Loan pre-approval application support system

Abstract

To provide a loan pre-application support system that streamlines the application process for pre-approval of various loans. [Solution] The system includes a storage unit that stores application form formats for each financial institution as information about multiple financial institutions that handle loan pre-screening, a detection means that detects the application information necessary for loan pre-screening from image data of a predetermined certificate obtained in response to a first input operation performed on the applicant terminal, an acquisition means that obtains the application form format of the financial institution to which the loan pre-screening application will be submitted, selected in response to a second input operation performed on the applicant terminal, and an entry means that enters the application information detected by the detection means into the application form format obtained by the acquisition means. The image data of the certificate is common regardless of the financial institution, but the application form format differs depending on the financial institution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for a company that mediates between a financial institution handling various loans such as a housing loan and a customer applying for a preliminary examination of the loan to support the application.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, financial institutions such as banks can apply for a preliminary examination of various loans such as housing loans not only through stores but also via networks such as websites. Customers who wish to apply for a preliminary examination of various loans access the website of the financial institution and enter the necessary information for each input item on the screen for applying for the preliminary examination (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since it is possible to apply for a preliminary examination of various loans by inputting on the screen for applying for the preliminary examination, the application procedure has become easier compared to directly writing on a paper application form as in the past. However, there is still room for improvement in the application procedure for a preliminary examination of various loans via a network. Also, when applying for a preliminary examination to multiple financial institutions, it is necessary to access the website for each financial institution, and furthermore, the application forms are different for each financial institution, so the application procedure is not efficient.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. That is, the problem to be solved is to provide a technology capable of improving the efficiency of the application procedure for a preliminary examination of various loans.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention, made to solve the above problems, A loan pre-approval application support system that assists in applying for a loan pre-approval, The system includes a storage unit that stores application form formats for each financial institution as information relating to multiple financial institutions that handle the pre-approval of the loan using the aforementioned loan pre-approval application support system, A detection means for detecting application information necessary for the loan pre-screening application from image data of a predetermined certificate obtained in response to a first input operation performed on the applicant's terminal when applying for the loan pre-screening, An acquisition means that, in response to a second input operation performed on the applicant terminal, acquires the application form format of a financial institution selected from among the multiple financial institutions to be the recipient of the loan pre-screening application, The application form format acquired by the acquisition means includes an entry means for entering the application information detected by the detection means into the application form format acquired by the acquisition means, While the image data of the aforementioned certificate is common regardless of the financial institution handling the pre-approval of the loan, the application form format differs depending on the financial institution handling the pre-approval of the loan. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The system according to the present invention can streamline the application process for pre-approval of various loans. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a loan pre-approval application support system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the management server. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the control unit of the management server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a sequence diagram showing an example of the application form creation and submission procedure of the pre-examination application support system. [Figure 5A] It is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the first screen. [Figure 5B] It is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the second screen. [Figure 5C] It is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the third screen. [Figure 5D] It is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the fourth screen. [Figure 5E] It is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the fifth screen. [Figure 5F] It is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the sixth screen. [[ID=2​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the application support system 1 of this embodiment is a system provided by a financial institution that provides a housing loan as an example of various loans, and an agency company that mediates between the financial institution and a customer (hereinafter referred to as an "applicant") who applies for a pre-examination of the housing loan to the financial institution. The application support system 1 can create an application form dedicated to the financial institution of the application destination based on the image data provided by the applicant, and submit the application form and necessary documents to the financial institution of the application destination.

[0011] The application support system 1 includes a management server 10 managed by the agency company, and terminals (application-side terminals) 20A, 20B, 20C... owned by each applicant.

[0012] Applicants A, B, C,... for the pre-examination can use the application support system 1 to create an application form for the pre-examination of the housing loan provided by financial institutions A, B, C,... from the terminals 20A, 20B, 20C... they own, and submit the application form and necessary documents to financial institutions A, B, C,....

[0013] The application-side terminals 20A, 20B, 20C... are composed of smartphones owned by each applicant, but may also be composed of tablets or personal computers in other cases. In addition, application-side apps 21A, 21B, 21C... provided to the applicant by the agency company are stored in the application-side terminals 20A, 20B, 20C.

[0014] In the following description, when explaining the common configuration and functions without distinguishing each of the application-side terminals 20A, 20B, 20C..., they are collectively referred to as "application-side terminals 20". Also, when explaining the common configuration and functions without distinguishing each of the application-side apps 21A, 21B, 21C..., they are collectively referred to as "application-side apps 21".

[0015] The applicant application 21 has a function on the applicant terminal 20 to allow the user to input various information necessary for creating a mortgage pre-approval application form via the application support system 1. Furthermore, the applicant application 21 has a function on the applicant terminal 20 to receive instructions via the application support system 1 to submit the completed application form, along with other necessary documents such as property information, to the financial institution.

[0016] The management server 10 and the applicant terminal 20 are connected via a communication network 99. The communication network 99 may consist of, for example, the internet, a LAN, a telephone line, a mobile communication network, other communication lines, or a combination thereof, and may be wired or wireless.

[0017] Note that the terminals (financial institution terminals) 30A, 30B, 30C, etc., owned by each financial institution A, B, C, etc., are not included in the application support system 1, but are connected to the management server 10 via the communication network 99. The financial institution terminals 30A, 30B, 30C, etc. are composed of personal computers, but may also be composed of tablets or smartphones. When describing the common configuration and functions of the financial institution terminals 30A, 30B, 30C, etc., without distinguishing between them, they will all be collectively referred to as "financial institution terminal 30".

[0018] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the management server 10. As shown in Figure 2, the management server 10 includes a control unit 100, a storage unit 101, an operation display unit 102, a network interface 103, and a database interface 104.

[0019] The control unit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 105, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 106, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 107. The ROM 106 stores a startup program for starting the management server 10, etc. The RAM 107 is used as a work area when various processes are executed, or as a storage area for temporarily storing data.

[0020] The storage unit 101 is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory, and stores the management server program 108 and various processing programs. The CPU 105 executes various processes according to the programs read from the ROM 106 and the storage unit 101.

[0021] The operation display unit 102 is composed of, for example, a display device and a touch panel placed on the display device. The display device displays necessary information, and the touch panel accepts input from the user. In this embodiment, the management server 10, the application terminal 20, and the financial institution terminal 30 are described as individual devices for convenience, but they may also be a combination of multiple devices or a cloud.

[0022] The network interface 103 is configured with an interface conforming to the wired LAN communication standard. Alternatively, the network interface 103 may also conform to other communication standards, such as Wi-Fi®, USB, or Bluetooth®. The network interface 103 is connected to the communication network 99.

[0023] The database interface 104 is connected to the user database 40, the financial institution database 41, the application database 42, and the submitted documents database 43. However, some or all of the user database 40, the financial institution database 41, the application database 42, and the submitted documents database 43 may be composed of a single integrated database.

[0024] The user database 40 stores user-related information as tables. For each applicant who possesses the applicant terminal 20, the user-related information consists of a user ID, username, address, email address, and password.

