Abstract:
A credit approval monitoring system comprises a database system storing credit files for consumers. A monitoring processing system monitors credit reports of subscribing consumers and transmits messages indicative of changes in a subscribers credit report. A screening processing system screens credit reports to determine if credit applicants satisfy select criteria. A watch processing system is operatively associated with the monitoring processing system and the screening processing system for periodically requesting the screening processing system to determine if the credit report of a select consumer satisfies the select criteria and sending the determination to the monitoring processing system to notify the select consumer if the screening processing system determines that the credit report of the select consumer satisfies the select criteria.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of Utility application Ser. No. 10/944,606, filed Sep. 17, 2004, which claims priority of Provisional Ser. No. 60/504,242, filed Sep. 18, 2003. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to credit monitoring and screening and, more particularly, to a credit approval monitoring system and method. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Simply stated, credit is borrowed money. Credit signifies the amount of trust a creditor has in the fact that a debtor will repay borrowed funds pursuant to an agreement. The amount of trust a creditor has directly translates into the amount of money that will be provided to the customer and which must be repaid. 
         [0004]    To facilitate credit transactions, a credit bureau acts as a clearinghouse for credit history information. Credit grantors provide credit bureaus with factual information on how their credit customers pay their bills. Credit grantors can obtain credit reports about consumers who wish to open accounts with them. 
         [0005]    Recently, credit bureaus have provided services to consumers allowing the consumer to monitor changes to their personal credit information. These monitoring systems can provide notices any time a change is made to the consumer&#39;s credit report to ensure that the credit information used by the credit bureau is accurate and up to date. Moreover, the information can be used by the consumer to ascertain the likelihood of obtaining credit. However, the consumer will not know if the changes are sufficient to allow them to obtain credit without actually applying for the same. 
         [0006]    Only businesses or individuals with a permissible purpose can access a consumer&#39;s credit report. An example of a permissible purpose includes accessing a credit report in connection with a credit transaction involving the consumer. Because of these restrictions, a credit grantor cannot on its own access credit information to determine the credit worthiness of any particular consumer. 
         [0007]    The present invention is directed to enhancements in current systems and method for managing relationships between credit grantors and consumers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In accordance with the invention there is provided a credit approval monitoring system and method. 
         [0009]    There is disclosed in accordance with one aspect of the invention, a credit approval monitoring method comprising: continually monitoring a credit report of a consumer; notifying the consumer when any changes are made to the consumer&#39;s credit report; periodically screening the credit report to determine if the consumer satisfies select criteria of a credit grantor; and notifying the consumer if the screening determines that the consumer satisfies the select criteria. 
         [0010]    It is a feature of the invention that periodically screening the credit report to determine if the consumer satisfies select criteria of a credit grantor comprises screening the consumer after the consumer has been denied credit. 
         [0011]    It is another feature of the invention that periodically screening the credit report to determine if the consumer satisfies select criteria of a credit grantor comprises making a daily determination that the consumer satisfies the select criteria. 
         [0012]    It is still a further feature of the invention that notifying the consumer if the screening determines that the consumer satisfies the select criteria comprises transmitting an email message to the consumer including a link to a network site providing a marketing message to the consumer. 
         [0013]    It is still another feature of the invention that the consumer is directed to a network site of the credit grantor if the consumer responds to the marketing message. 
         [0014]    It is yet another feature of the invention that periodically screening the credit report to determine if the consumer satisfies select criteria of a credit grantor comprises determining a credit score for the consumer and comparing the credit score to the select criteria. 
         [0015]    There is disclosed in accordance with another aspect of the invention a credit approval monitoring method comprising: providing a notification of adverse action to a credit applicant responsive to the credit applicant not satisfying select criteria; subsequent to the adverse action notification monitoring a credit report of the credit applicant; periodically screening the credit report to determine if the credit applicant satisfies the select criteria; and notifying the credit applicant if the screening determines that the credit report satisfies the select criteria. 
         [0016]    There is disclosed in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention a credit approval monitoring system. The system comprises a database system storing credit files for consumers. A monitoring processing system monitors credit reports of subscribing consumers and transmits messages indicative of changes in a subscribers credit report. A screening processing system screens credit reports to determine if credit applicants satisfy select criteria. A watch processing system is operatively associated with the monitoring processing system and the screening processing system for periodically requesting the screening processing system to determine if the credit report of a select consumer satisfies the select criteria and sending the determination to the monitoring processing system to notify the select consumer if the screening processing system determines that the credit report of the select consumer satisfies the select criteria. 
