ADJUSTABLE BALANCE LIMIT PREPAID PRESENTATION INSTRUMENT

• US 20090157517A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Western Union
• Original Assignee: Western Union
• Inventors: Davis, Stuart G.
• Application Number:
  US11/957,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157517A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4016 involving fraud or risk level assessment in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks

Abstract

This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for providing an adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument is described. The method includes receiving a request for the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument and obtaining customer information. The method further includes, processing the customer information with a processor to determine a risk level associated with changing a funding limit associated with the prepaid presentation instrument. The method further funds the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument to up to a maximum of the assigned funding limit using a variety of funding sources.

Claims

1. A computerized method of providing an adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument, the method comprising:

receiving a request for an adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument;

obtaining customer information;

processing the customer information with a processor to determine a risk level associated with changing a funding limit associated with the prepaid presentation instrument;

assigning the funding limit to the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument; and

funding the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument to up to a maximum of the assigned funding limit.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument for purchases, withdrawals, bill payments, and money transfers which draw down funds leaving an amount open to load on the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument to up to the maximum of the funding limit.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising funding the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument by the amount open to re-load.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument is at least one of a prepaid credit card, a gift card, a stored-value card, an e-wallet, a payment instrument embedded in an electronic device, and a virtual prepaid card.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the variety of funding sources include at least one of a bank account, a saving account, a wire transfer, money transfer, and cash.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer information is at least one of a credit score, the customer'"'"'s demographics, the customer'"'"'s spending patterns, the customer'"'"'s payment patterns, and duration of relationship with the customer.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising, based on the customer information, assigning the customer a risk level score.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the funding limit is changed by at least one of increasing, decreasing, and remaining the same as determined by the risk level score.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the customer information includes compliance information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the presentation instrument is at least one of a savings account, a deposit account, a checking account, a money market account, a brokerage account, and a liability account.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving identification from the customer, wherein the identification is at least one of a driver'"'"'s license, a government issued ID, a social security card, and a passport; and

based on availability and validity of the received identification, assigning the funding limit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the funding of the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument uses a variety of funding sources.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the prepaid presentation instrument includes an associated monthly fee.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising tracking usage of the prepaid presentation instrument account;

and

tracking duration the customer has had the prepaid presentation instrument account.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising based on at least one of the usage and the duration of the prepaid presentation instrument account, altering the associated monthly fee.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the altering of the monthly fee comprises increasing the monthly fee in response to decreased usage and decreasing the monthly fee in response to increased usage and increased duration.

17. A method of converting a fixed limit prepaid presentation instrument into an adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument, the method comprising:

presenting a customer'"'"'s preexisting fixed limit prepaid presentation instrument;

analyzing the customer'"'"'s usage history associated with the fixed limit prepaid presentation instrument;

based on the usage history, deriving a new funding limit; and

applying the new funding limit to the prepaid presentation instrument.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

re-analyzing the customer'"'"'s usage history;

based on the re-analysis, adjusting the funding limit of the prepaid presentation instrument; and

applying the adjusted funding limit to the prepaid presentation instrument.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the funding limit is further based on the duration the customer has had the prepaid presentation instrument.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising presenting, by a card issuer, a fixed limit prepaid presentation instrument to be converted to an adjustable limit prepaid presentation instrument.

21. A system for providing an adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument, the system comprising:

a point-of-sale (POS) device configured to receive a request for an adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument;

an account processor connected with the POS device via a financial network, configured to obtain customer information, wherein the account processor includes a decision engine configured, based on the customer information, to assign a funding limit to the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument; and

a banking network connected with the account processor configured to fund the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument to up to a maximum of the funding limit.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a call center configured to receive the customer information, to verify the customer'"'"'s identity, and to transmit the customer information to the account processor.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the account processor is further configured to store a customer profile for each customer based on the customer information, to maintain an accounting of customer transactions related to the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument, and to determine whether the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument has sufficient funds to fulfill a funds request.

24. A machine-readable medium for providing an adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument, the machine-readable medium including sets of instruction which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

receive a request for the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument;

obtain customer information;

based on the customer information, assign a funding limit to the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument; and

fund the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument to up to a maximum of the assigned funding limit using a variety of funding sources.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the funding limit is determined based on how long the customer has had the adjustable balance limit prepaid presentation instrument.