System and method for managing dedicated use of a credit account

• US 7,584,126 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Capital One Services LLC (Capital One Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
• Inventors: White, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell; James P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trotter; Scott S
• Application Number:
  US10/642,769
• Time in Patent Office: 2,206 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/39, 705/40, 235/487
• US Class Current: 705/35
• 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 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

Abstract

A method of managing dedicated use of a credit account is provided. The method includes receiving information regarding a credit account, associating the credit account with a usage program, where the usage program includes terms of dedicated use and where the terms of dedicated use are associated with providing benefits to the customer in return for dedicated use of the credit account, providing a benefit to the customer according to the terms, monitoring credit activity corresponding to the credit account, and maintaining the benefit if the monitored credit activity satisfies the terms of dedicated use.

Claims

1. A method for managing dedicated use of a credit account, comprising:

receiving information regarding a credit account, the credit account associated with a customer;

associating the credit account with a usage program, the usage program comprising one or more terms of dedicated use, the terms of dedicated use associated with providing a benefit to the customer in return for dedicated use of the credit account, the dedicated use of the credit account comprising a predetermined level of usage of the credit account by the customer in relation to one or more other credit accounts associated with the customer;

providing the benefit to the customer according to the terms of dedicated use;

using one or more computer processors, monitoring over a period of time credit activity corresponding to the credit account and activity corresponding to the one or more other credit accounts to determine if the monitored credit activity satisfies the terms of dedicated use; and

maintaining the benefit if the monitored credit activity satisfies the terms of dedicated use.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising penalizing the customer if the monitored credit activity does not satisfy the terms of dedicated use.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dedicated use of the credit account further comprises exclusive use of the credit account rather than the one or more other credit accounts over the period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the credit account with a usage program further comprises:

offering the customer participation in the usage program; and

receiving an acceptance of the offer from the customer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the credit account is associated with an interest rate; and

providing the benefit to the customer according to the terms further comprises lowering the interest rate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the benefit to the customer according to the terms of dedicated use further comprises:

determining an original usage level associated with the credit account;

identifying the benefit from a plurality of benefit options, the benefit associated with the original usage level; and

providing the identified benefit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring credit activity corresponding to the credit account further comprises monitoring a credit report corresponding to the customer, the credit report comprising information associating the credit activity of the credit account with the customer.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein penalizing the customer if the monitored credit activity does not satisfy the terms of dedicated use further comprises charging a penalty fee to the customer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the benefit if the monitored credit activity satisfies the terms of dedicated use comprises:

determining an account usage level associated with the credit account based on the monitored credit activity; and

maintaining the benefit if the account usage level is greater than or equal to the predetermined level of usage.

10. A method for providing a dedicated credit account, comprising:

providing a credit card customer with a credit account;

using one or more computer processors, associating the credit account with a usage program, the usage program comprising one or more terms of dedicated use, the terms of dedicated use associated with providing a benefit to the customer in return for dedicated use of the credit account, the dedicated use of the credit account comprising a predetermined level of usage of the credit account by the customer in relation to one or more other credit accounts associated with the customer; and

providing the benefit to the customer if, over a period of time, monitored credit activity corresponding to the credit account satisfies the terms of dedicated use, wherein activity corresponding to the one or more other credit accounts is monitored.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the dedicated use of the credit account further comprises exclusive use of the credit account rather than the one or more other credit accounts over the period of time.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the credit account is associated with an interest rate; and

providing the benefit to the customer further comprises lowering the interest rate.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the benefit to the customer if the monitored credit activity associated with the credit account satisfies the terms of dedicated use further comprises:

determining an account usage level associated with the credit account;

identifying the benefit from a plurality of benefit options, the benefit associated with the account usage level; and

providing the identified benefit.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the benefit to the customer if the monitored credit activity associated with the credit account satisfies the terms of dedicated use comprises:

determining an account usage level associated with the credit account; and

providing the benefit if the account usage level is greater than or equal to the predetermined level of usage.