Patent Publication Number: US-7593892-B2

Title: Financial institution portal system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/616,062 filed Oct. 4, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference, in it entirety. 

   FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The invention relates to portal systems and methods to facilitate the integration of various credit and compliance information resources. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   In the United States, Customer Due Diligence (CDD) is a requirement of the Patriot Act and the Bank Secrecy Act. The Patriot Act requires due diligence by all domestic financial institutions that maintain, administer, or manage private banking accounts or correspondent accounts in the United States for all “non-United States persons.” As such, United States institutions must have appropriate, specific, and where necessary, enhanced due diligence policies, procedures and controls that are reasonably designed to detect and report instances of money laundering through those accounts. 
   Furthermore, The Patriot Act requires additional measures for correspondent accounts of foreign banks that either are licensed by particular jurisdictions or operate under offshore banking licenses. The particular jurisdictions specified by the Act are (1) jurisdictions designated by intergovernmental groups (such as the Financial Action Task Force) as non-cooperative with international anti-money laundering standards, and (2) jurisdictions designated by the U.S. Treasury Department as warranting special measures due to money laundering concerns. For correspondent accounts of foreign banks operating under the licenses described above, a U.S. financial institution has the following additional obligations: if shares of the correspondent foreign bank are not publicly traded, the U.S. financial institution must take reasonable steps to (1) identify each of the owners of the foreign bank, and (2) identify the nature and extent of each owner&#39;s interest. 
   The Bank Secrecy Act authorizes the U.S. Treasury Department to require financial institutions to maintain records of personal financial transactions that “have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax and regulatory investigations and proceedings.” Under the Bank Secrecy Act, the U.S. Treasury Department has the authorization to require a financial institution to report (in a “Suspicious Activity Report”) any “suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation.” Suspicious Activity Reports are filed secretly, without the consent or knowledge of bank customers, and any time a financial institution decides that a transaction is “suspicious.” 
   From a financial institution&#39;s point of view, the cornerstone of a strong Anti-Money Laundering and Bank Secrecy Act (AML/BSA) compliance program is the adoption and implementation of comprehensive customer policies, procedures and processes for all customers, particularly those that present a high risk for money laundering and terrorist financing. The objective of CDD procedures should be to enable the financial institution to predict with relative certainty the types of transactions in which a customer is likely to engage. These procedures assist the financial institution in determining when transactions are potentially suspicious. The concept of CDD begins with verifying the customer&#39;s identity and assessing the risks associated with that customer. 
   Furthermore, procedures should also include enhanced CDD for high-risk customers and ongoing due diligence of the customer base. Effective CDD policies, procedures and processes provide the critical framework that enables the financial institution to comply with regulatory requirements and to report suspicious activity. 
   CDD policies, procedures and processes are critical to the financial institution because they can aid in: (1) detecting and reporting unusual or suspicious transactions that potentially expose the financial institution to financial loss, increased expenses or reputational risk, thereby avoiding criminal exposure from persons who use or attempt to use the financial institution&#39;s products and services for illicit purposes; and (2) adhering to safe and sound banking practices. As such, the financial institution&#39;s AML/BSA policies, procedures and processes should include CDD guidelines that: (1) are commensurate with the financial institution&#39;s AML/BSA risk profile, paying particular attention to high-risk customers; (2) contain a clear statement of management&#39;s overall expectations and establish specific staff responsibilities, including who is responsible for reviewing or approving changes to a customer&#39;s risk rating or profile, as applicable; (3) ensure that the financial institution possesses sufficient customer information to implement an effective suspicious activity monitoring system; (4) provide guidance for documenting an analysis associated with the due diligence process, including guidance for resolving issues when insufficient or inaccurate information is obtained; and (5) ensure the financial institution maintains current customer information. 
   Furthermore, the financial institution&#39;s management should have a thorough understanding of the money laundering or terrorist financing risks of the financial institution&#39;s customer base. Under this approach, the financial institution should obtain information at account opening sufficient to develop an understanding of normal and expected activity for the customer&#39;s occupation or business operations. Much of the CDD information can be confirmed through an information-reporting agency, banking references (for larger accounts), correspondence and telephone conversations with the customer, and visits to the customer&#39;s place of business. Additional steps may include obtaining third-party references or researching public information (e.g., on the Internet or commercial databases). CDD procedures should include periodic monitoring of the customer relationship to determine whether there are substantive changes to the original CDD information (e.g., change in employment or business operations). 
   Customers that pose high money laundering or terrorist financing risks present increased exposure to financial institutions, so due diligence policies, procedures, and processes should be enhanced as a result. Enhanced due diligence for high-risk customers is especially critical in understanding their anticipated transactions and implementing a suspicious activity monitoring system that reduces the financial institution&#39;s reputation, compliance, and transaction risks. As such, high-risk customers and their transactions should be reviewed more closely at account opening and more frequently throughout the term of their relationship with the financial institution. Guidance to identify high-risk customers may be found in the core overview section 
   Financial institutions typically administer the above critical risk management and regulatory mandated policies, procedures and processes on department-developed databases. Different departments (e.g., credit risk management and compliance) typically create, maintain and access their own databases so that client risk information is often fragmented. Furthermore, because different departments are creating, maintaining, and/or accessing different databases, it is a time-consuming task to collate all of the information needed to perform an analysis of risk characteristics or effectiveness measures. Moreover, important information is often not transmitted to other departments and/or the information may become “lost.” 
   Currently, compliance approval status is not readily accessible by relationship managers. As such, account opening may be unnecessarily delayed pending confirmation of know your customer (KYC) status. In addition, KYC information is generally maintained in Words format in multiple booking centers, often resulting in input duplication and redundant record keeping, which further results in information lacking quality and/or quantity. Therefore, a need exists for unified, high quality information that is accessible to multiple departments (and users) throughout a network, such that a database serves as a central information resource for complying with critical risk management and regulatory mandated policies, procedures and processes. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The invention facilitates the integration of financial information resources and includes a web server coupled to an application server, wherein the application server includes a portal to at least two of: (a) an electronic credit report (eCR) database, (b) an electronic know your customer (eKYC) database, (c) a client business management information system (CBMIS), and (d) a customer profitability system large area network (CPS LAN). In one embodiment, the system includes at least one additional feature such that the application server includes a portal to at least three of the (a), (b), (c), and (d) components. In another embodiment, the system includes at least two additional features such that the application server includes a portal to each of the (a), (b), (c), and (d) components. 
   When the application server includes a portal to an eCR database, in one embodiment, the eCR database includes at least one of (i) an exposure database, (ii) a credit rating database, and (iii) an intelligence database. In other embodiments, the eCR includes two or more of the (i), (ii), and (iii) components. 
   When the application server includes a portal to the eKYC database, the eKYC database includes a link to at least one of a geographic and bank anti-money laundering (AML) scoring model, a standard KYC form, and an enhanced KYC form. In one embodiment, the eKYC database includes a link to two or more of the geographic and bank AML scoring module, standard KYC form, and enhanced KYC form. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing Figures, where like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system for integrating financial information resources onto a single computer platform according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate various exemplary screen shots and features of an eCR database according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary screen shot and features of a standard know your customer (KYC) form according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary screen shot of an enhanced KYC form; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of an exemplary method to process a credit request from an existing customer according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for processing a credit request from a new customer according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 8  is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for processing a credit request from a customer Group according to an embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings and screenshots, which show the exemplary embodiment by way of illustration and its best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented. For the sake of brevity, conventional data networking, application development and other functional embodiments of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. 
