Method and apparatus for evaluating a financial transaction

• US 7,685,064 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Cox, Andrew, Chandumont, Jean-Christopher, Balding, Alison, Sieber, Robert, Karunaratne, Anil
• Primary Examiner(s): Poinvil; Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US11/109,204
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 705 10- 44
• US Class Current: 705/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• 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 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

A system and method for evaluating financial transactions, which may involve credit requests, is provided. Credit requests are categorized into three tiers: the third-tier is for requests capable of being processed by computers, the second-tier is for requests that meet predefined criteria and cannot be categorized as third-tier requests, and the first-tier is for requests that cannot be categorized as second-tier or third-tier requests. The first-tier requests are manually reviewed by a credit executive. The second-tier requests are delegated to more junior credit personnel via an inventive pre-approval procedure. The third-tier requests are processed, at least in part, by computers. Additionally, requests that exceed a credit line, or limit, may be approved by reallocating credit from other credit lines.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for evaluating a financial transaction, the method comprising the steps of:

utilizing a computer processor to determine a first credit exposure limit associated with a client and a first type of financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a first credit limit associated with the client and the first type of financial transaction, wherein the first credit limit does not exceed the first credit exposure limit;

receiving information regarding a financial transaction involving the client and corresponding to the first type of financial transaction, wherein the information includes a desired amount associated with the financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a second credit exposure limit associated with the client and a second type of financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a second credit limit associated with the client and the second type of financial transaction, wherein the second credit limit does not exceed the second credit exposure limit;

approving the financial transaction, if the desired amount is within the first credit limit;

approving the financial transaction and increasing the first credit limit, if the desired amount is greater than the first credit limit but less than the first credit exposure limit; and

approving the financial transaction, increasing the first credit exposure limit and the first credit limit, and decreasing at least the second credit exposure limit, if the desired amount is less than a sum of (a) the first credit exposure limit, prior to increase, and (b) a difference between the second credit exposure limit and the second credit limit.

2. A computer-implemented method for evaluating a financial transaction, the method comprising the steps of:

utilizing a computer processor to determine a first credit exposure limit associated with a client and a first type of financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a first credit limit associated with the client and the first type of financial transaction, wherein the first credit limit does not exceed the first credit exposure limit;

receiving information regarding a financial transaction involving the client and corresponding to the first type of financial transaction, wherein the information includes a desired amount associated with the financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a second credit exposure limit associated with the client;

approving the financial transaction, if the desired amount is within the first credit limit;

approving the financial transaction and increasing the first credit limit, if the desired amount is greater than the first credit limit but less than the first credit exposure limit; and

approving the financial transaction, increasing the first credit exposure limit and the first credit limit, and decreasing at least the second credit exposure limit, if the desired amount is less than a sum of (a) the first credit exposure limit, prior to increase, and (b) the second credit exposure limit.

3. A computer-implemented method for evaluating a financial transaction, the method comprising the steps of:

utilizing a computer processor to determine a first credit exposure limit associated with a client and a first type of financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a first credit limit associated with the client and the first type of financial transaction, wherein the first credit limit does not exceed the first credit exposure limit;

receiving information regarding a financial transaction involving the client and corresponding to the first type of financial transaction, wherein the information includes a desired amount associated with the financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a concentration limit associated with the client;

approving the financial transaction, if the desired amount is within the first credit limit;

approving the financial transaction and increasing the first credit limit, if the desired amount is greater than the first credit limit but less than the first credit exposure limit; and

approving the financial transaction and increasing the first credit exposure limit and the first credit limit, if increasing the first credit exposure limit and the first credit limit to the desired amount does not exceed the concentration limit.

4. A computer-implemented method for evaluating a financial transaction, the method comprising the steps of:

utilizing a computer processor to determine a first credit exposure limit associated with a client and a first type of financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a first credit limit associated with the client and the first type of financial transaction, wherein the first available credit amount does not exceed the first credit exposure limit;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a second credit exposure limit associated with the client and a second type of financial transaction;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a second credit limit associated with the client and the second type of financial transaction, wherein the second credit limit does not exceed the second credit exposure limit;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a third credit exposure limit associated with the client;

utilizing the computer processor to determine a concentration limit;

receiving information regarding a financial transaction involving the client and corresponding to the first type of financial transaction, wherein the information includes a desired amount associated with the financial transaction; and

approving the financial transaction, if approving the financial transaction does not violate the concentration limit, and if the desired amount is less than or equal to a sum of (a) the first credit exposure limit, (b) the second credit exposure limit minus the second credit limit, and (c) the third credit exposure limit.

