Abstract: A user-specified credit card system is provided including a central bank control system adapted to transmit a credit number request signal only after the receipt of a personal identification number with a desired credit limit via an ATM or the like. The credit number request signal includes the credit limit, expiration date and when desired the vendor number the credit must be spent at. A credit provider is connected to the central bank control system. The credit provider has a first mode during which the same is adapted to deploy a unique credit number upon the receipt of the credit number request signal if credit is available. The credit provider works in a second mode upon the receipt of a credit number and a purchase amount. In such mode, the credit provider serves to deploy an approval signal only if the credit limit is greater than or equal to the purchase amount. After the transmission of the approval signal, the credit number is cancelled.