Online universal credit application

1. A method implemented by a computer, comprising:

presenting, by said computer, via an exchange of communications with a first device over a communications network, a first interface through which a creditor using said first device communicates with said computer, and in response to communications received from said creditor via said first interface, said computer performs actions of (i) accessing a credit application template to create a customized credit application customized by a creditor, said credit application being configured to dynamically respond to how a credit applicant fills out the credit application with conditional questions, to maximize a chance that the credit applicant obtains an automated approval using limited detailed input, (ii) selecting a preexisting question for inclusion in said customized credit application, (iii) editing said preexisting question in said customized credit application, (iv) including a question other than said preexisting question in said customized credit application, and (v) storing said customized credit application in a memory;

presenting, by said computer, via an exchange of communications with a second device over said communications network, a second interface through which a credit applicant using said second device communicates with said computer, and in response to communications received from said credit applicant via said second interface, said computer performs actions of (i) accessing said customized credit application from said memory, and (ii) providing information required by said customized credit application;

transmitting to a credit evaluation service provider, via said communications network, said credit application after said credit application has been completed by said credit applicant;

evaluating, by said computer, said information, to yield a credit report regarding said credit applicant;

receiving from said credit evaluation service provider, via said communications network, said credit application with at least one of data regarding credit status of said credit applicant, and an automated credit score based on statistical models;

making a decision concerning extending credit to the credit applicant by:

a. viewing, by the creditor, on a display of said first device, data entered by said credit applicant in said credit application alongside information that said credit evaluation service provider has accumulated about credit status of said credit applicant, and risk data derived from the credit application, to compare the data entered by the credit applicant with information that said credit evaluation service provider has accumulated about credit status of said credit applicant, and accessing said credit report to evaluate the credit worthiness of the credit applicant; and

b. automatically applying to said credit application, as received from said credit evaluation service provider, decision rules to determine whether credit is to be extended to said credit applicant,

wherein said evaluating comprises accessing a database to obtain supplemental information regarding said credit applicant, and

said credit report includes said supplemental information.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting, by said computer, via said communications network, an interface through which said creditor accesses said credit report.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said credit report comprises a limit on an amount of credit that said creditor should extend to said credit applicant.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein said communications network comprises the Internet, and

wherein said second interface is accessible by activation of a link that said creditor either installs on a web page or emails to said credit applicant.

5. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage medium that contains instructions that are readable by said processor, and that when read by said processor cause said processor to execute a method that includes:

presenting, via an exchange of communications over a communications network, a first interface through which a creditor communicates with said processor, and in response to communications received from said creditor via said first interface, said computer performs actions of (i) accessing a credit application template to create a customized credit application, customized by a creditor, said credit application being configured to dynamically respond to how a credit applicant fills out the credit application with conditional questions, to maximize a chance that the credit applicant obtains an automated approval using limited detailed input, (ii) selecting a preexisting question for inclusion in said customized credit application, (iii) editing said preexisting question in said customized credit application, (iv) including a question other than said preexisting question in said customized credit application, and (v) storing said customized credit application in a memory;

presenting, via an exchange of communications over said communications network, a second interface through which a credit applicant communicates with said processor, and in response to communications received from said credit applicant via said second interface, said computer performs actions of (i) accessing said customized credit application from said memory, and (ii) providing information required by said customized credit application;

transmitting to a credit evaluation service provider, via said communications network, said credit application after said credit application has been completed by said credit applicant,

evaluating said information, to yield a credit report regarding said credit applicant;

receiving from said credit evaluation service provider, via said communications network, said credit application with at least one of data regarding credit status of said credit applicant, and an automated credit score based on statistical models;

making a decision concerning extending credit to the credit applicant by:

a. viewing, by the creditor, on a display of said first device, data entered by said credit applicant in said credit application alongside information that said credit evaluation service provider has accumulated about credit status of said credit applicant, and risk data derived from the credit application, to compare the data entered by the credit applicant with information that said credit evaluation service provider has accumulated about credit status of said credit applicant, and accessing said credit report to evaluate the credit worthiness of the credit applicant; and

b. automatically applying to said credit application, as received from said credit evaluation service provider, decision rules to determine whether credit is to be extended to said credit applicant,

wherein said evaluating comprises accessing a database to obtain supplemental information regarding said credit applicant, and

said credit report includes said supplemental information.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said method further includes:

presenting, via said communications network, an interface through which said creditor accesses said credit report.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said credit report comprises a limit on an amount of credit that said creditor should extend to said credit applicant.

