Instant availability of electronically transferred funds

• US 8,050,997 B1
• Filed: 08/26/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aptekar, Denise, Botha, Roelof Frederik, Hansen, Kyle, Richman, Christopher, Nosek, Luke Paul, Lee, Maria, Pearson, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Graham; Clement B
• Application Number:
  US10/228,200
• Time in Patent Office: 3,354 Days
• Field of Search: 705/34, 705/41, 705/26, 705 36- 38, 379/112
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/023 the neutral party being a clearing house
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• 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 making proceeds of an ACH (Automated Clearinghouse) transaction available to a user before the transaction is completed. The system may be part of an on-line system or traditional merchant configured to facilitate payments or fund transfers from users. A user requests the transfer of funds to an entity (e.g., another user, a merchant, the user'"'"'s account with the system) via an ACH entry. The system calculates a risk associated with the user, while considering various data (e.g., number of previous ACH entries, how many failed, how many succeeded, amount of the transfer). If the risk is low enough, the ACH entry is initiated and the desired funds are released for the transfer even before the ACH entry clears. The ACH entry may be presented as a default choice for funding the transfer.

Claims

1. An automated method of determining whether to release funds from an ACH (Automated Clearinghouse) entry before the ACH entry clears, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a request to transfer value;

retrieving a profile of the user;

calculating, using one or more processors, a risk using one or more details from the user profile by computing a risk score, said risk is inversely proportional to said risk score, the risk score indicating a perceived risk involved with releasing funds before the ACH entry clears;

if said risk is less than an instant ACH threshold, allowing the user to fund the transfer of value with an instant ACH entry;

if said risk is greater than the instant ACH threshold, allowing the user to fund the transfer of value with one of an electronic check, a normal ACH entry, and a credit card; and

if the transfer of value is to be funded with the instant ACH entry;

initiating a first ACH entry to obtain funds from a financial account of the user; and

providing the user the funds before the first ACH entry clears.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received at an online system to facilitate transfers of value between online user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said details comprise:

a count of outstanding ACH entries requested by the user; and

a total value of the outstanding ACH entries.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said allowing comprises allowing the user to fund the transfer of value with an instant ACH entry if the total value of the outstanding ACH entries is less than a maximum allowable value.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising increasing the total value by the funds of the first ACH entry.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said allowing comprises allowing the user to fund the transfer of value with an instant ACH entry if the count of outstanding ACH entries is less than a maximum allowable number of outstanding ACH entries.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising incrementing the count of outstanding ACH entries.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said details comprise an amount of time the user has been a user of an online value transfer system at which the request is received.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said details comprise:

a reject ratio to indicate a ratio between the number of unsuccessful ACH entries within a number of previous ACH entries requested by the user and the number of previous ACH entries; and

an amount ratio to indicate a ratio between the funds of the first ACH entry and an average amount of funds of the previous ACH entries.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said details comprise the number of completed ACH entries within a number of previous ACH entries requested by the user, wherein an ACH entry is completed if it clears or fails.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said details comprise one or more of:

a number of previous ACH entries requested by the user;

a debit card indication to indicate whether a primary fund source of the user is a debit card;

a credit card indication to indicate whether the user has previously completed a credit card transaction; and

a trust indicator to indicate a level of trust in the user'"'"'s stated identity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said details comprise:

a number of previous ACH entries requested by the user; and

a trust indicator to indicate a level of trust in the user'"'"'s stated identity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said details further comprise:

a debit card indication to indicate whether a primary fund source of the user is a debit card; and

a credit card indication to indicate whether the user has previously completed a credit card transaction.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said computing comprises:

evaluating a risk equation comprising a set of terms representing conditions of the transfer of value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one or more of said terms include adjustable coefficients.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said conditions include one or more conditions regarding the user.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said conditions include one or more conditions regarding previous transfers of value requested by the user.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said conditions include one or more conditions regarding the recipient of the transfer of value.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said condition;

include one or more conditions regarding terms of the transfer of value.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said allowing comprises:

offering the user one or more options for funding the transfer of value, including a first option comprising an instant ACH entry.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said options further include a second option comprising a normal ACH entry, wherein funds of a normal ACH entry are provided to the user only after the normal ACH entry clears.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said options further include a second option comprising an electronic check.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said options further include a second option comprising a credit card transaction.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is allowed to fund the transfer of value with the electronic check if said risk is greater than the instant ACH threshold but not greater than an electronic check threshold.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is allowed to fund the transfer of value with the normal ACH entry if said risk is greater than the instant ACH threshold but not greater than a normal ACH threshold, wherein funds of the normal ACH entry are provided to the user only after the normal ACH entry clears.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is allowed to fund the transfer of value with the credit card if said risk is greater than the instant ACH threshold but not greater than a credit card threshold.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the funds of the ACH entry are greater than a predetermined value, initiating an authorization against a credit source of the user to cover the funds.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the funds of the ACH entry are greater than a predetermined value, initiating a hold against a credit source of the user to cover the funds.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the first ACH entry fails, initiating an authorization against a credit source of the user to cover the funds.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the first ACH entry fails, initiating a hold against a credit source of the user to cover the funds.

31. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of determining whether to release funds from an ACH (Automated Clearinghouse) entry before the ACH entry clears, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a request to transfer value;

retrieving a profile of the user;

calculating a risk using one or more details from the user profile by computing a risk score, said risk is inversely proportional to said risk score, the risk score indicating a perceived risk involved with releasing funds before the ACH entry clears;

if said risk is less than an instant ACH threshold, allowing the user to fund the transfer of value with an instant ACH entry;

if said risk is greater than the instant ACH threshold, allowing the user to fund the transfer of value with one of an electronic check, a normal ACH entry, and a credit card; and

if the transfer of value is to be funded with an instant ACH entry;

initiating a first ACH entry to obtain funds from a financial account of the user; and

providing the user the funds before the first ACH entry clears.