         [0017]    Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a credit approval monitoring system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating a sale cycle and set up routine of a credit approval monitoring method in accordance with the invention implemented using the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram illustrating a credit monitoring routine for the credit approval monitoring method in accordance with the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating a wait routine of the credit approval monitoring method in accordance with the invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating an e-mail routine of the credit approval monitoring method in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    In accordance with the invention, a credit approval monitoring system and method provides a gateway for businesses to market credit related products to consumers by using combined information, architecture and technology of credit monitoring products and decisioning or screening products that analyze a consumer&#39;s credit file using credit attributes and the like. 
         [0024]    Conventional credit monitoring products facilitate consumer analysis of changes to their personal credit information. Likewise, current decisioning products provide a pre-screen tool that facilitates the cross sell of credit products and services. The credit approval monitoring system and method in accordance with the invention combines and enhances these two products for businesses to use in managing consumer relationships. The system and method provides a new product relationship with a consumer by matching consumers who participate in a credit monitoring service with offers from businesses when changes in the consumer&#39;s credit profile meets criteria pre-defined by the business. Particularly, the credit approval monitoring system and method supports promoting credit monitoring services to businesses for consumer usage. The system and method develops the e-commerce capabilities targeting directly to consumers and to manage and grow consumer relationships while allowing promotion of credit monitoring to businesses. 
         [0025]    As a consumer&#39;s credit profile changes, credit monitoring services continue to inform the consumer. In accordance with the invention decisioning or screening services evaluate opportunities to present the consumer with marketing offers from the business responsible for the use of the credit monitoring service. These marketing offers are packaged and displayed when the consumer returns to the credit monitoring service to check status. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram illustrates an exemplary system for implementing the credit approval monitoring system and method. A cloud  10  represents a communication network for providing electronic communications. The network  10  may comprise any available network such as a telephone network, the internet, or any other means of providing electronic communications. Connected to the network  10  are a consumer PC  12 , a business customer host  14  and a credit approval monitoring system  16 . The credit approval monitoring system  16  comprises a credit monitoring system  18 , a credit screening system  20  and a credit watch system  22 , each connected to the network  10 . Also, the credit watch system is operatively connected to the credit monitoring system  18  and the credit screening system  20 . Particularly, the credit monitoring system  18  is also a stand alone product, as described above, which facilitates consumer analysis of changes to personal credit information and uses a monitor database  24 . The credit screening system  20  also operates as a stand alone product, as a pre-screen tool that facilitate the sale of credit products and services. This credit screening system  20  uses a screening database  26 . The credit watch system  22  functions with the credit monitoring system  18  and the credit screening system  20 , as discussed above, and uses a general credit database  28  that stores credit history information for consumers, as discussed above. 
         [0027]    As is apparent,  FIG. 1  is illustrative of an environment in which the credit approval monitoring system  16  can be implemented. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular hardware implementation. Each block may represent a computer processing system or systems or a network of computer processing systems, servers, or the like, as necessary to implement the invention. The blocks are intended to represent functionality implemented using one or more conventional processing systems, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2-5  comprise flow diagrams illustrating routines for a credit approval monitoring method in accordance with the invention implemented using the exemplary credit approval monitoring system  16  of  FIG. 1 . The process is described with reference to the exemplary system of  FIG. 1 . However, as is apparent, the particular process steps could be implemented in different functional blocks from those described herein. 
         [0029]    Referring initially to  FIG. 2 , the process begins when a business customer enters into a contract with a credit bureau at a block  30  to purchase the credit approval monitoring service. At a block  32 , the credit bureau and the business customer determine the particular methodology to be used for that business customer. This methodology may include the decisioning criteria used for determining credit worthiness. Additionally, the methodology includes the content of credit offers in the form of marketing messages that will be shown to consumers when an approval change is identified and a destination landing page URL to be sent to consumers when they respond to the business customer&#39;s marketing message. The URL is hosted by the business customer, for example in the host  14 , see  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    At a block  34 , the business approved criteria is set up and stored in the screening database  26 . The credit monitoring system  18  uses static sub-codes for data pulls. A new sub-code is created to identify the credit monitoring system  18  and the particular rules for the business customer. The credit database  28  is set up with the new sub-code at a block  36 . This allows the credit monitoring system  18 , see  FIG. 1 , to pull data from the credit database  28  using this special sub-code. The credit monitoring system  18  adds the new sub-code to a newly created sub-code table at a block  38 . The new sub-code is used by the credit monitoring system  18  on behalf of a specific business customer whenever data is pulled. The marketing message content is also loaded into the monitor database  24  for later retrieval. The credit monitoring system  18  communicates to the business customer at a block  40  the URL used in adverse action notices to consumers. This URL allows the credit monitoring system  18  to identify which business customer, and thus which sub-codes, to reference for decisioning purposes. The set up process concludes at a block  42  when the business customer is prepared