Patent ID: 7389266

Claim:
A system for managing a credit account having an adjustable credit limit for a customer, the system comprising: means for setting a first tier limit of the credit account, the first tier limit corresponding to a credit limit of the credit account; means for setting a second tier limit of the credit account, the second tier limit corresponding to a credit limit of the credit account greater than the first tier limit; means for comparing, periodically, the first tier limit against a sum of the current balance of the credit account and a maximum purchase value charged to the credit account within a predetermined previous period of time; means for determining that the sum of the current balance of the credit account and the maximum purchase value is greater than or equal to the first tier limit and outputting a determined result; means for adjusting the first tier limit based on a predetermined credit risk criteria and the determined result; and means for adjusting the second tier limit based on the adjusted first tier limit.