System and methods for mobile electronic funds transfers
View Patent ↗A method of electronically transferring funds comprising receiving by an application executing on a computer payment card information associated with a payment card and a portable electronic device. The method also comprises receiving by the application a request from the portable electronic device to electronically transfer funds. The method also comprises sending by the application to the portable electronic device identification of entities that have the capability of receiving the electronic funds based on the payment card information.
1. A method of enabling electronic transfer of funds, comprising:
receiving, by an application executing on a computer, a first request from a portable electronic device to electronically transfer funds, wherein the portable electronic device is assigned to a prepaid mobile service plan with a mobile service provider;
receiving, by the application, a country and city to which an electronic transfer of funds is to be made from the portable electronic device;
sending, by the application, a list of entities in the received country and city that are capable of receiving the electronic funds transfer to the portable electronic device, wherein the list of entities comprises at least one utility;
receiving, by the application, a selection of an entity from the list of entities to receive the electronic funds transfer from the portable electronic device;
receiving, by the application, payment card information associated with a payment card, wherein the payment card information comprises a zip code;
receiving, by the application, a second request from the portable electronic device to electronically transfer funds;
sending, by the application, a list of utilities that service the zip code in which the payment card is registered to the portable electronic device;
receiving, by the application, a selection of a utility from the list of utilities to receive the electronic funds transfer from the portable electronic device; and
subsequently electronically transferring, by the application, an amount of funds to the selected utility.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the application, identification of the amount of funds that are to be electronically transferred to the selected utility.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of funds is associated with the payment card.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending, by the application, identification of the selected entity and identification of an amount of funds that are to be electronically transferred to the selected entity to a money transfer agent.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the payment card is a credit card.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zip code is associated with a payment card account holder's residence.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprises receiving, by the portable electronic device, from the application, periodic reminder messages based on past electronic fund transfers.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first request is to electronically transfer funds from a prepaid account associated with the prepaid mobile service plan.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is a feature phone.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the payment card is a debit card.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device contains an area code associated with a first area, wherein the list of utilities presented to the portable electronic device are from a second area, and wherein the first and second areas are different.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the payment card information further comprises an address of an account holder of the payment card.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the payment card information in memory.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising using the payment card information to respond to a subsequent request to transfer funds from the portable electronic device.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the application, account information related to the selected utility from portable electronic device.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising sending, by the application, the account information to the selected utility along with the amount of funds.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second request is to electronically transfer funds from a prepaid account associated with the prepaid mobile service plan.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring funds associated with the payment card to the selected entity.
19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the application, identity information associated with a user of the portable electronic device, wherein the identity information comprises an address of the user; and
performing a background check on the identifying information.