Patent ID: 8452686

Claim:
A computer system for determining an interest rate for application in an investment account, comprising: a data storage device storing: a value of an investment account; a current value of an adjustable interest rate, the value of the adjustable interest rate being variable, for crediting interest to the investment account; and a value of a fixed guaranteed minimum interest rate, for crediting interest to the investment account; and a computer in communication with the data storage device, the computer being configured to calculate an interest rate applicable to the value of the investment account for a current period, by: accessing, on a periodic basis, the current value of the adjustable interest rate; accessing the value of the fixed guaranteed minimum interest rate; determining, by comparing the accessed current value of the adjustable interest rate to the accessed value of the fixed guaranteed minimum interest rate, which of the current value of the adjustable interest rate and the value of the fixed guaranteed minimum interest rate is greater; and in response to determining that the current value of the adjustable interest rate is less than the fixed guaranteed minimum interest rate, providing an output indicative of applying the fixed guaranteed minimum rate interest in crediting interest for the current period.