Abstract: A method and system for linking multiple pre-existing reward programs is disclosed. The method includes receiving information about a first pre-existing reward program for a first product, where the first reward program provides for a first reward, and receiving information about a second pre-existing reward program for a second product, wherein the second reward program provides a second reward. A combination reward program is provided, and the combination reward program provides a combination reward that is greater than each of the first reward and the second reward.

Abstract: A method and computer readable medium for conducting a transaction, comprising receiving a verification value and a portion of a dynamic data element, determining candidate dynamic data elements using the portion of the dynamic data element, calculating candidate verification values using candidate dynamic data elements, and determining if the received verification value matches any of the candidate verification values, wherein the transaction is thereafter authenticated if a candidate verification value matches a candidate verification value.

Abstract: A financial transaction system includes a computer readable storage medium and a processor in communication with the computer readable storage medium. The processor is configured to receive a financial transaction request message from a payment device reader, and parse the financial transaction request message. The financial transaction request message includes a cardholder response to an offer to enroll in a loyalty program of a commercial entity. The processor is further configured to store the cardholder response in the computer readable storage medium.

Abstract: A flexible spending account system can be implemented according to one embodiment of the invention so as to automatically substantiate purchases made at a retailer merchant. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, a method of authorizing products for purchase can be implemented by determining via a computer that a product requested for purchase at a point of sale by a consumer matches a qualified product category under the flexible spending account, sending an authorization request message for requesting use of said flexible spending account of said consumer, wherein said authorization request message comprises a total purchase amount field and a first qualified amount field for a first type of qualified items.

Abstract: A method begins by receiving an accounts payable data file from a client device. The method continues by determining whether a payables profile of a client associated with the client device is to be modified based on the accounts payable data file. The method continues by determining a level of service of the client when the payables profile is not to be modified. The method continues processing payment transactions for accounts payable contained in the accounts payable data file on behalf of the client in accordance with the payables profile via a wide area network when the level of service is a first level of service.

Abstract: A parse/build engine that can handle multi-format financial messages. The engine converts the different format messages into a common format, and the common format message is then processed by the business service application. A parser examines the message and determines an appropriate schema for the particular format of message received. The schema is a data structure in a schema registry that includes a grammar structure for the received format as well as pointers to handlers for converting the different fields of the message into the internal message format using the grammar structure (the “grammar” can include field sequence, field type, length, character encoding, optional and required fields, etc.). The handlers are individually compiled. As formats change, new formats or changes to old formats can be dynamically added to the parse/build engine by loading new schema and handlers.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to providing a status for one or more rewards using a format in a plurality of display formats. Portable device information associated with a portable device and acceptance point device information associated with an acceptance point device are determined. A status for one or more rewards is determined based on the portable device information and the acceptance point device information. A display format is then determined from a plurality of display formats based on the portable device information and acceptance point device information. A status is then displayed using the display format.

Abstract: An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes sending bankruptcy notification messages to a plurality of creditors. The bankruptcy notification messages notify the creditors that various debtors have filed for bankruptcy. Requests are received from the plurality of creditors to file proofs of claims for debts owed by the debtors to the creditors with bankruptcy organizations. The requests are aggregated from the plurality of creditors, and the proofs of claims are filed with the bankruptcy organizations.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for facilitating the payment and collection of transit system fares using a mobile device. The inventive system utilizes a contactless element embedded within a mobile wireless device, such as a mobile phone, PDA, or the like. The smart element is integrated with the circuitry of the mobile device to permit the data to be accessed and manipulated (e.g., read, written, erased) using the wireless communications network as the data transport channel. The data required to enable a user to access a transit system and for the system to conduct fare calculations may be provided to the memory in the contactless element using the wireless network. Such data may include access control data (keys, passwords, identification data) or data required for fare calculations (rates, historical data on system use).

Abstract: Techniques for switching a financial institution account for a debit account holder are provided. A request to convert a financial institution account is received from a customer. Information is obtained from the customer and used to identify a list of possible financial institution candidates. The list of possible financial institution candidates includes financial institutions that have an on-going relationship with an existing payment association and are interested in offering a new financial institution account to the customer. A new financial institution account is then established with a financial institution selected from a list of possible financial institution candidates. Then, the new financial institution account is linked to one or more additional accounts. The one or more additional accounts may be an account with the customer's existing payment association or accounts associated with any recurring transactions.