8. The system of claim 5 ,

wherein said communications network comprises the Internet, and

wherein said second interface is accessible by activation of a link that said creditor either installs on a web page or emails to said credit applicant.

9. A storage medium having instructions encoded thereon in machine-readable format, wherein said instructions, when executed by a processor, cause said processor to carry out a method comprising the steps of:

presenting, via an exchange of communications over a communications network, a first interface through which a creditor communicates with said processor, and in response to communications received from said creditor via said first interface, said computer performs actions of (i) accessing a credit application template to create a customized credit application, customized by a creditor, said credit application being configured to dynamically respond to how a credit applicant fills out the credit application with conditional questions, to maximize a chance that the credit applicant obtains an automated approval using limited detailed input, (ii) selecting a preexisting question for inclusion in said customized credit application, (iii) editing said preexisting question in said customized credit application, (iv) including a question other than said preexisting question in said customized credit application, and (v) storing said customized credit application in a memory;

presenting, via an exchange of communications over said communications network, a second interface through which a credit applicant communicates with said processor, and in response to communications received from said credit applicant via said second interface, said computer performs actions of (i) accessing said customized credit application from said memory, and (ii) providing information required by said customized credit application;

transmitting to a credit evaluation service provider, via said communications network, said credit application after said credit application has been completed by said credit applicant;

evaluating said information, to yield a credit report regarding said credit applicant;

receiving from said credit evaluation service provider, via said communications network, said credit application with at least one of data regarding credit status of said credit applicant, and an automated credit score based on statistical models;

making a decision concerning extending credit to the credit applicant by:

a. viewing, by the creditor, on a display of said first device, data entered by said credit applicant in said credit application alongside information that said credit evaluation service provider has accumulated about credit status of said credit applicant, and risk data derived from the credit application, to compare the data entered by the credit applicant with information that said credit evaluation service provider has accumulated about credit status of said credit applicant, and accessing said credit report to evaluate the credit worthiness of the credit applicant; and

b. automatically applying to said credit application, as received from said credit evaluation service provider, decision rules to determine whether credit is to be extended to said credit applicant,

wherein said evaluating comprises accessing a database to obtain supplemental information regarding said credit applicant, and

said credit report includes said supplemental information.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by said computer, a communication via said second interface, indicating that said credit applicant has provided said information; and

in response to said receiving said communication:

reading, by said computer, said information from said memory; and

transmitting, by said computer, said information to a credit evaluation service provider.

11. The system of claim 5 , wherein said method further includes:

receiving a communication via said second interface, indicating that said credit applicant has provided said information; and

in response to said receiving said communication:

reading said information from said memory; and

transmitting said information to a credit evaluation service provider.

12. The storage medium of claim 9 , wherein said method further includes:

receiving a communication via said second interface, indicating that said credit applicant has provided said information; and

in response to said receiving said communication:

reading said information from said memory; and

transmitting said information to a credit evaluation service provider.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said decision rules are applied without human intervention.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said decision rules represent the credit policy of the creditor.

15. The system of claim 5 , wherein said decision rules are applied without human intervention.

16. The system of claim 5 , wherein said decision rules represent the credit policy of the creditor.

17. The storage medium of claim 9 , wherein, in said method, said decision rules are applied without human intervention.

18. The storage medium of claim 9 , wherein, in said method, said decision rules represent the credit policy of the creditor.