   Moreover, as used herein, the terms “customer”, “client”, “financial institution”, “consumer”, “business”, “bank” or “merchant” may be used interchangeably with each other, and each shall mean any person, entity, machine, hardware, software or business. 
   Turning now to the figures,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system  100  configured to integrate financial information resources onto a single computer platform such that there is universal access to the same information within an entity to facilitate uniform rules/procedures throughout each department and branch (including regional outposts) within the entity. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, a single computer platform may include one or more computers, components, and/or computer systems. In one embodiment, system  100  includes a web server  110 , which may comprise any hardware and/or software suitably configured to facilitate communications between a user  105  and one or more system  100  components. User  105 , in various embodiments, includes one or more users in a financial institution who participate in a credit decisioning process, including, for example, a global relation manager (GRM), a member of a financial institution&#39;s Compliance/Credit Utility (MCCU), a Credit Analyst (CA), a Credit Officer (CO), a Compliance Officer (COMPO), a relationship manager (RM), and the like. 
   Web server  110 , in one embodiment of the invention, is configured to transmit data to user  105  within markup language documents. In various embodiments, web server  110  operates as a single entity in a single geographic location, as separate computing components located together and/or in separate geographic locations. As used herein, the term “transmit” includes, for example, sending electronic data from one system component to another over a network connection. Additionally, as used herein, the term “data” includes, for example, encompassing information such as commands, queries, files, data for storage, and the like in digital or any other form. 
   To control access to web server  110  or any other component of system  100 , web server  110 , in one embodiment, invokes an authentication server  115  in response to submission of user  105  authentication credentials received at web server  110 . Authentication server  115  includes any hardware and/or software suitably configured to receive authentication credentials, encrypt and decrypt credentials, authenticate credentials, and grant access rights according to user  105  pre-defined privileges attached to the credentials. In one embodiment, authentication server  115  grants varying degrees of application and data level access to user  105 . For example, a credit manager may be granted access to input and/or modify credit data while a systems engineer is limited to viewing credit assessments and reports. 
   System  100 , in an exemplary embodiment, also includes an application server  120  interfaced with web server  110 . Application server  120  comprises any hardware and/or software suitably configured to serve applications and data to user  105 , and is interfaced with web server  110 , or any number of other servers, databases and/or components of system  100 , by any means known in the art or discussed herein, including a LAN/WAN, for example. Application server  120  may also serve as a conduit between user  105  and the sub systems and components of system  100 . 
   In an exemplary embodiment, application server  120  includes a portal  125  to one or more applications. Portal  125  may include any hardware and/or software suitably configured to allow user  105  to gain access to applications (i.e., resources) including various types of financial information. Portal  125  is a tool for organizing and navigating through financial information resources via a network  190  (discussed below). Furthermore, Portal  125  integrates a credit and compliance process to reduce input duplication and configured to generate a single client risk profile incorporating information on ownership, management, financial performance, political environment, regulatory issues, and economic commentary on markets. Portal  125 , in one embodiment, may include one or more web pages that act as a starting point for using the Internet or Internet-based services. In another embodiment, portal  125  acts as a starting point for employees or associates of an organization to access the applications including the various types of financial information. As such, portal  125  includes web server software, wherein the web server software acts as a platform for deploying portal  125 . 
   Portal  125 , in one exemplary embodiment, includes a suite (not shown) of complementary applications (hereinafter, “suite”) aimed at improving business reporting quality, efficiency, and accessibility. The suite includes access to an electronic credit report (eCR) database  130  (e.g., for a financial institution Group) via portal  125 . eCR database  130  may be any hardware and/or software suitably configured to provide access to the same financial information by one or more persons or departments within a financial institution, such that the financial institution may make a decision whether to extend credit to a customer based on one or more persons or departments accessing and analyzing the same financial information. eCR database  130 , in one embodiment, includes financial reports and analysis and/or any other financial information about a customer that may facilitate an electronic credit approval process. In another embodiment, eCR database  130  advises credit limits to users (e.g., user  105 ), and archives approved eCRs containing client and market analysis, credit limits, and internal obligor and country risk ratings. 
   eCR database  130 , in an exemplary embodiment, is configured to access a credit rating database  132  (e.g., Fitch Global Financial and Rating database available from Fitch Ratings, Ltd. of New York, N.Y.) to import ratings data regarding a customer. As such, credit rating database  132  may be any credit rating database known in the art or developed in the future. 
   In other exemplary embodiments, eCR database  130  is configured to access an exposure database  134  to output credit exposure reporting, including return on exposure data by customer, country, region, and/or the like. As such, exposure database  134  may be any exposure database known in the art or developed in the future. 
   eCR database  130 , in other embodiments, is configured to access an intelligence database  136  (e.g., Economist Unit Country Reports database available from The Economist Intelligence Unit, Ltd. Of London, England) to allow a person to gather information (e.g., economic statistics, government information, stability, projected growth analysis, and the like) about a country where a particular customer is operating. As such, intelligence database  136  may be any intelligence database known in the art or developed in the future. 
   In another exemplary embodiment, the suite includes access to an electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) database  140  via portal  125 . eKYC database  140  is any hardware and/or software suitably configured to facilitate an electronic Know Your Customer (KYC) approval process (e.g., due diligence process). In one exemplary embodiment, eKYC database  140  includes one or more KYC forms and a geographic and bank anti-money laundering (AML) scoring module. 
   The KYC form (discussed in further detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5  below) may include, for example, a standard form, an enhanced form, an approval form, and/or any other type of KYC form, whether or not of a proprietary nature. A standard KYC form, in one embodiment, includes a format such that the financial entity operating eKYC database  140  is in compliance with the due diligence requirements of one or more jurisdictions where the financial entity is operating, intends on operating, and/or where the customer operates/intends on operating. The enhanced form and/or other forms may be specifically tailored for the individual needs/desires of the entity operating eKYC database  140  and system  100  as a whole, and may include stricter requirements and/or more detailed information relating to the customer than is generally required by the entity operating system  100 . In other embodiments, eKYC database  140  is configured to advise user  105  of the KYC status of a customer (e.g., high risk, high/moderate risk, moderate risk, low risk, and the like). Furthermore, eKYC database  140  is configured to archive approved KYC due diligence forms, and/or facilitate viewing of information and approval status from a single warehouse. As such, eKYC database  140  permits access to information to multiple users including, for example, relationship managers (RMs), compliance personnel, and operations personnel in each booking center and marketing location. 
   The AML scoring module is suitably configured to calculate and store an AML score computed for an entity and/or by including one or more inquiries relating to the entity and/or country and assigning a score (e.g., a numerical, alphanumeric value, or the like) to each inquiry based upon the response entered. The scores are summed together to obtain a total AML score, which may be translated to a classification (e.g., high, high-medium, medium, medium-low, low, and the like). In one embodiment, the AML score/classification is for the entity, while in other embodiments the AML score/classification may be for the country where an entity&#39;s headquarters is located and/or where any subsidiaries, branches, and the like are located, or for the entity and the country combined. 
   In one exemplary embodiment, the AML scoring module may include one or more of the inquiries set forth below and assign the corresponding score to the response. 
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               CATEGORY 
               INQUIRY 
               RESPONSE 
               SCORE 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
          
