System and method for granting promotional rewards to both customers and non-customers

• US 8,408,455 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• 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: Taylor, Robert Cameron, Pilarcik, Jeffrey J., Ley, Paula M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Haupt, Kristy A
• Application Number:
  US12/619,072
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/379, 235/380, 235/381, 235/383, 705/43
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0224 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs

Abstract

Aspects of the invention include systems and methods of using an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) to access a rewards account. The customer may access the ATM using a card or other device. Account information associated with the customer, including a rewards account, may be retrieved by the ATM. Through the ATM, the customer may perform actions upon the rewards account. The actions may include, but are not limited to, a balance inquiry, a withdrawal and/or redemption, an account transfer, and preferences. Subsequent to, or coincident with, a withdrawal/redemption or account transfer, the rewards account may be debited an appropriate amount to equate to the amount of the withdrawal/redemption or account transfer. Following the completion of the customer'"'"'s transaction, a receipt may be dispensed from the ATM. The receipt may include the rewards account balance.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for accessing a rewards account comprising:

receiving an interaction from a customer, wherein the interaction is received via an interface associated with a financial institution and comprises at least identifying information which identifies the customer;

determining, by at least one computer processor, a customer status comprising determining whether the customer is an existing customer or a potential customer of the financial institution, wherein the existing customer is a present account-holder with the financial institution and the potential customer is not a present account-holder with the financial institution;

determining, by the at least one computer processor, one or more accounts associated with the customer, wherein the computer processor determines the one or more accounts based on the identity of the customer and the customer status and the one or more accounts comprise at least a rewards account with a rewards balance associated therewith;

receiving an action selection from the customer wherein the action selection is selected from a presented list of one or more available actions presented based on the customer status;

receiving an account selection from the one or more available accounts; and

performing, by the at least one computer processor, the action selection upon the account selection; and

dispensing a receipt upon completion of the action performance,

wherein the receipt comprises an indicia of a reward, the reward being dispensed to the customer based on one or more preferences pre-determined by the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more actions comprise, for an existing customer:

a balance inquiry, a withdrawal action, an account transfer, and preference configuration and the one or more actions comprise, for a potential customer, options to open an account with a rewards account associated therewith.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving the action selection of the balance inquiry and the account selection of the rewards account; and

displaying the rewards balance of the rewards account at the interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the account selection comprises the rewards account.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying the point balance of the rewards account.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying a conversion rate representing the conversion of one or more points in the rewards account to one or more units of currency.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising;

displaying a conversion rate representing the conversion of one or more points in the rewards account to one or more units of rewards.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving the action selection of the withdrawal action and the account selection of the rewards account;

displaying a minimum value required to perform the withdrawal action;

receiving an input from the customer of an amount to withdraw;

comparing the input to the minimum value;

prompting the customer for a revised amount that is greater than or equal to the minimum value when the input is less than the minimum value;

dispensing the amount or the revised amount from the interface; and

debiting the rewards account in response to the withdrawal action.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving the action selection of the account transfer and the account selection of the rewards account;

displaying a minimum value required to perform the account transfer action;

receiving an input from the customer of an amount and a designated account to receive the account transfer;

comparing the input to the minimum value;

prompting the customer, by a computer processor, for a revised amount that is greater than or equal to the minimum value when the input is less than the minimum value;

transferring the amount or the revised amount input by the customer from the rewards account to the designated account; and

debiting the rewards account in response to the account transfer action.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

wherein the account transfer is performed to a third party'"'"'s account.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving the action selection of the withdrawal action and the account selection of the rewards account;

receiving an input from the customer of an amount to withdraw;

dispensing the amount, by a computer processor, from the interface;

debiting the rewards account and at least one additional account in response to the withdrawal action, the at least one additional account being debited for an amount less than the amount; and

wherein the at least one additional account is debited in response to a predetermined rule configured by the customer prior to the withdrawal action.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dispensing a receipt to the customer upon completion of the action performance.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

placing the rewards balance for the rewards account on the receipt.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia of the reward comprises a random award.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicia comprises a bar code.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the indicia comprises the bar code and receipt.

