Invoiceless trading and settlement method and system

• US 8,660,947 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fast 101 Pty Ltd
• Original Assignee: Fast 101 Pty Ltd
• Inventors: Duncan, William James
• Primary Examiner(s): Akintola, Olabode
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANFORD, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US12/030,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,205 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40
• US Class Current: 705/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/28 Pre-payment schemes, e.g. "pay before"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0213 Consumer transaction fees
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0234 Rebates after completed purchase
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention overcome the shortcomings of existing trading systems by providing an invoiceless trading system that creates incentives for customers to pay suppliers within a predetermined period of time, such as a settlement period. Specifically, the invoiceless trading system enables a customer to obtain a discount on orders placed with suppliers in return for an immediate payment (e.g., within 24 hours) by the customer. The supplier receives payment within the predetermined period of time, and the customer receives additional cash benefits by providing an early payment to the supplier. To communicate with and transfer funds between customers and suppliers, the invoiceless trading system may use an electronic gateway and a settlement bank. In addition to creating an incentive to embrace e-commerce, both customers and suppliers avoid the need to manually process orders and use invoices to complete transactions.

Claims

1. A system for electronic settlement comprising:

one or more servers associated with a settlement bank, the one or more servers comprising settlement software, wherein the settlement software enables a funds provider to electronically pay a supplier on a first date an early payment for an order placed by a customer, wherein the early payment is less than a face value of the order by at least an incentive amount, wherein the incentive amount is based at least in part on one or more fiscal attributes of the customer, and

wherein the settlement software electronically debits, from one or more accounts associated with a customer, a customer payment on a second date, wherein the customer payment is not less than the early payment plus an interest amount, wherein the interest amount is based at least in part on a credit period and the credit period is an amount of time between the first date and the second date.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the order comprises a shortened settlement period and wherein the incentive amount is further based on the shortened settlement period.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer payment is one of:

no more than the face value,

no more than the face value plus any applicable fees,

equal to the face value of the order, or

not less than the early payment plus the interest amount plus any applicable fees.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer include one or more of:

an interest rate of the customer, a cost of funds of the customer, a credit rating of the customer, and an assessed strength of the customer'"'"'s balance sheet.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more servers receives a payment message, wherein the payment message comprises one or more of the face value and the incentive amount.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the incentive amount is one or more of:

negotiated between the customer and the supplier, determined by the settlement bank, and determined by the funds provider.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a settlement bank agreement established between the settlement bank and the customer, wherein the settlement bank agreement enables the incentive amount to be based on at least one of the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are one of:

associated with the same institution or associated with different institutions.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an electronic network is used to communicate at least one message between at least two of:

one or more computers associated with the customer, one or more computers associated with the supplier, and one or more computers associated with one or more of;

the funds provider and the settlement bank.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the early payment is paid within a shortened settlement period.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the shortened settlement period is 2 business days.

21. The system of claim 7, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are associated with the same institution, and wherein the settlement bank agreement is further established with the funds provider.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the early payment is paid by the funds provider.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising a funding agreement between the customer and the funds provider, wherein the funding agreement enables the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the customer payment is made to the funds provider.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the early payment is paid by the settlement bank.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising a settlement agreement between the customer and the settlement bank, wherein the settlement agreement enables one or more of the settlement bank and the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer payment is made to the settlement bank.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer payment is equal to the face value, and wherein the settlement bank periodically rebates to the customer the interest amount less a settlement bank interest amount and less any applicable fees.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein an advanced shipping notice is received by the customer and at least one of the one or more servers before a payment message is received.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein the shortened settlement period is within 24 hours of receiving an advanced shipping notice.

31. The system of claim 1, further comprising an order message, wherein the order message comprises the face value.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the incentive amount is further based on the credit period.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein the second date occurs after a standard payment period.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein the second date occurs after a normal trading term.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the early payment and the customer payment are paid using a payment gateway.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer payment is debited from the one or more accounts associated with the customer, wherein the one or more accounts associated with the customer are located at one of:

the settlement bank;

or a customer bank.

10. A method for electronic payment comprising:

receiving a payment message at one or more servers associated with a settlement bank, wherein the payment message enables a funds provider to electronically pay a supplier on a first date an early payment for an order placed by a customer, wherein the early payment is less than a face value of the order by at least an incentive amount, wherein the incentive amount is based at least in part on one or more fiscal attributes of the customer; and

electronically debiting, a customer payment on a second date from one or more accounts associated with the customer using at least one of the one or more servers, wherein the customer payment is not less than the early payment plus an interest amount, wherein the interest amount is determined by at least one of the one or more servers at least in part based on a credit period, wherein the credit period is an amount of time between the first date and the second date.

