Hybrid account

Abstract

A system, according to one embodiment, includes a hybrid account provided by an issuer to a user, the hybrid account having a balance, the balance being either positive, zero, or negative; and a financial instrument including a hybrid card, the hybrid card providing access to the hybrid account, in which transactions using the hybrid card provide interchange income to the issuer, the issuer charges interest to the hybrid account when the balance is negative, and the issuer pays interest to the hybrid account when the balance is positive.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a data storage device including a computer-readable medium having computer readable code for instructing the processor that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
 evaluating, by the processor, a user profile from attributes of a prospective user; 
 determining a risk, by the processor, based on a result of evaluating the user profile; 
 extending a credit line for a hybrid account to the prospective user, wherein a credit limit of the extended credit line is based on the determination of risk; 
 issuing, to the prospective user, a hybrid card with an identifier on a card body that corresponds to the hybrid account so that the hybrid card provides access to the hybrid account; and 
 when processing transactions that use the hybrid card to access the hybrid account, treating the hybrid account, by the processor, as one consolidated account, having an account balance, the account balance being either positive, zero, or negative, wherein a negative account balance is carried. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
 charging interest, by the processor, on the account balance when the account balance is negative.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
 paying interest, by the processor, on the account balance when the account balance is positive.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
 using an interchange income provided to an issuer of the hybrid card to increase a credit line for a user of the hybrid card.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
 paying cash back to the hybrid account including paying the hybrid account from an interchange fee earned by using the hybrid card.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein extending the credit line includes providing attributes according to the extended credit line, the attributes including a percentage rate for cash back payments. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein extending the credit line includes providing attributes according to the extended credit line, the attributes including an interest rate that is variable and is a function of the prime rate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , the operation of processing transactions further comprising:
 when processing a purchase transaction that uses the hybrid card to access the hybrid account, the purchase transaction earns a cash back credit to the hybrid account.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , the operation of processing transactions further comprising:
 when processing a purchase transaction that uses the hybrid card to access the hybrid account, the purchase transaction earns a cash back credit to the hybrid account; and   an amount of the cash back credit is a specified percentage of an amount of the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein transactions for the hybrid account are settled daily. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 issuing, by a computer processor to a prospective user, a hybrid card having a card body with an identifier on the card body that corresponds to a hybrid account so that the hybrid card provides access to the hybrid account; and   when processing transactions that use the hybrid card to access the hybrid account, treating the hybrid account, by the computer processor, as one consolidated account, having an account balance, the account balance being either positive, zero, or negative, wherein a negative account balance is carried.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 evaluating, by the computer processor, a user profile from attributes of the prospective user.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a risk, by the computer processor, based on a result of evaluating a user profile of the prospective user.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 extending a credit line for the hybrid account to the prospective user, wherein a credit limit of the extended credit line is based on a determination of risk associated with the prospective user.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 charging interest, by the computer processor, on the account balance when the account balance is negative.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 paying interest, by the computer processor, on the account balance when the account balance is positive.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 using an interchange income provided to an issuer of the hybrid card to increase a credit line for a user of the hybrid card.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 paying cash back to the hybrid account including paying the hybrid account from an interchange fee earned by using the hybrid card.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 extending a credit line for the hybrid account to the prospective user, including providing attributes according to the extended credit line, the attributes including a percentage rate for cash back payments.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable code for instructing a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 issuing, by the computer processor to a prospective user, a hybrid card having a card body with an identifier on the card body that corresponds to a hybrid account so that the hybrid card provides access to the hybrid account; and   when processing transactions that use the hybrid card to access the hybrid account, treating the hybrid account, by the computer processor, as one consolidated account, having an account balance, the account balance being either positive, zero, or negative, wherein a negative account balance is carried.