Abstract: The disclosure provides methods, systems and computer program products that enable optimized direct benefit transfers from an originator to a beneficiary. Implementation of a direct benefit transfer involves receiving from an originator bank server a user identifier uniquely associated with the beneficiary, and direct benefit transfer payment amount. The user identifier is used to retrieve a payment account identifier associated with the beneficiary. The retrieved identifiers are used to route the payment account identifier and the transaction amount information to a beneficiary bank server that is identified. The beneficiary bank server responds to credit of the disbursement amount, by crediting the payment account associated with the beneficiary.