LOAN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A loan management system and method includes an alternative repayment amortization method. Each installment on repayment of the loan includes an equal fixed principal repayment amount and an interest amount. The equal fixed principal repayment amount is based on the amount of the loan and the number of installments to be paid over the life of the loan. The interest due for each installment is based on the interest rate and the amount of outstanding principal at the time a given installment is due.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/040,017 filed Mar. 3, 2011, and claims the benefit of priority thereto.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] This application relates generally to loan management, and, in particular, loan management including an alternative repayment amortization method.

SUMMARY

[0003] Debt is commonly used by individuals and business consumers to purchase material goods such as real estate or automobiles in which the consumer does not have or does not choose to purchase the goods in full with available cash.

[0004] A common form of debt are loans which are repaid by the borrower to the lender based on agreed upon terms that traditionally include the amount borrowed, interest rate, term length, and when payments are to be made but may also include other negotiated items. These loans are traditionally paid with equal fixed payments with a schedule of when payments are to be made and the portion of each payment that applies to repayment of principal and payment of interest. Based on this type of amortization commonly used in traditional loans, most of the payments will be applied to interest during the early part of the loan and very little will pay off the principal. In contrast, the payments towards the end of the loan will be applied mostly to principal and very little will be applied to interest. As the payments progress, the portion that applies to payment of principal gradually increases while the portion that applies to interest gradually decreases even though the payment amounts remain the same. It would be desirable to provide a loan management system and/or loan product that provides a more even payment of the principal and gradually declining interest payment over the life of the loan, which results in an overall gradual decline of installment payments. Such a loan management system and product are provided herein.

[0005] In one embodiment, a computer implemented method of loan management, comprises: determining a principal loan amount; determining an interest rate; determining a number of repayment installments; calculating a equal fixed principal repayment amount based on the principal loan amount and the number of repayment installments; calculating an interest payment based on the principal, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; calculating an installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and interest payment; calculating a remaining principal amount by subtracting the fixed principal repayment amount from the principal loan amount; calculating a subsequent interest payment based on the remaining principal amount, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; and calculating a subsequent installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and the subsequent interest payment.

[0006] In an alternative embodiment, a loan management device comprises: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to: receive a principal loan amount; receive an interest rate; receive a number of repayment installments; calculate a equal fixed principal repayment amount based on the principal loan amount and the number of repayment installments; calculate an interest payment based on the principal, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; calculate an installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and interest payment; calculate a remaining principal amount by subtracting the fixed principal repayment amount from the principal loan amount; calculate a subsequent interest payment based on the remaining principal amount, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; and calculate a subsequent installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and the subsequent interest payment.

[0007] In another embodiment, a loan management system comprising: one or more terminals operable to act as a client on a network; a computer operable to act as a server on the network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the network, the computer comprising: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to: receive a principal loan amount from at least one terminal; receive an interest rate from at least one terminal; receive a number of repayment installments from at least one terminal; calculate a equal fixed principal repayment amount based on the principal loan amount and the number of repayment installments; calculate an interest payment based on the principal, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; calculate an installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and interest payment; calculate a remaining principal amount by subtracting the fixed principal repayment amount from the principal loan amount; calculate a subsequent interest payment based on the remaining principal amount, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; and calculate a subsequent installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and the subsequent interest payment.

[0008] A loan product comprising a principal amount; an interest rate; a predetermined number of repayment installments; a fixed principal repayment amount, wherein the fixed principal repayment amount is determined by dividing the principal amount by the number of repayment installments, and wherein the principal amount is reduced by the fixed principal repayment amount after each repayment installment; and an interest payment amount based on the amount of principal remaining, the interest rate and the number of repayment installments.

