Methods and apparatus for funds remittances to non-payment card accounts using payment card system

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for funds remittances to non-payment card accounts are described. An embodiment includes a processor receiving a funds transfer request specifying a transaction amount, a destination bank account and a source account, and determining that the destination account is not a payment card account. The processor then initiates a payment transaction routed from the source account via a payment card system network to a payment card system settlement account that has been established in an agent bank in the same country as the destination bank account. The processor stores an instruction file of transfer instructions for the agent bank to transfer the transaction amount from the payment card system settlement account to the destination bank account, and later transmits the instruction file to the agent bank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a processor, a funds transfer request specifying a transaction amount, a destination bank account and a source account;   determining, by the processor, that the destination account is not a payment card account;   initiating, by the processor based on the funds transfer request, a payment transaction routed from the source account via a payment card system network to a payment card system settlement account, the payment card system settlement account established in an agent bank in the same country as the destination bank account;   storing, by the processor in a storage device, an instruction file comprising transfer instructions for the agent bank to transfer the transaction amount from the payment card system settlement account to the destination bank account; and   transmitting, by the processor, the instruction file to the agent bank.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the destination bank account is at a bank that is different from the agent bank. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the funds transfer request is received via the Internet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the funds transfer request is received via a website operated by or on behalf of a bank that issued the source account. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the source account is located in a first country; and   the settlement account and the destination bank account are located in a second country that is different from the first country.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source account is a payment card account. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction file is transmitted by the processor as part of a batch process to an agent bank computer in the same country as the destination bank account. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a communications device operably connected to the processor; and   a non-transitory storage device operably connected to the processor, the non-transitory storage device storing instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 receive a funds transfer request specifying a transaction amount, a destination bank account and a source account; 
 determine that the destination account is not a payment card account; 
 initiate a payment transaction routed from the source account via a payment card system network to a payment card system settlement account, the payment card system settlement account established in an agent bank in the same country as the destination bank account; 
 store an instruction file in the storage device, the instruction file comprising transfer instructions for the agent bank to transfer the transaction amount from the payment card system settlement account to the destination bank account; and 
 transmit the instruction file to the agent bank. 
   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to cause a processor to:
 receive a funds transfer request specifying a transaction amount, a destination bank account and a source account;   determine that the destination account is not a payment card account;   initiate a payment transaction routed from the source account via a payment card system network to a payment card system settlement account, the payment card system settlement account established in an agent bank in the same country as the destination bank account;   store an instruction file in the storage device, the instruction file comprising transfer instructions for the agent bank to transfer the transaction amount from the payment card system settlement account to the destination bank account; and   transmit the instruction file to the agent bank.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for determining that the destination account is not a payment card account further comprises instructions configured to determine that the destination bank account is at a bank that is different from the agent bank. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for receiving the funds transfer request further comprise instructions configured to receive the funds transfer request via the Internet. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the instructions for receiving the funds transfer request via the Internet further comprises instructions configured to receive the funds transfer request via a website operated by or on behalf of a bank that issued the source account. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for initiating a payment transaction further comprises instructions configured to determine that the source account is located in a first country and that the settlement account and the destination bank account are located in a second country that is different from the first country. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for determining that the destination account is not a payment card account further comprises instructions configured to determine that the source account is a payment card account. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for transmitting the instruction file to the agent bank further comprises instructions configured to transmit the instruction file as part of a batch process to an agent bank computer in the same country as the destination bank account.