37. The method of claim 10, wherein the early payment is paid by the funds provider.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising a funding agreement between the customer and the funds provider, wherein the funding agreement enables the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the customer payment is made to the funds provider.

40. The method of claim 10, wherein the early payment is paid by the settlement bank.

41. The method of claim 10, further comprising a settlement agreement between the customer and the settlement bank, wherein the settlement agreement enables one or more of the settlement bank and the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

42. The method of claim 10, wherein the customer payment is made to the settlement bank.

43. The method of claim 10, wherein the customer payment is equal to the face value, and wherein the settlement bank periodically rebates to the customer the interest amount less a settlement bank interest amount and less any applicable fees.

44. The method of claim 10, wherein an advanced shipping notice is received by the customer and at least one of the one or more bank servers before the payment message is received.

45. The method of claim 10, wherein the early payment is paid within a shortened settlement period.

46. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving an order message, wherein the order message comprises a face value.

47. The method of claim 10, wherein the incentive amount is further based on the credit period.

48. The method of claim 10, wherein the second date occurs after a standard payment period.

49. The method of claim 10, wherein the second date occurs after a normal trading term.

50. The method of claim 10, wherein one or more of the early payment and the customer payment are paid using a payment gateway.

51. The method of claim 10, wherein the order comprises a shortened settlement period and wherein the incentive amount is further based on the shortened settlement period.

52. The method of claim 10, wherein the customer payment is one of:

no more than the face value,

no more than the face value plus any applicable fees,

equal to the face value of the order, or

not less than the early payment plus the interest amount plus any applicable fees.

53. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer include one or more of:

an interest rate of the customer, a cost of funds of the customer, a credit rating of the customer, and an assessed strength of the customer'"'"'s balance sheet.

54. The method of claim 10, wherein the payment message comprises one or more of the face value and the incentive amount.

55. The method of claim 10, wherein the incentive amount is one or more of:

negotiated between the customer and the supplier, determined by the settlement bank, and determined by the funds provider.

56. The method of claim 10, further comprising a settlement bank agreement established between the settlement bank and the customer, wherein the settlement bank agreement enables the incentive amount to be based on at least one of the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer.

57. The method of claim 10, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are one of:

associated with the same institution or associated with different institutions.

58. The method of claim 10, wherein an electronic network is used to communicate the payment message between at least two of:

one or more computers associated with the customer, one or more computers associated with the supplier, and one or more computers associated with one or more of;

the funds provider and the settlement bank.

59. The method of claim 45, wherein the shortened settlement period is within 24 hours of receiving an advanced shipping notice.

60. The method of claim 45, wherein the shortened settlement period is 2 business days.

61. The method of claim 56, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are associated with the same institution, and wherein the settlement bank agreement is further established with the settlement bank.

62. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more accounts associated with the customer are located at one of:

the settlement bank;

or a customer bank.

74. The system of claim 53, wherein a shortened settlement period is within 24 hours of receiving an advanced shipping notice.

11. A system for electronic settlement comprising:

one or more servers associated with a settlement bank, the one or more servers storing settlement software, the settlement software comprising;

a paying code segment that enables a funds provider to electronically pay a supplier on a first date an early payment for an order placed by a customer, wherein the early payment is less than a face value of the order by at least an incentive amount, and wherein the incentive amount is based at least in part on one or more fiscal attributes of the customer and a credit period; and

a receiving code segment that enables the funds provider to electronically receive a customer payment on a second date from one or more accounts associated with a customer, wherein the customer payment is;

not less than the face value of the order or equal to the face value of the order.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the order comprises a shortened settlement period and wherein the incentive amount is further based at least in part on the shortened settlement period.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the customer payment is one of:

equal to the face value of the order, no more than the face value of the order plus any applicable fees or not less than the early payment plus the interest amount plus any applicable fees.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer include one or more of:

an interest rate of the customer, a cost of funds of the customer, a credit rating of the customer, and an assessed strength of the customer'"'"'s balance sheet.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a settlement bank agreement established between the settlement bank and the customer, wherein the settlement bank agreement enables the incentive amount to be based on at least one of the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are one of:

associated with the same institution or associated with different institutions.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein an electronic network is used to communicate at least one message between at least two of:

one or more computers associated with the customer, one or more computers associated with the supplier, and one or more computers associated with one or more of;

the funds provider and the settlement bank.