             
               Customer Information 
               Institution Type 
               Commercial Bank 
               10 
             
             
                 
                 
               Broker Dealer 
               25 
             
             
                 
                 
               Exchange House 
               200 
             
             
                 
                 
               Offshore Bank 
               500 
             
             
                 
                 
               Central Bank 
               0 
             
             
                 
                 
               Private Bank 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               Securities Investment Trust 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               Prime Broker 
               25 
             
             
                 
                 
               Fortune 500 
               25 
             
             
                 
                 
               Multi-National 
               50 
             
             
                 
                 
               Insurance Company 
               50 
             
             
               Customer Information 
               Client Premises Visited 
               Yes 
               0 
             
             
                 
               Within Last 12 Months? 
               No 
               50 
             
             
               Customer Information 
               Compliance Check? 
               Yes 
               0 
             
             
                 
                 
               No 
               Default to High Risk 
             
             
               Customer Information 
               New Customer? 
               Yes 
               25 
             
             
                 
                 
               No 
               0 
             
             
               Customer Information 
               Length of Relationship 
               &lt;3 yrs 
               10 
             
             
                 
                 
               &gt;3 yrs 
               0 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               CATEGORY 
               INQUIRY 
               RESPONSE 
               SCORE 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
          
             
               Regulatory 
               Suspicious 
               Yes 
               100 
             
             
                 
               Activity 
               No 
               0 
             
             
                 
               Reporting? 
             
             
               Regulatory 
               License granted 
               &lt;1 yr 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               1-3 yrs 
               50 
             
             
                 
                 
               &gt;3 yrs 
               0 
             
             
               Regulatory 
               License/ 
               Central Bank Listing 
               0 
             
             
                 
               Legal Status 
               Third Party Credit 
               50 
             
             
                 
               corroborated by 
               Rating Service 
             
             
                 
                 
               Audited Financial 
               50 
             
             
                 
                 
               Statements 
             
             
                 
                 
               Copy of License 
               0 
             
             
                 
                 
               Obtained 
             
             
                 
                 
               Name Other: 
               50 
             
             
               Regulatory 
               Products 
               Exchange House 
               100 
             
             
                 
               Services and 
               Banks (nested 
               100 
             
             
                 
               Customer Base 
               correspondents) 
             
             
                 
                 
               Private Banking 
               50 
             
             
                 
                 
               Payable Through 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               Accounts 
             
             
                 
                 
               Walk in Payment 
               75 
             
             
                 
                 
               Services 
             
             
                 
                 
               Anonymous Accounts 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               US Banks not 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               Registered with 
             
             
                 
                 
               Financial Crimes 
             
             
                 
                 
               Enforcement Network 
             
             
                 
                 
               Diplomats/Political 
               200 
             
             
                 
                 
               Entities 
             
             
               Regulatory 
               License 
               General 
               0 
             
             
                 
                 
               Full 
               0 
             
             
                 
                 
               Savings 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               Bank/Association 
             
             
                 
                 
               Offshore Location 
               300 
             
             
                 
                 
               Limited Liability 
               300 
             
             
                 
                 
               Company 
             
             
                 
                 
               Trust Company 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               Corporation 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               Other 
               200 
             
             
               Regulatory 
               Regulatory 
               &lt;1 yr 
               100 
             