5. A computer-accessible memory storing computer code for causing one or more computers to implement a method for evaluating a financial transaction, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

determining a first credit exposure limit associated with a client and a first type of financial transaction;

determining a first credit limit associated with the client and the first type of financial transaction, wherein the first credit limit does not exceed the first credit exposure limit;

receiving information regarding a financial transaction involving the client and corresponding to the first type of financial transaction, wherein the information includes a desired amount associated with the financial transaction;

determining a second credit exposure limit associated with the client and a second type of financial transaction;

determining a second credit limit associated with the client and the second type of financial transaction, wherein the second credit limit does not exceed the second credit exposure limit;

approving the financial transaction, if the desired amount is within the first credit limit;

approving the financial transaction and increasing the first credit limit to the desired amount, if the desired amount is greater than the first credit limit but less than the first credit exposure limit; and

approving the financial transaction, increasing the first credit exposure limit and the first credit limit, and decreasing at least the second exposure amount, if the desired amount is less than a sum of (a) the first credit exposure limit, prior to increase, and (b) a difference between the second credit exposure limit and the second credit limit.

6. A computer-accessible memory storing computer code for causing one or more computers to implement a method for evaluating a financial transaction, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

determining a first credit exposure limit associated with a client and a first type of financial transaction;

determining a first credit limit associated with the client and the first type of financial transaction, wherein the first credit limit does not exceed the first credit exposure limit;

receiving information regarding a financial transaction involving the client and corresponding to the first type of financial transaction, wherein the information includes a desired amount associated with the financial transaction;

determining a second credit exposure limit associated with the client;

approving the financial transaction, if the desired amount is within the first credit limit;

approving the financial transaction and increasing the first credit limit to the desired amount, if the desired amount is greater than the first credit limit but less than the first credit exposure limit; and

approving the financial transaction, increasing the first credit exposure limit and the first credit limit to the desired amount, and decreasing at least the second credit exposure limit, if the desired amount is less than a sum of (a) the first credit exposure limit, prior to increase, and (b) the second credit exposure limit.

7. A computer-accessible memory storing computer code for causing one or more computers to implement a method for evaluating a financial transaction, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

determining a first credit exposure limit associated with a client and a first type of financial transaction;

determining a first credit limit associated with the client and the first type of financial transaction, wherein the first credit limit does not exceed the first credit exposure limit;

receiving information regarding a financial transaction involving the client and corresponding to the first type of financial transaction, wherein the information includes a desired amount associated with the financial transaction;

determining a concentration limit associated with the client;

approving the financial transaction, if the desired amount is within the first credit limit;

approving the financial transaction and increasing the first credit limit to the desired amount, if the desired amount is greater than the first credit limit but less than the first credit exposure limit; and

approving the financial transaction and increasing the first credit exposure limit and the first credit limit to the desired amount, if increasing the first credit exposure limit and the first credit limit to the desired amount does not exceed the concentration limit.

8. A computer-accessible memory storing computer code for causing one or more computers to implement a method for evaluating a financial transaction, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

determining a first credit exposure limit associated with a client and a first type of financial transaction;

determining a first credit limit associated with the client and the first type of financial transaction, wherein the first available credit amount does not exceed the first credit exposure limit;

determining a second credit exposure limit associated with the client and a second type of financial transaction;

determining a second credit limit associated with the client and the second type of financial transaction, wherein the second credit limit does not exceed the second credit exposure limit;

determining a third credit exposure limit associated with the client;

determining a concentration limit;

receiving information regarding a financial transaction involving the client and corresponding to the first type of financial transaction, wherein the information includes a desired amount associated with the financial transaction; and

approving the financial transaction, if approving the financial transaction does not violate the concentration limit, and if the desired amount is less than or equal to a sum of (a) the first credit exposure limit, (b) the second credit exposure limit minus the second credit limit, and (c) the third credit exposure limit.