Systems and methods for providing individualized financial access

Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing one or a series of value transfers. In some instances, the systems and methods include web or Internet based user interfaces that provide a mechanism whereby a user can implement a transfer plan without interacting with a human operator. Further, in some instances, such systems and methods provide a mechanism for authorizing access to one or more asset accounts from which value is transferred, and/or recipient accounts to which value is transferred. In some cases, the authorization function is performed by an entity that enjoys a pre-existing relationship with a user accessing the systems of the present invention, while any actual transfers are performed by a third party entity. This can be an advantage where authorization requires a signature or other interaction with a user sufficient to conform to electronic signature laws.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for facilitating individualized financial services, the system comprising:
 a first self-service graphical interface operable to accept information about a first account;   a second self-service graphical interface operable to accept information about a second account;   a third self-service graphical interface operable to accept directions to perform a financial transfer from the first account to the second account;   a fourth self-service graphical interface operable to accept an account number identifying an interim account, the interim account comprising a pre-existing account owned at least in part by the same owner as the first account; and   a first processor in communication with at least one of the first self-service graphical interface, the second self-service graphical interface, the third self-service graphical interface, and the fourth self-service graphical interface, and wherein the first processor is coupled to a first computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the first processor to initiate the financial transfer, wherein the financial transfer comprises a first transfer from the first account to the interim account and a second transfer from the interim account to the second account.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the system further comprising:
 a fifth self-service graphical interface operable to accept authentication information.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , the system further comprising:
 a second processor in communication with the first, second, and fifth self-service graphical interfaces, wherein the first processor receives:
 the information about the first account; 
 the information about the second account; and 
 the authentication information; 
   wherein the second processor is coupled to a second computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the second processor to authorize access to the first account based at least in part on the authentication information; and   the first processor is in communication with the second processor and the third self-service graphical interface, wherein the first processor receives:
 at least a portion of the information about the first account; 
 at least a portion of the information about the second account; and 
 the directions to perform the financial transfer from the first account to the second account. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second processor is maintained by an entity that maintains the first account. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first account is a bank account. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second processor is maintained by an entity that maintains the first account, and wherein the first processor is maintained by an entity that maintains the second account. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second account is a loan. 
     
     
         8 . The system of claim of  claim 3 , wherein the first account is maintained by a first entity, the second account is maintained by a second entity, and the first processor is maintained by a third entity. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , the system further comprises:
 a second processor maintained by a first entity and in communication with the first and fifth self-service graphical interfaces, wherein the second processor receives:
 the information about the first account; and 
 the authentication information; 
   wherein the second processor is coupled to a second computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the second processor to authorize access to the first account based at least in part on the authentication information; and   the first processor is maintained by a second entity and in communication with the second processor, and the second and third self-service graphical interfaces, wherein the first processor receives:
 at least a portion of the information about the first account; 
 at least a portion of the information about the second account; and 
 the directions to perform the financial transfer from the first account to the second account. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first account is a bank account, and the second account is a loan. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first account is a payroll account of an employer of a user of the system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first account is a revolving credit account. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second account is a fixed term loan. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second account is a revolving credit account. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second account is an investment account. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , the system further comprises:
 a fifth self-service graphical interface operable to accept information about a financial transaction, wherein the directions to perform the financial transfer from the first account to the second account are at least partially populated to the third self-service graphical interface based on the information about the financial transaction.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of more of the first, second and third interfaces are presented on a common web page. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the information about the first account comprises a selection from a group consisting of:
 an ABA routing number;   a bank account number; and   an account type.   
     
     
         19 . A system for facilitating individualized, self served financial services to make just in time payments, the system comprising:
 a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium comprises instructions executable by a computer to:
 present a first user interface operable to accept information about a first account, and information about a financial transaction associated with the first account, wherein the information about the financial transaction comprises a payment due date; 
 obtain a characteristic of the first account; 
 present a second user interface including the characteristic of the first account and operable to accept directions to perform a financial transfer from a second account to the first account to at least partially satisfy the financial transaction; and 
 present a third user interface operable to accept information about an interim account, wherein the financial transfer from the second account to the first account comprises a first transfer from the second account to the interim account on the payment due date and a second transfer from the interim account to the first account. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer readable medium is a first computer readable medium and the computer is a first computer, the system further comprising:
 a second computer readable medium, wherein the second computer readable medium comprises instructions executable by a second computer to:
 present a fourth user interface operable to accept authentication information, wherein the authentication information includes an identification of the second account; 
 authenticate a user based at least in part on the authentication information; and 
 provide an indication of the authentication to the first computer. 
   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer is a first computer, and wherein the computer readable medium further comprises instructions executable by the first computer to:
 receive an authentication from a second computer, wherein the authentication permits the first computer to initiate the financial transfer from the second account to the first account; and   initiate the financial transfer from the second account to the first account.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer readable medium further comprises instructions executable by the computer to:
 present a fourth user interface operable to accept directions to perform a third transfer from a third account to the second account in relation to the financial transaction.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first account is a loan account, the second account is a revolving credit account, and the third account is a bank account. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer readable medium further comprises instructions executable by the computer to:
 initiate a third transfer from a third account to the first account, wherein the third transfer is in an amount that corresponds to the directions to perform a financial transfer from the second account to the first account; and   initiate a fourth transfer from the second account to the third account, wherein the fourth transfer is in an amount that corresponds to the third transfer from the third account to the first account.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the first account is a loan account, the second account is a home equity credit line, and the third account is a bank account. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the characteristic of the first account is a payment due date. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the characteristic of the first account is an amount due. 
     
