System and method for providing financial instruments to customers of a service provider

Abstract

MethodsA system and method for providing financial instruments to customers and applicants of a service provider are disclosed. One method, among others, includes providing a device such as a mobile telephone to a user, and providing the user with a contactless card having a financial account identifier that is associated with a financial account.

Therefore, having thus described the invention, at least the following is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of providing credit, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving an application for a credit account provided by a financial service provider, wherein an applicant submits the application from a mobile telephone via a mobile telephone service provided by a telephone service provider, and the application includes information about the applicant;   qualifying the applicant for the credit account based at least in part on information included in the application;   providing the qualified applicant a contactless card having an identifier of the credit account therein, the contactless card comprising a separate physical device than the mobile telephone and configured to contactlessly provide the identifier to a reader for purchasing a good or service via the credit account;   attaching the contactless card to the mobile telephone, wherein the contactless card is electrically isolated from electrical circuitry of the mobile telephone; and   the financial service provider compensating the telephone service provider for enabling the contactless card to be provided to the applicant and attached to the mobile telephone.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the financial service provider compensating the telephone service provider comprises the financial service provider paying the telephone service provider for the mobile telephone services provided to the applicant. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contactless card is removably attached to the mobile telephone. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the contactless card is integrated with a SIM card of the mobile telephone. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the financial service provider compensating the telephone service provider comprises the telephone service provider receiving a portion of charges applied against the credit account. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone defines a housing having an exterior surface, and wherein the contactless card is configured to couple to the exterior surface. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone defines a housing having an exterior surface, and wherein the contactless card is configured to adhere to the exterior surface. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile telephone defines a housing, and wherein the housing is configured to receive the contactless card. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the housing includes a cavity configured to receive the contactless card. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the credit account is associated with the telephone service provider. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the credit account is a private label account. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the credit account is a co-branded account. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the credit account is a general purpose account. 
     
     
       14. A method of providing credit to a customer of a telephone service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving at least a portion of an application for a mobile telephone service, wherein an applicant submits the application and the application includes information about the applicant, and wherein a telephone service provider provides the applied for mobile telephone service;   determining whether the applicant qualifies for a credit account, wherein the determination is based at least in part on information included in the application;   responsive to determining that the applicant is qualified for the credit account, a financial service provider opening the credit account;   providing the applicant a mobile telephone for receiving the mobile telephone service;   providing the applicant to a contactless card having an identifier of the credit account therein, wherein the contactless card comprises a separate physical device than the mobile telephone and is configured to contactlessly enable the applicant to purchase a good or service via the credit account by contactlessly providing the identifier to a reader;   attaching the contactless card to the mobile telephone in electrical isolation from electrical circuitry of the mobile telephone; and   the financial service provider compensating the telephone service provider for enabling the contactless card to be provided with and attached to the mobile telephone.   
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the financial service provider compensating the telephone service provider comprises paying for at least a portion of the applicant's mobile telephone service charges. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the contactless card is integrated with a SIM card of the mobile telephone. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the contactless card is removably attached to the mobile telephone. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the financial service provider compensating the telephone service provider comprises providing a portion of charges applied against the credit account. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile telephone defines a housing having an exterior surface, and wherein the contactless card is configured to couple to the exterior surface. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile telephone defines a housing having an exterior surface, and wherein the contactless card is configured to adhere to the exterior surface. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile telephone defines a housing, and wherein the housing is configured to receive the contactless card. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the housing includes a cavity configured to receive the contactless card. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the credit account is associated with the telephone service provider. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the credit account is a private label account. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the credit account is a co-branded account. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the credit account is a general purpose account. 
     
     
       27. A method of integrating a financial service provided by a financial services provider with a mobile telephone service provided by a telephone service provider, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a mobile telephone to a customer, wherein mobile telephone services for the mobile telephone are pre-paid and provided by a telephone service provider;   providing a contactless card to the customer, the contactless card including an identifier associated with a debit account provided by a financial service provider, the contactless card comprising a separate physical device than the mobile telephone and configured to contactlessly provide the identifier to a reader for enabling the customer to purchase a good or service via the debit account, wherein the mobile telephone and the contactless card are configured to be attached to each other with the contactless card being electrically isolated from electrical circuitry in the mobile telephone.   
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the debit account is provided to the customer with an initial monetary value, and the customer purchases the mobile telephone and the contactless card in a combined purchase from a seller. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , farther comprising the customer purchasing at least one of additional pre-paid telephone services or additional monetary value for the debit account. 
     
     
       30. A financial payment system comprising:
 a portable electronic device;   a contactless card having an identifier of an account provided by a financial services provider, the contactless card configured to provide the identifier to a reader for purchasing a good or service via the account, and wherein the financial services provider provides a financial benefit to a telephone service provider associated with the portable electronic device for enabling use of the contactless card with the portable electronic device; and   means for attaching the contactless card to the portable electronic device without electrical connection to electrical circuitry of the portable electronic device.    
     
     
       31. The system of claim 30 wherein the portable electronic device is a mobile telephone.  
     
     
       32. The system of claim 30 wherein the portable electronic device is a personal data assistant device.  
     
     
       33. The system of claim 30 wherein the portable electronic device is a portable media content player.  
     
     
       34. The system of claim 30 wherein the attaching means comprises an adhesive.  
     
     
       35. The system of claim 30 wherein the attaching means comprises a glue.  
     
     
       36. The contactless payment device of claim 30 wherein the at least one protocol is radio frequency identifier (RFID).  
     
     
       37. The contactless payment device of claim 30 wherein the at least one protocol is near field communication (NFC).  
     
     
       38. The contactless payment device of claim 30 wherein the at least one protocol is Bluetooth.