Customer-defined account management rules for improved linked financial institution account management

A method and an apparatus for managing financial institution accounts for managing financial institution accounts are disclosed. The apparatus (102) comprises a computer platform (104) including at least one processor (106) and a memory (108); a customer profile database (122) stored in the memory; an account linking module (112) stored in the memory, an account rules module (114) stored in the memory and an account management module (118) stored in the memory. The account linking module is executable by the at least one processor, and operable to receive one or more financial institution account linking requests and provide for one or more financial institution links. Each link provides for linking two or more financial institution accounts associated with a customer and one or more of the link requests provide for linking financial institution accounts associated with more than one financial institution. The account rules module is executable by the at least one processor, and operable to receive one or more customer-defined account rules associated with two or more of the linked financial institution accounts and store the rules in a customer profile associated with the customer. At least one of the customer defined account rules is operable to maximize the customer's rate of return associated with the two or more of the linked financial institution accounts by establishing a maximum balance limit. The account management module is executable by the at least one processor, and operable to manage funds in the plurality of financial institution customer accounts based on the account rules and including, account balance need logic operable to automatically and dynamically establish the maximum account balance based on logically determining, from historical account activity, one or more recurring debits and an amount and payment time associated with each recurring debit.