Systems and Methods of Rules-Based Database Access For Account Authentication

Abstract

Systems and methods for authenticating a customer association with a particular deposit account used when conducting financial transactions on behalf of the customer. The system receives identity information and routing and transit number or account number (RTN/DDA) information, where at least a portion of identity information identifies an account holder and at least a portion of the RTN/DDA information identifies a deposit account. A selection of numerous databases used to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder is made based on one or more criteria. A database is then accessed according to the selection; and an association between the deposit account and the account holder is authenticated using the received identity information and RTN/DDA information and the selected database.

1 . A method comprising: 
 receiving identity information and routing and transit number or account number (RTN/DDA) information, wherein at least a portion of identity information identifies an account holder and at least a portion of the RTN/DDA information identifies a deposit account;    selecting at least one database of a plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder, wherein the selection is based on at least one criterion;    accessing the at least one database of the plurality of databases; and    authenticating an association between the deposit account and the account holder using the received identity information and RTN/DDA information and the at least one database.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identity information includes identifying information selected from the group consisting of a name, drivers license number, and social security number.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one criterion is selected from a group consisting of (i) the RTN portion of the RTN/DDA information, (ii) a geographic location associated with the account holder, (iii) a geographic location associated with the financial institution associated with the first deposit account, (iv) a cost associated with accessing the at least one database, (v) a success rate associated with using the at least one database to authenticate associations between deposit accounts and account holders and (vi) historical information stored in a historical database.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of databases is an external database.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein authenticating an association between the deposit account and the account holder is conducted in real time during an on-line enrollment session.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 prior to selecting at least one database of a plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder, processing the identifying information to determine whether a historical database contains historical information upon which a positive authentication between the deposit account and the account holder may be based; and    wherein the at least one database of the plurality of databases is selected to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder if the historical database cannot be used to positively authenticate the association between the first deposit account and the account holder.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the historical database is an internal database.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 subsequent to authenticating an association between the deposit account and the account holder, registering the account holder to use a service.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein registering the account holder includes informing the account holder that registration has been successful.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to accessing the at least one database, determining an order to access more than one of the plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 processing the received identity information and RTN/DDA information to identify a first database and a second database of the plurality of databases; and    wherein determining an order to access more than one of the plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder includes determining an order in which to access the first database and the second database.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the order identifies the first database as the first to be accessed.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 upon failing to authenticate the association between the deposit account and the account holder using the first database, accessing the second database using the received identity information and RTN/DDA information for authentication.    
   
   
       14 . A system comprising: 
 at least one communication interface, wherein the at least one communication interface receives at least one of identity information and routing and transit number or account number (RTN/DDA) information, wherein at least a portion of identity information identifies an account holder and at least a portion of the RTN/DDA information identifies a deposit account; and    a processor, in communication with the at least one communication interface, wherein the processor contains programmed logic to execute software instructions for: 
 receiving the at least one identity information and RTN/DDA information from the communication interface,  
 selecting at least one database of a plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder, wherein the selection is based on at least one criterion;  
 accessing the at least one database of the plurality of databases; and  
 authenticating an association between the deposit account and the account holder using the received identity information and RTN/DDA information and the at least one database.  
   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the identity information includes identifying information selected from the group consisting of a name, drivers license number, and social security number.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one criterion is selected from a group consisting of (i) the RTN portion of the RTN/DDA information, (ii) a geographic location associated with the account holder, (iii) a geographic location associated with the financial institution associated with the first deposit account, (iv) a cost associated with accessing the at least one database, (v) a success rate associated with using the at least one database to authenticate associations between deposit accounts and account holders and (vi) historical information stored in a historical database.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the plurality of databases is an external database.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the external database belongs to one or more entities selected from the group consisting of check printing services, check verification services, check guarantee services, and financial institutions.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor contains programmed logic to execute software instructions for authenticating an association between the deposit account and the account holder in real time during an on-line enrollment session.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor contains programmed logic to execute software instructions for: 
 prior to selecting at least one database of a plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holders processing the identifying information to determine whether a historical database contains historical information upon which a positive authentication between the deposit account and the account holder may be based; and    wherein the at least one database of the plurality of databases is selected to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder if the historical database cannot be used to positively authenticate the association between the first deposit account and the account holder.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the historical database is an internal database.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor contains programmed logic to execute software instructions for: 
 subsequent to authenticating an association between the deposit account and the account holder, registering the account holder to use a service.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the software instructions for registering the account holder include software instruction for informing the account holder that registration has been successful.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processor contains programmed logic to execute software instructions for: 
 prior to accessing the at least one database, determining an order to access more than one of the plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the processor contains programmed logic to execute software instructions for: 
 processing the received identity information and RTN/DDA information to identify a first database and a second database of the plurality of databases; and    wherein determining an order to access more than one of the plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder includes determining an order in which to access the first database and the second database.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the order identifies the first database as the first to be accessed.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the processor contains programmed logic to execute software instructions for: 
 upon failing to authenticate the association between the deposit account and the account holder using the first database, accessing the second database using the received identity information and RTN/DDA information for authentication.    
   
   
       28 . A system comprising: 
 means for receiving identity information and routing and transit number or account number (RTN/DDA) information, wherein at least a portion of identity information identifies an account holder and at least a portion of the RTN/DDA information identifies a deposit account;    means for selecting at least one database of a plurality of databases to authenticate an association between the deposit account and the account holder, wherein the selection is based on at least one criterion;    means for accessing the at least one database of the plurality of databases; and    means for authenticating an association between the deposit account and the account holder using the received identity information and RTN/DDA information and the at least one database.