards system and process

• US 20060195359A1
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank NA (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank NA (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Inventors: Scocci, Dorothy, Wilkins, Cathleen Lee, Robinson, Nancy J.
• Application Number:
  US11/361,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195359A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user

Abstract

A system and process that awards rewards currency, e.g. cash back rebate or rewards points, for credit card and check card purchases and that provides rewards for a customer'"'"'s enterprise relationship is provided. Further provided is a methodology for enrollment into the combined rewards program or the relationship rewards program. Further provided is a methodology to show total combined points or cash earned where the points or amount of cash earned are parsed into the various accounts and purchases. Further provided is a methodology to communicate the currency earned by providing customers with periodic statements and newsletters, data online, and data through customer service representatives. Further provided is a mechanism by which to systematically enroll eligible products or services as defined by the enterprise, e.g. where the eligibility may be based on social security numbers or other unique customer numbers.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for a combined rewards program, the system comprising:

means for a customer making a request to enroll into a combined rewards program;

responsive to said request to enroll, means for identifying and additionally systematically enrolling into the program related items associated with the customer, said means for identifying and additionally automatically enrolling using a unique customer identifier;

responsive to said enrolling, means for performing fulfillment; and

means for sending reward recommendations and offers to the customer.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising:

multiple system of records of card products for identifying and enrolling accounts, performing fulfillment, and sending reward recommendations and offers.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more entry points, wherein said one or more entry points are external or internal to an enterprise.

4. A computer-implemented relationship rewards process, comprising the steps of:

providing a one enrollment mechanism, whereby a customer enrolls into a relationship rewards program at one entry point and systematically has one or more eligible accounts enrolled into the relationship rewards program;

for each system of record for each enrolled account, sending a periodic file feed to an enterprise system of record for tracking;

said enterprise system of record using each said periodic file feed to track points earned per product and to combine said points into a total amount of points;

said enterprise system of record sending said points per product and said total amount of points to other systems for providing a points summary to a customer;

said enterprise system of record and any of said each system of record sending files with enrollment data and points earned per product to a relationship rewards vendor for the vendor'"'"'s records; and

displaying and making available for redemption said total amount of points, wherein said total amount of points are also itemized.

5. The computer-implemented relationship rewards process of claim 4, further comprising:

responsive to said enrollment, said enterprise system of record sending a fulfillment kit to said customer for confirming enrollment and outlining benefits of the program.

6. The computer-implemented relationship rewards process of claim 4, wherein said displaying and making available for redemption is online, on a statement, and via a customer service representative.

7. The computer-implemented relationship rewards process of claim 4, wherein the enrollment request is made via any of online, branches, mail, and customer service.

8. The computer-implemented relationship rewards process of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

matching a primary and a secondary predetermined unique number of a cardholder for enrolling credit and check cards.

9. A computer-implemented combined cash back rewards process, comprising the steps of:

providing a one enrollment mechanism, whereby a customer enrolls into a combined cash back rewards program at one entry point and automatically has one or more accounts enrolled into the program;

for each system of record for each enrolled account, sending a periodic file feed to an enterprise system of record for tracking;

said enterprise system of record using each said periodic file feed to track cash back amount earned per product and to combine said cash back amount into a total cash back amount;

said enterprise system of record sending said cash back amount per product and said total cash back amount to other systems for providing a cash back amount summary to a customer; and

displaying and making available for redemption said total cash back amount, wherein said cash back amounts are shown itemized.

10. The computer-implemented cash back rewards process of claim 9, wherein a customer can request a cash rebate check or statement credit in fixed dollar increments.

11. The computer-implemented cash back rewards process of claim 9, further comprising:

responsive to said enrollment, said enterprise system of record sending a fulfillment kit to said customer for confirming enrollment and outlining benefits of the program.

12. The computer-implemented cash back rewards process of claim 9, wherein said displaying and making available for redemption is on a statement and via a customer service representative.

13. The computer-implemented cash back rewards process of claim 9, wherein the enrollment request is made via any of online, branches, mail, and customer service.

14. The computer-implemented cash back rewards process of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

matching a primary and a secondary predetermined unique number of a cardholder for enrolling credit and check cards.