Banking system with enhanced identification of financial accounts

Abstract

A computer based banking system is provided in which at least selected clients termed participating system members have access to a remote device adapted to communicate with the computer base banking system such that financial transactions can be conducted by remote operation of the remote device by the participating system member to result in the debiting of a financial data base record associated with an instructing participating system member and in the crediting of a different financial data base record. Each data base record is identified by a conventional account number generated to conform to banking numbering standards as well as a linked communication number different from the relevant bank account number and composed of at least two component strings of numbers and/or letters, one of which is a number regionally unique to the participating system member, and the other of which is a bank identifying number unique to the particular bank at least on a regional basis. The communication number preferably also includes the two digit international dialing code; the telecommunications area code or the mobile operator code; and a check digit.

1 . A computer based banking system including banking style of software and hardware providing a data base in which clients of a bank are each allocated a financial data base record in which data relating to transactions conducted by the relevant client is maintained together with any other data concerning the client which is considered by the bank or client to be necessary or appropriate with each data base record being identified by an account number generated to conform to banking numbering standards and wherein the banking style of software includes program material enabling at least some of the bank's clients to function as participating system members (as herein defined) with each participating system member having access to a remote device adapted to communicate with the computer based banking system such that financial transactions can be conducted by remote operation of the remote device of a participating system member to result in the debiting of a financial data base record associated with an instructing participating system member and in the crediting of a different financial data base record associated with any one of self, another participating system member and a merchant, the system being characterized in that a communication number different from the relevant bank account number is linked to the data base record so that the communication number may be embodied in communications from the remote device to identify a relevant data base record in order to carry out transactions therein, the communication number being composed of at least two component strings of numbers and/or letters, one of which is a number regionally unique to the participating system member, and the other of which is a bank identifying number unique to the particular bank at least on a regional basis.  
     
     
         2 . A computer based banking system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the banking style of software and hardware enable the conduct of conventional banking transactions wherein the system includes software and any necessary hardware to provide a sub-system in which said transactions can be conducted using a remote device.  
     
     
         3 . A computer based banking system as claimed in either one of claims  1  and  2  in which the remote device is a mobile wireless device.  
     
     
         4 . A computer based banking system as claimed in  claim 3  in which the mobile wireless device is a mobile telephone.  
     
     
         5 . A computer based banking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the number regionally unique to the participating system member is selected from the member's telephone number; all or part of a national or regional identity number or a pager or an e-mail or other similar unique address or identifier.  
     
     
         6 . A computer based banking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the communication number to includes a third string of numbers and/or letters being the mobile operator or telecommunications area code.  
     
     
         7 . A computer based banking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the communication number includes an further string of numbers and/or letters being the relevant country's international dialing code.  
     
     
         8 . A computer based banking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the communication number includes a check digit.  
     
     
         9 . A computer based banking system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the communication number commences with the two digit international dialing code followed by the appropriate two, three, or four digit national area code or national mobile operator code followed in turn by the relevant subscriber mobile telephone number or the subscriber's national identity number, or a part thereof, followed by a two or three digit bank identifying number, followed optionally by a check digit.