Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online payment transaction through a point of sale device. The method includes receiving input from a user selecting an item for purchase through the point of sale device; calculating a total purchase amount for the item in response to a request from the user to purchase the item; and sending payment authorization for the total purchase amount from the point of sale device to a payment entity, in which the payment authorization is sent to the payment entity via a mobile communication device of the user. The method further includes receiving a result of the payment authorization from the payment entity through the mobile communication device; and completing the payment transaction based on the result of the payment authorization.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online payment transaction through a point of sale device. The method includes receiving input from a user selecting an item for purchase through the point of sale device; calculating a total purchase amount for the item in response to a request from the user to purchase the item; and sending payment authorization for the total purchase amount from the point of sale device to a payment entity, in which the payment authorization is sent to the payment entity via a mobile communication device of the user. The method further includes receiving a result of the payment authorization from the payment entity through the mobile communication device; and completing the payment transaction based on the result of the payment authorization.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media are provided for inducing customer loyalty that are configured to: identify a loyalty account associated with a consumer, wherein the loyalty account is part of a loyalty program established by a retailer, create a monetary account linked to the consumer's loyalty account, designate an amount of change from a cash transaction at the retailer to be deposited into the monetary account, deposit the amount of change into the monetary account by adding the designated amount of change to an existing balance of the monetary account to create a new balance, determine if the consumer is entitled to a reward based on the depositing of the designated amount of change into the monetary account and at least one threshold; and display to the consumer the outcome of the determining.

Abstract: Loyalty programs can be operated within a payment processing system having multiple vendors, thereby providing access to detailed transaction data and with the flexibility for customization of the loyalty programs themselves, by establishing a communication for the transfer of data via a customer-facing channel. When the payment processing system processes a transaction between a merchant and an account holder, in addition to obtaining payment for the merchant from the account via an acquirer and an issuer, respectively, a transaction handler tabulates and stores different types of loyalty currencies in a loyalty reward account associated with the account holder if the account holder is enrolled in a loyalty program and criteria for applying the loyalty program are satisfied. The account holder is provided access to the loyalty account via the customer-facing channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods configured to specify and/or deliver the benefit of an offer, based on the identity of an issuer of a consumer payment account with which the offer is associated and using which account a transaction qualifying for the offer is performed.

Abstract: A multi-account payment consolidation system and process, including a central computer system operatively coupled to a payment terminal through a network connection. A plurality of external financial accounts are registered and associated with a user. At least one user-defined customized rule-set for processing a payment associated with the user is stored. A request to initiate payment of a transaction is received from the payment terminal. The payment is automatically processed in accordance with the customized rule-set by accessing the external financial accounts, wherein the customized rule-set directs at least a rule that the payment of the transaction be apportioned between more than one of the external financial accounts.

Abstract: A method of concurrently assessing a closure status for multiple ledgers may comprise accessing a general ledger and a plurality of subledgers including a first subledger and a second subledger, having first and second close periods, respectively. The method may also include translating the second subledger such that the second subledger has the first close period, and determining a closure status for each subledger over the first period. The method may additionally include determining a status for the general ledger indicating a closure status over the first period, and concurrently displaying an indication for each of the plurality of subledgers and the general ledger. The method may further include displaying the status of each of the plurality of subledgers next to the indication for each, and displaying the status of the general ledger next to the indication for the general ledger.

Abstract: A long term goal oriented incentive learning and feedback award system is disclosed. A plurality of third party providers are enabled to directly provide financial incentives to a user in exchange for a specific user performance. A user is enabled to set up a trust account on the system to accumulate the financial incentives under the restriction of a long term goal. The long term goal includes supporting college education, supporting retirement, staring a business, or patenting an innovation. A user performance includes a school study, a feedback to teachers or a feedback about a medicine or a political survey.

Abstract: A computer-implemented offer redemption method and system for presenting offers to consumers and processing offer redemptions links offers from businesses directly to a payment account of a consumers, thereby eliminating the need for mail-in rebates or point-of-sale integration, and allows for the sharing of consumer information between different card link offer providers to facilitate the linking of rewards and registration of users.

