Methods and devices for savings participation
First Claim
1. A computer-based method for implementation by a computer on behalf of a financial institution, the method comprising:
- storing in a memory circuit, for each of a plurality of customers, customer profile data that identifies a checking or savings account for accumulating automated savings, that identifies customer-specified types of financial transactions for automated savings participation, and that identifies a customer-specified saving algorithm for each of the types of financial transactions and customer-specific savings goals;
receiving, at an interface circuit, notification data indicative of each one of the plurality of customers having actively engaged in at least one of the types of financial transactions for automated savings participation; and
for each one of the plurality of customers, executing instructions at a computer processor to perform the steps of;
accessing the customer profile data in the memory circuit;
comparing, in response to the steps of receiving notification data and accessing the customer profile data, said one of the types of financial transactions being actively engaged and the customer-specified types of financial transactions and determining therefrom whether said one of the types of financial transactions qualifies for automated savings participation,based upon the determining,selecting a customer-specified saving algorithm as specified for the type of financial transaction,accessing and implementing the customer-specified saving algorithm for the financial transaction for which notification data has been received and, therefrom,increasing the amount of savings in the account for accumulating automated savings;
placing a lock on withdrawals from the account, for a set number of days and for the increased amount of savings;
detecting achievement of a customer-specific savings goal; and
providing, in response to detecting achievement of a customer-specific savings goal, a reward.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-based automated savings method includes storing in a memory circuit, for each customer, customer profile data that identifies an account for accumulating automated savings, that identifies customer-specified types of financial transactions for automated savings participation, and that identifies a customer-specified saving algorithm for each of the different types of financial transactions. Notification data is received that is indicative of one of the customers having actively engaged in one of the types of financial transactions for automated savings participation. The customer'"'"'s profile data in the memory circuit is accessed, the type of financial transaction being engaged in by the customer is compared with the customer-specified types of financial transactions, and therefrom it is determined whether the type of financial transaction qualifies for automated savings participation. The method further includes based upon the comparison, selecting a customer-specified saving algorithm as specified for the type of financial transaction, accessing and implementing the customer-specified saving algorithm for the financial transaction for which notification data has been received and, therefrom, increasing the amount of savings in the account for accumulating automated savings.
78 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A computer-based method for implementation by a computer on behalf of a financial institution, the method comprising:
-
storing in a memory circuit, for each of a plurality of customers, customer profile data that identifies a checking or savings account for accumulating automated savings, that identifies customer-specified types of financial transactions for automated savings participation, and that identifies a customer-specified saving algorithm for each of the types of financial transactions and customer-specific savings goals; receiving, at an interface circuit, notification data indicative of each one of the plurality of customers having actively engaged in at least one of the types of financial transactions for automated savings participation; and for each one of the plurality of customers, executing instructions at a computer processor to perform the steps of; accessing the customer profile data in the memory circuit; comparing, in response to the steps of receiving notification data and accessing the customer profile data, said one of the types of financial transactions being actively engaged and the customer-specified types of financial transactions and determining therefrom whether said one of the types of financial transactions qualifies for automated savings participation, based upon the determining, selecting a customer-specified saving algorithm as specified for the type of financial transaction, accessing and implementing the customer-specified saving algorithm for the financial transaction for which notification data has been received and, therefrom, increasing the amount of savings in the account for accumulating automated savings; placing a lock on withdrawals from the account, for a set number of days and for the increased amount of savings; detecting achievement of a customer-specific savings goal; and providing, in response to detecting achievement of a customer-specific savings goal, a reward. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A non-transitory data-storage medium containing computer-executable data that, in response to being executed by a computer circuit, causes the computer circuit to execute a method comprising the steps of:
-
storing in a memory circuit, for each of a plurality of customers, customer profile data that identifies an account for accumulating automated savings, that identifies customer-specified types of financial transactions for automated savings participation, and that identifies a customer-specified saving algorithm for each of the types of financial transactions; receiving notification data indicative of one of the plurality of customers having actively engaged in one of the types of financial transactions for automated savings participation; for said one of the plurality of customers, accessing the customer profile data in the memory circuit; comparing, in response to the steps of receiving notification data and accessing the customer profile data, said one of the types of financial transactions being actively engaged and the customer-specified types of financial transactions and determining therefrom whether said one of the types of financial transactions qualifies for automated savings participation, based upon the comparison, selecting a customer-specified saving algorithm as specified for the type of financial transaction, accessing and implementing the customer-specified saving algorithm for the financial transaction for which notification data has been received and, therefrom, increasing the amount of savings in the account for accumulating automated savings, wherein the increased amount of savings includes funds from a rewards program, and charging a penalty, in response to a subsequent transfer of the funds corresponding to the rewards program out of the account for accumulating automated savings.
-
-
20. A computer-based circuit operable on behalf of a financial institution for accumulating savings on behalf of an individual, the computer-based circuit comprising:
-
a memory circuit storing, for each of a plurality of customers, customer profile data that identifies an account for accumulating automated savings, that identifies customer-specified types of financial transactions for automated savings participation, and that identifies a customer-specified saving algorithm for each of the types of financial transactions; a network-interface circuit configured to receive notification data, from a customer-oriented terminal, indicative of one of the plurality of customers having actively engaged in one of the types of financial transactions for automated savings participation; a computer arrangement, including at least one software-programmed computer, configured for said one of the plurality of customers, to access the customer profile data in the memory circuit; compare, in response to the steps of receiving notification data and accessing the customer profile data, said one of the types of financial transactions being actively engaged and the customer-specified types of financial transactions and determine therefrom whether said one of the types of financial transactions qualifies for automated savings participation, based upon the comparison, select a customer-specified saving algorithm as specified for the type of financial transaction, access and implement the customer-specified saving algorithm for the financial transaction for which notification data has been received and, therefrom, increase the amount of savings in the account for accumulating automated savings, wherein the increased amount of savings includes funds from a rewards program, determine that funds withdrawn from the account for accumulating automated savings correspond to the funds for a rewards program, charge a penalty, in response to determining the withdrawn funds correspond to the funds for the rewards program, and not charge the penalty for withdrawals that do not correspond to funds for the rewards program. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification