Systems and methods for funding and binding auto loans

• US 8,671,050 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Sandoval, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Kito R
• Application Number:
  US11/904,242
• Time in Patent Office: 2,359 Days
• Field of Search: 705/38, 705/35
• US Class Current: 705/38
• 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 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• 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

Abstract

A way to facilitate the use of funds from an automobile loan is provided. The vehicle identification number of the automobile the loan applicant wishes to purchase is used to activate the funds of the loan for use. The applicant may receive a loan card to be used in the transaction that may be initially inactive, i.e. unable to be used for a transaction, until the vehicle identification number is received by the financial institution that accepted the loan application. An applicant of the loan may also be provided information relating to an account established for the disbursement of the loan proceeds. The account may be initially inactive until the vehicle identification number of the automobile is received and the applicant may also receive additional information required to be transmitted to the financial institution in order to use the funds, including, without limitation, a security code.

Claims

1. A method of providing funds for a purchase of a product, comprising:

approving a loan application from an applicant by a computer system, the loan application having an approved amount of funds therefor;

opening a financial account;

depositing into the financial account the amount of funds corresponding to the approved amount of the loan by the computer system;

issuing an inactive loan card to the applicant, wherein the loan card is associated with the approved amount of funds in the financial account, and wherein the loan card is initially configured to be inactive, and to change the loan card to an active card upon receipt and verification of an identification information associated with a product intended to be purchased with the amount of funds of the loan application;

wherein the product is a vehicle, wherein the identification information associated with the product comprises a vehicle identification number;

receiving a notice that the applicant wishes to purchase the product by the computer system, wherein the notice comprises the identification information associated with the product;

reconfiguring the loan card to be an active card when the received identification information is verified by the computer system;

receiving notification from a credit card processing network that a merchant has commenced a transaction using the loan card to purchase the product; and

disbursing at least a portion of the approved amount funds in the loan in the financial account by the computer system to the merchant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the loan application comprises identification information relating to an applicant of the loan.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a notice that the applicant wishes to purchase a vehicle further comprises receiving identification information relating to a buyer of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the product comprises a home, wherein the identification information associated with the product comprises an address or a multiple listing service number.

5. A system of providing funds for a purchase of a product, the system comprising:

at least one computer device;

at least one subsystem that approves a loan application from an applicant, the loan application having an approved amount of funds therefor;

at least one subsystem that opens a financial account;

at least one subsystem that deposits into the financial account the amount of funds corresponding to the approved amount of the loan;

at least one subsystem that issues an inactive loan card to the applicant, wherein the loan card is associated with the approved amount of funds in the financial account, and wherein the loan card is initially configured to be inactive, and to change the loan card to an active card upon receipt and verification of an identification information associated with a product intended to be purchased with the amount of funds of the loan application;

wherein the product is a vehicle, wherein the identification information associated with the product comprises a vehicle identification number;

at least one subsystem that receives a notice that the applicant wishes to purchase the product, wherein the notice comprises the identification information associated with the product;

at least one subsystem that reconfigures the card to be an active card when the received identification information is verified;

at least one system that receives notification from a credit card processing network that a merchant has commenced a transaction using the loan card to purchase the product; and

at least one subsystem that disburses at least a portion of the approved amount funds in the loan in the financial account to the merchant.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the loan application comprises identification information relating to an applicant of the loan.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising at least one subsystem that receives identification information relating to a buyer of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the product comprises a home, wherein the identification information associated with the product comprises an address or a multiple listing service number.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions for providing funds for a purchase of a product, the computer-readable instructions comprising instructions to:

approve a loan application from an applicant, the loan application having an approved amount of funds therefor;

open a financial account;

deposit into the financial account the amount of funds corresponding to the approved amount of the loan;

issue an inactive loan card to the applicant, wherein the loan card is associated with the approved amount of funds in the financial account, and, wherein the loan card is initially configured to be inactive, and change the loan card to an active card upon receipt and verification of an identification information associated with a product intended to be purchased when the amount of funds of the loan application;

wherein the product is a vehicle, wherein the identification information associated with the product comprises a vehicle identification number;

receive a notice that the applicant wishes to purchase the product, wherein the notice comprises the identification information associated with the product;

reconfigure the loan card to be an active card when the received identification information is verified;

receive notification from a credit card processing network that a merchant has commenced a transaction using the loan card to purchase the product; and

disburse at least a portion of the approved amount of funds in the loan in the financial account to the merchant.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the loan application comprises identification information relating to an applicant of the loan.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the instructions to receive a notice that the applicant wishes to purchase a vehicle further comprises instructions to receive identification information relating to a buyer of the vehicle.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the product comprises a home, wherein the identification information associated with the product comprises an address or a multiple listing service number.