             
                 
               Enforcement 
               1-3 yrs 
               50 
             
             
                 
               Action 
               3-5 yrs 
               25 
             
             
                 
                 
               &gt;5 yrs 
               0 
             
             
               Management 
               Comments on 
               Positive/Neutral 
               0 
             
             
                 
               Background 
               Negative 
               100 
             
             
                 
               of senior 
               Not found 
               50 
             
             
                 
               management 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               CATEGORY 
               INQUIRY 
               RESPONSE 
               SCORE 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
          
             
               Open Issues 
               Open Issues? 
               Yes 
               100 
             
             
                 
                 
               No 
               0 
             
             
               Ownership 
               Group Structure Bank/Non- 
               Non-Bank 
               50 
             
             
                 
               Bank Ownership 
               Bank 
               0 
             
             
               Ownership 
               Major ownership changes in 
               Yes 
               50 
             
             
                 
               past year? 
               No 
               0 
             
             
               Ownership 
               Publicly Traded? 
               Yes 
               0 
             
             
                 
                 
               No 
               50 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   To determine the AML score for a customer, the corresponding score for the inquiries above are added together. For example, if the customer is a broker dealer, the response to this inquiry receives a score of 25. Likewise, if the premises have not been visited within the last 12 months, this response receives a score of 50. Furthermore, if this is a new customer a score of 25 is added to the total. Moreover, if there are negative comments found on the background of senior management, this response will receive a score of 100. This process is repeated for each inquiry and the corresponding scores are totaled. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, an AML score less than 49 receives a low risk rating, an AML score of 50-100 receives a medium risk rating, an AML score of 100-375 receives a medium/high risk rating, and an AML score greater than 375 receives a high risk rating. 
   In addition, eKYC database  140  is suitably configured to store client information including, but not limited to, client contact information, business profile, regulatory status, ownership and management information, AML score, and/or any other information that may positively or negatively affect a risk assessment of an entity. For example, eKYC database  140  may include information that “John Doe” is a majority stockholder of Financial Institution A, and that Mr. Doe&#39;s brother in-law was recently indicted on money laundering charges. In another example, eKYC database  140  may include information relating to potential political unrest and/or a governmental change in the country where the headquarters of Financial Institution A is located. The suite, in one exemplary embodiment, includes a client business management information system (CBMIS) database  150 . CBMIS database  150  is any hardware and/or software suitably configured to store and/or display data regarding the revenue of the customer, as input by an RM. 
   In another exemplary embodiment, the suite includes a client profitability system large area network (CPS LAN)  160 . CPS LAN  160  is any hardware and/or software suitably configured to store and/or display data related to the profitability of a customer. In one embodiment of the invention, CPS LAN  160  is configured to store and display current profits (or losses) and past profits (or losses) for a customer, along with projected future profits (or losses). 
   Within system  100 , in an exemplary embodiment, application server  120  (portal  125 ) is in communication with eCR database  130  (including credit rating database  132 , exposure database  134 , and/or intelligence database  136 ), eKYC database  140 , CBMIS database  150 , and/or CPS LAN  160  via a network  190 . Network  190  includes, for example, any electronic means which incorporates communication hardware and/or software components. Communication among the devices in accordance with the present invention may be accomplished through any suitable communication channels, such as, for example, a telephone network, an extranet, an intranet, Internet, point of interaction device (point of sale device, personal digital assistant, cellular phone, kiosk, etc.), online communications, satellite communications, off-line communications, wireless communications, transponder communications, local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), networked or linked devices, keyboard, mouse and/or any suitable communication or data input modality. Moreover, although the invention is frequently described herein as being implemented with TCP/IP communications protocols, the invention may also be implemented using IPX, Appletalk, IP-6, NetBIOS, OSI or any number of existing or future protocols. If the network is in the nature of a public network, such as the Internet, it may be advantageous to presume the network to be insecure and open to eavesdroppers. Specific information related to the protocols, standards, and application software utilized in connection with the Internet is generally known to those skilled in the art and, as such, need not be detailed herein. See, for example, DILIP NAIK, INTERNET STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS (1998); JAVA 2 COMPLETE, various authors, (Sybex 1999); DEBORAH RAY AND ERIC RAY, MASTERING HTML 4.0 (1997); and LOSHIN, TCP/IP CLEARLY EXPLAINED (1997) and DAVID GOURLEY AND BRIAN TOTTY, HTTP, THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE (2002), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Moreover, system  100  contemplates the use, sale or distribution of an item or information over any network having similar functionality described herein. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate various screen shots and features of eCR database  130 .  FIG. 2  illustrates one exemplary Work In Process Screen (WIPS)  200  included as at least a portion of eCR database  130 . In one embodiment, WIPS  200  is the first screen to appear when opening a credit application for a customer. In another embodiment, WIPS  200  acts as an “in box” such that names of customers appearing on WIPS  200  require some action (e.g., concur, dissent, approve, disapprove, etc.). In yet another embodiment, the number of credit reports a user (e.g., user  105 ) has approved is shown on WIPS  200 . WIPS  200  includes a navigation tool bar  210  which includes, for example, a Credit Report Workflow link  220 , a Reporting link  230 , an Edit link  240 , a Reference link  250 , and/or any other link (e.g., “Useful Links”) capable of assisting a user in accessing information relevant to issuing credit to a customer. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary Data Entry Screen (DES)  300  included as at least a portion of eCR database  130 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , DES  300  is an electronic credit report (eCR) form. DES  300  may also include a Client Screen having various information fields (e.g., “Client Level Request”, “Group Level Request”, and/or “Percentage Held” fields). These fields are generally for information purposes only, however, they may be used for other appropriate purposes (e.g., to guide credit approver through the information, provide explanation about changes in the credit, etc.). “Client Level Request” and “Group Level Request” fields are generally used when a parent customer credit report is being processed to propose a change in Group credit limits. “Percentage Held” fields include parent customer ownership percentages and may appear as a whole number in a Group Limit Report (not shown). 