[0025] Furthermore, the management server 10 issues an applicant ID to applicants who will be using the application support system 1 in advance, associates the applicant's username, address, email address, password, etc. with the applicant ID, and registers this information as user-related information in the user database 40.

[0026] The financial institution database 41 stores financial institution-related information as tables. This information, for each financial institution, consists of the financial institution ID, financial institution name, address, contact person's name, contact person's email address, pre-approval application form, and pre-approval terms of use. The pre-approval application form may be in the same format as the application form submitted at the financial institution's counter.

[0027] Furthermore, after obtaining an agreement from a financial institution to accept pre-approval applications for housing loans using the application support system 1 (to permit the submission of pre-approval application forms), the management server 10 issues a financial institution ID to the financial institution, associates the financial institution's name, address, contact person's name, contact person's email address, pre-approval application form, and pre-approval terms of use with the financial institution ID, and registers this information as financial institution-related information in the financial institution database 41.

[0028] The application database 42 stores application-related information as a table. For each pre-approval application for a housing loan registered through the applicant terminal 20, the application-related information consists of the application ID, the applicant's user ID, the financial institution ID to which the application was submitted, and the registration completion date and time (the date and time the application was officially registered).

[0029] Furthermore, when an application for pre-screening is registered by the application support system 1 described later, the management server 10 issues an application ID for the application, associates the applicant's user ID, the financial institution ID to which the application is being submitted, and the date and time of registration completion with the application ID, and registers this information as application-related information in the application database 42.

[0030] The submitted documents database 43 stores information about submitted documents stored in the submitted documents folder as a table. The submitted documents folder stores data such as driver's license front data, driver's license back data, insurance card front data, insurance card back data, withholding tax statement data, application form data, signed confirmation document data, and property information data as submitted documents, and the path to the submitted documents folder is stored in the submitted documents database 43 in association with the application ID.

[0031] Furthermore, when an application for pre-screening is registered by the application support system 1 described later, the management server 10 creates a submission document folder for that application and stores the following in the submission document folder: driver's license front data, driver's license back data, health insurance card front data, health insurance card back data, withholding tax slip data, application form data, signed confirmation document data, and property information data.In addition, the following explanation uses the example of importing a driver's license, health insurance card, and withholding tax slip as images, but if it is possible to import the data as data through API integration with other applications, such as, or you may import the data that has been imported again using the method described below and the data imported through API integration while ensuring consistency between them.In addition, data other than those exemplified and that banks can use, such as My Number Cards, may also be used.

[0032] As will be explained in more detail later, the data for the front of the driver's license, the back of the driver's license, the front of the health insurance card, the back of the health insurance card, and the withholding tax statement data are all photographs taken by the applicant. The data for the front of the driver's license represents the front of the driver's license, the data for the back of the driver's license represents the back of the driver's license, the data for the front of the health insurance card represents the front of the health insurance card, the data for the back of the health insurance card represents the back of the health insurance card, and the data for the withholding tax statement represents the withholding tax statement.

[0033] Furthermore, the application form data and signed confirmation document data are data created by the management server 10. The application form data represents the application form with the application information filled in. The signed confirmation document data represents the confirmation document with the applicant's signature filled in. The property information data is data imported by the applicant and represents a document containing various information about the property.

[0034] Next, the control unit 100 of the management server 10 will be described. The control unit 100 works in conjunction with the applicant terminal 20 to provide support for the application for pre-approval of a housing loan by executing the management server program 108. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the control unit 100 of the management server 10 that realizes the application support system 1.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the control unit 100 has means corresponding to various functions for realizing the application support system 1. Specifically, the control unit 100 has an image capture request means 100a, a resizing means 100b, a character information highlighting means 100c, an application information detection means 100d, a validity / failure confirmation request means 100e, a financial institution selection request means 100f, a consent request means 100g, a submission document capture request means 100h, a signature request means 100i, an application form creation means 100j, an export request means 100k, a transmission means 100l, and a storage means 100m.

[0036] Furthermore, the configuration of each means 100a to 100m corresponding to the functions of the application support system 1 is not limited to these, and each of these means 100a to 100m may be integrated as appropriate, or each of the means 100a to 100m may be subdivided as appropriate.

[0037] The image capture request means 100a requests the applicant to capture images necessary to identify the application information (identification required images) when the applicant (applicant) who is applying for a pre-approval of a housing loan at a financial institution performs an operation on the applicant terminal 20 to launch the applicant application 21. In response to this request, the image capture request means 100a generates a first screen 51 as shown in Figure 5A and displays it on the applicant terminal 20.

[0038] In this embodiment, the application information for examination refers to the applicant's personal information necessary for applying for a preliminary examination, including the applicant's name (in kanji), name (in katakana), gender, date of birth, home postal code, address, telephone number, insurer number, name and address of the employer, length of employment, and annual income. The specific required images refer to certificates issued by public institutions, specifically images of the front and back of a driver's license, the front and back of an insurance card, and a withholding tax statement.

[0039] The first screen 51 is configured to allow operations to capture images of the front and back of the requested driver's license, the front and back of the health insurance card, and the withholding tax statement. In response to the request for capturing specific required images by the image capture request means 100a, the applicant application 21 provides the captured specific required images to the management server 10 individually when the operation to capture specific required images is performed. That is, the various captured specific required images are individually transmitted to the management server 10 as specific required image data.

[0040] Ultimately, if it is possible to capture the specific required images, the capture method can be set as appropriate. For example, from the first screen 51, it may be possible to selectively perform either taking a picture of the front of the driver's license using the camera on the applicant terminal 20, or uploading data of the front of the driver's license already stored in the library of the applicant terminal 20.

[0041] The resizing means 100b changes the size of various specific required images captured by the applicant application 21 to a preset size based on the standard aspect ratio of various certificates. Specifically, the resizing means 100b detects the boundaries of the various specific required images and crops them.

[0042] The processing related to the resizing means 100b may be performed using an existing artificial intelligence (AI) model, or it may be performed based on a program stored in the ROM 106 of the management server 10. Furthermore, the specific required image resized by the resizing means 100b may be referred to as the "resized specific required image."

[0043] The text information enhancement means 100c processes various specific necessary images (specific necessary images after resizing) that have been resized by the resizing means 100b as preprocessing for accurately detecting the application information contained in the front and back of the driver's license, withholding tax statement, and front and back of the insurance card.

[0044] In detail, the character information highlighting means 100c highlights objects and characters contained in various resized specific required images (specific required images after resizing) and removes blurred background areas. This process improves the accuracy of the detection of application information by the application information detection means 100d, which will be described later.

[0045] The processing related to the character information enhancement means 100c may be performed using an existing artificial intelligence (AI) model, or it may be performed based on a program stored in the ROM 106 of the management server 10. Furthermore, a specific required image in which character information has been enhanced by the character information enhancement means 100c may be referred to as a "specific required image after character enhancement."

