Abstract: A prepaid card system enabling access to payment-based websites comprising one or more prepaid cards bearing a stored value and authentication codes; one or more cardholder computers communicating via the Internet with merchant websites; a “middleman” server communicating via an intranet with merchants, prepaid card issuers and said merchants' banks; one or more searchable databases hosted on the middleman's server storing merchant registration information, card issuer information; one or more software applications to interpret the data sent by the middleman server for the identification and online deduction of the amount of value used in a transaction from a prepaid card; one or more software applications for reception and transmission of cardholder card data; and one or more software applications for transaction accounting and payment processing between merchants, card issuers, middleman and merchants' banks.

Abstract: A prepaid card system that enables customers to access payment-based Internet websites and goods and services via e-commerce using an authorized prepaid card.