   DES  300 , in one embodiment, is a Facilities Screen configured to store and/or display information pertaining to a customer&#39;s credit line. The Facilities Screen includes, for example, fields showing existing facility amounts when a user (e.g., user  105 ) inputs a new credit limit, and fields showing a prior credit limit. DES  300  may also include a Comments Screen wherein Business Justification Comments and/or Business Justification plus Suitability Statements are required for a customer having, for example, an operational risk rating (ORR) score of 5 and below. 
   The ORR score is intended to reflect the overall risk profile of a borrower or guarantor, and is based on a scale of 1-10, with 1 reflecting the lowest risk. The rating is generally based on the long-term foreign currency debt ratings from one or more rating agencies (e.g., Standard &amp; Poors, Moodys, and Fitch Global Financial and Rating). Other criteria that may affect the ORR score include, but are not limited to, country stability, regulatory environment, competitive position, balance sheet strength, and management and control. 
   In a further embodiment of the invention, DES  300  is a Financials Screen wherein, if a customer is included in credit rating database  132 , a Standard Summary and/or Detailed Financial Report is made available by default (including interim data, if available). The financial data is updated, for example, on a weekly or other appropriate periodic basis. In addition, the default reports can be overwritten, as needed, and additional data or reports may be included or attached as the default report. If a customer is not included in credit rating database  132 , a financial report may be generated and inserted into the Financials Screen. 
   In yet another embodiment of the invention, DES  300  is an Analysis Screen configured to store and/or display analysis of the data gathered, wherein the data relates to the customer seeking credit. The Analysis Screen includes analysis directly input into eCR database  130 , or analysis copied and pasted from an existing word document. In still another embodiment, DES  300  is an Approval Screen configured to store and/or display approval information for a customer. The Approval Screen displays, for example, a level (e.g., high, medium, low, etc.) of approval, all signatories to the credit limit, date of concurrence, and/or approval status. DES  300  may additionally be a Ratings Screen configured to store and/or display the external and internal rating of individual customers. In one embodiment, if a customer is included in credit rating database  132 , the Ratings Screen is configured to periodically import (e.g., electronically) the latest credit rating database  132  rating of the customer. The Ratings Screen imports the credit rating database  132  rating on, for example, a weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, semiannual, annual, and/or on any other appropriate periodic basis. The Ratings Screen may also be configured to automatically import (e.g., electronically), the Moody&#39;s and S&amp;P ratings. Other embodiments require that the Moody&#39;s and S&amp;P ratings be input manually, for example, if a customer is not included in credit rating database  132 . 
   DES  300 , in another embodiment, is a Group Limits Screen configured to import and display Group member limits from individual Facility Screens. The Group member limits are displayed on the Group Limits Screen as, for example, an aggregated limit of the sum of Group member limits plus any unallocated limits. The Group Limits Screen, in addition to the aggregated limit, may also display each individual limit imported from the Facilities Screen(s). In another embodiment (e.g., where a Group maximum exists which is less than the aggregated limit), a global relation manager (GRM) may manually overwrite the proposed limit. In this manner, the proposed limit may represent the maximum limit. As such, editing rights to the Group unallocated limit and proposed limit may be limited to the GRM only. 
   In a further embodiment, DES  300  is an Allocations Screen configured to import and display limit and sub-limit data from at least one Facility Screen. The limit and sub-limit data is automatically or manually imported from a Facility Screen. In one embodiment, a user (e.g., user  105 ) “drops down” a menu on the Allocations Screen and selects a branch then allocates an amount of credit. After inputting an amount of credit, user  105  clicks anywhere on the screen to show the input values. If sub-limits exceed the maximum credit limit, eCR database  130  allows user  105  to allocate sub-limits within a risk class to a single office (e.g., location of business owner). When a limit is changed on the Facilities Screen, for example, via the Allocations Screen, each allocation for that particular class of limit is “refreshed” and re-entered for accuracy. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary screen shot and features of a standard KYC form  400  according to an embodiment of the invention. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the invention, standard KYC form  400  may include any inquiries required by law and/or required by the policies of the entity operating system  100 , and is typically used for each customer. As such, the content of standard KYC form  400  may change according to the jurisdiction in which the customer conducts business and/or the jurisdiction governing the entity operating system  100 . In one embodiment, standard KYC form  400  includes inquiries such as, for example, entity/currency restrictions, pending/past regulatory violations, the customers written policies and/or procedures, type of products, services, and customer base of the customer, and/or any other inquiry that may affect the credit worthiness of the customer. 
     FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary screen shot and features of an enhanced KYC form  500 , which may be completed in addition to the standard KYC form. In one embodiment, enhanced KYC form  500  includes information/data not generally required to be completed by the entity operating system  100 . As such, enhanced KYC form may include any additional inquiries deemed important to the entity operating system  100 . Furthermore, enhanced form  500  may only be utilized for certain classes/categories (e.g., high risk and/or high-medium risk) of customers, certain industries, countries, and the like. 
     FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method  600  for processing a due diligence report from an existing customer. In an exemplary embodiment, method  600  is performed when a member of Compliance/Credit Utility (MCCU) begins the due diligence process relating to a credit request (step  602 ). After login, the MCCU begins the due diligence process by opening a WIPS (e.g., WIPS  200 ) for a customer in an eKYC database (e.g., eKYC database  140 ). To locate a customer to renew/amend, the MCCU selects an “Edit Approved Credit” link from a tool bar included on WIPS  200 . A search for a customer may be undertaken using single or multiple criteria (e.g. RM, Country of Risk, Expiration Date, etc.). By default, expiration date fields generate a search for a customer having credits expiring over, for example, the next two months, or any other appropriate time period. Other embodiments of the invention may require that the default be deleted if not required for the search. 
