Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates implementation of an incentive or loyalty program by providing a universal rewards currency. This universal rewards currency may be “spent” by participants who have earned rewards and accepted by the other participants in the multi-tiered network created by the system. The network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers, retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like.

Abstract: An account reconciliation system having a particular usefulness in the reconciliation of centrally billed accounts and more specifically, in the reconciliation of centrally billed accounts in the travel industry is provided. The system and methods of the present invention expand on the traditional match/non-match techniques and provide complete transaction management for every item on a client's account. In another sense, reconciliation is redefined to include each and every transaction on an account regardless of it's reconciliation status, i.e., matched, unresolved, pending, etc. Consequently, the present invention reconciles the client's account to the account balance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates implementation of an incentive or loyalty program by providing a universal rewards currency. This universal rewards currency may be “spent” by participants who have earned rewards and accepted by the other participants in the multi-tiered network created by the system. The network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers, retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like.

Abstract: An integrated database and information server are provided that efficiently share information and tasks between various stored value programs. A server is configured to provide reusable objects and data structures that are suitably shared between various stored value products. A database at the server allows data to be shared between various programs so that each consumer associates with only one database record even though that consumer may use multiple shared value products. An exemplary common record for a consumer includes information relating to mailing addresses, preferred language, and the like. By integrating modules and avoiding duplicate records, the record communicates with all stored value programs, so the information does not need to be repeatedly entered into the database. Moreover, new stored value products are quickly and easily created through selection and arrangement of various shared objects preferably maintained within the database.

Abstract: A transaction card having one or more folds therein to provide a compact and easily stored transaction card is provided. Moreover, a foldable transaction card having one or more holes or apertures therein for holding a keychain, or other device for attaching the transaction card to another item, such as a set of keys, a wallet, or other item is provided. Other embodiments include spring-loaded clips on the foldable transaction cards and protective sleeves, housings or cases for full-sized and smaller-sized cards. In addition, methods of making foldable transaction cards are provided.

Abstract: A system which facilitates the purchase of an item qualifying for pre-tax treatment utilizing at least one flexible spending account (FSA). A host computer may receive a request from a point of sale (POS) device to authorize payment for one or more items. The host computer may process the request to determine if the item qualifies for pre-tax treatment. If the item qualifies for pre-tax treatment, the host computer may transmit payment authorization to the POS device and debit at least one FSA and/or at least one non-FSA account.

Abstract: The spend capacity of a consumer typically increases as the number of consumers in the household increases, since the consumer can draw on the spending power of other consumers in the household. The size of wallet of the household is thus a better indicator of the consumer's spend capacity than an individual size of wallet. All consumers in a given household can be aggregated based on, for example, their address of record. Duplicate tradelines within each household are removed from consideration in a size of wallet estimate. A spend capacity is then estimated for each tradeline using calculations derived from a consumer behavior model. The spend capacities for all tradelines in the household are combined to determine a household size of wallet. Each consumer in the household is then tagged with the household size of wallet, rather than their individual size of wallet.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for presenting, on a statement associated with a financial transaction instrument, an amount of interest avoided during a statement period. A first interest amount is computed for the statement period according to a first interest calculation method, the first interest amount being an interest amount actually billed to the transaction instrument account holder. A second interest amount is computed for the statement period according to a second interest calculation method. An amount of interest avoided for the statement period is computed by taking a difference of the first interest amount and the second interest amount. The amount of interest avoided for the statement period is displayed on the statement, whereby the holder of the transaction instrument is informed as to the amount of interest avoided by use of the first interest calculation method, rather than the second interest calculation method.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically establishing merchant accounts for transaction card usage. More specifically, the systems and methods allow an agent to automatically apply for and automatically receive approval for a merchant to transact commerce with customers who use a transaction card. Moreover, the systems and methods provide real-time information, such as approval or denial notifications and reports to an agent. In addition, the systems and methods provide secure file transfers between an agent and a transaction card issuer/processor.

Abstract: The invention provides consumers with the services of multiple cards or accounts while allowing consumers to carry a single card, transponder, code and/or other access device. Because the card may access combined services such as financial transaction services and transportation services, the system may facilitate charging the financial account for the transportation services. The system may allow the consumer to use loyalty points or geographic based loyalty points to pay for the transportation services. The system may also limit the use of certain loyalty points based upon the geographic area for certain transportation services in certain geographic areas.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating savings using a savings calculator for calculating savings realized over a period of time for several travel-related categories of expenses using respective pre-defined formulas and for producing a savings summary report and worksheets.

