Community reinvestment act network

• US 5,689,650 A
• Filed: 02/23/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glenn B. Mcclelland, Judith S. Sloan, Richard D. Levinson
• Original Assignee: Glenn B. Mcclelland, Judith S. Sloan, Richard D. Levinson
• Inventors: Levinson, Richard D., McClelland, Glenn B., Sloan, Judith S.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US08/393,423
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401 R, 395/236
• US Class Current: 705/36.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

The CRA apparatus compiles investor needs for CRA qualified assets, creates portfolios of assets that would be recognized by regulatory agencies as meeting the requirements of the CRA and allocates CRA credits separately from the financial return of the portfolio of assets. The CRA apparatus can acquire CRA eligible loans from the secondary market, directly from private or governmental agencies, and/or directly from loan originators. The CRA apparatus determines whether an asset meets CRA qualifying parameters from demographic and statistical data regarding the borrower and/or the financial asset. The apparatus determines, by using CRA qualification factors as well as investor requirements, whether a loan should be acquired. In a parallel accounting process, the apparatus creates a pool of CRA eligible "credits" from the assets in each portfolio and then tracks and allocates specific CRA credits associated with specific assets to specific portfolio investors. This allocation of CRA credits creates specific "CRA interests" for each investor. These interests would be recognized by regulatory agencies as meeting the requirements of the CRA. The invention can provide a complete audit trail for the allocation of CRA interest and can generate the information necessary to comply with all regulatory reporting requirements. The CRA apparatus allows investors to obtain and report geographically specific CRA interests while participating in a diversified, risk managed portfolio.

Claims

1. A computer method of financial interest distribution and cognizable interest distribution based on a pool of assets with a computer automated financial accountant and a parallel computer automated cognizable interest accountant, a database, in a computer system comprising the steps of:

calculating the financial return on a pool of assets based on the financial return of each particular asset in said pool of assets and distributing said financial return to at least one investor by modifying an electronic computer record to indicate a particular financial distribution to said investor for said financial distribution, said computer record being stored in a storage device;

calculating the cognizable interest available from said pool of assets by qualifying each particular asset in said pool of assets for cognizable interest based on predetermined approval criteria wherein said predetermined approval criteria is electronically represented on said storage device so that said cognizable interest is linked to said pool of assets by modifying a computer record on said storage device so that each said cognizable interest can be traced to said particular asset in said pool of assets that qualifies for said cognizable interest; and

distributing said cognizable interest derived from said pool of assets to at least one said financial investor in the said pool of assets by modifying a computer record of each cognizable interest transaction in a storage device so that each cognizable interest can be linked to said particular asset in said pool of assets that was used to qualify said particular asset for cognizable interest and to identify when said cognizable interest is distributed to said investor.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

comparing an asset'"'"'s characteristics with predetermined qualifying parameters so that an asset can be identified as having a separate cognizable interest;

procuring said qualified asset having said cognizable interest for inclusion in said pool of assets and book on the system;

organizing said pool of assets as an investment company (whether registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or exempt therefrom), a trust, a limited liability corporation, a limited partnership, a general partnership, a limited liability partnership, a mutual fund, a REMIC, or an unincorporated association; and

managing said pool of assets by buying, selling and holding said assets to maintain said pool of assets within predetermined liquidity and market risk parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

calculating the financial return on said pool of assets by combining the individual financial gain or loss of each asset within said pool of assets to determine a net gain or loss from said pool of assets;

distributing said net gain or loss from said pool of assets, by modifying a computer record on said storage device, to each said investor on a per share basis;

recording said calculation of said financial return on a computer record, by modifying said computer record on said storage device so that an audit trail of said calculation of said financial return is established; and

reporting said calculated financial return on said pool of assets and reporting said distribution of said net gain or loss on said pool of assets to said investors by printing a record of said distribution on a printer that is operatively connected to said computer system.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

calculating the cognizable interest of each asset by comparing said asset'"'"'s characteristics to predetermined cognizable interest qualifying criteria, said predetermined cognizable interest qualifying criteria storage in a computer record on said storage device;

assigning said calculated cognizable interest from said asset to said investor in response to said investor'"'"'s cognizable interest preference factors by modifying a computer record on said storage device to denote the assignment of said cognizable interest;

