Money transfer systems and methods for travelers

• US 7,104,440 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: First Data Corporation (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thompson, Mark, Seifert, Dean A., Hansen, Kurt, Michelsen, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): St. Cyr, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/206,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20030024979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 235/379, 235/380, 235/382, 902/8, 902/20, 705/17, 705/39, 705/43, 705/64
• US Class Current: 235/379
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/381 Currency conversion
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/203 Dispensing operations within ATMs dispensing in general G07D11/00

Abstract

One method involves payment of money to a recipient traveling to one or more foreign countries by entering into a remote computer money transfer information from a sender. The money transfer information comprises recipient identification information, at least one country where the money is to be received, and a payment amount in an originating currency. The money transfer information is transmitted to a host computer system. When ready to receive payment in the designated country, recipient identification information along with a request to withdraw a portion of a possible payment amount is entered into a payout computer. The recipient identification information and the request to withdraw is transmitted to a host computer system, and the requested withdrawal is provided to the recipient in the local currency.

Claims

1. A method for transferring money from a first country to a second country having a different currency, the method comprising:

receiving and storing at a host computer system money transfer information comprising recipient identification information, at least one second country where the money is to be received, and a payment amount in an originating currency;

wherein the stored payment amount is to be withdrawn in portions from the second county;

in response to receiving the second country at the host computer system. providing second country transfer information for use by a recipient in making withdrawals in the second country;

receiving at the host computer system a request transmitted from the second country to withdraw a portion of the stored payment amount in a local currency of the second country; and

storing a record at the host computer system of the amount of each portion withdrawn and an exchange rate used to convert the withdrawn amount to the local currency.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising storing at the host computer system a record of any fees charged on the amount withdrawn.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the recipient information comprises the recipient'"'"'s name and an identification number, and wherein the request includes an identification number from the recipient, and further comprising comparing the identification numbers to authorize the withdrawal.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the request includes the name of a sender, and wherein the sender and the recipient are the same, so that the sender has access to the payment amount when traveling in the second country.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising transmitting from the host computer system to a remote payout computer in the second country receipt information needed to provide a receipt to the recipient.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the receipt information comprises an amount paid to the recipient, any fees, and a remaining balance of the payment amount.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving and storing at the host computer system multiple countries where the money may bereceived.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second country transfer information permits a user to receive information on the second country, including information on locations in the second country where the stored payment may be withdrawn.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a fee structure to be paid for money transfers, the fees structure including a fee when the stored payment amount is received and a second fee for each withdrawn amount.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second fee is based on the withdrawn amount.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the terminal provides a receipt for the stored payment and wherein the withdrawal locations are printed on the receipt.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the person providing the stored amount is the recipient, wherein the money transfer information is entered at a terminal in order to be transmitted to the host system, and wherein the second country transfer information includes locations in the second country where the stored payment may be withdrawn.

13. A method for transferring money from a first country to a second country having a different local currency, the method comprising:

entering into a remote computer money transfer information from a sender wherein the money transfer information comprises recipient identification information, at least one second country where the money is to be received, and a payment amount in an originating currency, the payment amount for being withdrawn in portions at locations in the second country;

transmitting from the remote computer to a host computer system the money transfer information; and

providing a receipt to the sender that includes at least some of the money transfer information and payout information that may be used to identify potential payout locations in the identified second country for withdrawing portions of the payment amount in the local currency.

14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the recipient information comprises the recipient'"'"'s name and an identification number that is usable to receive a payout from the identified country.

15. A method for transferring money to a location having a different currency, the method comprising:

entering into a remote computer money transfer information from a sender wherein the money transfer information comprises recipient identification information, at least one designated country where the money is to be received, and a payment amount in an originating currency, the payment amount for being withdrawn in portions in the designated country;

transmitting the money transfer information to a host computer system;

in response to transmitting the designated country as part of the money transfer information, providing withdrawal information at the remote computer useful to the recipient in making withdrawals in the designated country, the withdrawal information including locations in the designated country where withdrawals may be made;

entering into a payout computer that is located in the designated country recipient identification information along with a request to withdraw a portion of the payment amount;

transmitting the recipient identification information and the request to withdraw to a host computer system; and

providing the requested withdrawal to the recipient in the local currency.

16. A method as in claim 15, further comprising adjusting an account associated with the recipient to indicated the amount of withdrawal along with any fees.

17. A money transfer system for permitting a recipient to withdraw portions of a payment amount, comprising:

a host computer system that is configured to receive and store money transfer information comprising recipient identification information, at least one foreign country where the money is to be received, and a payment amount in an originating currency;

wherein the host computer is also configured to provide information pertaining to withdrawals in the foreign country in response to receipt of the foreign country information; and

wherein the host computer system is further configured to receive a request to withdraw a portion of the payment amount in a local currency from the foreign country where the request was transmitted, to deduct the requested portion from the payment amount along with any fees, and to convert the requested portion to the local currency when withdrawn.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein the host computer system is further configured to receive recipient identification information from the recipient and to compare the received recipient identification information with the stored recipient identification information.

19. A system as in claim 17, wherein the host computer system is further configured to transmit to a remote payout computer receipt information needed to provide a receipt to the recipient indicating the withdrawal.

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein the host computer system is further configured to transmit to a remote payment computer contact information for contacting payout locations in the designated country.