Abstract: A system of the present invention uses an identity provider to provide the authentication services for multiple service providers. An identity provider communicates with one or more service providers. A user that wishes to gain access to a service provider is authenticated through the use of the identity provider. A user desiring to access a service provider is first authenticated by the identity provider. The identity provider determines if the user meets the desired class level and provides various information related to the authentication. When the user attempts to access a second service provider that is associated with the same identity provider, the second service provider accesses the identity provider and determines that the user was recently authenticated. The identity provider then transmits the relevant information regarding the authentication process to the second service provider, which can then allow or deny the user access to the second service provider.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating automatic reconciliation of transaction card transactions is disclosed, wherein a user may request single-use account codes via the Internet. The system comprises various hardware and software systems to enable a card member, program administrator, or any other designated third-party to request one or more single-use account codes. The requestor may further assign a descriptor for each of the one or more account codes. After receiving a requested account code, the requester may communicate the account code to a merchant to facilitate a purchase transaction. The system retrieves a list of transactions from the card issuer at regular intervals, matches the account codes in the list to an account code and associated descriptor, and records the reconciled transaction within a database.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an icon with an additional level of functionality that allows a user to validate that current information (e.g., a web page) originates from the true owner of the icon and is not merely a copy. The method includes a user requesting a web page from a web site using a web browser. The web server receives the request, retrieves the web page and forwards it to an authentication server. The authentication server inserts an authenticity key into the web page, then the page (including the authenticity key) is returned to the user. If the page includes an authenticity key, the authenticity is verified at the user's computer because the user computer includes logic (e.g., software) to verify the authenticity. During the user configuration process, the user defines an authenticity stamp which determines the format of an authenticated page.

Abstract: An integrated technology quality model provides a decision-making matrix for managing and combining technology initiatives within a corporate environment. In a refining step, recommendations are made based on simple filters to decommission and/or clean up an existing technology portfolio. In an optimizing step, the data is further analyzed for details to identify applications performing similar activities in a business process. The optimizing step may result in a recommendation to decommission redundant applications. In a transforming step, core applications are enhanced or componentized to address additional needs and requirements. This develops a portfolio which has transformational impact on a business.

Abstract: Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Private equity firms and other investors of small businesses can use the CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to more accurately evaluate small and privately held companies, both during investment and for evaluating prospective investments. Over-the-counter securities trading systems can also use this modeling approach to provide more accurate information and/or rankings of listed companies to their customers.

Abstract: The system enables participating service establishments to select and configure rebate programs and define which corporate clients to include in the offer. Corporate clients may interface with the system in order to view corporate card spend data, including a summary of savings obtained through purchases made with participating service establishments. The system further uses this information to generate rebate checks for the corporate client and invoices for the service establishments. The annual cash rebates may be based on the volume of cardmember spend at participating service establishment partners. The system provides benefits to a corporate client rather than to individual cardmembers, thereby revealing the value of participation in any number of savings programs directly to the decision maker of the corporation.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for assisting a user who is designing a project in selecting a technical architecture suitable for the project. A catalog of architectures and architecture components and various criteria to be met by project architectures, including such as technical standards, organization policies and guidelines, and legal or regulatory ones, are stored. The catalog may be web-based. Questions are posed to the user about the nature of the project, and a rules engine guides the user through relevant portions of the catalog based on the user's answers to the questions, and a set of one or more architectures that would be suitable for the project is proposed to the user. Once the user selects an architecture, the rules engine leads the user through a review of the stored criteria applicable to the project, to identify any that are not met by the selected architecture.

Abstract: Commercial size of spending wallet (“CSoSW”) is the total business spend of a business including cash but excluding bartered items. Commercial share of wallet (“CSoW”) is the portion of the spending wallet that is captured by a particular financial company. A modeling approach utilizes various data sources to provide outputs that describe a company's spend capacity. Online marketplaces that allow small businesses to advertise their services can use this CSoW/CSoSW modeling approach to provide a rating that gives an indication of the business prospects of the vendors listed on their sites. Further, such marketplaces can combine this information with their own internal analytics to provide a single holistic rating.