Abstract: A universal e-money system and corresponding method for financial transactions involving different online payment systems includes local brokerage accounts opened with each online payment system, and software modules programmed in a computer in communication with the online payment systems. The modules interface with a first online payment system to identify receipt from a user of the first online payment system of a first electronic money transfer to a first local brokerage account and credit a virtual account of the user with a related value of electronic money. The modules also interface with the user to receive a request to complete a payment to a vendor having an account on a second online payment system. The virtual account of the user is debited and the requested payment is effected within a second online payment system from the local brokerage account to the vendor account.