   From a list of customers generated by the search, the MCCU chooses the name of a customer and actuates a “Renew” (e.g., scheduled annual credit renewal) link or an “Amend” (e.g., interim amendment or short term credit request) link (step  604 ). This action associates the due diligence report with a “Work in Process” (WIP) status. The customer&#39;s name remains in WIPS until the MCCU “approves” or “concurs” the report, which moves the report to another “in box” or deletes the name from WIPS  200 . 
   After the MCCU has actuated the “Renew” or “Amend” link, the MCCU reviews and/or edits the report in at least one Data Entry Screen (e.g., DES  300 ) (step  606 ). The MCCU reviews and/or edits any appropriate screen(s), and may input data in, for example, a Client Screen, Facilities Screen, MCCU Comments Screen, Financials Screen, Analysis Screen Approval Screen, Ratings Screen, Group Limits Screen, and/or Allocation Screen. In addition, the MCCU accesses one or more of eCR database  130 , CBMIS  150 , and CPS LAN  160  via portal  125  to gather information in deciding the appropriate edits. In appropriate embodiments (e.g., when integrated with eCR database  130 ), the MCCU may additionally access credit rating database  132 , exposure database  134 , and/or intelligence database  136  to gather information when deciding the appropriate edits. When reviewing and/or editing process is sufficiently complete, the MCCU saves the data in each screen the MCCU edited (step  608 ). Once the data is saved, the MCCU “concurs” (approves) the due diligence report (step  610 ) at which time eKYC database  140  confirms that a due diligence report has been concurred (step  612 ). 
   In an exemplary embodiment (e.g., when the credit issued is a stand alone credit (i.e., not part of a Group)), eKYC database  140  transmits the customer&#39;s information to a WIPS “in box” of a Relations Manager (RM) (step  614 ). The RM reviews and/or edits the credit report information in DES(s)  300 , which was reviewed and/or edited by the MCCU (step  616 ). When the RM is finished, the RM saves the data (step  618 ) and “concurs” the request (step  620 ). If the RM has further questions/concerns, the RM returns the credit report to the MCCU to request further information/clarification, and steps  606  through  620  may be repeated as needed (step  622 ). The RM then transmits the report to a WIPS “in box” of a Compliance Officer (COMPO) (step  624 ). 
   The COMPO reviews and/or edits the report information in DES(s)  300  (step  626 ). When the COMPO is finished, the COMPO saves the data (step  628 ) and “concurs” or “approves” the report (step  630 ), depending on the COMPO&#39;s authority. If the COMPO has further questions/concerns, the COMPO returns the report to the MCCU to request further information/clarification, and the system may repeat steps  606  through  630  as needed (step  632 ). The COMPO then transmits the report to a WIPS “in box” of a Credit Analyst (CA) (step  634 ). 
   The CA further processes the customer&#39;s request for credit by beginning analysis procedures (step  636 ) which includes the CA reviewing and/or editing the credit information in DES(s)  300  which was reviewed and/or edited by the MCCU (step  638 ). The CA may review and/or edit any appropriate screen(s), and may be directly responsible for inputting data in, for example, a Client Screen, Facilities Screen, Comments Screen, Financials Screen, Analysis Screen, Approval Screen, Ratings Screen, Group Limits Screen, and/or Allocation Screen similar to the MCCU discussed above. A Peer Group Comparative Report may be compiled automatically from the data input in DESs  300  and from a credit rating database  132  financial feed. The CA views a Customer Market Paper including an analysis of the market (e.g., industry type, country, etc.) in which the customer operates. Furthermore, the CA accesses one or more of eKYC database  140 , CBMIS  150 , and CPS LAN  160  via portal  125  to gather information in deciding the appropriate edits. In appropriate embodiments (e.g., when integrated with eCR database  130 ), the CA additionally accesses credit rating database  132 , exposure database  134 , and/or intelligence database  136  to gather information when deciding the appropriate edits. When finished reviewing and/or editing, the CA saves the data (step  640 ). If the CA has further questions/concerns, the CA returns the credit report to the MCCU to request further information/clarification, and the system may repeat steps  606  through  640  as needed (step  642 ). The CA returns the credit report by actuating a “RETURN” button of WIPS  200 . The CA provides the details in an “Approval Comments” field found on the Approval Screen. Once the CA finalizes the data, the CA “approves” or “concurs” the credit report (step  644 ) at which time eCR database  130  confirms that a credit has been concurred (step  646 ). 
   From the CA, the credit report is returned to the RM for the RM to review and/or edit the credit report information a second time (step  648 ). When finished, the RM transmits the credit report to a WIPs “in box” of a Credit Officer (CO) (step  650 ). The CO further processes the customer&#39;s request for credit by beginning approval procedures (step  652 ) which includes, for example, the CO reviewing and/or editing the credit information in the DES(s)  300  which was reviewed and/or edited by the MCCU, RM (twice), COMPO, and the CA, the Peer Group Comparative Report, the Customer Market Paper, and/or a Country Strategy Paper detailing the investment strategies related to the customer&#39;s country (step  654 ). The CO reviews and/or edits any appropriate screen(s) and Paper/Reports, and may input data in such areas. Furthermore, the CO accesses one or more of eKYC database  140 , CBMIS  150 , and CPS LAN  160  via portal  125  to gather information in deciding what edits to make, if any. In appropriate embodiments (e.g., when integrated with eCR  130 ), the CO additionally accesses credit rating database  132 , exposure database  134 , and/or intelligence database  136  to gather information when deciding the appropriate edits. When finished reviewing and/or editing, the CO saves the report (step  656 ). Furthermore, the CO may return the credit report to the MCCU, RM, COMPO, and/or CA to request further information/clarification, and steps  606  through  656  may be repeated as needed (step  658 ). After the CO is satisfied with the report, the CO “approves” or “concurs” the report depending on his credit authority (step  660 ). 
   In one embodiment, the CO transmits the information to the “in box” of a higher credit authority (e.g., a regional and/or national CO) for final review and approval (step  662 ). The CO provides final approval (step  664 ) and reports may be approved individually from DES  300  or in bulk (e.g., on a Peer Group Report). In another embodiment, the CO actuates an “APPROVE” button included on WIPS  200 . Once approved, a credit is automatically saved to an Approved Credit database and notice is transmitted (e.g., via email) to all persons in the approval chain, Financial Institutions Group and Financial Market Services mailboxes for branches listed on Allocation Report, and/or a higher credit authority for Post Facto Review (step  666 ). Post Facto Review includes the next higher credit authority receiving notice indicating that a specific due diligence report has been approved (step  668 ). In embodiments of the invention where the notification is through email, the email may include a link to eCR database  130  such that the higher credit authority may view the customer&#39;s data. 