[0009] In another embodiment, a loan management system comprising: one or more terminals operable to act as a client on a network; a computer operable to act as a server on the network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the network, the computer comprising: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to: receive a principal loan amount from at least one terminal; receive an interest rate from at least one terminal; receive a number of repayment installments from at least one terminal; calculate a equal fixed principal repayment amount based on the principal loan amount and the number of repayment installments; calculate an interest payment based on the principal, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; calculate an installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and interest payment; calculate a remaining principal amount by subtracting the fixed principal repayment amount from the principal loan amount; calculate a subsequent interest payment based on the remaining principal amount, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; calculate a subsequent installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and the subsequent interest payment; and generate comparison information for display at at least one terminal.

[0010] In another embodiment, a computer implemented method of converting a traditional loan to an alternative loan and managing said alternative loan, wherein the traditional loan includes a remaining loan balance principal, a number of remaining loan installments and an interest rate, wherein the method comprises: calculating an equal fixed principal repayment amount based on the remaining loan balance principal of the traditional loan and the number of remaining loan installments of the traditional loan; calculating an interest payment based on the remaining loan balance principal of the traditional loan, the number of remaining loan installments of the traditional loan, and the interest rate of the traditional loan; calculating an installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and interest payment; calculating a remaining principal amount by subtracting the fixed principal repayment amount from the principal loan amount; calculating a subsequent interest payment based on the remaining principal amount, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; and calculating a subsequent installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and the subsequent interest payment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a loan management network of a first embodiment of the loan management system disclosed herein; and

[0013] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an illustrative process for loan management.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 1, a loan management system 100 is depicted. The system 100 may include a server 110, a communications network 130, and one or more participant terminals 140a-140n (collectively 140). The different elements and components of the system 100 may communicate with one another using wireless communications or hardwired connections, such as fiber optics, cable, DSL, telephone lines, and other similar connections.

[0015] The communications network 130 may include any number of networks capable of providing communications between the server 110, and terminals 140. For example, the communications network may be one or more, or any combination of, wireless networks, data or packet networks, publicly switched telephone networks (PSTN), etc.

[0016] The participant terminals 140 may include any suitable device operable to act as a client on a network. Illustrative terminals 140 include, but are not limited to, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, servers, or any suitable telecommunications device, including, but not limited to, VoIP telephones, smart telephones or wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDA), communications enabled mp3 players, etc. Each terminal 140 may be configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from the server 110 and/or other participant terminals 140.

[0017] The server 110 may be any server, computer or device configured to process commands from the participant terminals 140. For example, the server 110 may be operable to receive loan information or loan installment payment information from one or more terminals 140. In one embodiment, the server 110 may receive information related to the principal loan amount, the loan interest rate, the number of repayment installments, the type of loan, lender information, borrower information, fund transfer information, bank or account information, or any other suitable loan related information. As will be discussed further below, once the server 110 has received all of the relevant loan information, the server may calculate, receive and process payment information. In one embodiment, the principal is paid in equal installments over the life of the loan (i.e., equal fixed principal repayment amount) and the interest payment for each installment is based on the principal remaining when a given installment is due, whereby the total installment amount is the equal fixed principal repayment amount plus the interest payment. An illustrative flow-chart and an example will be discussed in detail below.

[0018] The server 110 may also generate comparison information for comparing the loan under the present disclosure to a traditional loan. Each comparison may typically show that under the present disclosure the amount of principal repaid is fixed over the life of the loan and the total amount of interest paid decreases over the life of the loan. In contrast, under a traditional loan, early in the life of the loan, almost the entire amount paid goes towards paying interest and slowly shifts over time to paying off the principal. The comparison information may take several forms. In one embodiment, the comparison information may include a chart or a graph showing the principal and/or interest paid over the life of the loan for a loan as described herein as compared to a traditional loan. Alternatively, the comparison information may include metrics showing at least one of total accumulated interest paid, outstanding principal amount and accumulated principal paid at one or more predetermined periods in comparison to a traditional loan. In yet another alternative, the comparison information may include an amortization schedule showing the amount of each installment applied to the principal and interest payment for a loan as described herein in comparison to a traditional loan.

