Rejected checks envelope and process

• US 8,468,074 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Schrick, Christopher J., Fadden, Katherine Renee, Hall, Craig Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Merchant, Shahid
• Assistant Examiner(s): KWONG, CHO YIU
• Application Number:
  US12/414,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for processing rejected checks. Checks that are rejected for deposit at deposit locations are captured on-site. A carrier picking up the rejected checks at the deposit location sorts the rejected checks into envelopes with data recognition markings. The recognition markings on the envelopes help with sorting and identifying the checks as rejected, as well as providing data to associate the rejected checks with a customer or an account. Image files are created for the rejected checks using an image capture system. Data files are created to match-up with the image files. The rejected checks are investigated to populate the data file, in order to determine how to process the rejected checks. The checks are submitted for posting and settlement often before any claims are made by customers for provisional funds for their rejected checks.

Claims

1. A rejected check processing method, comprising:

collecting one or more rejected checks deposited in a remote capture system in a rejected checks bin in the remote capture system, separate from a plurality of accepted checks, that were deposited by a customer wherein the remote capture system is an ATM, a cash recycler, or branch deposit system, and wherein the one or more rejected checks are rejected in response to the remote capture system going offline during a transaction or failing to capture an image of one or more checks deposited during the transaction;

acquiring the one or more rejected checks from the rejected check bin in the remote capture system;

placing the one or more rejected checks into a rejected checks envelope with batch information for processing separate from the plurality of accepted checks, wherein the batch information identifies the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

capturing an image of the one or more rejected checks using an image capture system, wherein the image capture system is unaffiliated with the remote capture system;

creating a data file associated with the images of the one or more rejected checks that associates the one or more rejected checks with the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited based on the batch information on the rejected checks envelope, and wherein the data file further comprises information about the one or more rejected checks;

accessing an electronic deposit list receipt of the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

comparing the information about the one or more rejected checks and the electronic deposit list receipt to determine an account to associate the one or rejected checks with or a customer to associated the one or more rejected checks with; and

posting or settling the one or more rejected checks to the account based on the account or the customer identified using the electronic deposit list receipt before the customer makes a claim that a customer'"'"'s check did not post or settle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the one or more rejected checks comprises:

removing the one or more rejected checks from the rejected check bin in the remote capture system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the one or more rejected checks into the rejected checks envelop with the batch information for processing comprises:

placing the one or more rejected checks into an envelope at the location of the remote capture system.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the batch information on the rejected checks envelope is machine-readable code.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the batch information on the rejected checks envelope is machine-readable code, and wherein the batch information comprises a routing and tracking number for the one or more rejected checks, or uniquely identifies the rejected checks envelope.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the one or more rejected checks based on information related to the batch information comprises:

identifying computer-readable information related to the batch information for associating the one or more rejected checks with the remote capture system at which they were deposited.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing an image of the one or more rejected checks comprises:

scanning the one or more rejected checks through an image capture system in a high speed sorter located at a central check processing site.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing an image of the one or more rejected checks comprises

scanning the one or more rejected checks through an image capture system;

performing the scan at the location of the remote capture system; and

sending the images of the one or more rejected checks to a representative for processing, wherein the images are sent electronically.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the data file associated with the images of the one or more rejected checks comprises:

investigating the status of the one or more rejected checks; and

populating the data file either manually or systematically with data processing information from at least one of the batch information, the one or more rejected checks, or customer accounts.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

researching the one or more rejected checks using the image files and data files for processing, wherein the researching comprises;

determining if claims have been made by customers for the plurality of rejected checks;

determining if the claims are valid; and

determining if the one or more rejected checks are valid.

