Flexible Payment Credential With Rule-Based Funding Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers are burdened with carrying multiple physical payment credentials for different financial accounts, and existing systems lack flexibility in managing transactions across various accounts efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A flexible payment credential system that allows configuration through an application to draw from multiple financial accounts (credit, savings, brokerage, prepaid) based on predefined or default rules, ensuring compatibility with existing point-of-sale infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If consumers use multiple physical payment credentials for different financial accounts, then each account can be accessed securely, but consumers are burdened with carrying multiple credentials and the system lacks flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in managing transactions across various accountsVSAvoidnumber of physical credentials to carry

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple payment credentials into a single physical credential (one card). The card contains multiple account identifiers that can be selectively activated, allowing consumers to access different financial accounts (credit, debit, savings, etc.) through one unified credential rather than carrying multiple separate cards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single payment credential is designed to perform multiple functions by supporting transactions from various financial accounts. The card can be configured to draw funds from different account types based on transaction rules, making it a universal payment instrument that replaces multiple specialized credentials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single credential draws from multiple accounts, then flexibility is improved, but transaction routing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to draw from multiple account typesVSAvoidtransaction processing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures transaction rules that automatically determine which account to use for each transaction. Consumers can set up rules in advance (e.g., use credit account for purchases under $100, use savings account for amounts over $100), and the system automatically routes transactions according to these pre-established criteria without requiring real-time complex decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The payment credential system automatically selects and routes transactions to the appropriate funding source based on pre-configured rules. The system serves itself by making autonomous decisions about account selection, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex real-time processing by external systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260017642A1Credential with flexible funding

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 WELLS FARGO BANK NA

AI summary

Various systems and methods for managing a flexible payment credential are described herein. A system for processing a transaction for a flexible credential is configured to receive, from a payment network, an indication of a payment transaction involving an accountholder of the flexible credential; evaluate rules established by the accountholder to determine a funding source to use in the payment transaction; access a prepaid account as a default funding source when there are no rules established by the accountholder to determine the funding source; and complete the payment transaction using the prepaid account as the funding source.