32. A method of releasing funds of an ACH (Automated Clearing House) debit before the ACH debit is completed, the method comprising:

receiving a value transfer request at a facilitating organization from a first entity, said value transfer comprising a transfer of a first value to a second entity;

retrieving data concerning one or more previous ACH entries initiated for the first entity;

identifying a rejection ratio regarding said previous ACH entries, wherein said rejection ratio comprises a ratio of the number of failed entries in said previous ACH entries to the number of said previous ACH entries;

identifying a completion count comprising the number of completed entries in said previous ACH entries;

identifying an amount ratio comprising the ratio of the first value to an average value of said previous ACH entries;

calculating, using one or more processors, a risk score from a plurality of factors, including said rejection ratio, said completion count, and said amount ratio, the risk score indicating a perceived risk involved with releasing funds before the ACH debit clears;

if said risk score exceeds a first threshold;

initiating a first ACH debit entry for the first value;

updating the data to reflect the first ACH debit entry; and

releasing the first value before the first ACH debit entry clears; and

if said risk score does not exceed said first threshold, initiating a normal ACH debit entry or an electronic check for the first value.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a completed ACH debit entry is an ACH debit entry that cleared or failed.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said first ACH debit entry is a default option for funding the value transfer.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

authorizing the first value against a credit source of the first entity; and

holding the first value against the credit source.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

if said first ACH debit entry fails, charging a portion of the first value against the credit source.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

verifying one or more details of a financial account associated with the first entity;

wherein said first ACH debit entry involves the financial account.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising

based on said initiating the normal ACH debit entry for the first value,

releasing the first value only after the normal ACH debit entry clears.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising

based on said initiating the electronic check for the first value

releasing the first value only after the electronic check clears.

40. The method of claim 32, wherein said plurality of factors further comprises the length of time the first entity has had an account with the facilitating organization.

41. The method of claim 32, wherein said plurality of factors further comprises said number of said previous ACH entries.

42. The method of claim 32, wherein said plurality of factors further comprises a level of trust in the first entity.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the level of trust comprises a rating provided by a third party.

44. The method of claim 32, wherein said plurality of factors further comprises an indicator of the type of primary credit source of the first entity.

45. The method of claim 32, wherein said plurality of factors further comprises whether the first entity engaged in one or more successful credit card transactions.

46. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of releasing funds of an ACH (Automated Clearing House) debit before the ACH debit is completed, the method comprising:

receiving a value transfer request at a facilitating organization from a first entity, said value transfer comprising a transfer of a first value to a second entity;

retrieving data concerning one or more previous ACH entries initiated for the first entity;

identifying a rejection ratio regarding said previous ACH entries, wherein said rejection ratio comprises a ratio of the number of failed entries in said previous ACH entries to the number of said previous ACH entries;

identifying a completion count comprising the number of completed entries in said previous ACH entries;

identifying an amount ratio comprising the ratio of the first value to an average value of said previous ACH entries;

calculating a risk score from a plurality of factors, including said rejection ratio, said completion count, and said amount ratio, the risk score indicating a perceived risk involved with releasing funds before the ACH debit clears;

if said risk score exceeds a first threshold;

initiating a first ACH debit entry for the first value;

updating the data to reflect the first ACH debit entry; and

releasing the first value before the first ACH debit entry clears; and

if said risk score does not exceed said first threshold, initiating a normal ACH debit entry or an electronic check for the first value.

47. A computer-implemented method of releasing funds of an ACH (Automated Clearing House) entry before the ACH entry is completed, the method comprising:

receiving at a facilitating organization a value transfer request from a first entity, said value transfer comprising a transfer of a first value to a second entity;

configuring a risk equation for determining a risk associated with releasing the first value before settlement of an ACH entry to retrieve the first value;

evaluating, using one or more processors, said risk equation to determine a risk score, said risk is inversely proportional to said risk score, the risk score indicating a perceived risk involved with releasing funds before the ACH entry is settled;

if said risk is lower than a first threshold;

initiating the ACH entry; and

transferring the first value to the second entity before the ACH entry is settled; and

if said risk is not lower than the first threshold;

initiating the ACH entry; and

transferring the first value to the second entity after the ACH entry is settled.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

if the ACH entry fails to successfully settle within a predetermined period of time, charging the first value against a credit source of the first entity.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring terms of said risk equation based on conditions of said value transfer; and

assigning values to coefficients of one or more of said terms.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

examining one or more conditions of said value transfer; and

based on the conditions, selecting said risk equation from a set of risk equations.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on a length of time that has passed since the first entity made a charge against a credit source.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on the length of time the second entity has been registered with the facilitating organization.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on whether the first entity is a natural person.

54. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on whether the second entity is a natural person.

55. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on the type of business in which the second entity is engaged.

56. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on the number of distinct entities from which the first entity has received value transfers.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on the number of distinct entities to which the first entity has requested value transfers.

58. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on the total amount of value of ACH entries requested by the first entity that have not settled.

59. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on the total number of ACH entries requested by the first entity that have not settled.

60. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

determining a number of ACH entries requested by the first entity that have failed.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said configuring further comprises:

determining the ratio of the number of failed ACH entries within a set of ACH entries requested by the first entity.

62. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on the total value of a set of ACH entries requested by the first entity that failed.

63. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on the total value of a set of ACH entries requested by the first entity that successfully settled.

64. The method of claim 47, wherein said configuring comprises:

configuring a term of said risk equation based on a ratio of the first value to a maximum amount of an ACH entry requested by the first user that successfully settled.