Systems and methods for financial deposits by electronic message

• US 7,949,587 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United States Automobile Association (United Services Automobile Association)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael Frank, Prasad, Bharat, Medina, Reynaldo III
• Primary Examiner(s): Colbert; Ella
• Assistant Examiner(s): OJIAKU, CHIKAODINAKA
• Application Number:
  US12/257,482
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 705/36, 283/70, 455/422.1, 709/227
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0425 the cheque being electronic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/386 using messaging services or messaging apps using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS G06Q20/3255
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

An image of a negotiable instrument may be communicated from a user to a financial institution using a messaging application so that funds associated with the negotiable instrument may be deposited into a user'"'"'s bank account. A user may launch an instant messaging application and establish a communications session with a predetermined account at the financial institution to communicate the image. The image may be stored in a file or created by a capture device under control of the instant messaging application. The image file may be processed and verified by the financial institution, where it may be deposited in an account associated with the user.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for receiving a check for deposit to a customer account, comprising:

instantiating a server instant messaging application at a financial institution to listen for instant messages directed to a predetermined check-deposit messaging account associated with the server instant messaging application;

receiving a request, at the server instant messaging application, from a depositor-owned device to begin a communication session via an instant messaging protocol with the predetermined check-deposit messaging account;

establishing the communication session via the instant messaging protocol with the depositor-owned device;

receiving, via the server messaging application in accordance with the instant messaging protocol, an image of a check directed to the predetermined check-deposit messaging account from the depositor-owned device over the communications session,

wherein the image of the check is captured by the depositor-owned device;

verifying the image of the check at the financial institution; and

depositing the check to an account specified by indications from the depositor-owned device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the communication session comprises:

initiating the communications session using an instant messaging application; and

contacting the predetermined account at an account ID using the instant messaging application.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prompting the remote user for a location of the image; and

uploading the image to the financial institution.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

actuating a capture device under control of the instant messaging application; and

uploading a image acquired by the capture device during the communications session.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting an image of the front of the check;

requesting an image of the back of the check; and

verifying a courtesy amount field and a MICR line.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising returning a verification to the remote user after depositing funds associated with the check to the account.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting an option to the remote user to save the communication session.

8. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for receiving a check for deposit to a customer account, said computer-readable instruction executable by a processor to:

instantiate a server instant messaging application at a financial institution to listen for instant messages directed to a predetermined check-deposit messaging account associated with the server instant messaging application;

receiving a request, at the server instant messaging application, from a depositor-owned device to begin a communication session via an instant messaging protocol with the predetermined check-deposit messaging account;

establish the communication session via the instant messaging protocol with the depositor-owned device;

receive, via the server messaging application in accordance with the instant messaging protocol, an image of a check directed to the predetermined check-deposit messaging account from the depositor-owned device over the communications session, wherein the image of the check is captured by the depositor-owned device;

verify the image of the check at the financial institution; and

deposit the check to an account specified by indications from the depositor-owned device.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein establishing the communication session further comprises instructions for:

initiating the communications session using an instant messaging application; and

contacting the predetermined account at an account ID using the instant messaging application.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions for:

prompting the remote user for a location of the image; and

uploading the image to the financial institution.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions for:

actuating a capture device under control of the instant messaging application;

and uploading a image acquired by the capture device during the communications session.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for:

requesting an image of the front of the check;

requesting an image of the back of the check; and

verifying a courtesy amount field and a MICR line.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for returning a verification to the remote user after depositing funds associated with the check to the account.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions for presenting an option to the remote user to save the communication session.

15. A system for receiving a check for deposit to a customer account, comprising:

at least one system that instantiate a server instant messaging application at a financial institution to listen for instant messages directed to a predetermined check-deposit messaging account associated with the server instant messaging application;

at least one system that receives a request, at the server instant messaging application, from a depositor-owned device to begin a communication session via an instant messaging protocol with the predetermined check-deposit messaging account;

at least one system that establishes the communication session via the instant messaging protocol with the depositor-owned device;

at least one system that receives, via the server messaging application in accordance with the instant messaging protocol, an image of a check directed to the predetermined check-deposit messaging account from the depositor-owned device over the communications session, wherein the image of the check is captured by the depositor-owned device;

at least one system that verifies the image of the check at the financial institution; and

at least one system that deposits the check to an account specified by indications sent from the depositor-owned device.

16. The system of claim 15, the at least one system that establishes the communication session with a remote user further comprising:

at least one system that initiates the communications session using an instant messaging application; and

at least one system that contacts the predetermined account at an account ID using the instant messaging application.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one system that prompts the remote user for a location of the image; and

at least one system that uploads the image to the financial institution.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

at least one system that actuates a capture device under control of the instant messaging application; and

at least one system that uploads a image acquired by the capture device during the communications session.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one system that requests an image of the front of the check;

at least one system that requests an image of the back of the check; and

at least one system that verifies a courtesy amount field and a MICR line.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one system that returns a verification to the remote user after depositing funds associated with the check to the account.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising at least one system that presents an option to the remote user to save the communication session.