Skip to main content
Three associates in a warehouse style office work together on building electrical hardware components

OnePatents: Innovation and invention for all

At many companies, patenting is a process reserved for research labs and senior scientists. At Capital One, we know a great idea can come from anyone, in any role. We’ve built a culture where being on the cutting edge is everyone’s job, and challenging the status quo is the standard. 

Whether you’re a café ambassador, an administrative assistant or a software engineer, if you have a way to make life better for our customers, we’ve got the programs and resources to protect that idea.

That’s why we launched OnePatents. It’s our dedicated platform designed to turn associate ingenuity into industry-leading intellectual property. Through this program, we provide the legal and technical support to help associates navigate the patent process from start to finish. Since OnePatents started, we’ve grown our portfolio to over 6,400 U.S. patents by making sure that every associate has a clear path to becoming an inventor.

But how does a simple "What if?" become a legal patent? Here’s the step-by-step journey of how an associate’s idea becomes patented at Capital One.

Phase 1: The Spark

Innovation usually starts with a friction point—a moment where you realize a process could be faster, a customer experience could be smoother or a technology could be smarter. Whether you’re deep-diving into code or assisting a customer in a branch, this initial spark of an idea is all about challenging how things have always been done, and then feeling empowered to build a better way forward.

For Catelyn, a UX Designer, it started when she was an administrative assistant struggling to manage a flood of messages across multiple platforms. She envisioned a tool that could funnel everything into one interface. 

“I was inspired by my tech colleagues’ innovation and creativity,” Catelyn says. “I wrote down how I thought the platform might work and all the features it might have.”

From there, she presented the idea to her manager, who encouraged her to pitch it to the OnePatents program. 

Phase 2: The Pitch

Once you have a concept or an idea, the OnePatents team is ready to listen. Associates can submit ideas at any time, but the program also hosts annual innovation events—high-energy, focused sprints where teams across the company collaborate to transform their most creative solutions into patentable inventions. 

These events, ranging from intensive patent blitzes to specialized IP workshops, have helped Capital One become the leader in overall U.S. patents within the financial services industry. At the heart of this achievement is a culture where everyone is invited to be an inventor, a standard that Brandon, chief intellectual property counsel, believes is the true driver of our growth.

“Innovation happens at all levels and positions at Capital One,” Brandon said. “It’s not just our engineers. Anyone can find small improvements that make a huge difference to our customers and associates.”

Phase 3: The Polish

Once an idea is submitted, the OnePatents team steps in to make the journey toward a patent smooth and stress-free. You don’t have to be a legal expert to succeed—the team handles the complex heavy lifting by:

  • Determining value: Experts analyze the idea’s business value and patentability within the current tech landscape.
  • Collaborative brainstorming: They partner with the associate to flesh out the details and identify additional technical improvements.
  • Drafting & filing: The team manages the rigorous process of drafting and filing the application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
This streamlined approach allows associates to stay focused on their big ideas while the OnePatents team handles the complexity. It’s why so many of our associates hold multiple patents, continually returning to the program to help shape the future of technology.

Phase 4: The Career Accelerator

The patent process doesn't just transform ideas—it launches our associates, too. For many, the journey into patenting opens doors to new career paths and provides a platform to showcase leadership and problem-solving skills.

While her idea was moving through the patent process, Catelyn realized she had a natural aptitude for designing customer experiences. She used Capital One’s learning resources to teach herself UX design, eventually transitioning from her administrative role into a full-time design career. “The whole patent process created a vision for where I wanted my career to go.”

This personal growth is matched by a culture that loves to celebrate its inventors. From exclusive inventor swag to recognition awards, the OnePatents program shines a light on those who think outside the box, culminating in the Annual Inventor Celebration. For Brandon, this celebration is more than just an event. It’s a reflection of who we are as a tech company.

“At Capital One, innovation is our identity,” he said. “Here, creativity is rewarded and curiosity is expected. We want every associate to know that if they have the drive to challenge things, we have the platform to help them transform their idea and their career.”

Ready to turn your "What if?" into the next big thing? Explore our culture of innovation at Capital One.

Tech Jobs

View All of Our Available Opportunities

Copyright © 2026 Opinions are those of the individual author. Statements are deemed accurate at the time of posting. Unless otherwise noted, Capital One is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any company mentioned. All trademarks and intellectual property used or displayed are the property of their respective owners.

Job Alerts

Don’t miss a thing. Stay in the know about opportunities you may be interested in!

Interested InTo create job alerts, you can either select a job category from the list of options or search by location. For location, you can search by city, state, zip or “remote”, then click 'Add'. Once done, click ‘Sign up’ to receive your job alerts.

By submitting your information, you acknowledge that you have read our privacy policy and consent to receive email communication from Capital One.

*Required Field