Systems, methods, and devices for selling transaction accounts

US8046299B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Rachel Riley Heitz · West Jordan, US
• Stephen Howland · Vestal, US
• Dave W. Lamb · West Jordan, US
• Jeffrey Peterson · Foster City, US
• Caroline Philpott · New York, US
• John R. Rose · San Jose, US
• Scott Scovel · New York, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 12, 2004
• Grant date: Oct 25, 2011
• Expiry date: May 17, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q20/20
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods are configured to facilitate the distribution of transaction accounts through distributors. An exemplary method includes the steps of: issuing a transaction account to a distributor, receiving information from the distributor via the MICR protocol used by the banking and financial services industries, wherein the information reports the distribution of the transaction account, and processing the information via a Travelers Cheque infrastructure. The transaction account may be a pre-paid card and the distributor may be a seller of pre-paid cards. Distribution of the transaction account may be facilitated by use of a sequential number, such as a Travelers Cheque number. Thus, the system may be configured to be compatible with existing Travelers Cheque communication systems already in place. Furthermore, a financial transaction device may include a card that bears a serialized number, such as a Travelers Cheque number, in a manner that can be read by MICR technology.