   System  100  may include credit limit expiration wherein the customer&#39;s pre-existing credit limit expires after a pre-determined period of time. A procedure for appeal and/or extension may be provided. Likewise, a denial of approval at any step of method  600  may also include an appropriate appeal process. Thus, method  600  contemplates that any person (e.g., the MCCU, RM, COMPO, CA, CO, and higher authority) in the approval process has access (via portal  125 ) to the same information provided on eCR database  130  (including credit rating database  132 , exposure database  134 , and/or intelligence database  136 ), eKYC  140 , CBMIS  150 , and/or CPS LAN  160 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary method  700  to process a due diligence report from a new customer requesting a credit. Method  700  initiates when a MCCU determines that credit does not already exist for the customer (step  701 ). When the MCCU determines that credit does not already exist, the MCCU searches credit rating database  132  (by the customer&#39;s country) to gather the customer&#39;s financials and Fitch rating (step  702 ). The MCCU uses the information to create a customer file for the customer by actuating a “New Customer” link (step  704 ). The customer file includes the data the MCCU gathered, and creating a customer file provides the customer (the due diligence report) with a WIP status similar to embodiments discussed above. After the MCCU has actuated the “New Customer” link, the MCCU reviews and/or edits the credit information in at least one Data Entry Screen (e.g., DES  300 ). In an exemplary embodiment, method  700  includes steps  708  through  768  similar to steps  608  through  668 , respectively. Thus, in one embodiment, method  700  contemplates that each person (e.g., the MCCU, RM, COMPO, CA, CO, and higher authority) to the approval process has access (via portal  125 ) to the same information provided on eCR database  130  (including credit rating database  132 , exposure database  134 , and/or intelligence database  136 ), eKYC database  140 , CBMIS  150 , and/or CPS LAN  160 . 
     FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary method  800  to process a due diligence report including a credit request from a customer Group. When an RM prepares (step  801 ) and saves (step  802 ) a Group Member Customer Credit Request (GMCCR), if sufficient Group Limits are available, a Group Report immediately updates to reflect limits requested. If insufficient Group Limits exist, any amendment(s) will not save, and the RM may contact a Global Relations Manager (GRM) to request either an increase in Group Limits or an accommodation within a restrictive Group maximum cap. The RM and/or GRM may add and/or delete members from a Group, and add and/or delete a Group, as needed. 
   The GMCCR is transmitted to the “in box” of a GRM (step  805 ) when the RM “concurs” the report (step  803 ) and the report is confirmed (step  804 ) similar to embodiments discussed above. Next, the GRM accesses a Parent Customer due diligence report, and reviews and/or edits the Group Unallocated limit and maximum credit limit for the Group (step  806 ) before saving any edits (step  808 ). The GRM may edit the Group Unallocated limit and maximum credit limit (i.e., adjust the limit up or down) for the Group in manner similar to the editing processes discussed above. If the GMCCR cannot be accommodated within the existing Group Limits, the GRM may, for example, (1) decline the limit increase request, (2) reduce the limit of another Group member, (3) request an increase in the Group Limit, and/or (4) allow the Group to operate within a new Group maximum credit. 
   The GMCCR is transmitted to CA&#39;s “in-box” (step  814 ) after the GRM “concurs” (step  810 ) the edits, and the edits have been confirmed (step  812 ) similar to embodiments discussed above (step  814 ). Method  800  may include steps  816  through  868  similar to steps  716  through  768  and steps  616  through  668 , respectively. Thus, method  800  contemplates that each person (e.g., the LRM, GRM, RM, COMPO, CA, CO, and higher authority) to the approval process has access (via portal  125 ) to the same information provided on eCR database  130  (including credit rating database  132 , exposure database  134 , and/or intelligence database  136 ), eKYC database  140 , CBMIS  150 , and/or CPS LAN  160 . 
   Notably, various databases used herein may include, for example, client data; merchant data; financial institution data; and/or like data useful in the operation of system  100 . As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a user computer may include an operating system (e.g., Windows NT, 95/98/2000, OS2, UNIX, Linux, Solaris, MacOS, etc.) as well as various conventional support software and drivers typically associated with computers. The computer may also include any suitable personal computer, network computer, workstation, minicomputer, mainframe or the like. A user computer may be in a home or business environment with access to a network. In an exemplary embodiment, access is through a network or the Internet through a commercially available web-browser software package. 
   Any databases discussed herein may be any type of database, such as relational, hierarchical, graphical, object-oriented, and/or other database configurations. Common database products that may be used to implement the databases include DB2 by IBM (White Plains, N.Y.), various database products available from Oracle Corporation, (Redwood Shores, Calif.), Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server by Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.), or any other suitable database product. Moreover, the databases may be organized in any suitable manner, for example, as data tables or lookup tables. Each record may be a single file, a series of files, a linked series of data fields or any other data structure. Association of certain data may be accomplished through any desired data association technique such as those known or practiced in the art. For example, the association may be accomplished either manually or automatically. Automatic association techniques may include, for example, a database search, a database merge, GREP, AGREP, SQL, using a key field in the tables to speed searches, sequential searches through all the tables and files, sorting records in the file according to a known order to simplify lookup, and/or the like. The association step may be accomplished by a database merge function, for example, using a “key field” in preselected databases or data sectors. 
   More particularly, a “key field” partitions the database according to the high-level class of objects defined by the key field. For example, certain types of data may be designated as a key field in a plurality of related data tables and the data tables may then be linked on the basis of the type of data in the key field. The data corresponding to the key field in each of the linked data tables is preferably the same or of the same type. 
   However, data tables having similar, though not identical, data in the key fields may also be linked by using AGREP, for example. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, any suitable data storage technique may be utilized to store data without a standard format. Data sets may be stored using any suitable technique, including, for example, storing consumer files using an ISO/IEC 7816-4 file structure; implementing a domain whereby a dedicated file is selected that exposes one or more elementary files containing one or more data sets; using data sets stored in consumer files using a hierarchical filing system; data sets stored as records in a single file (including compression, SQL accessible, hashed via one or more keys, numeric, alphabetical by first tuple, etc.); Binary Large Object (BLOB); stored as unGrouped data elements encoded using ISO/IEC 7816-6 data elements; stored as unGrouped data elements encoded using ISO/IEC Abstract Syntax Notation (ASN.1) as in ISO/IEC 8824 and 8825; and/or other proprietary techniques that may include fractal compression methods, image compression methods, etc. 