[0046] The application information detection means 100d detects the application information contained in the front and back of the applicant's driver's license, withholding tax statement, and insurance card from various specific necessary images (specific necessary images after character enhancement) generated by the character information enhancement means 100c.

[0047] The application information detection means 100d detects the application information by analyzing the necessary images after various characters have been highlighted using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) in different ways depending on whether it is the front and back of a driver's license or the front and back of a withholding tax statement and insurance card. This is because the layout of a driver's license is unified, while the layout of a withholding tax statement and insurance card is not unified, so the optimal processing method for detecting the application information differs depending on whether it is the front and back of a driver's license or the front and back of a withholding tax statement and insurance card.

[0048] In the case of a driver's license, the application information detection means 100d first uploads a template file related to the driver's license stored in the ROM 106 and creates information fields in the template using an identification key (name, address, date of birth, etc.). Subsequently, the application information detection means 100d detects text from the text-highlighted, specific image related to the driver's license and maps the text to the template with the information fields drawn on it, thereby obtaining the application information related to the driver's license.

[0049] On the other hand, in the case of withholding tax slips and insurance cards, the application information detection means 100d first converts the text-highlighted, specific images related to the withholding tax slips and insurance cards into grayscale mode and detects all characters (sentences, phrases, etc.) contained in the converted images. Subsequently, the application information detection means 100d converts all detected characters into prompts for the existing Generating AI LLM (Large Language Model) model to be used, and uses the Generating AI LLM model to obtain the application information related to the withholding tax slips and insurance cards.

[0050] In this way, the resizing means 100b, the character information highlighting means 100c, and the application information detection means 100d detect the application information from the specific required image provided by the applicant application 21. However, the detection method may be set appropriately, as long as it is possible to ultimately detect the application information from the specific required image.

[0051] The validity verification request means 100e requests the applicant to verify the validity of the application information when the application information detection means 100d detects the application information. In response to this request, the validity verification request means 100e generates a second screen 52 as shown in Figure 5B and transmits it to the applicant terminal 20.

[0052] The second screen 52 displays all application information for review in a manner that allows for individual modification. The second screen 52 is configured to allow for modifications to the application information for review. The applicant application 21, in response to the verification of the validity of the application information by the validity verification request means 100e, provides the management server 10 with the revised application information if the application information has been modified. That is, the revised application information is sent to the management server 10 as application information modification data. When the management server 10 receives the application information modification data, it modifies the content of the application information of the type indicated by the data to match the content indicated by the data.

[0053] Screen 52, the second screen, is configured to allow users to indicate that they believe all application information is correct. Cases in which all application information is deemed correct include when all application information was correct from the beginning, and when there was some error in the application information but it was corrected, resulting in all application information being correct.

[0054] Then, in response to the verification of the validity of the application information by the validity verification request means 100e, the applicant application 21 notifies the management server 10 of this intention if it has performed an operation indicating that it has determined all of the application information is correct. In other words, data indicating that all of the application information has been determined to be correct (validity verification data) is sent to the management server 10. If the application information is modified, the modified application information data is sent to the management server 10 at that time.

[0055] The financial institution selection request means 100f requests the applicant to select a financial institution to apply to for pre-approval of a housing loan, triggered when it is determined that all application information is correct in response to the request by the correctness / falseness request means 100e. In response to this request, the correctness / falseness request means 100e generates a third screen 53 as shown in Figure 5C and transmits it to the applicant terminal 20.

[0056] The third screen 53 displays a list of financial institutions from which the user can apply for pre-approval of a housing loan through the application support system 1. The third screen 53 is also configured to allow the user to select one financial institution from the displayed list. When the user selects a financial institution in response to the request for financial institution selection by the financial institution selection request means 100f, the applicant application 21 notifies the management server 10 of the selected financial institution. In other words, data indicating the selected financial institution (financial institution data) is sent to the management server 10.

[0057] The consent request means 100g requests the applicant to agree to the terms of use for the pre-screening of the selected financial institution when a financial institution is selected in response to a request by the financial institution selection request means 100f. In response to this request, the consent request means 100g generates a fourth screen 54 as shown in Figure 5D and transmits it to the applicant terminal 20.

[0058] The fourth screen 54 displays the terms of use related to the pre-screening process of the financial institution selected by the applicant. The fourth screen 54 is also configured to allow the applicant to agree to the terms of use. When the applicant application 21 responds to a request from the consent request means 100g by agreeing to the terms of use, it notifies the management server 10 of the consent. In other words, data indicating that consent has been obtained (consent data) is sent to the management server 10.

[0059] The document submission request means 100h requests the applicant to submit documents necessary for pre-screening a housing loan (pre-screening required documents) when the terms of service have been agreed to in response to a request by the consent request means 100g. The document submission request means 100h generates a fifth screen 55 as shown in Figure 5E and transmits it to the applicant terminal 20. In this embodiment, the pre-screening required documents include property information, tax returns, and financial statements.

[0060] The fifth screen 55 displays various pre-screening required documents (property documents, tax returns, and financial statements). The fifth screen 55 is also configured to allow the applicant to submit these pre-screening required documents. In response to a request from the document import request means 100h, the applicant application 21 submits the various pre-screening required documents to the management server 10 when an operation to submit the pre-screening required documents is performed. In other words, the data of the various pre-screening required documents (pre-screening required document data) is sent to the management server 10.

[0061] The signature request means 100i, upon receiving the necessary documents for pre-screening in response to a request from the document import request means 100h, requests the applicant to electronically sign a confirmation document as final confirmation of conducting a pre-screening of the housing loan through the application support system 1. In response to this request, the signature request means 100i generates a sixth screen 56 as shown in Figure 5F and transmits it to the applicant terminal 20.

[0062] Screen 6, 56, displays a confirmation document including various confirmation items, the date of agreement, and a signature field. Screen 6, 56 is configured to allow the user to sign the signature field. Furthermore, Screen 6, 56 is configured to allow the applicant to agree to the confirmation document. In response to the request from the signature request means 100i, if the user signs the signature field and agrees to the confirmation document, the applicant application 21 submits the signed confirmation document (signed confirmation document) to the management server 10. That is, data indicating the signed confirmation document (signed confirmation document data) is sent to the management server 10. The submission of this signed confirmation document to the management server 10 completes the acceptance (registration) of the application.

[0063] The application form creation means 100j creates an application form for the financial institution to which the application is being submitted when a signed confirmation document is submitted in response to a request by the signature request means 100i, that is, when the acceptance of the application is completed (registered). The application information to be entered in the application form is generated by the application information detection means 100d and confirmed in response to a request by the correctness confirmation request means 100e. In addition, although the format of the application form differs depending on the financial institution, as mentioned above, the application form for the financial institution is registered in the financial institution database 41.

[0064] Therefore, the application form creation means 100j first issues an application ID for the application. Furthermore, the application form creation means 100j associates the applicant's user ID, the financial institution ID to which the application is being submitted, and the registration completion date and time with the application ID, and registers this information as application-related information in the application database 42. Furthermore, the application form creation means 100j accesses the financial institution database 41 to read the application format of the financial institution, and completes the application form by appropriately filling in the application information for screening into the application format.

