Patent ID: 6032133
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
A method for electronically paying a bill, the method comprising the steps of:forwarding a bill pay order to a first processor, said bill pay order including information identifying said biller, an amount owed, and a consumer-biller account number;determining whether said consumer has sufficient funds to cover said amount owed;comparing said information identifying said biller to a local biller file to determine a biller financial institution identification number for a financial institution designated to receive funds for said biller;generating a payment message including said information identifying said biller, said amount owed, said consumer-biller account number, and said biller financial institution identification number;forwarding said payment message to a network if said step of determining whether said consumer has sufficient funds is satisfied; androuting said payment message to said biller financial institution over said network using said biller financial institution identification number.