Abstract: A system incorporating method and associated apparatus for establishing virtual banking in a merchant venue or syndication of merchants for one or more consumers in a manner that increases the deposit-based assets of a related traditional banking institution by loading transactions of fractional currency amounts, preferably reflecting the acquisition of physical fractional currency, and more preferably coinage, and thereupon enabling inter-merchant (or syndicate) commercial transactions, including purchases and sales, in a manner that does not deplete deposit-based assets. Commercial transactions are at the direction of consumer(s) each with their own portable device linked to a merchant-hosted virtual account that maintains transaction details, histories and balances, and transmits data reflecting the same to the portable device(s) where it is recorded and displayed, upon demand.