[0065] Furthermore, the application form creation means 100j creates a submission document folder associated with the application ID and stores the completed application form data in the said submission document folder. In addition, the application form creation means 100j stores various specific required image data, pre-screening required document data, and signed confirmation document data transmitted from the applicant terminal 20 in the said submission document folder and registers the information of the submission document folder in the submission document database 43, associating it with the application ID.

[0066] The export request means 100k requests the applicant to export the documents to be submitted to the financial institution for their own records, triggered by the submission of a signed confirmation document in response to a request by the signature request means 100i. In response to this request, the export request means 100k generates the seventh screen 57 as shown in Figure 5G and sends it to the applicant terminal 20. The documents to be submitted to the financial institution include the pre-screening application form, the front of the driver's license, the back of the driver's license, the front of the health insurance card, the back of the health insurance card, the withholding tax statement, the necessary pre-screening documents, and the signed confirmation document.

[0067] Screen 7, 57, displays the documents to be submitted to the financial institution. Screen 7, 57, is also configured to allow the user to export the documents to be submitted to the financial institution. In response to a request by the export request means 100k, if an operation to export the documents to be submitted to the financial institution is performed, the management server 10 causes the applicant application 21 to save a copy of the submission documents folder in ZIP format to the applicant terminal 20 as the documents to be submitted to the financial institution. In other words, a copy of the submission documents folder containing the documents to be submitted to the financial institution is sent to the applicant terminal 20, and the various data stored in that submission documents folder are saved to the applicant terminal 20.

[0068] When a signed confirmation document is submitted in response to a request by the signature request means 100i, the transmission means 100l transmits various data necessary for the pre-approval application to the financial institution to which the application is being made, including the application form data, pre-approval required documents data, and signed confirmation document data, which are stored in the submitted documents folder. Since the financial institution database 41 has the contact person and email address of each financial institution registered, the transmission means 100l accesses the financial institution database 41 to retrieve the contact person and email address and sends the application form data, etc., via email. With this transmission, the application procedure for pre-approval of the housing loan is completed.

[0069] The storage means 100m causes the applicant terminal 20 to save a copy of the submitted document folder associated with the application ID in ZIP format, provided that a signed confirmation document has been submitted in response to a request by the signature request means 100i.

[0070] Next, the operation of the application support system 1 will be explained. In the application support system 1, the management server 10 acquires specific necessary images of the front and back of the driver's license, the front and back of the health insurance card, and the withholding tax statement, which have been captured by the applicant terminal 20. From these specific necessary images, it detects the application information required for the pre-application of a housing loan, creates an application form according to the selected financial institution, and submits it to the financial institution along with the required supporting documents and confirmation form. The following will explain the user registration procedure, followed by the application form creation and submission procedure.

[0071] In this embodiment, each processing step basically represents the processing performed by the CPU 105 and the applicant terminal 20 in accordance with instructions written in programs such as the management server program 108 and the applicant application 21. The processing by the CPU 105 and the applicant terminal 20 also includes hardware control using the OS API. In this specification, a detailed description of the OS is omitted, and the operation of each program is explained.

[0072] (User registration procedure) A user (applicant) using the application support system 1 registers with the management server 10, for example, via the application application 21. For example, when the application terminal 20 requests user registration from the management server 10, the management server 10 provides and displays a user registration screen (not shown) to the application application 21. The user registration screen includes, for example, a username input field, an address input field, and a password setting field. When the management server 10 receives input such as a username via the user registration screen, it issues a user ID and registers the received information in the user database 40, associating it with the user ID.

[0073] The applicant's application 21 may be an application downloaded from an application site and installed on the applicant's terminal 20, or it may be a web application accessible from the browser on the applicant's terminal 20.

[0074] (Application form creation and submission procedure) Next, an example of the application form creation and submission procedure will be explained with reference to the sequence diagram in Figure 4. When the applicant's terminal 20 activates the applicant application 21, the applicant application 21 sends data (start instruction data) instructing the application to begin creating and submitting the application form to the financial institution (step S01).

[0075] When the image capture request means 100a of the management server 10 receives the start instruction data, it requests the applicant application 21 to capture the specific required images (step S02). As step S02, the image capture request means 100a causes the applicant terminal 20 to display the first screen 51.

[0076] Figure 5A shows a specific example of the first screen 51. As shown in Figure 5A, the first screen 51 includes a driver's license front area 510, a driver's license back area 511, an insurance card front area 512, an insurance card back area 513, a withholding tax statement area 514, and an import complete button 519.

[0077] When the first screen 51 is displayed for the first time, the driver's license front area 510, the driver's license back area 511, the insurance card front area 512, the insurance card back area 513, and the withholding tax statement area 514 are blank and do not display any images.

[0078] Tapping on each of the blank areas 510-514 switches to a screen (image acquisition screen) that allows the user to perform an operation to acquire specific required images corresponding to each area from the first screen 51. While a detailed explanation of the image acquisition screen is omitted here, it is possible to activate the camera on the applicant terminal 20 to take a picture of a driver's license, etc., and to import various specific required images that have been previously taken and saved on the applicant terminal 20.

[0079] Then, each time the applicant application 21 completes the acquisition of various specific required images (accepts the operation to acquire various specific required images), it sends the data related to the specific required image (specific required image data) to the management server 10 and switches to the first screen 51 in which the specific required image is displayed in the area corresponding to the specific required image (step S03). Therefore, once the acquisition of one specific required image is complete, the applicant can tap the area related to another specific required image and proceed to acquire another specific required image.

[0080] Upon receiving various specific required image data, the resizing means 100b of the management server 10 performs a resizing process (step S04) to generate the resized specific required image as described above. Subsequently, the character information enhancement means 100c of the management server 10 performs a character information enhancement process (step S05) to generate a character-enhanced specific required image from the resized specific image. Furthermore, the review application information detection means 100d of the management server 10 performs a review application information detection process (step S06) to detect the review application information from the character-enhanced specific required image.

[0081] Then, in response to the operation of the import completion button 519, the applicant application 21 sends data (import completion data) instructing it to proceed to the next step in importing the specific required images (step S07).

[0082] It should be noted that it takes some time for the management server 10 to detect the application information from all the required images (to complete the resizing process, text information highlighting process, and application information detection process for all the required images). Therefore, even if the applicant has finished importing all the required images, it is possible that the management server 10 has not yet fully detected the application information. For this reason, the management server 10 may display on the first screen 51 that it is detecting the application information from the time it first acquires the required images until the application information is fully detected. Furthermore, the management server 10 may prevent the operation of the import complete button 519 until the application information is fully detected. Alternatively, the second screen 52, described below, may be displayed blank, and data may be displayed in the blank as it is loaded.

