Abstract: The present invention provides for a system and method of performing financial transactions which include a financial card that stores pre-selected transaction instructions corresponding to one or more financial transactions, such as cash withdrawal, or bill payment, or the like. These cards are used with one or more terminals which read the instructions on the card, interpret those instructions and execute the interpreted instructions to conduct one or more of said financial transactions. Preferably, the terminal--after determining from the instructions on the card what functions, i.e., financial transactions, are available to the card user--displays those options. The user then selects one of the financial transactions; the terminal based on the selection and the instructions corresponding to the selected function, executes the transaction.