Abstract: A system for and a method of performing interactive data exchange, for example, as part of a financial transaction, between a user base and a communications network, provides a financial account associated with the user as part of the network infrastructure. The system includes a request data input device. A communications network is connected to the device for transmitting the request data to the network. At the user base there is also provided a receiver for receiving response signals from the network and which signals include encoded response data. A signal decoder is provided at the user base to decode the response data. A display displays the response data interactively with the request data. The use of a financial (e.g., debit or credit) financial account as part of the network infrastructure allows financial transactions to be completed without involving any additional financial institution, credit card company or the like.