recording said assignment of said cognizable interest to said investor in a computer record, said computer record providing a link between said calculated cognizable interest and said particular asset and between said calculated cognizable interest and said investor so that an audit trail of said assignment of said cognizable interest is established; and

reporting said calculated cognizable interest calculation and said cognizable interest assignment to said investor.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

calculating the average risk weight of said pool of assets by determining the risk weight of each asset in said pool of assets and averaging said risk weight to determine said average risk weight;

recording said average risk weight calculation on a computer record so that said average risk weight calculation record maintains an audit trail for said average risk weight calculation; and

reporting said calculated average risk weight to said investors.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

recalculating said financial return on said pool of assets and redistributing said recalculated financial return in response to the acquisition or disposition of any asset said redistribution of said recalculated financial return performed by modifying a computer record on said storage device to denote said redistribution.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

recalculating and reassigning said cognizable interest assignment to said investor in response to the acquisition or disposition of any asset, said reassigning of said cognizable interest performed by modifying a computer record on said storage device to denote said redistribution.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:

recalculating said average risk weight of said pool of assets in response to the acquisition or disposition of any asset.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

recalculating and redistributing said financial return of said pool of assets to said investors by modifying a computer record on said storage device in response to an investor'"'"'s increased or decreased holding in said pool of assets.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

reallocating said cognizable interest to said investors by modifying a computer record on said storage device in response to an investor'"'"'s increased or decreased holding in said pool of assets.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said cognizable interest is a CRA interest; and

said step of distributing is based on said investor'"'"'s CRA requirements.

12. A computer method of interest distribution based on a pool of assets with a computer automated financial accountant and a parallel computer automated CRA interest accountant, a database, and a computer system comprising the steps of:

calculating the financial return on a pool of assets based on the financial return of each particular asset in said pool of assets and distributing said financial return to at least one investor by modifying an electronic computer record to indicate a particular financial distribution to said investor for said financial distribution, said computer record being stored in a storage device;

calculating the CRA interest available from said pool of assets by qualifying each particular asset in said pool of assets for CRA interest based on predetermined approval criteria wherein said predetermined approval criteria is electronically represented on said storage device so that said CRA interest is linked to said pool of assets by modifying a computer record on said storage device so that each said CRA interest can be traced to said particular asset in said pool of assets that qualifies for said CRA interest; and

distributing said CRA interest derived from said pool of assets to at least one said financial investor in the pool by modifying a computer record of each CRA interest transaction in a storage device so that each CRA interest can be linked to said particular asset in said pool of assets that was used to qualify said particular asset for CRA interest and to identify when said CRA interest is distributed to said investor.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

comparing an asset'"'"'s characteristics with predetermined qualifying parameters so that an asset can be identified as having a separate CRA interest;

procuring said qualified asset having said CRA interest for inclusion in said pool of assets and book on the system;

organizing said pool of assets as an investment company (whether registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or exempt therefrom), a trust, a limited liability corporation, a limited partnership, a general partnership, a limited liability partnership, a mutual fund, a REMIC, or an unincorporated association; and

managing said pool of assets by buying, selling and holding said assets to maintain said pool of assets within predetermined liquidity and market risk parameters.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

calculating the financial return on said pool of assets by combining the individual financial gain or loss of each asset within said pool of assets to determine a net gain or loss from said pool of assets;

distributing said net gain or loss from said pool of assets, by modifying a computer record on said storage device, to each said investor on a per share basis;

recording said calculation of said financial return on a computer record, by modifying said computer record on said storage device so that an audit trail of said calculation of said financial return is established; and

reporting said calculated financial return on said pool of assets and reporting said distribution of said net gain or loss on said pool of assets to said investors by printing a record of said distribution on a printer that is operatively connected to said computer system.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

calculating the CRA interest of each asset by comparing said assets characteristics to predetermined CRA interest qualifying criteria, said predetermined cognizable interest qualifying criteria storage in a computer record on said storage device;

assigning said calculated CRA interest from said asset to said investor in response to said investor'"'"'s CRA interest preference factors by modifying a computer record on said storage device to denote the assignment of said cognizable interest;

