Systems and methods for virtual banking

• US 8,577,805 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Burks, Rickey Dale, Morlen, Randy Ray, Oakes, III, Charles Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/781,911
• Time in Patent Office: 2,297 Days
• Field of Search: 705/45, 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0655 e-cash managed centrally
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3223 Realising banking transactions through M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3227 using secure elements embedded in M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/351 Virtual cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/363 with the personal data of a user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3672 initialising or reloading thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3676 Balancing accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks

Abstract

Mechanisms for virtual banking are disclosed herein that provide experiences to users as if they were actually interacting with a branch office bank. For instance, virtual lockboxes are provided to users, and users can fill these lockboxes with the type of digital data that would traditionally be placed in a branch office bank lockbox. Birth certificates, social security numbers, wills, etc., can be uploaded from a user'"'"'s remote computing device to a server associated with a bank. In another aspect, currency cards are disclosed that mimic cash withdrawal (or deposit) transactions users might engage in at typical branch offices. For example, users can download money from a bank server onto a currency card located at some remote location (or, alternatively, upload money from the card to the server, which would amount to a deposit being made to the bank).

Claims

1. A system comprising a processing resource in communication with a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions executed by the processing resource to:

allow at least one user to start a virtual lockbox program on a device remote from an institution, wherein the virtual lockbox program stores a virtual content in a virtual lockbox, and wherein the virtual content of the virtual lockbox tracks a physical content of a safety deposit box at the institution;

provide said at least one user with at least one selection of at least one virtual lockbox from a plurality of virtual lockboxes;

remotely access said at least one lockbox storage medium;

receive at least one verification message, wherein said at least one verification message requires input from said user, in conjunction with input from said institution in order to allow said at least one user to access the at least one virtual lockbox;

receive a first verification in order to allow said at least one user to access a first piece of data from the virtual lockbox;

receive a second verification in order to allow said at least one user to access a second piece of data from the virtual lockbox, wherein the second verification is different than the first verification and the second piece of data is different from the first piece of data;

allow said at least one user to manipulate all data in said at least one physical lockbox storage medium via at least one operation on said at least one virtual lockbox; and

allow a third party to manipulate only a portion of the data in said at least one physical lockbox storage medium via at least one operation on said at least one virtual lockbox.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one user is either an owner of said at least one virtual lockbox or a third party to said owner and said institution.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said device is one of (a) a stationary device and (b) a mobile device.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one verification is based on biometric data.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising instructions executable to allow said at least one user to select at least one virtual lockbox associated with an institution other than said institution.

6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising instructions executable to store at a site remote from said institution said data after said at least one operation.

7. A method for providing banking from remote locations, comprising:

allowing at least one user to start a virtual lockbox program on a device remote from an institution, wherein the virtual lockbox program stores a virtual content in a virtual lockbox, and wherein the virtual content of the virtual lockbox tracks a physical content of a safety deposit box at the institution;

interfacing with a scanner to submit digital data from the at least one user to the institution;

providing said at least one user with at least one selection of at least one virtual lockbox from a plurality of virtual lockboxes;

accessing remotely said at least one lockbox storage medium;

receiving at least one verification message at a computerized system, wherein said at least one verification message requires input from said user, in conjunction with input from said institution in order to allow said at least one user to access the at least one virtual lockbox;

receiving a first verification in order to allow said at least one user to access a first piece of data from the virtual lockbox;

receiving a second verification in order to allow said at least one user to access a second piece of data from the virtual lockbox, wherein the second verification is different than the first verification and the second piece of data is different from the first piece of data;

allowing said at least one user to manipulate all data in said at least one physical lockbox storage medium via at least one operation on said at least one virtual lockbox; and

allowing a third party to manipulate only a portion of the data in said at least one physical lockbox storage medium via at least one operation on said at least one virtual lockbox.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising allowing access to said physical virtual lockbox to either an owner of said at least one virtual lockbox or a third party to said owner and said financial institution.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising communicating said device as one of (a) a stationary device and (b) a mobile device.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising using said verification that is based on biometric data.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising allowing said at least one user to select at least one virtual lockbox associated with an institution other than said institution.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising storing at a site remote from said institution said data after said at least one operation.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that are executed by a processor to:

allow at least one user to start a virtual lockbox program on a device remote from an institution, wherein the virtual lockbox program stores a virtual content in a virtual lockbox, and wherein the virtual content of the virtual lockbox tracks a physical content of a safety deposit box at the institution;

provide at least one user with at least one selection of at least one virtual lockbox from a plurality of virtual lockboxes corresponding to at least one physical lockbox storage medium at said institution;

remotely access said at least one lockbox storage medium;

interface with a scanner to submit digital data from the at least one user to the institution;

receive at least one verification message, wherein said at least one verification message requires input from said user, in conjunction with input from said institution in order to allow said at least one user to access the at least one virtual lockbox;

receive a first verification in order to allow said at least one user to access a first piece of data from the virtual lockbox;

receive a second verification in order to allow said at least one user to access a second piece of data from the virtual lockbox, wherein the second verification is different than the first verification and the second piece of data is different from the first piece of data;

allow said at least one user to manipulate all data in said at least one physical lockbox storage medium via at least one operation on said at least one virtual lockbox; and

allow a third party to manipulate only a portion of the data in said at least one physical lockbox storage medium via at least one operation on said at least one virtual lockbox.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising at least one instruction that allows access to said physical virtual lockbox to either an owner of said at least one virtual lockbox or a third party to said owner and said financial institution.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising at least one instruction that communicate said device as one of (a) a stationary device and (b) a mobile device.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising at least one instruction that uses said verification that is based on biometric data.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, further comprising at least one instruction that allows said at least one user to select at least one virtual lockbox associated with an institution other than said institution.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to claim 13, farther comprising at least one instruction that stores said data after said at least one operation at a site remote from said institution.