[0019] The server 110 may also be configured to convert a pre-existing traditional loan to an alternative loan as described herein. The traditional loan will typically include a remaining loan balance principal, a number of remaining loan installments and an interest rate. The traditional loan may be converted to an alternative loan whereby the parameters of the alternative loan are determined as follows. First, the equal fixed principal repayment amount of the alternative loan may be determined by dividing the remaining principal balance of the traditional loan by the number of installments remaining on the traditional loan. Alternatively, the principal remaining on the traditional loan may be divided by any suitable number of desired installments. Next, the interest payment for any installment for the alternative loan may be calculated based on the remaining principle balance of the alternative loan, the number of remaining loan installments of the alternative loan and the interest rate. As will be described further below, the interest payment is traditionally calculated by multiplying the outstanding principal by the interest rate prorated based on the installment frequency. The initial interest payment for the first installment of the alternative loan (once established) will generally be based on the remaining principal of the traditional loan, the number of installments remaining on the traditional loan, and the determined interest rate. However, subsequent interest payments of the alternative loan will be based on the remaining principal of the alternative loan, number of installments remaining on the alternative loan and the interest rate.

[0020] In the illustrative embodiment, the server 110 includes a memory and a processor to accommodate the forgoing. However, it will be appreciated that the forgoing may be implemented in hardware, software, or a suitable combination of hardware and software, and which can be one or more software systems operating on a general purpose server platform. As used herein, a hardware system can include discrete semiconductor devices, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other suitable devices. A software system can include one or more objects, agents, threads, lines of code, subroutines, separate software applications, user-readable (source) code, machine-readable (object) code, two or more lines of code in two or more corresponding software applications, databases, or other suitable software architectures. In one exemplary embodiment, a software system can include one or more lines of code in a general purpose software application, such as an operating system, and one or more lines of code in a specific purpose software application. Alternatively, the functions of the server may be performed by a human user.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, a flowchart 200 of a method of managing a loan is shown. The method may be implemented by a server, wireless device, VoIP telephone, other advanced intelligence network device, or any combination thereof, generally referred to herein as the "device." Alternatively, the method may be performed by a human user.

[0022] First, a principal amount for the loan is determined 202. This amount is typically based on how much the borrower would like to borrow as well as how much the lender is willing to lend. The loan may be secured, partially secured or unsecured or have any other suitable configuration. Next, an interest rate is determined 204. The amount of interest is typically based on government regulations as well as the risk tolerance of the lender and the amount of interest a borrower is willing to pay. Alternative methods for determining suitable interest rates are expressly contemplated herein and are considered within the scope of the present disclosure. The length of the loan and number of installments may then be determined 206. The length of the loan and number of installments may be any suitable arrangement and is not limited to any example or express reference to any arrangement disclosed herein. In a non-limiting example of a loan, the principal is $100,000, the interest rate is 8.0%, and the number of installments is 360 (e.g., 30 year loan with monthly installments).

[0023] The equal fixed principal repayment amount 208 may then be calculated. This is typically calculated by dividing the principal by the number of installments. In the illustrative example, the equal fixed principal repayment amount is $277.78 ($100,000 divided by 360 installments). This amount is fixed and is paid with each installment. The interest for the given installment may then be calculated 210. This is typically calculated by multiplying the outstanding principal by the interest rate prorated based on the installment frequency. In the illustrative example, the interest paid for the first installment would be $666.67 (i.e., $100,000×(8.0%/12 mos.)=$666.67). As will be appreciated, as the principal outstanding is reduced by the fixed amount after every installment, the interest paid with each subsequent installment will be lesser than each prior interest amount paid. The total installment amount may then be calculated by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount with the interest payment for the installment 212. In the illustrative example, the total for the first installment would be $944.44 (i.e., $277.78+$666.67=$944.44). The installment may be paid via any suitable means, including, but not limited to, electronic funds transfer, cash payment, check payment or any other suitable payment means. The principal remaining, or remaining principal amount, may then be calculated by subtracting the fixed principal payment from the installment from the outstanding principal 214. In the illustrative example, the outstanding principal after the payment of the first installment would be $99,722.22 (i.e., $100,000-$277.78=$99,722.22). In one embodiment, additional principal can be repaid by the borrower at any time during the loan. This would further reduce the outstanding principal balance owed to the lender thereby reducing subsequent interest payment amounts for the remainder of the loan term.