recording said assignment of said CRA interest to said investor in a computer record, said computer record providing a link between said calculated CRA interest and said particular asset and between said calculated CRA interest and said investor, and so that an audit trail of said assignment of said CRA interest is established; and

reporting said calculated CRA interest calculation and said CRA interest assignment to said investor.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

calculating the average risk weight of said pool of assets by determining the risk weight of each asset in said pool of assets and averaging said risk weight to determine said average risk weight;

recording said average risk weight calculation on a computer record so that said average risk weight calculation record maintains an audit trail for said average risk weight calculation; and

reporting said calculated average risk weight to said investors.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

recalculating said financial return on said pool of assets and redistributing said recalculated financial return in response to the acquisition or disposition of any asset said redistribution of said recalculated return performed by modifying a computer record on said storage device to denote said redistribution.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

recalculating and reassigning said CRA interest assignment to said investor in response to the acquisition or disposition of any asset, said reassigning of said CRA interest performed by modifying a computer record on said storage device to denote said redistribution.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

recalculating said average risk weight of said pool of assets in response to the acquisition or disposition of any asset.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

recalculating and redistributing said financial return of said pool of assets to said investors by modifying a computer record on said storage device in response to an investor'"'"'s increased or decreased holding in said pool of assets.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

reallocating said CRA interest to said investors by modifying a computer record on said storage device in response to an investor'"'"'s increased or decreased holding in said pool of assets.

22. A cognizable interest transaction apparatus to allocate financial returns to investor accounts and to separately allocate a cognizable interest from a managed pool of assets to said investor accounts comprising:

a control terminal for operating the cognizable interest transaction apparatus;

a processor coupled to said control terminal for processing transaction instructions respecting the cognizable interest transaction apparatus and maintaining account status information;

said processor modifying computer records of a portfolio of cognizable interest eligible assets and modifying computer records of investor accounts including share accounts, financial transactions and cognizable interest transactions; and

said processor modifying computer records to establish a cognizable interest eligible portfolio, said processor determining portfolio share price and modifying computer records to allocate said cognizable interest to said investor accounts.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

a printer operably connected to said processor, said printer for printing information in response to data from said processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

said control terminal provides an operator interface to the transaction network for monitoring, approving, or directing transactions within said transaction network.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

an operator at said control terminal can direct said transaction network to monitor, approve, or direct a cognizable interest transaction, a financial transaction or an asset transaction by commanding said transaction network to modify computer records.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

said processor in response to a command signal from said control terminal generates an audit trail, said audit trail providing a record of said cognizable interest transactions and said financial transactions.

27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said cognizable interest portfolio comprises:

a pool of assets that satisfies a first set of predetermined parameters that qualifies an asset as eligible for said cognizable interest, a second set of predetermined parameters that qualifies an asset as within a predetermined financial risk category, and a third set of predetermined parameters that qualifies an asset as satisfying a specific investor'"'"'s cognizable interest and financial requirements.

28. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising:

said processor managing said pool of assets by modifying computer records to denote the buying, selling, and holding said assets to maintain said pool of assets within predetermined liquidity and market risk parameters.

29. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

said processor determining the average risk weight of said portfolio, said processor modifying computer records on said storage device to notify said investor accounts of said average risk weight.

30. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

said means for maintaining records is a computer database.

31. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

said cognizable interest is a CRA interest; and

said processor allocating said CRA interest to said investor accounts by modifying computer records on said storage device based on said investors'"'"' CRA requirement.

32. A CRA interest transaction apparatus to allocate financial returns to investor accounts and to separately allocate a CRA interest from a managed pool of assets to said investor accounts comprising:

a control terminal for operating the CRA interest transaction apparatus;

a processor coupled to said control terminal for processing transaction instructions respecting the CRA interest transaction apparatus and maintaining account status information;

said processor modifying computer records of a portfolio of CRA interest eligible assets and modifying computer records of investor accounts including share accounts, financial transactions and CRA interest transactions; and

said processor modifying computer records to establish a CRA interest eligible portfolio, said processor determining portfolio share price and modifying computer records to allocate said CRA interest to said investor accounts.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising:

a printer operably connected to said processor, said printer for printing information in response to data from said processor.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein:

said control terminal provides an operator interface to the transaction network for monitoring, approving, or directing transactions within said transaction network.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein:

an operator at said control terminal can direct said transaction network to monitor, approve, or direct a CRA interest transaction, a financial transaction or an asset transaction by commanding said transaction network to modify computer records.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein:

said processor in response to a command signal from said control terminal generates an audit trail, said audit trail providing a record of said CRA interest transactions and said financial transactions.

37. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said CRA interest portfolio comprises:

a pool of assets that satisfies a first set of predetermined parameters that qualifies an asset as eligible for said CRA interest, a second set of predetermined parameters that qualifies an asset as within a predetermined financial risk category, and a third set of predetermined parameters that qualifies an asset as satisfying a specific investor'"'"'s CRA interest and financial requirements.

38. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising:

said processor managing said pool of assets by modifying computer records to denote the buying, selling, and holding said assets to maintain said pool of assets within predetermined liquidity and market risk parameters.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein:

said first set of predetermined parameters are CRA qualifying parameters;

said second set of predetermined parameters are used by said means for managing said pool of assets to determine whether to buy, sell, or hold said asset for said pool of assets; and

said third set of predetermined parameters are CRA requirements determined by parameters in said investor accounts.

40. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein:

said processor determining the average risk weight of said portfolio, said processor modifying computer records on said storage device to notify said investor accounts of said average risk weight.

41. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein:

said means for maintaining records is a computer database.

42. A financial and cognizable interest transaction network apparatus based on a managed pool of assets and a computer processor comprising:

a client service administrator establishing an investor account through the modification of a computer record, said client service administrator providing a command interface to command said transaction network to increase or decrease an investor'"'"'s financial holding in the network and to specify an investor'"'"'s desired geographic area from which to acquire cognizable interest;

a data storage device operationally connected to said client service administrator, said data storage device for maintaining computer records of said investor account;

a cognizable interest accountant operably connected to said data storage device, said cognizable interest accountant operatively connected to said client service administrator, said cognizable interest accountant determining the cognizable interest of assets within said pool of assets represented by computer records, said cognizable interest accountant allocating said cognizable interest to said investor account by modifying computer records of said investor accounts;

a transfer agent linked to said data storage device and said cognizable interest accountant, said transfer agent conducting transactions by book entry by modifying computer records to denote said transactions, said transfer agent buying and selling assets for said pool of assets;

a financial accountant linked to said transfer agent, said financial accountant operating in parallel with said cognizable interest accountant, said financial accountant determining said pool of assets'"'"' share price and said financial accountant providing means for distributing a financial return from said pool of assets to said investor account;

an investment advisor linked to said transfer agent, said financial accountant and said cognizable interest accountant, said investment advisor providing means for determining appropriate assets to buy or sell to maintain said pool of assets within a predetermined range of financial risk while maintaining a cognizable interest balance to substantially fulfill the cognizable interest demand from said investor account; and

a custodian linked to said transfer agent, said custodian providing means for receiving assets purchased by said transfer agent and acknowledging receipt thereof.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein:

said financial accountant calculates the financial return on a pool of assets based on the financial return of each particular asset in said pool of assets and distributes said financial return to said investor account so that a computer record that indicates a particular financial distribution to said investor account is created for said financial distribution, said computer record being stored in said storage device;

said cognizable interest accountant calculates the cognizable interest available from said pool of assets by qualifying each particular asset in said pool of assets for an amount of cognizable interest based on predetermined approval criteria so that said cognizable interest is linked to said pool of assets with a computer record so that each said cognizable interest can be traced to said particular asset in said pool of assets that qualifies for said cognizable interest; and

said cognizable interest accountant distributes said cognizable interest derived from said pool of assets to said investor account by maintaining a computer record of each cognizable interest transaction in said storage device so that each cognizable interest can be linked to said particular asset in said pool of assets that was used to qualify said particular asset for cognizable interest to said investor account.

44. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein:

said financial accountant calculates the average risk weight of said pool of assets by averaging the risk of each particular asset in said pool of assets, said financial accountant notifying said investor account of said average risk weight.

45. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising:

a printer operably connected to said client service administrator, said printer capable of printing information in response to data from said client service administrator.

46. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein:

said client service administrator in response to a command from said control terminal is capable of generating an audit trail of said cognizable interest transactions and said financial transactions from computer records of said transaction stored on said storage device.

47. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising:

a control terminal operably connected to said investment advisor, said control terminal providing operator means for monitoring, approving or directing the buying and selling of assets in said pool of assets.

48. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising:

a control terminal operably connected to said transfer agent, said control terminal providing operator means for monitoring, approving or directing transactions on said transaction network.

49. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein:

said cognizable interest is a CRA interest; and

said cognizable interest accountant including means for allocating said CRA interest to said investor account based on the investor'"'"'s CRA requirement.

50. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising:

an electronic interface to operably link said transfer agent to an external secondary market, said external secondary market created by a market maker for electronically buying and selling assets.

51. The apparatus of claim 42 further comprising:

an electronic interface to operably link said transfer agent to an external electronic funds transfer network, said interface electronically sending and receiving funds.

52. A financial and CRA interest transaction network apparatus based on a managed pool of assets and a computer processor comprising:

a client service administrator establishing an investor account through the modification of a computer record, said client service administrator providing a command interface to command said transaction network to increase or decrease an investor'"'"'s financial holding in the network and to specify an investor'"'"'s desired geographic area from which to acquire CRA interest;

a data storage device operationally connected to said client service administrator, said data storage device for maintaining computer records of said investor account;

a CRA interest accountant operably connected to said data storage device, said CRA interest accountant operatively connected to said client service administrator, said CRA interest accountant determining the CRA interest of assets represented by computer records, said CRA interest accountant allocating said CRA interests to said investor account by modifying computer records of said investor account;

a transfer agent linked to said data storage device and said client service administrator, said transfer agent conducting transactions by book entry by modifying computer records to denote said transactions, said transfer agent buying and selling assets for said pool of assets;

a financial accountant linked to said transfer agent, said financial accountant operating in parallel with said CRA interest accountant, said financial accountant determining said pool of assets'"'"' share price and said financial accountant providing means for distributing a financial return from said pool of assets to said investor account;

an investment advisor linked to said transfer agent, said financial accountant and said CRA accountant, said investment advisor providing means for determining appropriate assets to buy or sell to maintain said pool of assets within a predetermined range of financial risk while maintaining a CRA interest balance to substantially fulfill the CRA interest demand from said investor account; and

a custodian linked to said transfer agent, said custodian providing means for receiving assets purchased by said transfer agent and acknowledging receipt thereof.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein:

said financial accountant calculates the financial return on said pool of assets based on the financial return of each particular asset in said pool of assets and distributing said financial return to said investor account so that a computer record that indicates a particular financial distribution to said investor account is created for said financial distribution, said computer record being stored in said storage device;

said CRA interest accountant calculates the CRA interest available from said pool of assets by qualifying each particular asset in said pool of assets for an amount of CRA interest based on predetermined approval criteria so that said CRA interest is linked to said pool of assets with a computer record so that each said CRA interest can be traced to said particular asset in said pool of assets that qualifies for said CRA interest; and

said CRA interest accountant distributes said CRA interest derived from said pool of assets to said investor account by maintaining a computer record of each CRA interest transaction in said storage device so that each CRA interest can be linked to said particular asset in said pool of assets that was used to qualify said particular asset for CRA interest to said investor account.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein:

said financial accountant calculates the average risk weight of said pool of assets by averaging the risk of each particular asset in said pool of assets, said financial accountant notifying said investor account of said average risk weight.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising:

a printer operably connected to said client service administrator, said printer capable of printing information in response to data from said client service administrator.

56. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein:

said client service administrator in response to a command from said control terminal is capable of generating an audit trail of said CRA interest transactions and said financial transactions from computer records of said respective transactions stored on said storage device.

57. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising:

a control terminal operably connected to said investment advisor, said control terminal providing operator means for monitoring, approving or directing the buying and selling of assets in said pool of assets.

58. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising:

a control terminal operably connected to said transfer agent, said control terminal providing operator means for monitoring, approving or directing transactions on said transaction network.