Abstract: A funds transfer system for facilitating electronic funds transfer between a payor and a payee by means of an intermediate trusted third party comprises: a payor station including a device for electronic communication of a payment order, the payment order comprising the payee's name, address and an amount owed by the payor to the payee; a home banking system including a computer structured to communicate electronically at least with the payor station, to receive the payment order, and with the trusted third party; a trusted third party system associated with the trusted third party, the trusted third party system comprising a computer structured to communicate electronically with both the home banking system and a bank of the payee.

Abstract: A funds transfer system for facilitating electronic funds transfer between a payor and a payee by means of an intermediate trusted third party comprises: a payor station including a device for electronic communication of a payment order, the payment order comprising the payee's name, address and an amount owed by the payor to the payee; a home banking system including a computer structured to communicate electronically at least with the payor station, to receive the payment order, and with the trusted third party; a trusted third party system associated with the trusted third party, the trusted third party system comprising a computer structured to communicate electronically with both the home banking system and a bank of the payee.

Abstract: A system is provided for continuous intraday final settlement of payment orders among a plurality of financial-institution participants. The system includes a central controlling agent, including a central computer operable to communicate electronically with satellite computer stations of the plurality of participants to receive payment orders therefrom, and to control release of payments among the plurality of participants; and means for storing a plurality of prefunded balances in a prefunded balance account, each balance representing the right of one of the participants to payment from the prefunded balance account and containing an initial prefunded balance for each participant at the start of each business day.