63. The system of claim 11, wherein the early payment is paid within a shortened settlement period.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the shortened settlement period is 2 business days.

65. The system of claim 15, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are associated with the same institution, and wherein the settlement bank agreement is further established with the funds provider.

66. The system of claim 11, wherein the early payment is paid by a funds provider.

67. The system of claim 66, further comprising a funding agreement between the customer and the funds provider, wherein the funding agreement enables the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein the customer payment is made to the funds provider.

69. The system of claim 11, wherein the early payment is paid by the settlement bank.

70. The system of claim 11, further comprising a settlement agreement between the customer and the settlement bank, wherein the settlement agreement enables one or more of the settlement bank and the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

71. The system of claim 11, wherein the customer payment is made to the settlement bank.

72. The system of claim 11, wherein the customer payment is equal to the face value, and wherein the settlement bank periodically rebates to the customer the interest amount less a settlement bank interest amount and less any applicable fees.

73. The system of claim 11, wherein an advanced shipping notice is received by the customer and at least one of the one or more bank servers before a payment message is received.

75. The system of claim 11, further comprising an order message, wherein the order message comprises the face value.

76. The system of claim 11, wherein the incentive amount is further based on the credit period.

77. The system of claim 11, wherein the second date occurs after a standard payment period.

78. The system of claim 11, wherein the second date occurs after a normal trading term.

79. The system of claim 11, wherein one or more of the early payment and the customer payment are paid using a payment gateway.

158. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more servers receives a payment message, wherein the payment message comprises one or more of the face value and the incentive amount.

159. The system of claim 11, wherein the incentive amount is one or more of:

negotiated between the customer and the supplier;

determined by a settlement bank; and

determined by the funds provider.

160. The system of claim 11, wherein the customer payment is debited from the one or more accounts associated with the customer, wherein the one or more accounts associated with the customer are located at one of:

the settlement bank;

or a customer bank.

18. A method for electronic settlement comprising:

electronically paying, using one or more computers, a supplier on a first date an early payment for an order placed by a customer, wherein the early payment is less than a face value of the order by at least an incentive amount, wherein the order comprises a shortened settlement period, wherein the incentive amount is based at least in part on one or more fiscal attributes of the customer and a credit period; and

electronically receiving, using the one or more computers, a customer payment on a second date from one or more accounts associated with the customer, wherein the customer payment is not less than the face value of the order.

80. The system of claim 18, wherein the order comprises a shortened settlement period and wherein the incentive amount is further based on the shortened settlement period.

81. The system of claim 18, wherein the customer payment is one of:

no more than the face value,

no more than the face value plus any applicable fees,

equal to the face value of the order, or

not less than the early payment plus the interest amount plus any applicable fees.

82. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer include one or more of:

an interest rate of the customer, a cost of funds of the customer, a credit rating of the customer, and an assessed strength of the customer'"'"'s balance sheet.

83. The system of claim 18, wherein one or more bank servers receive a payment message, wherein the payment message comprises one or more of the face value and the incentive amount.

84. The system of claim 18, wherein the incentive amount is one or more of:

negotiated between the customer and the supplier, determined by a settlement bank, and determined by a funds provider.

85. The system of claim 18, further comprising a settlement bank agreement established between a settlement bank and the customer, wherein the settlement bank agreement enables the incentive amount to be based on at least one of the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer.

86. The system of claim 18, wherein the customer payment is debited by a settlement bank, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are one of:

associated with the same institution or associated with different institutions.

87. The system of claim 18, wherein an electronic network is used to communicate at least one message between at least two of:

one or more computers associated with the customer, one or more computers associated with the supplier, and one or more computers associated with one or more of;

a funds provider and a settlement bank.

88. The system of claim 18, wherein the early payment is paid within a shortened settlement period.

89. The system of claim 88, wherein the shortened settlement period is 2 business days.

90. The system of claim 85, wherein the early payment is paid by a funds provider, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are associated with the same institution, and wherein the settlement bank agreement is further established with the settlement bank.

91. The system of claim 18, wherein the customer payment is debited from the one or more accounts associated with the customer, wherein the one or more accounts associated with the customer are located at one of:

a settlement bank;

or a customer bank.

92. The method of claim 18, wherein the early payment is paid by a funds provider.

93. The method of claim 92, further comprising a funding agreement between the customer and the funds provider, wherein the funding agreement enables the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the customer payment is made to the funds provider.

