Consolidation Systems And Methods For Physical Presentation Instruments And Financial Information

Abstract

A system and method for providing a presentation instrument in combination with a financial statement includes a host computer system and a printer communicatively coupled to the host computer system. A presentation instrument initializing machine is communicably coupled to the host computer system. The system also includes a mail processing machine. The host computer system is configured to determine when to consolidate the presentation instrument with the financial reporting information, to transmit instructions to the printer to print the financial reporting information, to transmit instructions to the presentation instrument initializing machine to initialize a presentation instrument and to transmit to the mail processing machine instructions to combine the presentation instrument with the printed financial reporting information.

1 . A system for providing a presentation instrument in combination with a financial statement, the system comprising: 
 a host computer system,    a printer communicatively coupled to the host computer system;    a presentation instrument initializing machine communicably coupled to the host computer system; and    a mail processing machine;    wherein the host computer system is configured to determine when to consolidate the presentation instrument with the financial reporting information, to transmit instructions to the printer to print the financial reporting information, to transmit instructions to the presentation instrument initializing machine to initialize a presentation instrument and to transmit to the mail processing machine instructions to combine the presentation instrument with the printed financial reporting information.    
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the mail processing machine is configured to place the presentation instrument and the financial reporting information into an envelope.  
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the financial reporting information is printed by the printer into a monthly statement, and wherein the presentation instrument comprises a card.  
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the financial reporting information comprises a monthly statement of the account, and wherein a decision to consolidate is based on when an existing presentation instrument associated with the account will expire.  
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the host includes a rule indicating a deadline when a presentation instrument should be mailed, and wherein the host is configured to determine an appropriate monthly statement to combine with the presentation instrument based on the deadline.  
     
     
         6 . A method for providing a presentation instrument in combination with printed financial information, the method comprising: 
 receiving at a host financial reporting information associated with a financial account;    receiving at the host presentation instrument delivery information for a presentation instrument associated with the financial account;    determining with the host whether to consolidate the presentation instrument with the financial reporting information;    if consolidation is determined, transmitting from the host instructions to mail the presentation instrument with the financial reporting information.    
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6 , wherein the financial reporting information comprises a monthly statement of the account, and wherein a decision to consolidate is based on when an existing presentation instrument associated with the account will expire.  
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting instructions from the host to produce the presentation instrument, to print the monthly statement and to combine the presentation instrument and the monthly statement in an envelope.  
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8 , further comprising printing the monthly statement with a printer, initializing the presentation instrument with an account identifier, and placing the monthly statement and the initialized presentation instrument into an envelope.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein the host includes a rule indicating a deadline when a presentation instrument should be mailed, and wherein the host is configured to determine an appropriate monthly statement to combine with the presentation instrument based on the deadline.  
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a host system including an input device, a communications system, a processor, and a storage device, wherein the computer-readable program includes instructions for operating the host system to process a financial transaction in accordance with the following: 
 receiving financial reporting information associated with a financial account;    receiving presentation instrument delivery information for a presentation instrument associated with the financial account;    determining whether to consolidate the presentation instrument with the financial reporting information;    if consolidation is determined, providing instructions to mail the presentation instrument with the financial reporting information.    
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium recited in  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions for producing a monthly statement of the account, and to consolidate based on when an existing presentation instrument associated with the account will expire.  
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium recited in  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions to produce the presentation instrument, to print the monthly statement and to combine the presentation instrument and the monthly statement in an envelope.  
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium recited in  claim 13 , wherein the computer-readable program further includes instructions to print the monthly statement with a printer, to initialize the presentation instrument with an account identifier, and to place the monthly statement and the initialed presentation instrument into an envelope.  
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium recited in  claim 11 , wherein the computer-readable program further includes a rule indicating a deadline when a presentation instrument should be mailed, and to determine an appropriate monthly statement to combine with the presentation instrument based on the deadline.