     
         28 . A method for implementing an individualized financial plan, the method comprising:
 receiving an authorization to access a first account;   providing a first user interface, wherein the first user interface is operable to accept information about a second account;   receiving the information about the second account;   providing a second user interface, wherein the second user interface is operable to accept directions to perform a financial transfer from the first account to the second account;   receiving the directions to perform the financial transfer from the first account to the second account;   providing a third user interface, wherein the third user interface is operable to accept information about an interim account, wherein the financial transfer comprises:
 a first transfer from the first account to the interim account, wherein the first transfer occurs on a date that coincides with a deposit; and 
 a second transfer from the interim account to the second account; and 
   initiating the financial transfer based at least in part on the authorization.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the deposit comprises a paycheck from an employer into the first account. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , the method further comprising:
 requesting a characteristic about the second account; and   receiving the characteristic of the second account, wherein the characteristic of the second account is provided in relation to the second user interface.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the characteristic of the second account is selected from a group consisting of: a payment due date, a payment amount, a balance amount, and an early payment incentive. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein initiating the financial transfer is based at least in part on the characteristic of the second account. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first account is selected from a group consisting of: a revolving credit account, a bank account, and a paycheck. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second account is selected from a group consisting of a revolving credit account and a loan account. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , the method further comprising:
 providing a fourth user interface, wherein the fourth user interface is operable to accept information about a user's pay period;   receiving the information about the user's pay period; and   wherein initiating the financial transfer is based at least in part on the user's pay period.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the first account is a paycheck. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the interim account is a revolving credit account, the first account is selected from a group consisting of a bank account and a paycheck, and the second account is a loan account. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the authorization to access the first account is received from a third party. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein receiving the authorization to access the first account comprises:
 providing a fourth user interface, wherein the fourth user interface is operable to receive authorization information related to the first account;   receiving the authorization information; and   authorizing access to the first account based at least in part on the authorization information.   
     
     
         40 . A method for performing garnishments after funds become available via a paycheck, the method comprising:
 receiving a garnishment authorization, wherein the garnishment authorization is associated with a paycheck;   providing a first user interface, wherein the first user interface is operable to accept information about a garnishment account;   receiving the information about the garnishment account;   providing a second user interface, wherein the second user interface is operable to accept directions to perform a financial transfer from the paycheck to the garnishment account;   receiving the directions to perform the financial transfer from the paycheck to the garnishment account;   providing a third user interface, wherein the third user interface is operable to accept an account number identifying an interim account; and   initiating the financial transfer from the paycheck to the garnishment account based at least in part on the garnishment authorization, wherein the financial transfer comprises a first transfer from the paycheck to the interim account and a second transfer from the interim account to the garnishment account, and wherein the first transfer occurs on a date that coincides with a deposit of the paycheck   
     
     
         41 . A method for collecting delinquent accounts, the method comprising:
 requesting authorization from an account owner to access an asset account associated with the account owner, wherein the account owner is liable for a delinquent account;   receiving the authorization to access the asset account;   providing the authorization to access the asset account via a first user interface;   accessing a second user interface operable to accept information about the delinquent account and providing the information about the delinquent account;   accessing a third user interface operable to accept directions to perform a financial transfer from the asset account to the delinquent account;   accessing a fourth user interface operable to accept an account number identifying an interim account, the interim account comprising a pre-existing account; and   providing the directions to perform the financial transfer from the asset account to the delinquent account, wherein the financial transfer from the asset account to the delinquent account comprises a first transfer from the asset account to the interim account and a second transfer from the interim account to the delinquent account.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the directions to perform a financial transfer from the asset account to the delinquent account include directions to perform recurring transfers from the asset account to the delinquent account. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the asset account is selected from a group consisting of: a paycheck, a revolving credit account, and a bank account. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the pre-existing account comprises an account owned at least in part by the same owner as the asset account.