95. The method of claim 18, wherein the early payment is paid by a settlement bank.

96. The method of claim 18, further comprising a settlement agreement between the customer and a settlement bank, wherein the settlement agreement enables one or more of the settlement bank and a funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

97. The method of claim 18, wherein the customer payment is made to a settlement bank.

98. The method of claim 18, wherein the customer payment is equal to the face value, and wherein a settlement bank periodically rebates to the customer the interest amount less a settlement bank interest amount and less any applicable fees.

99. The method of claim 18, wherein an advanced shipping notice is received by the customer and one or more bank servers before a payment message is received.

100. The method of claim 18, wherein the shortened settlement period is within 24 hours of receiving an advanced shipping notice.

101. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving an order message, wherein the order message comprises the face value.

102. The method of claim 18, wherein the incentive amount is further based on the credit period.

103. The method of claim 18, wherein the second date occurs after a standard payment period.

104. The method of claim 18, wherein the second date occurs after a normal trading term.

105. The method of claim 18, wherein one or more of the early payment and the customer payment are paid using a payment gateway.

106. One or more systems used in electronic settlement of an order placed by a customer with a supplier comprising:

one or more bank servers, at least one of the one or more bank servers that receives a message related to the order, the message comprising an order amount;

a database associated with at least one of the one or more bank servers that stores the order amount;

a processor associated with at least one of the one or more bank servers that determines an incentive amount, wherein the incentive amount is determined based at least in part on one or more fiscal attributes of the customer and the order amount; and

a payment gateway associated with at least one of the one or more bank servers, the payment gateway electronically transfers to a supplier account on a first date an early payment for the order, the supplier account associated with the supplier, wherein the early payment is less than the order amount by at least the incentive amount, and the payment gateway that electronically receives a customer payment from a customer account on a second date, the customer account associated with the customer, wherein the customer payment is not less than the early payment plus an interest amount, wherein the interest amount is based at least in part on a credit period, wherein the credit period is an amount of time between the first date and the second date.

107. The system of claim 106, wherein the order comprises a shortened settlement period and wherein the incentive amount is further based the shortened settlement period.

108. The system of claim 106, wherein the customer payment is one of:

no more than the face value;

no more than the face value plus any applicable fees;

or not less than the early payment plus the interest amount plus any applicable fees.

109. The system of claim 106, wherein the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer include one or more of:

an interest rate of the customer;

a cost of funds of the customer;

a credit rating of the customer; and

an assessed strength of the customer'"'"'s balance sheet.

110. The system of claim 106, wherein the message further comprises the incentive amount.

111. The system of claim 106, wherein the incentive amount is one or more of:

negotiated between the customer and the supplier;

determined by a settlement bank; and

determined by a funds provider.

112. The system of claim 106, further comprising a settlement bank agreement between a settlement bank and the customer, wherein the settlement bank agreement enables the incentive amount to be based on at least one of the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer.

113. The system of claim 106, wherein the customer payment is debited by a settlement bank, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are one of:

associated with the same institution;

or associated with different institutions.

114. The system of claim 106, wherein an electronic network is used to communicate the message between at least two of:

one or more computers associated with the customer, one or more computers associated with the supplier, and one or more computers associated with one or more of;

a funds provider; and

a settlement bank.

115. The system of claim 106, wherein the early payment is paid within a shortened settlement period.

116. The system of claim 115, wherein the shortened settlement period is 2 business days.

117. The system of claim 112, wherein the early payment is paid by a funds provider, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are associated with the same institution, and wherein the settlement bank agreement is further established with the funds provider.

118. The system of claim 106, wherein the customer payment is debited from the customer account, wherein the customer account is located at one of:

a settlement bank;

or a customer bank.

119. The system of claim 106, wherein the early payment is paid by a funds provider.

120. The system of claim 119, further comprising a funding agreement between the customer and the funds provider, wherein the funding agreement enables the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

121. The system of claim 119, wherein the customer payment is made to the funds provider.

122. The system of claim 106, wherein the early payment is paid by a settlement bank.

123. The system of claim 106, further comprising a settlement agreement between the customer and a settlement bank, wherein the settlement agreement enables one or more of the settlement bank and a funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

124. The system of claim 106, wherein the customer payment is made to a settlement bank.

125. The system of claim 106, wherein the customer payment is equal to the face value, and wherein the settlement bank periodically rebates to the customer the interest amount less a settlement bank interest amount and less any applicable fees.

