Inventors:
Howard O. Weinstein - Boston MA, US
William E. Thomas - Charlotte NC, US
Daniel M. Whipple - Charlotte NC, US
Christopher Hope - Charlotte NC, US
Savit A. Pirl - Bolingbrook IL, US
Assignee:
Bank of America - Charlotte NC
International Classification:
G06Q 40/00, G06F 17/30
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for improving online bill payment processes are provided. Online bill payment typically involves a paying party (“payor”), an intermediary (such as a bank, a billpay service or a billpay network) and a payee. In some embodiments, the apparatus and methods may provide optional file attachments that may be communicated from a payor (initiator) to a payee (recipient). Such attachments might include a signed contract for products or services, a payment stub with descriptive details of the payment, a photo of an item being purchased, or any other document that the payor wishes to send in connection with the payment transaction. The field(s) associated with the attachment may be searchable. Such fields may be searchable by a characteristic of the attachment. Characteristics may include content of the attachment of an electronic format of the attachment.