[0083] When the management server 10 receives the data that has been successfully imported, the correctness confirmation request means 100e requests the applicant application 21 to confirm the correctness of the application information (step S08). In step S08, the management server 10 displays the second screen 52 on the applicant terminal 20.

[0084] Figure 5B shows a specific example of the second screen 52. As shown in Figure 5B, the second screen 52 displays all application information in a format that allows for individual modification. Specifically, although not all is shown in Figure 5B, the second screen 52 includes a name (Kanji) display area 520a, a name (Katakana) display area 520b, a gender display area 520c, a date of birth display area 520d, a home postal code display area 520e, an address display area (not shown), an insurer number display area (not shown), a workplace name display area (not shown), a workplace address display area (not shown), a length of service display area (not shown), an annual income display area (not shown), and a desired loan amount area (not shown). Each of the unshown pieces of information is displayed by scrolling the second screen 52. The name and address information displayed on the second screen 52 is not information registered in the user database 40, but rather information included in the application information detected by the application information detection means 100d. Furthermore, the information displayed in the desired loan amount area is not information detected by the application information detection means 100d, but rather information that is accepted as input on the second screen 52. The applicant can enter the amount they wish to borrow in the desired loan amount area.

[0085] When the second screen 52 is first displayed, each display area shows the application information corresponding to that area, as detected by the management server 10 during the application information detection process. The desired loan amount area is displayed blank. Each display area is configured to accept operations that change the displayed content after being tapped or clicked by hovering the cursor over it.

[0086] The second screen 52 also includes a "Next" button 529. The "Next" button 529 is displayed as operable only if an amount has been entered in the "Desired Loan Amount" field. In response to the operation of the "Next" button 529, the applicant application 21 determines that all application information is correct and sends data (verification data) instructing it to proceed to the next step (step S09).

[0087] When the management server 10 receives the verified data, the financial institution selection request means 100f requests the applicant application 21 to select a financial institution to apply to for pre-approval of a housing loan (step S10). In step S10, the management server 10 displays the third screen 53 on the applicant terminal 20. Alternatively, instead of initially displaying the "Next" button 529, the system may prompt the user for confirmation and display the "Next" button 529 only after the user clicks an icon such as "OK". Or, if the data is imported in step 07 and displayed sequentially, the system may sequentially display an "OK" icon prompting confirmation for each item to be displayed, and then display the "Next" button 529 once all items are marked "OK".

[0088] Figure 5C shows a specific example of the third screen 53. As shown in Figure 5C, the third screen 53 displays a list of financial institutions from which a pre-approval application for a housing loan can be submitted through the application support system 1. In addition, the third screen 53 has buttons (financial institution selection buttons) that allow selection operations for each of the displayed financial institutions. The financial institution selection buttons consist of radio buttons. In Figure 5C, financial institution A and financial institution B are displayed as financial institutions from which a pre-approval application can be submitted. The financial institution selection buttons are provided as a financial institution A selection button 530a for financial institution A and a financial institution B selection button 530b for financial institution B.

[0089] The financial institution selection request means 100f refers to the financial institution database 41 and generates a third screen 53 in which all financial institutions registered in the financial institution database 41 are displayed in a list, and a financial institution selection button corresponding to each financial institution is provided. The display order of financial institutions can be set to be in order of favorable conditions such as interest rates, in order of proximity to the head office or branch based on the applicant's address information, in order of the financial institution's advertising fee payment conditions, or in order of the total value obtained by scoring these rankings.

[0090] The third screen 53 also includes a "Next" button 539. In response to the operation of the "Next" button 539, the applicant application 21 sends data (financial institution data) indicating the financial institution selected at that time to the management server 10 (step S11).

[0091] When the consent request means 100g of the management server 10 receives financial institution data, it appropriately stores the financial institution data in RAM 107 and requests the applicant application 21 to agree to the terms of use related to the pre-screening of the selected financial institution (step S12). In step S12, the management server 10 displays the fourth screen 54 on the applicant terminal 20.

[0092] Figure 5D shows a specific example of the fourth screen 54. As shown in Figure 5D, the fourth screen 54 displays the terms of use related to the pre-screening of the financial institution selected by the applicant. The consent request means 100g refers to the financial institution database 41 and generates the fourth screen 54 so that the terms of use of the financial institution selected in step S11 are displayed.

[0093] Furthermore, the fourth screen 54 includes a button 549 that says "Agree and proceed to the next step." In response to the operation of the button 549, the applicant application 21 sends data (consent data) indicating that the terms of service have been agreed to and that it should proceed to the next step (step S13).

[0094] When the management server 10 receives the consent data, the submission data import request means 100h requests the applicant application 21 to submit the necessary documents for pre-screening (step S14). In step S14, the management server 10 displays the fifth screen 55 on the applicant terminal 20.

[0095] Figure 5E shows a specific example of the fifth screen 55. As shown in Figure 5E, the fifth screen 55 includes a property information button 550, a tax return button 551, a financial statement button 552, and a "Next" button 559.

[0096] Tapping the property information button 550 switches the user from the fifth screen 55 to the property information upload screen (not shown). The property information upload screen is configured to accept operations to select data stored on the applicant terminal 20 and to send the selected data to the management server 10. Therefore, the applicant can select property information data on the property information upload screen and send the property information data to the management server 10 (step S15).

[0097] Furthermore, tapping the tax return button 551 switches to a tax return upload screen (not shown) that accepts data selection and data transmission to the management server 10, similar to the property document upload screen. Additionally, tapping the financial statement button 552 switches to a financial statement upload screen that accepts data selection and data transmission to the management server 10, similar to the property document upload screen (step S15).

[0098] When the management server 10 receives property information data, tax return data, and financial statement data, it stores each piece of data in RAM 107 as appropriate.

[0099] When the applicant application 21 receives an operation to send data to the management server 10 from the property document upload screen, the tax return upload screen, or the financial statement upload screen, it switches from each upload screen to the fifth screen 55.

[0100] In response to the operation of the "Next" button 559, the applicant application 21 sends data (pre-screening required document submission completion data) instructing the user to proceed to the next step because the submission of the required documents for pre-screening has been completed (step S16).

[0101] When the management server 10 receives the data indicating that the pre-screening required documents have been submitted, the signature request means 100i requests the applicant application 21 to electronically sign the confirmation document (step S17). In step S17, the management server 10 displays the sixth screen 56 on the applicant terminal 20.

[0102] Figure 5F shows a specific example of the sixth screen 56. As shown in Figure 5F, the sixth screen 56 includes a confirmation area 560 and an application registration button 569. The confirmation area 560 displays various confirmation items and the date of agreement, including the time, and also has a signature field 561. The signature field 561 is configured to allow free input of characters, etc., by touching it with a stylus or fingertip and memorizing the trajectory. Therefore, the applicant can electronically sign the signature field 561. If the bank's format allows it, a signature should be prioritized, and if the bank's format does not accept electronic signatures, an electronic seal may be used. Furthermore, if the bank's format does not accept electronic seals either, instead of proceeding to the next step S19, the applicant may save data in a format such as PDF, which cannot be changed, to a designated folder on the applicant's terminal 20, and then proceed to the print screen for that data.

