Abstract: A network system is disclosed for handling telephone requests for authorizing financial transactions between a merchant (10) and the issuer (20) of the transaction card presented for the transaction. The network system includes an intelligent switch (14) for receiving an incoming call from a merchant. The switch includes a Voice Response Unit (VRU) (16) which generates a request for the merchant to enter the account number of the transaction card. The switch then determines the issuer based on data contained in the account number received from the merchant (118). The switch then initiates a call to the issuer (120). The switch then connects the merchant and issuer to enable the issuer to obtain additional information, directly from the merchant, for evaluating the transaction (132). Once the information has been received, the issuer will generate an approval code which is relayed by the switch to the merchant (146, 148). The switch will also keep a record of the transaction parameters (154).