18. A computer implemented method for accessing a rewards account and configuring preferences associated therewith comprising:

receiving an interaction from a customer, wherein the interaction is received via an interface associated with a financial institution and comprises at least identifying information which identifies the customer;

determining, by at least one computer processor, a customer status comprising determining whether the customer is an existing customer or a potential customer of the financial institution, wherein the existing customer is a present account-holder with the financial institution and the potential customer is not a present account-holder with the financial institution;

determining, by the at least one computer processor, one or more accounts associated with the customer, wherein the computer processor determines the one or more accounts based on the identity of the customer and the customer status and the one or more accounts comprise at least a rewards account with a rewards balance associated therewith;

presenting a menu comprising preference information,

wherein the preference information comprises options relating to the one or more accounts and the options comprise rules regarding processing and maintaining of the one more accounts;

receiving a selection from the menu;

receiving a transaction for the one or more accounts;

applying the selection to the processing of the transaction.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the interface comprises an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the interface comprises a personal computer.

21. A computer implemented system for accessing a rewards account comprising:

an interface communicatively coupled to a network and associated with a financial institution;

one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the interface, configured to perform the following;

receive an interaction from a customer, wherein the interaction comprises at least receiving identifying information from the customer;

determine a customer status comprising determining whether the customer is an existing customer or a potential customer of the financial institution, wherein the existing customer is a present account-holder with the financial institution and the potential customer is not a present account-holder with the financial institution;

determine one or more accounts associated with the customer upon determining the customer status, the one or more accounts comprising at least a rewards account with a rewards balance associated therewith;

receive an action selection from the customer wherein the action selection is selected from a presented list of one or more available actions presented based on the customer status;

receive an account selection from the one or more available accounts;

perform the action selection upon the account selection; and

dispense a receipt upon completion of the action performance using a dispenser,

wherein the receipt comprises an indicia of a reward, the reward being dispensed to the customer based on one or more preferences pre-determined by the customer.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the interface comprises an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the interface comprises a personal computer.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the one or more actions comprise, for an existing customer:

a balance inquiry, a withdrawal action, an account transfer, and preferences and the one or more actions comprise, for a potential customer, options to open an account with a rewards account associated therewith.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the account selection comprises the rewards account.

26. The system of claim 21, the one or more processors further configured to:

display the point balance of the rewards account.

27. The system of claim 21, the one or more processors further configured to:

display a conversion rate representing the conversion of one or more points in the rewards account to one or more units of currency.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the receipt further comprises the rewards balance for the rewards account.

29. A computer implemented system for accessing a rewards account and configuring preferences associated therewith comprising:

an interface communicatively coupled to a network and associated with a financial institution;

one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the interface, configured to perform the following;

receive an interaction from a customer wherein the interaction comprises at least receiving identifying information from the customer;

determine a customer status comprising determining whether the customer is an existing customer or a potential customer of the financial institution, wherein the existing customer is a present account-holder with the financial institution and the potential customer is not a present account-holder with the financial institution;

determine one or more accounts associated with the customer based upon the customer status, the one or more accounts comprising at least a rewards account with a rewards balance associated therewith;

present a menu comprising preference information,

wherein the preference information comprises options relating to the one or more accounts and the options comprise rules regarding processing and maintaining of the one more accounts;

receive a selection from the menu;

receiving a transaction for the one or more accounts;

apply the selection to the processing of the transaction.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface comprises an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface comprises a personal computer.

32. A computer-implemented method for accessing a rewards account comprising:

receiving an interaction from a customer, wherein the interaction is received via an interface associated with a financial institution and comprises at least identifying information which identifies the customer;

determining, by at least one computer processor, a customer status comprising determining whether the customer is an existing customer or a potential customer of the financial institution, wherein the existing customer is a present account-holder with the financial institution and the potential customer is not a present account-holder with the financial institution;

determining, by the at least one computer processor, one or more accounts associated with the customer, wherein the computer processor determines the one or more accounts based on the identity of the customer and the customer status and the one or more accounts comprise at least a rewards account with a rewards balance associated therewith;

presenting a list comprising one or more actions to the customer, wherein the one or more actions comprise for an existing customer;

a balance inquiry, a withdrawal action, an account transfer, and preference configuration and comprise, for a potential customer, options to open an account with a rewards account associated therewith;

receiving an action selection from the customer, wherein the customer performs the action selection from the list;

receiving an account selection from the one or more available accounts, wherein the account selection comprises at least the rewards account;

displaying the point balance of the rewards account;

displaying a conversion rate representing the conversion of one or more points in the rewards account to one or more units of currency or one or more units of rewards;

performing the action selection upon the account selection; and

dispensing a receipt upon completion of the action performance,

wherein the receipt comprises an indicia of a reward, the reward being dispensed to the customer based on one or more preferences pre-determined by the customer.