Abstract: A method is provided for authorizing a financial transaction between a consumer and a merchant. The method includes receiving, at a processor of a computer system, a request for authorization for the financial transaction from a credit clearing system; accessing, by the processor, an open to buy file to determine if adequate resources exist to complete the financial transaction, wherein the open to buy file corresponds to both a credit account and a deposit account that are associated with the consumer; when it is determined that the adequate resources exist, then: transferring funds, using the processor, from the deposit account to a remittance account associated with the consumer and the credit account, thereby building an outstanding balance on the credit account; and authorizing, using the processor, the financial transaction with the credit clearing system based on the transfer of funds from the deposit account to the remittance account.