126. The system of claim 106, wherein an advanced shipping notice is received by the customer and at least one of the one or more bank servers before the message is received.

127. The system of claim 115, wherein the shortened settlement period is within 24 hours of receiving an advanced shipping notice.

128. The system of claim 106, further comprising one or more order messages.

129. The system of claim 106, wherein the incentive amount is further based on the credit period.

130. The system of claim 106, wherein the second date occurs after a standard payment period.

131. The system of claim 106, wherein the second date occurs after a normal trading term.

132. One or more systems used in electronic settlement of an order placed by a customer with a supplier comprising:

one or more bank servers configured to receive a payment message, the payment message related to the order, the payment message comprising an order amount, the order amount stored in a database associated with at least one or more of the bank servers;

a processor associated with at least one of the one or more bank servers that determines an incentive amount, wherein the incentive amount is determined based at least in part on one or more fiscal attributes of the customer and the order amount;

a payment gateway associated with at least one of the one or more bank servers, the payment gateway electronically transferring to a supplier account on a first date an early payment for the order, wherein the supplier account is associated with the supplier, wherein the early payment is less than the order amount by at least the incentive amount, and the payment gateway electronically receiving a customer payment from a customer account on a second date, the customer account associated with the customer, wherein the customer payment is not less than the early payment plus an interest amount, wherein the interest amount is based at least in part on a credit period, wherein the credit period an amount of time between the first date and the second date.

133. The system of claim 132, wherein the order comprises a shortened settlement period and wherein the incentive amount is further based the shortened settlement period.

134. The system of claim 132, wherein the customer payment is one of:

no more than the face value;

no more than the face value plus any applicable fees;

or not less than the early payment plus the interest amount plus any applicable fees.

135. The system of claim 132, wherein the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer include one or more of:

an interest rate of the customer;

a cost of funds of the customer;

a credit rating of the customer; and

an assessed strength of the customer'"'"'s balance sheet.

136. The system of claim 132, wherein the payment message further comprises the incentive amount.

137. The system of claim 132, wherein the incentive amount is one or more of:

negotiated between the customer and the supplier;

determined by a settlement bank; and

determined by a funds provider.

138. The system of claim 132, further comprising a settlement bank agreement between the settlement bank and the customer, wherein the settlement bank agreement enables the incentive amount to be based on at least one of the one or more fiscal attributes of the customer.

139. The system of claim 132, wherein the customer payment is debited by a settlement bank, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are one of:

associated with the same institution;

or associated with different institutions.

140. The system of claim 132, wherein an electronic network is used to communicate the payment message between at least two of:

one or more computers associated with the customer, one or more computers associated with the supplier, and one or more computers associated with one or more of;

a funds provider; and

a settlement bank.

141. The system of claim 132, wherein the first date occurs within a shortened settlement period.

142. The system of claim 141, wherein the shortened settlement period is 2 business days.

143. The system of claim 138, wherein the early payment is paid by a funds provider, wherein the settlement bank and the funds provider are associated with the same institution, and wherein the settlement bank agreement is further established with the settlement bank.

144. The system of claim 132, wherein the customer account is located at one of:

the settlement bank;

or a customer bank.

145. The system of claim 132, wherein the early payment is paid by a funds provider.

146. The system of claim 145, further comprising a funding agreement between the customer and the funds provider, wherein the funding agreement enables the funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

147. The system of claim 145, wherein the customer payment is made to the funds provider.

148. The system of claim 132, wherein the early payment is paid by a settlement bank.

149. The system of claim 132, further comprising a settlement agreement between the customer and a settlement bank, wherein the settlement agreement enables one or more of the settlement bank and a funds provider to pay the early payment to the supplier.

150. The system of claim 132, wherein the customer payment is made to a settlement bank.

151. The system of claim 132, wherein the customer payment is equal to the face value, and wherein a settlement bank periodically rebates to the customer the interest amount less a settlement bank interest amount and less any applicable fees.

152. The system of claim 132, wherein an advanced shipping notice is received by the customer and at least one of the one or more bank servers before the payment message is received.

153. The system of claim 141, wherein a shortened settlement period is within 24 hours of receiving an advanced shipping notice.

154. The system of claim 132, further comprising an order message, wherein the order message comprises the order amount.

155. The system of claim 132, wherein the incentive amount is further based on the credit period.

156. The system of claim 132, wherein the second date occurs after a standard payment period.

157. The system of claim 132, wherein the second date occurs after a normal trading term.