Abstract: A system and method for facilitating debit card transactions is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method for facilitating debit card transactions may comprise the steps of: issuing, by a first financial institution, a debit card to a cardholder, the debit card being associated with a financial account held at or administered by a second financial institution that is different from the first financial institution; receiving a transaction request for a card transaction initiated by the cardholder, the transaction request indicating a mode for processing the transaction request as specified by the cardholder; routing the transaction request, based at least in part on the specified processing mode; processing the transaction request against the financial account to approve or reject the transaction request; and debiting an amount of an approved transaction request from the financial account, the debiting occurring either immediately upon or subsequent to the approval.

Abstract: A system and a method of operating a debit card reward program that generates a reward for the cardholder based upon purchases made with the debit card. This reward amount may be applied to subsequent purchases made by the cardholder with the debit card. Additionally, all or a portion of the reward amount may be delivered to a sponsor, such as a charitable institution. A reward is accrued for every purchase conducted at any merchant made using the debit card. In particular, this reward is a varied percentage of every debit card purchase and may result in an additional reward for purchases that meet selected criteria.