Multi-Channel and Cross-Channel Account Opening

• US 20080301023A1
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CashEdge Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CashEdge Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Patel, Amit R., Narang, Girish, Darby, John S.
• Application Number:
  US12/114,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20080301023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

Embodiments as described herein include methods and a system for multi-channel and cross-channel account opening. An applicant may start an account opening process in one channel and move to one or more other channels without any application data being lost. A financial management system (FMS) provides a single account opening platform for multiple financial institutions (FIs) such that an application to open an account is handled by the FMS platform using shared resources among channels, and applying rules specified by each FI.

Claims

1. A method for multi-channel financial account opening, the method comprising:

an applicant initiating an account opening process in a first channel of multiple channels, wherein channels comprise,

an online channel wherein the applicant accesses an electronic application to open an account at one of a plurality of financial institutions (FIs) via a network;

a call center channel wherein the applicant converses with a call center agent of the FI, and wherein the agent accesses an electronic application to open an account at the FI via a network;

a kiosk channel wherein the applicant accesses an electronic application to open an account at one of a plurality of financial institutions (FIs) via a network using a kiosk;

a walkin channel wherein the applicant enters an FI facility and converses in person with an agent of the FI, and wherein the agent accesses an electronic application to open an account at the FI via a network;

a mobile channel wherein the applicant accesses an electronic application to open an account at one of a plurality of financial institutions (FIs) via a network using a mobile device; and

wherein the electronic application is maintained by a financial management system (FMS) that provides account opening services to each of the plurality of FIs using rules specified by each FI, and using shared account opening resources;

the applicant changing from one channel to another channel, wherein any information collected after initiation of the process is saved by the FMS and made available in any of the channels.

2. A financial management system, comprising:

a communications interface configurable to communicate with a plurality of financial institutions (FIs) and with a plurality of applicants via at least one network, wherein the applicants are applicants for financial accounts at one of the FIs;

a database configurable to store data regarding the FIs and data regarding the applicants; and

an account opening module configurable to perform account opening services for each of the plurality of FIs, the account opening module comprising,

account opening logic configurable to complete an account opening process;

a plurality if channel specific data modules are each specific to a channel, and each plugged into the account opening logic, wherein a channel specific data module determines behavior of the account opening logic as appropriate to a particular channel; and

a plurality of FI settings each specific to an FI, and each plugged into the account opening logic, wherein FI determines behavior of the account opening logic as appropriate to a particular FI, and wherein one or more channel data modules are associated with each FI setting.