[0103] In response to the operation of the application registration button 569, the applicant application 21 sends signed confirmation data, which shows a signed confirmation document with a signature in the signature field 561, to the management server 10 (step S18). If the user transitions to the print screen in step S17, the data used for printing is sent to the management server 10 as a substitute for the signed confirmation data.

[0104] When the application form creation means 100j of the management server 10 receives the signed confirmation data, it performs the following actions as described above: issuing an application ID for the application, registering application-related information in the application database 42, completing the application form, creating a submission document folder associated with the application ID, and saving data related to the documents to be submitted to the financial institution in the submission document folder (step S19).

[0105] Furthermore, after step S19, the management server 10 performs export request processing (step S20), transmission processing (step S21), and saving processing (step S22).

[0106] The export request processing (step S20) is performed by the export request means 100k. As part of the export request processing (step S20), the export request means 100k displays the seventh screen 57 on the applicant terminal 20.

[0107] Figure 5G shows a specific example of screen 7, 57. As shown in Figure 5G, screen 7, 57 displays the documents to be submitted to the financial institution, including the completed pre-approval application form, the front and back of the driver's license, the front and back of the health insurance card, the withholding tax statement, the required pre-approval documents, and the signed confirmation form. Screen 7, 57 also includes an export button, 579.

[0108] In response to the operation of the export button 579, the applicant application 21 sends an export request to the management server 10 requesting the submission of documents to be submitted to the financial institution, as displayed on the 7th screen 57.

[0109] The transmission process (step S21) is performed by the transmission means 100l. As part of the transmission process (step S21), the transmission means 100l accesses the financial institution database 41 as described above, reads the system and email address of the relevant person or contact point of the financial institution selected as the application destination for the loan pre-screening, or the financial institution's designated folder, and sends various data necessary for the pre-screening application, such as application form data, pre-screening required documents data, and signed confirmation document data, stored in the submission documents folder, via email or saves them in the said folder.

[0110] The saving process (step S22) is performed by the saving means 100m. As part of the saving process (step S22), the saving means 100m, upon receiving the export request as described above, causes a copy of the submitted documents folder to be saved in ZIP format to the applicant terminal 20.

[0111] According to the application support system 1 of the first embodiment configured as described above, the system includes: a storage unit that stores application form formats for each financial institution as information about multiple financial institutions that handle loan pre-screening using the loan pre-screening application support system; a detection means that detects the application information necessary for loan pre-screening from image data of a predetermined certificate acquired in response to input operations performed on the applicant's terminal; an acquisition means that acquires the application form format of a financial institution selected from among multiple financial institutions to be the recipient of the loan pre-screening application, in response to input operations performed on the applicant's terminal; and an input means that enters the application information detected by the detection means into the application form format acquired by the acquisition means. The image data of the certificate is common regardless of the financial institution handling the loan pre-screening, while the application form format differs depending on the financial institution handling the loan pre-screening. Therefore, the applicant can apply for loan pre-screening to multiple financial institutions from the application support system 1, and the loan pre-screening application procedure can be streamlined. In particular, since the application form format has the same layout as the paper application forms that financial institutions have traditionally used, receiving financial institutions can accept applications using this embodiment without changing any of their existing internal procedures. Therefore, it can be introduced without incurring the cost of developing a new system to receive applications using this new application method. Thus, this embodiment provides applicants with an efficient system while improving overall efficiency for financial institutions without imposing a system development burden on them.

[0112] (Second Embodiment) The application support system 1 according to the first embodiment supports the submission of data related to documents necessary for loan pre-screening applications, including application forms, to financial institutions, and further supports the storage of that data on the applicant terminal 20. However, in the first embodiment, information acquired for the creation of the application form may be used to provide additional services. In the second embodiment, a procedure for performing a simplified pre-screening diagnosis using credit information acquired for the creation of the application form in the first embodiment will be described.

[0113] As shown in Figure 7, the application support system 1 of this embodiment, like the first embodiment, includes a management server 10 managed by an intermediary company and a plurality of application-side terminals 20. The management server 10 is also connected to a plurality of financial institution terminals 30 via a communication network 99, similar to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the management server 10 of this embodiment is connected to a credit information handling system (CIC system) 80 via the communication network 99. Note that the management server 10 and the CIC system 80 may be connected by a dedicated line instead of a general-purpose communication network 99.

[0114] The CIC system 80 is a system that responds with investigation results, which are information indicating whether or not a loan will be approved, based on an investigation request from the management server 10. The CIC system 80 is not limited to a system of a specific company, but may be a system composed of multiple companies. For example, the CIC system 80 may include not only the credit information agency itself, but also another company that predicts the results of pre-screening based on the information output from the credit information agency. For example, the management server 10 may directly receive the information output from the credit information agency as the investigation result from the CIC system 80, or the information output from the credit information agency may be passed to another company within the CIC system 80, and the management server 10 may receive the processed information from that other company as the investigation result. The CIC system 80 is an example of an investigation system.

[0115] The management server 10 of this embodiment also has a control unit 100, similar to the first embodiment. Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the control unit 100 of the management server 10 of this embodiment. The management server 10 of this embodiment also has an image capture request means 100a, a resizing means 100b, a character information highlighting means 100c, an examination application information detection means 100d, a validity / failure confirmation request means 100e, a financial institution selection request means 100f, a consent request means 100g, a submission material capture request means 100h, a signature request means 100i, an application form creation means 100j, an export request means 100k, a transmission means 100l, and a storage means 100m, similar to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the management server 10 of this embodiment has a simple diagnostic means 100n. The means other than the simple diagnostic means 100n are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0116] The simplified diagnostic means 100n predicts the loan application result by the selected bank using the loan application information detected by the loan application information detection means 100d. Specifically, it passes the credit information included in the loan application information (e.g., applicant's name, address, telephone number, gender, date of birth, employer, length of employment, annual income) and the desired loan amount entered on the second screen 52 to the CIC system 80 and obtains the investigation result from the CIC system 80, which is information indicating whether the loan will be approved or rejected. The investigation result includes "approved" and "rejected," as well as "adjustment required." "Adjustment required" indicates that adjustments are necessary for approval, and there are several types of "adjustment required." Types of "adjustment required" include, for example, "borrowing is possible at some financial institutions," "borrowing is possible if the desired loan amount is adjusted," "it is possible if existing debts are restructured," and "it is possible if both the desired loan amount and existing debts are adjusted." The simplified diagnostic means 100n analyzes possible responses when the investigation result obtained from the CIC system 80 indicates "adjustment required." The simplified diagnostic device 100n then generates a screen showing the diagnostic results indicating the likelihood of the loan being approved and transmits it to the applicant terminal 20.