   In one exemplary embodiment, the ability to store a wide variety of information in different formats is facilitated by storing the information as a BLOB. Thus, any binary information can be stored in a storage space associated with a data set. As discussed above, the binary information may be stored on the financial payment instrument or external to but affiliated with the financial payment instrument. The BLOB method may store data sets as unGrouped data elements formatted as a block of binary via a fixed memory offset using either fixed storage allocation, circular queue techniques, or best practices with respect to memory management (e.g., paged memory, least recently used, etc.). By using BLOB methods, the ability to store various data sets that have different formats facilitates the storage of data associated with the financial payment instrument by multiple and unrelated owners of the data sets. For example, a first data set which may be stored may be provided by a first party, a second data set which may be stored may be provided by an unrelated second party, and yet a third data set which may be stored, may be provided by an third party unrelated to the first and second party. Each of these three exemplary data sets may contain different information that is stored using different data storage formats and/or techniques. Further, each data set may contain subsets of data that also may be distinct from other subsets. 
   As stated above, in various embodiments of the present invention, the data can be stored without regard to a common format. However, in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the data set (e.g., BLOB) may be annotated in a standard manner when provided for manipulating the data onto the financial payment instrument. The annotation may comprise a short header, trailer, or other appropriate indicator related to each data set that is configured to convey information useful in managing the various data sets. For example, the annotation may be called a “condition header”, “header”, “trailer”, or “status”, herein, and may comprise an indication of the status of the data set or may include an identifier correlated to a specific issuer or owner of the data. In one example, the first three bytes of each data set BLOB may be configured or configurable to indicate the status of that particular data set; e.g., LOADED, INITIALIZED, READY, BLOCKED, REMOVABLE, or DELETED. Subsequent bytes of data may be used to indicate for example, the identity of the issuer, user, transaction/membership account identifier or the like. Each of these condition annotations are further discussed herein. 
   The data set annotation may also be used for other types of status information as well as various other purposes. For example, the data set annotation may include security information establishing access levels. The access levels may, for example, be configured to permit only certain consumers, levels of employees, companies, or other entities to access data sets, or to permit access to specific data sets based on the transaction, merchant, issuer, user or the like. Furthermore, the security information may restrict/permit only certain actions such as accessing, modifying, and/or deleting data sets. In one example, the data set annotation indicates that only the data set owner or the user are permitted to delete a data set, various identified users may be permitted to access the data set for reading, and others are altogether excluded from accessing the data set. However, other access restriction parameters may also be used allowing various entities to access a data set with various permission levels as appropriate. 
   The data, including the header or trailer may be received by a stand alone interaction device configured to add, delete, modify, or augment the data in accordance with the header or trailer. As such, in one embodiment, the header or trailer is not stored on the transaction device along with the associated issuer-owned data but instead the appropriate action may be taken by providing to the payment instrument user at the stand alone device, the appropriate option for the action to be taken. The present invention may contemplate a data storage arrangement wherein the header or trailer, or header or trailer history, of the data is stored on the payment instrument in relation to the appropriate data. 
   One skilled in the art will also appreciate that, for security reasons, any databases, systems, devices, servers or other devices of system  100  may consist of any combination thereof at a single location or at multiple locations, wherein each database or system includes any of various suitable security features, such as firewalls, access codes, encryption, decryption, compression, decompression, and/or the like. 
   System  100  may be described herein in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, system  100  may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, the software elements of the present invention may be implemented with any programming or scripting language such as C, C++, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, Visual Basic, SQL Stored Procedures, extensible markup language (XML), with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Further, it should be noted that the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like. Still further, system  100  may be used to detect or prevent security issues with a client-side scripting language, such as JavaScript, VBScript or the like. For a basic introduction of cryptography and network security, see any of the following references: (1) “Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms, And Source Code In C,” by Bruce Schneier, published by John Wiley &amp; Sons (second edition, 1995); (2) “Java Cryptography” by Jonathan Knudson, published by O&#39;Reilly &amp; Associates (1998); (3) “Cryptography &amp; Network Security: Principles &amp; Practice” by William Stallings, published by Prentice Hall; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, system  100  may be embodied as a customization of an existing system, an add-on product, upgraded software, a stand-alone system, a distributed system, a method, a data processing system, a device for data processing, and/or a computer program product. Accordingly, system  100  may take the form of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining embodiments of both software and hardware. Furthermore, system  100  may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or the like. 
   The present invention is described herein with reference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus (e.g., systems), and computer program products according to various embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by computer program instructions. 
   These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. 
   Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagram illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by either special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or suitable combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. Further, illustrations of the process flows and the descriptions thereof may make reference to user windows, web pages, websites, web forms, prompts, etc. 
   Practitioners will appreciate that the illustrated steps described herein may comprise in any number of configurations including the use of windows, web pages, web forms, popup windows, prompts and the like. It should be further appreciated that the multiple steps as illustrated and described may be combined into single web pages and/or windows but have been expanded for the sake of simplicity. In other cases, steps illustrated and described as single process steps may be separated into multiple web pages and/or windows but have been combined for simplicity. 
   Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims or the invention. Further, no element described herein is required for the practice of the invention unless expressly described as “essential” or “critical”.