Abstract: Reward payments are applied to a first account and/or any linked second accounts at a financial institution. A computer program determines whether the first account qualifies for application of a reward, which may be a first alternate interest rate and/or a reward payment formula. The program communicates application of the reward to the first account and any linked second accounts for an accounting period applicable to the reward if the first account qualifies for the reward. In an event wherein the first account does not qualify for the reward, the program communicates application of the base interest rate to the first account and any linked second accounts for an accounting period applicable to the base interest rate.

Abstract: A backpack for transporting articles and for ballistic including at least one compartment and opposing straps vertically attached to a back-facing portion of the backpack. A first compartment includes a plurality of pouches disposed on an inner surface of the first compartment to store various accessories, a second compartment immediately behind the first compartment defines a cavity sized to receive a bullet-proof material, and a third compartment is formed between the second compartment and the back-facing portion and used to store or transport various articles. Once the user senses danger or comes under fire, the user may deploy the backpack as a ballistic protection by shifting the backpack from where the back-facing portion rests on the user's back side to where the back-facing portion rests on the user's front side.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a rewards program through a financial institution for granting rewards to customers enrolled in the rewards program wherein the customer receives one or more reward credits in an account associated with the financial institution if the customer meets certain qualification criteria. The method may include determining if the account qualifies for an award credit; assigning a reward credit to the account; receiving purchase information regarding a purchase made at a merchant associated with the customer's account; identifying from the purchase information whether the purchase was made at a qualifying merchant; and applying the reward credit towards the purchase made by the customer at the qualifying merchant by applying a reward credit to the customer's account based upon the business rules applicable to the reward program.

Abstract: A system and method of operating a rewards program through a financial institution for granting rewards to customers enrolled in the rewards program wherein the customer receives one or more reward credits in an account associated with the financial institution if the customer meets certain qualification criteria. The method may include determining if the account qualifies for an award credit; assigning a reward credit to the account; receiving purchase information regarding a purchase made at a merchant associated with the customer's account; identifying from the purchase information whether the purchase was made at a qualifying merchant; and applying the reward credit towards the purchase made by the customer at the qualifying merchant by applying a reward credit to the customer's account based upon the business rules applicable to the reward program.