[0117] It should be noted that the actual decision on whether or not to approve a loan pre-screening is made by each financial institution itself and does not necessarily coincide with the results of the simplified diagnostic method 100n. However, since each financial institution is likely to use the results of the CIC system 80 investigation in their decision-making process, the results of the simplified diagnostic method 100n, which uses the same CIC system 80 investigation results for its simplified diagnosis, are also highly reliable.

[0118] Next, the operation of the application support system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. In the application support system 1 according to the second embodiment, the management server 10 can perform the processing from step S01 to step S22 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. However, in S17, the management server 10 displays the eighth screen 58 on the application terminal 20 instead of the sixth screen 56 described above.

[0119] Figure 8 shows a specific example of the eighth screen 58. As shown in Figure 8, the eighth screen 58 includes a confirmation area 560 and an application registration button 569, similar to the sixth screen 56, as well as a loan diagnosis button 589. The processing performed in response to the operation of the application registration button 569 is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0120] The applicant application 21 sends a diagnostic instruction to the management server 10 in response to the operation of the loan diagnostic button 589. Upon receiving the diagnostic instruction, the management server 10 executes a simplified diagnostic process using the simplified diagnostic means 100n.

[0121] An example of the simplified diagnostic process in this configuration will be explained with reference to the sequence diagram in Figure 9. When the simplified diagnostic process is started by an operation on the applicant's terminal 20, the management server 10 extracts credit information, which is necessary for the credit investigation by the CIC system 80, from the information obtained so far through operations on the applicant's terminal 20, and encrypts the extracted credit information and the desired loan amount (step S41). The credit information includes the applicant's name, address, telephone number, gender, date of birth, employer, length of employment, and annual income. This information is at least part of the application information obtained through processes such as steps S03 to S06. The desired loan amount is information obtained by inputting it on the second screen 52.

[0122] When the management server 10 encrypts the credit information, it requests an investigation from the CIC system 80 (step S42). The investigation request from the management server 10 is associated with the encrypted credit information and the desired loan amount, and therefore the encrypted credit information and the desired loan amount are sent to the CIC system 80. The format in which the management server 10 sends the investigation request and encrypted information can be any format that the CIC system 80 can understand, for example, by sending it in REST API format. Furthermore, the encryption of the credit information and the desired loan amount is also carried out in a way that the CIC system 80 can decrypt.

[0123] When the CIC system 80 receives a request for investigation from the management server 10, it decrypts the credit information associated with the request and identifies the person from its internal database based on the information shown in the credit information. Since the credit information from the management server 10 includes the applicant's personal information, the CIC system 80 identifies the applicant. The system then conducts a credit investigation based on the various debt situations of the identified person (step S43). In the credit investigation by the CIC system 80, financial risk is assessed based on the consumer finance usage, credit company usage, and payment status for utilities and mobile phones. Furthermore, based on the financial risk assessment results, the CIC system 80 generates investigation results, which indicate whether the loan will be approved or not.

[0124] When the CIC system 80 completes the credit investigation, it sends the investigation results to the management server 10 (step S44). The investigation results transmitted from the CIC system 80 are also encrypted by the CIC system 80. When the management server 10 receives the encrypted investigation results from the CIC system 80, it decrypts the investigation results (step S45).

[0125] The management server 10 analyzes the received survey results and creates diagnostic information indicating the answer to the simplified diagnosis (step S46). For example, if the result is "approved," it creates diagnostic information indicating that there is a high probability that the loan application will be approved. For example, if the result is "rejected," it creates diagnostic information indicating that there is a low probability that the loan application will be approved. For example, if the result is "adjustment required," it indicates that there is a possibility that the loan will be approved if adjustments are made. Therefore, it creates diagnostic information according to the type of "adjustment required."

[0126] For example, if the type of "needs adjustment" is "borrowing possible at some financial institutions," then while approval is unlikely at financial institutions with strict screening criteria, such as major banks or online banks, it is likely to be approved at other financial institutions. Therefore, if the financial institution selected by the applicant via the third screen 53 is not one with strict screening criteria, diagnostic information is created indicating that the loan application is likely to be approved. On the other hand, if the financial institution is not one with strict screening criteria, diagnostic information is created indicating that the loan application is unlikely to be approved at the selected financial institution. Furthermore, the diagnostic information may include a list of financial institutions that do not have strict screening criteria and a recommendation to switch the financial institution to which the application is submitted. Alternatively, the system may accept a selection from a list of financial institutions that do not have strict screening criteria and automatically create an application form for the selected financial institution.

[0127] For example, if the "adjustment required" category indicates that "borrowing is possible if the desired loan amount is adjusted," it suggests that the desired loan amount may be too high relative to income. Therefore, diagnostic information is generated indicating that the likelihood of loan approval is low and suggesting lowering the desired loan amount. Alternatively, the diagnostic information could also include the option of using the combined income of the couple as an alternative suggestion.

[0128] For example, if the type of "adjustment required" is "possible if existing debt is restructured," it may indicate that the debt-to-income ratio is exceeded due to outstanding existing debt. Therefore, diagnostic information is generated that indicates that the likelihood of loan application approval is low and that existing debt needs to be restructured.

[0129] For example, if the "adjustment required" category is "possible if both the desired loan amount and existing debts are adjusted," the system generates diagnostic information indicating that the loan application is unlikely to be approved. This information will show that both the desired loan amount needs to be reduced and existing debts need to be restructured. If there are other "adjustment required" categories, the system will generate diagnostic information corresponding to those categories.

[0130] Then, the diagnostic information is output by displaying the ninth screen, which includes the diagnostic information, on the applicant terminal 20 (step S47). Figure 10A is a specific example of the ninth screen 59 when the result is "approved". The ninth screen 59 has a response area 590 for displaying the diagnostic information. In this case, the response area 590 indicates that there is a high probability that the loan application will be approved. Figure 10B is a specific example of the ninth screen 59 when the result is "needs adjustment" and the type is "loan possible if the desired loan amount is adjusted". In this case, the response area 590 indicates that there is a low probability that the loan application will be approved and that the desired loan amount needs to be further reduced. Figure 10C is a specific example of the ninth screen 59 when the result is "rejected". In this case, the response area 590 indicates that there is a low probability that the loan application will be approved. When the "back" button on the ninth screen 59 is operated, the screen returns to the eighth screen 58.

[0131] According to the application support system 1 of the second embodiment configured as described above, a simplified pre-approval diagnosis for the loan is performed using the credit information and desired loan amount obtained for the creation of the application form. Therefore, applicants are not required to input any new information for the simplified diagnosis and can know the prediction of their loan pre-approval before applying for the loan pre-approval. This makes the simplified diagnosis easy to use and helps avoid unnecessary applications if the diagnosis result is negative. In addition, if there is a possibility of conditional approval, suggestions for actions to take to obtain approval are presented, so applicants can adjust the application content to increase the likelihood of approval in the loan pre-approval.

[0132] It should be noted that the embodiments described above are merely illustrative and do not limit the present invention in any way. Various improvements and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0133] For example, the type of loan related to the application support system 1 of the present invention is a housing loan, but the type of loan can be changed as appropriate. It may be various personal loans such as credit card loans, education loans, or car loans, or various business loans by corporations. However, if the type of loan is changed, the application information, required images, required documents for pre-screening, and application form format may be changed accordingly.