Abstract: A system, method and prepaid payment card configured to display a current card balance on the prepaid payment card. The prepaid payment card receives a balance request from a button on the card. After retrieving the current card balance encoded on the prepaid payment card, the card displays the current card balance. Remote terminals may be configured to support the real-time display of a balance on a prepaid payment card by writing the current balance to the card after a payment transaction has occurred.

Abstract: A system for managing requests for setting up computer test environments includes a setup request database storing the test environment setup requests and a request management module which provides a standardized user interface screen to submit the requests. If the request submitted by a user does not contain all of the required information necessary to set up the test environment, the user is prompted to provide the missing information, thereby minimizing a subsequent exchange of communications due to missing information.

Abstract: A prepaid card processing system is operable for processing customized expiration dates of prepaid cards. The prepaid card processing system includes a database for storing program expiration parameters associated with an issuer prepaid card program; a set of card accounts created under the issuer prepaid card program, wherein each card account has an expiration date for a prepaid card associated with the card account; and one or more customized expiration parameters for the set of card accounts. The prepaid card processing system is operable to determine the expiration date for the prepaid card associated with the card account based on the program expiration parameters and the customized expiration parameters for the set of card accounts.

Abstract: A method and computer readable medium for conducting a transaction, comprising receiving a verification value and a portion of a dynamic data element, determining candidate dynamic data elements using the portion of the dynamic data element, calculating candidate verification values using candidate dynamic data elements, and determining if the received verification value matches any of the candidate verification values, wherein the transaction is thereafter authenticated if a candidate verification value matches a candidate verification value.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for authenticating a consumer using challenge questions. A response to a challenge question is verified via seeding the challenge question, receiving response, and deductively determining the answer. The verified response and challenge question may then be used to authenticate a consumer as part of an authorization process.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes generating an initial key after interacting with an access device, storing the initial key at a key storage location, altering the initial key with a public key to form an altered key, and sending the altered key to a server computer along with an identifier for the access device. The altered key is changed to the initial key at the server computer and is stored with the identifier in a database in operative communication with the server computer. The initial keys that are stored at the key storage location and in the database are used to alter and restore transaction data associated with multiple financial transactions that are conducted using the access device.

Abstract: Data from transactions conducted on prepaid accounts are accumulated for an issuer and its peers. The accumulated data is used for calculations for both the issuer and its peers to make comparison therebetween. The comparisons between the issuer and its peers are rendered graphically in a report. The issuers are in an open system payment processing network that includes merchants and their acquirers, and a transaction handler for authorizing, clearing and settling the transactions that are conducted on prepaid accounts.

Abstract: A method for verifying a portable consumer device. The method includes receiving an authorization request message associated with a transaction conducted using a portable consumer device. The portable consumer device includes a portable consumer device fingerprint. The authorization request message includes an altered portable consumer device fingerprint and an algorithm identifier. The method also includes selecting an algorithm from among a plurality of algorithms using the algorithm identifier, determining the portable consumer device fingerprint using selected algorithm and the altered portable consumer device fingerprint, determining if the portable consumer device fingerprint matches a stored portable consumer device fingerprint, and sending an authorization response message after determining if the portable consumer device fingerprint matches the stored portable consumer device fingerprint.

Abstract: A wireless mobile communications apparatus reads removable cards and can communicate an account corresponding to the removable card in order to conduct a wireless transaction with a merchant on the account with the wireless mobile communications apparatus. A total currency amount for the transaction, and remaining balance in the account after the transaction, can be displayed on a display screen of the wireless mobile communications apparatus. The removable card can be a gift card bearing a magnetic strip having an identifier for the account encoded thereto that will be read when inserted into the wireless mobile communications apparatus which can be a cellular telephone or Web enabled portable device. The magnetic strip gift card can be substantially composed of paper so as to be intended for disposable after use.