to begin mailing adverse action notices and the methodology proceeds to a credit monitoring routine flow diagram of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the credit monitoring routine is illustrated beginning at a block  44  entered from the flow diagram of  FIG. 2 . The process begins at a block  46  when the business customer communicates adverse action information to consumers in the form of credit applicants. Advantageously, only applicants who are defined as “gray-area declination” consumers, will receive a letter with the credit monitoring URL messaging. These are applicants the business customer deems close enough that a future positive migration in credit may be enough to receive an approval based on the decisioning criteria set up in the credit monitoring system  18 . At a block  48 , the consumer, using a computer, such as the consumer PC  12 , see  FIG. 1 , responds to the messaging and visits the landing page defined by the URL in the adverse action notice. The business customer ID is captured and the credit monitoring system  18  begins to track the business customer ID. If the consumer elects not to subscribe to any credit monitoring services on the website, then the entire process ends. If the consumer purchases credit monitoring, at a block  50 , then they fill out appropriate order information and a set up process as defined by the credit monitoring system  18  and this information is stored in the monitor database  24 . Once the service is successfully ordered, then the credit monitoring system  18  sends watch data to the watch system  22  using a dynamic sub-code for each entry. Particularly, the consumer information and the business customer specific sub-code, discussed above, are transmitted on a normal schedule at a block  52 . The watch system  22  receives the watch data at a block  54  for processing. The credit monitoring routine then ends when the watch service is successfully set up and the process proceeds via a block  56  to a wait routine illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the wait routine is illustrated beginning at a block  58  defining an entry point from the credit monitoring routine of  FIG. 3 . The wait routine begins when the watch system  22  processes information based on criteria established for a given business customer sub-code. A watch database  59 , as described herein, watches a consumers credit file and takes other actions when certain conditions occur. The actions include notifying the consumer, as is conventional, and/or notifying the business customer. At a block  60 , the watch system  22  executes periodically, for example nightly, using the business customer subscriber sub-code and sends to the screening system  20  screening indicative and permanent ID data and score data for each consumer being monitored. This information is accepted by the screening system  20  at a block  62  which sends a request to and receives credit information from the credit database  28 . Using criteria in the screening database  26 , the screening system  20  renders a credit decision at a block  64  and communicates the decision back to the block  60 . Also, from a block  66  a soft inquiry is posted to the consumer credit profile in the credit database  28 . 
         [0033]    The credit monitoring system  18  periodically receives results from the watch system  22  and the screening system  20 , from the blocks  59  and  60 , at a block  68 . The results include a reasons code for decisions. For each credit monitoring customer for which the credit monitoring system  18  receives a yes decision from the credit screening, as determined at a decision block  70 , the consumer profile will be flagged at a block  72  to display the business consumer marketing message which is sent to the monitor database  24 . The process ends when the credit approval monitoring system e-mails to consumers at a block  74  with change or no change notifications using the existing credit monitoring system  18 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a flow diagram illustrates the e-mail routine implemented after the wait routine of  FIG. 4  at a block  76 . The routine begins when the consumer responds to a received change notification e-mail and visits the designated credit monitoring URL website at a block  78 . At the website, the consumer logs in at a block  80  and views the standard credit monitoring page, using information from the monitor database  24 . If the customer profile has been flagged, as discussed above, and as determined at a decision block  82 , then the credit monitoring system  18  displays the business customer marketing message at a block  84  with links to the business customer. If the business customer profile was not flagged, then the routine ends at a node  86 . If the consumer who is shown the marketing message at the block  84  elects to click on the indicated link, then the consumer will be redirected to the previously identified business customer URL site at a block  88 . The consumer decision to transfer to the business customer website is recorded in a reporting system at a block  90  and the consumer is then redirected to the business customer website at a block  92 . The routine then ends at the block  86  when the consumer leaves the credit monitoring system website. 
         [0035]    Thus, in accordance with the invention, the integrated credit approval monitoring system  16  allows business customers to convert previously declined consumers. Consumers can view and respond to pre-approval messages when a change threshold is realized. Also, the potential consumer is more inclined to review the marketing position given the relationship between their personal information change and the relevance of the message. Additionally, the system  16  allows grey-area declination consumers to improve their financial condition. Consumers will be able to order credit related products easily through established business client relationships. This adds value to the proposition of resale of monitoring products to consumers by business clients. Finally, the credit approval monitoring system and method leverages existing products in an integrated credit approval monitoring system and method. 
         [0036]    The present invention has been described with respect to flowcharts and block diagrams. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart and block diagrams can be implemented by computer program instructions. These program instructions may be provided to a processor to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the processor create means for implementing the functions specified in the blocks. The computer program instructions may be executed by a processor to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by the processor to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the processor provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the blocks. Accordingly, the illustrations support combinations of means for performing a specified function and combinations of steps for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block and combination of blocks can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.