[0134] Furthermore, the application support system 1 may be made applicable to multiple types of loans. In this case, for example, the type of loan may be selected after step S01. In this case, the available financial institutions may differ depending on the type of loan.

[0135] The specific details of the application information may be changed as appropriate. Similarly, the specific details of the required images may be changed as appropriate. For example, a My Number Card may be used in place of, or in addition to, a driver's license, health insurance card, and some or all of the withholding tax statement. Alternatively, a tax return or tax payment certificate may be used in place of the withholding tax statement. In addition to the application information, the applicant may also be required to enter the repayment period in addition to the desired loan amount.

[0136] The application form formats of financial institutions are registered in the financial institution database 41. However, for example, when the application form creation means 100j creates an application form, it may access a database containing the application form formats of the financial institution in question to obtain the application form format.

[0137] The application form creation and submission procedure for application support system 1 ultimately involves detecting the application information, obtaining the application form format for the financial institution to which the application is to be submitted for pre-screening, and creating the application form by filling in the application information in the application form format. The steps may be rearranged as appropriate to the extent that the application can be submitted to the financial institution. For example, steps S10 and S11 may be performed after step S01, or the order of steps S17 and S18 may be swapped with the order of step S20.

[0138] In step S03, specific required image data is sent to the management server 10 individually, but for example, all specific required image data may be sent to the management server 10 together when the data acquisition completion data is sent.

[0139] In the transmission process (step S21), the submitted document folder is always sent to the financial institution. However, for financial institutions that do not allow direct pre-screening applications from the application support system 1, the documents may be sent first to the intermediary company providing the system 1.

[0140] The desired loan amount is entered from the second screen 52 displayed by the validity verification request means 100e, but it is sufficient to enter it before the loan pre-approval application is registered, that is, before the application registration button 569 on the sixth screen 56 displayed by the signature request means 100i is operated, and it can be entered from any screen from the first screen 51 to the sixth screen 56. Alternatively, it may be entered from a dedicated screen interposed between the first screen 51 to the sixth screen 56.

[0141] Loan eligibility assessments are accepted on the application registration screen, but only after the application information has been detected by the application information detection means 100d, the financial institution has been selected, and the desired loan amount has been entered. Applications can be accepted from any screen from the third screen 53 to the sixth screen 56. Alternatively, applications may be accepted from a dedicated screen located between the third screen 53 and the sixth screen 56.

[0142] Application support system 1 connects to the CIC system 80, which includes credit information agencies, and transmits credit information to the CIC system 80. It then obtains investigation results from the CIC system 80, which indicate whether or not the loan will be approved. However, the investigation request is not limited to the CIC system 80. For example, the investigation may be requested from a system including external organizations such as guarantee companies, banks, and personal credit information agencies, and the investigation results may be obtained from that system. In other words, the entity conducting the investigation is not limited to CIC.

[0143] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 100 implements various functions based on various programs and information stored in the storage unit 101 of the management server 10. However, the various programs stored in the storage unit 101 may be stored in a cloud-based system connected to the management server 10 via the communication network 99.

[0144] Furthermore, the processing disclosed in the above-described embodiments may be performed on a single CPU, multiple CPUs, hardware such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof. Also, the processing disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be implemented in various forms, such as a recording medium or method that stores a program for performing the processing.

[0145] Furthermore, while the application support system 1 according to the above embodiment supports the submission of the application form and other documents folder to a financial institution, as an extension of this support scope, it may also access a dedicated database for conducting preliminary screening, provisional screening, or pre-screening before the submission, and submit the application form and other documents folder to the financial institution only after approval in the preliminary screening, etc., so that the preliminary screening, etc., is completed by the time the financial institution receives the application form and other documents folder. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0146] 1…Application support system 10…Management Server 20…Applicant's terminal 21…Applicant's app 100... Control Unit

Claims

1. A loan pre-approval application support system that assists in applying for a loan pre-approval, The system includes a storage unit that stores application form formats for each financial institution as information relating to multiple financial institutions that handle the pre-approval of the loan using the aforementioned loan pre-approval application support system, A detection means for detecting application information necessary for the loan pre-screening application from image data of a predetermined certificate obtained in response to a first input operation performed on the applicant's terminal when applying for the loan pre-screening, An acquisition means that, in response to a second input operation performed on the applicant terminal, acquires the application form format of a financial institution selected from among the multiple financial institutions to be the recipient of the loan pre-screening application, The application form format acquired by the acquisition means includes an entry means for entering the application information detected by the detection means into the application form format acquired by the acquisition means, While the image data of the aforementioned certificate is common regardless of the financial institution handling the pre-approval of the loan, the application form format differs depending on the financial institution handling the pre-approval of the loan. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

2. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 1, The aforementioned application form format is the same as the application form format used at the counter of the financial institution. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

3. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 1, The system includes a processing means for cropping specific images necessary to identify the application information included in the predetermined certificate from the image data of the predetermined certificate obtained in response to the first input operation performed on the application terminal, and for highlighting the characters included in the cropped specific images. The detection means detects the application information for examination from the specific required image processed by the processing means. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

4. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 1, The system includes a correction means for correcting the application information detected by the detection means in response to a third input operation performed on the application terminal, In the entry means, if the application information for review is modified by the modification means, the modified application information for review is entered into the application form format obtained by the acquisition means. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

5. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 1, The system includes a transmission means that, in response to a fourth input operation performed on the applicant terminal, transmits the submission document data, including the application form data in which the application information has been entered into the application form format by the entry means, to the financial institution to which the application for pre-screening of the loan is to be submitted. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

6. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 5, The submitted document data transmitted by the transmission means includes document data indicating the documents necessary for the loan pre-screening application, which are obtained in response to the fifth input operation performed on the applicant terminal. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

7. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 5, The system includes a storage means for saving the submitted document data to the applicant terminal in response to a sixth input operation performed on the applicant terminal. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

8. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 1, The diagnostic means, in response to a seventh input operation performed on the applicant terminal, causes the applicant terminal to display diagnostic information indicating the likelihood of the loan being approved, based on credit information including at least a portion of the loan application information detected by the detection means and amount data indicating the desired loan amount. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

9. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 8, The diagnostic means transmits the credit information and the amount data to an investigation system including an external organization, obtains the investigation results from the investigation system indicating whether or not the loan will be approved, and displays the diagnostic information based on the investigation results on the applicant's terminal. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

10. A loan pre-approval application support system as described in claim 9, The aforementioned survey results include not only approval and rejection, but also specific information indicating that adjustments are necessary for approval, and this specific information comes in several forms. The diagnostic means, if the survey results obtained from the survey system are the specific information, generates corresponding information according to the type of specific information, and includes the generated corresponding information in the diagnostic information. A loan pre-approval application support system characterized by the following features.

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