Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing financials products to customers. Preferably, a financial product is provided to a customer in association with one or more other financial products. The financial products may correspond to different product categories and may be particularly adapted or suited according to a customer's financial needs. In addition, different product combinations may be offered to customers. For example, a financial product for investing or generating income (such as a savings account, a money market account or a CD account) may be provided in association with a financial product for conducting financial transactions (such as a loan, a mortgage or a credit card account). Additionally, one financial product may be used as security for another financial product of the customer. The financial products may also be structured to maximize the total return and/or utility received by the customer.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the principles of the present invention address the need to more conveniently and efficiently transfer value to a card issuer. Specifically, in systems and methods consistent with the invention, funds to be applied as a payment to an account are received at a point-of-sale location from a cardholder. These funds may include cash, check, credit card, money order, cashier's check, or other cash equivalent. A transaction message, indicating a payment transaction and a payment amount, is sent from the point-of-sale location to the card issuer. The card issuer then verifies the account information indicated in the transaction message. When the point-of-sale location then receives an indication that the payment amount was applied to the account, the point-of-sale location forwards the payment to the card issuer.