11. A method of processing rejected checks, comprising:

capturing one or more rejected checks at a deposit location in a rejected bin of a remote capture system, wherein the remote capture system is an ATM, a cash recycler, or branch deposit system, and wherein the one or more rejected checks are rejected in response to the remote capture system going offline during a transaction or failing to capture an image of one or more checks deposited during the transaction;

placing the one or more rejected checks into a rejected checks envelope comprising batch information used for processing the one or more rejected checks, wherein the batch information identifies the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

capturing images of the one or more rejected checks using an image capture system, wherein the image capture system is unaffiliated with the remote capture system;

creating a data file associated with the images of the one or more rejected checks that associates the one or more rejected checks with the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited based on the batch information on the rejected checks envelope, and wherein the data file further comprises information about the one or more rejected checks;

accessing an electronic deposit list receipt of the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

comparing the information about the one or more rejected checks and the electronic deposit list receipt to determine an account to associate the one or rejected checks with or a customer to associated the one or more rejected checks with; and

posting or settling the one or more rejected checks to the account based on the account or the customer identified using the electronic deposit list receipt before the customer makes a claim that a customer'"'"'s check did not post or settle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the batch information is a batch header comprising routing and transit information identifying the deposit location of the remote capture system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein processing the one or more rejected checks based on the batch information located on the rejected checks envelope comprises:

entering manually or systematically the batch information for the deposit location from the rejected checks envelope into an application.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein capturing an image of the one or more rejected checks comprises:

scanning the one or more checks through an image capture system in a high speed sorter located at a central check processing site into an application.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein capturing an image of the one or more rejected checks comprises:

scanning the one or more checks through an image capture system;

performing the scan at the deposit location of the remote capture system; and

sending the images of the one or more rejected checks to a representative for processing, wherein the images are sent electronically.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein creating the data file associated with the image of the one or more rejected checks comprises:

investigating the status of the one or more plurality of rejected checks; and

populating the data file either manually or systematically with batch information from at least one of the rejected checks envelope , the one or more rejected checks, or customer accounts.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

researching the one or more rejected checks for processing using the image files and data files, wherein the researching comprises;

determining if claims have been made by customers for the one or more rejected checks;

determining if the claims are valid; and

determining if the one or more rejected checks are valid.

18. A method for processing rejected checks, comprising:

securing paper copies of one or more rejected checks in a rejected bin in a remote capture system that were deposited by a customer, wherein the remote capture system is an ATM, a cash recycler, or branch deposit system, and wherein the one or more rejected checks are rejected in response to the remote capture system going offline during a transaction or failing to capture an image of one or more checks deposited during the transaction;

sorting the one or more rejected checks into batches apart from accepted checks;

placing the paper copies of the one or more rejected checks into a rejected checks envelope, wherein the rejected checks envelope has machine-readable code attached thereto, wherein the machine-readable code at least identifies the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited; and

processing the rejected checks envelope by capturing image files of the one or more rejected checks in the rejected checks envelope using an image capture system, wherein the image capture system is unaffiliated with the remote capture system, identifying the machine-readable code attached to the rejected checks envelope and on the one or more rejected checks, using a machine to read the machine-readable code, creating a data file associated with the images of the one or more rejected checks that associates the one or more rejected checks with the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited and wherein the data file further comprises information about the one or more rejected checks identified from the machine-readable code attached to the rejected checks envelope or the one or more rejected checks,

accessing an electronic deposit list receipt of the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

comparing the information about the one or more rejected checks and the electronic deposit list receipt to determine an account to associate the one or rejected checks with or a customer to associated the one or more rejected checks with; and

posting or settling the one or more rejected checks to the account based on the account or the customer identified using the electronic deposit list receipt before the customer makes a claim that a customer'"'"'s check did not post or settle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data obtained by the machine from the machine-readable code comprises information uniquely identifying the rejected checks envelope.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the data obtained by the machine from the machine-readable code comprises routing and transmitting information identifying where the one or more rejected checks should be routed and transmitted.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein associating the image files of the one or more rejected checks with data obtained by the machine from the machine-readable code comprises:

creating data files associated with the image files of the one or more rejected checks, wherein the data files include the data obtained from the machine-readable code.

22. A rejected check processing system, comprising:

an envelope configured to hold one or more rejected checks captured in a rejected check bin at a remote capture system, wherein the remote capture system is an ATM, a cash recycler, or branch deposit system, and wherein the one or more rejected checks are rejected in response to the remote capture system going offline during a transaction or failing to capture an image of one or more checks deposited during the transaction; and

a first machine-readable code attached to or configured to be attached to the rejected checks envelope and configured to identify the remote capture device at which the one or more rejected were submitted;

wherein an image capture device that is unaffiliated with the remote capture system is used to capture images of the one or more rejected checks;

wherein the first machine-readable code is used to capture information about the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

wherein a data file is created and associates the images of the one or more rejected checks with the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited based on the batch information on the rejected check envelope, and wherein the data file further comprises information about the one or more rejected checks;

wherein an electronic deposit list receipt is accessed from the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

wherein the information about the one or more rejected checks is compared to the electronic deposit list receipt to determine an account to associate the one or rejected checks with or a customer to associated the one or more rejected checks with; and

wherein the one or more rejected checks are posted or settled to the account based on the account or the customer identified using the electronic deposit list receipt before the customer makes a claim that a customer'"'"'s check did not post or settle.

23. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, wherein the rejected checks envelope is configured to hold one or more rejected checks that were rejected at a single remote image capture device.

24. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, wherein the remote capture device comprises an automated teller machine (ATM).

25. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, wherein the first machine-readable code comprises a barcode that uniquely identifies the remote capture device.

26. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, wherein the first machine-readable code comprises a radio frequency identification tag that uniquely identifies the remote capture device.

27. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, wherein the first machine-readable code is attached to a label configured to be attached to the rejected checks envelope.

28. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, further comprising:

a second machine-readable code attached to or configured to be attached to the rejected checks envelope and configured to uniquely identify the rejected checks envelope or provide a routing and transit number.

29. The rejected check processing system of claim 28, wherein the second machine-readable code comprises a magnetic ink character recognition identification marking that can be used to uniquely identify the rejected checks envelope.

30. The rejected check processing system of claim 28, wherein the rejected checks envelope, having the first and second machine-readable codes attached thereto, is configured to be used as a batch header on a bulk capture device.

31. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, further comprising a machine configured to read the first machine-readable code and associate all of the rejected checks contained within the rejected checks envelope with data obtained from the machine-readable code.

32. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, comprising:

a window in the rejected checks envelope for determining rejected checks are located within the rejected checks envelope.

33. The rejected check processing system of claim 22, further comprising:

a memory device;

a machine-readable code reader configured to read the first machine-readable code associated with the rejected checks envelope and obtain information therefrom;

an imaging device configured to capture an image of one or more rejected checks contained in the rejected checks envelope; and

a processing device, configured to store, in the memory device, the captured images of the one or more rejected checks contained in the rejected checks envelope and associate the captured images in the memory device with the information obtained from the first machine-readable code.

34. An apparatus for processing one or more rejected checks, the apparatus comprising:

a memory device;

a machine-readable code reader configured to receive a plurality of rejected check envelopes, each rejected check envelope containing one or more rejected checks and having a first machine-readable code thereon, wherein the machine-readable code reader is configured to read the first machine-readable code on each of the plurality of rejected check envelops and obtain batch information therefrom, wherein the batch information identifies the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

an imaging device configured to capture an image of the one or more rejected checks contained in each of the plurality of rejected check envelopes; and

a processing device, configured to store, in the memory device, the captured images of the one or more rejected checks and associate each captured image in the memory device with the batch information identifying the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited that is obtained from the first machine-readable code on the plurality of rejected check envelopes in which the captured rejected check associated with the captured image arrived;

wherein the remote capture system is an ATM, a cash recycler, or branch deposit system, and wherein the one or more rejected checks are rejected in response to the remote capture system going offline during a transaction or failing to capture an image of one or more checks deposited during the transaction;

wherein the one or more rejected checks are acquired from the rejected check bin in the remote capture system and placed in the rejected check envelope;

wherein the image device is unaffiliated with the remote capture system;

wherein a data file is created and associates the images of the one or more rejected checks with the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited based on the batch information on the rejected check envelope, and wherein the data file further comprises information about the one or more rejected checks;

wherein an electronic deposit list receipt is accessed from the remote capture system at which the one or more rejected checks were deposited;

wherein the information about the one or more rejected checks is compared to the electronic deposit list receipt to determine an account to associated the one or rejected checks with or a customer to associated the one or more rejected checks with; and

wherein the one or more rejected checks are posted or settled to the account based on the account or the customer identified using the electronic deposit list receipt before the customer makes a claim that a customer'"'"'s check did not post or settle.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the remote capture system comprises an automated teller machine (ATM).

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the batch information obtained from the machine-readable code comprises a routing and transit number or a unique envelope number.