[0024] If outstanding principal remains after the most recent installment 216, subsequent installments may be calculated as described above. A calculation of the second installment per the forgoing example will be described. The equal fixed principal repayment amount remains $277.78. The interest is calculated based on the interest rate, 8.0%, and the principal outstanding after the most recent installment, $99,722.22. For the second installment, the interest payment would be $664.81 (i.e., $99,722.22×(8.0%/12 mos.)=$664.81). Therefore, the total amount for the second installment would be $942.59 (i.e, $277.78+$664.81=$942.59). This process may be repeated until the entire principal has been repaid 218.

[0025] While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A loan product comprising: a principal amount; an interest rate; a predetermined number of repayment installments; a fixed principal repayment amount, wherein the fixed principal repayment amount is determined by dividing the principal amount by the number of repayment installments, and wherein the principal amount is reduced by the fixed principal repayment amount after each repayment installment; and an interest payment amount based on the amount of principal remaining, the interest rate and the number of repayment installments.

2. The loan product of claim 1 further comprising an installment payment wherein the installment payment includes a fixed principal repayment amount and an interest payment amount.

3. The loan product of claim 1 wherein the interest payment amount is determined by: (a) prorating the interest rate by the number of repayment installments to determine a prorated interest rate, and (b) multiplying the prorated interest rate by the principal remaining to determine the interest payment.

4. The loan product of claim 3 further comprising an installment payment wherein the installment payment includes a fixed principal repayment amount and an interest payment amount.

5. A loan management system comprising: one or more terminals operable to act as a client on a network; a computer operable to act as a server on the network and to communicate with each of the participant terminals over the network, the computer comprising: a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and a processor configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to: receive a principal loan amount from at least one terminal; receive an interest rate from at least one terminal; receive a number of repayment installments from at least one terminal; calculate a equal fixed principal repayment amount based on the principal loan amount and the number of repayment installments; calculate an interest payment based on the principal, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; calculate an installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and interest payment; calculate a remaining principal amount by subtracting the fixed principal repayment amount from the principal loan amount; calculate a subsequent interest payment based on the remaining principal amount, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; calculate a subsequent installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and the subsequent interest payment; and generate comparison information for display at least one terminal.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the comparison information includes a chart showing at least one of a principal loan payment and interest payment in comparison to a traditional loan.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the comparison information includes comparison metrics showing at least one of total accumulated interest paid, outstanding principal amount and accumulated principal paid at one or more predetermined periods in comparison to a traditional loan.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the comparison information includes an amortization schedule showing the amount of each installment applied to the principal and interest payment in comparison to a traditional loan.

9. A computer implemented method of converting a traditional loan to an alternative loan and managing said alternative loan, wherein the traditional loan includes a remaining loan balance principal, a number of remaining loan installments and an interest rate, wherein the method comprises: calculating an equal fixed principal repayment amount based on the remaining loan balance principal of the traditional loan and the number of remaining loan installments of the traditional loan; calculating an interest payment based on the remaining loan balance principal of the traditional loan, the number of remaining loan installments of the traditional loan, and the interest rate of the traditional loan calculating an installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and interest payment; calculating a remaining principal amount by subtracting the fixed principal repayment amount from the principal loan amount; calculating a subsequent interest payment based on the remaining principal amount, the interest rate and number of repayment installments; and calculating a subsequent installment amount by adding the equal fixed principal repayment amount and the subsequent interest payment.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the number of repayment installments is determined by multiplying the number of years for the loan by 12.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the number of repayment installments is determined by multiplying the number of years for the loan by 4.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the number of repayment installments is determined by multiplying the number of years for the loan by 2.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the loan is a business loan.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the loan is an automotive loan.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the loan is a mortgage.

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