Abstract: A system and method for private label account number protection is described. A method receives, at a retail computing system, a private label credit account number being proffered to make a private label credit purchase. A request for authorization for the purchase is provided from the retail computing system to a private label credit account provider over a dedicated connection between the retail computing system and the private label credit account provider. The retail computing system receives an authorization token from the credit account provider and stores the authorization token in place of the private label credit account number.