Abstract: A spend mapping tool provides a system, method, and computer program product for analyzing transactions between merchants and cardmembers. The tool groups a merchant by industry in a merchant industry group. The tool also groups a cardmember by industry in a cardmember industry group. Further, the tool analyzes transaction data from a transaction between at least one merchant in said merchant industry group and at least one cardmember in said cardmember industry group.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online payment transaction through a point of sale device. The method includes receiving input from a user selecting an item for purchase through the point of sale device; calculating a total purchase amount for the item in response to a request from the user to purchase the item; and sending payment authorization for the total purchase amount from the point of sale device to a payment entity, in which the payment authorization is sent to the payment entity via a mobile communication device of the user. The method further includes receiving a result of the payment authorization from the payment entity through the mobile communication device; and completing the payment transaction based on the result of the payment authorization.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for transmitting information to an entity (e.g., a merchant) upon associating a gift card with an account. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: receive information associated with a gift card, the gift card associated with a merchant; associate the gift card with an account; and transmit information to an entity, the information being associated with at least one of the gift card, the account, or a user associated with the account.

Abstract: An online point redemption and distribution system. The online point redemption and distribution system is used in combination with a cloud computing operating system to allow consumers and stores to do transaction online, every transaction between the consumers and the stores will be recorded as points, and then the points can be redeemed into virtual money and deposited in consumer's account. Therefore, it will enhance consumers' loyalty. The online point redemption and distribution system includes a website operation platform and an application programming interface module.

Abstract: Methods and systems can be provide for redeeming loyalty rewards such as loyalty points for value. In an aspect, an input can be received. The input can relate to a loyalty program and a user account. The input can comprise an exchangeable value and the user account has a profile associated therewith. The input can be analyzed to automatically determine a modification to the profile based upon the exchangeable value. The modification can be applied to the profile associated with the user account.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for issuing a gift card to an account. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: determine an offer associated with an account, wherein the offer was activated by a user of the account or automatically activated based on one or more pre-configured user preferences; determine a transaction associated with the account; determine the transaction qualifies for the offer; determine a gift card based on at least one of the transaction or the offer; and issue the gift card to the account.

Abstract: A system and method for processing an economic benefit between friends on a social network using a consumer identifier, payment card, and plurality of friend identifiers, each friend identifier including a consumer identifier corresponding to another consumer data entry, at least one challenge including a challenge identifier, task identification, threshold number of consumers and a reward; a task identifier and a required action. Upon an indication of completion of a task by the consumer and friends or indication based on performance of the corresponding required action, the consumer and friends can share in a reward.

Abstract: A method is provided for authorizing a financial transaction of a consumer, comprising: issuing a card to a cardholder by a card-issuing financial institution; creating a card account associated with the card and the cardholder; creating a deposit account associated with the cardholder; creating a liability payment remittance account associated with the cardholder; associating the card with the deposit account and the payment remittance account; and placing money in the deposit account; receiving a request for authorization for a transaction from a clearing system by the card-issuing financial institution; and if adequate resources exist, transferring funds from the deposit account to the payment remittance account; and authorizing the purchase transaction; thereby building an outstanding balance on the credit card account; applying a funds debit or charge to the payment remittance account; and crediting the credit card account for an amount of payment.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to represent offer rules based on requirements for the detection of predefined types of events and actions scheduled to be performed in response to the detection of each occurrence of the events. The events are independent from each other in processing and are linked via prerequisite conditions to formulate the requirements of an offer campaign. The computing apparatus is configured to allow a user to register a plurality of different accounts; and a transaction in a first account of the user can be used to satisfy the prerequisite conditions for the detection of a subsequent event in the offer rules corresponding to a subsequent transaction in a second account different from the first account. Thus, the user can use any of the registered accounts to generate the events anticipated by different stages of the offer rules and thus trigger the respective actions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for adaptively responding to a user transaction. An exemplary apparatus is configured to: receive information associated with an offer, the offer enabling a user to receive a discount or rebate on a qualifying transaction; receive authorization information associated with a transaction, the offer not activated by the user prior to the transaction; and transmit a message to the user advising the user to activate the offer within a predetermined period, wherein the transaction is cleared upon expiration of the predetermined period.

Abstract: An electronic system and method for distribution of multimedia content programs over an electronic communication network to a user in a social network. The social network enables users to register and connect with other users. Users get paid for watching content, by receiving a revenue share of the advertisements displayed in conjunction with the selected content. A user may also browse the content watched by any of his friends on the social network, and choose to watch the same content. In this case, the user gets compensated for watch a content program with advertisement and the friend also gets compensated for the referral.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that enables users to selectively predict one or more outcomes expected to occur during an upcoming event, such as a sporting event. A graphical user interface enables users to specify data for individual outcomes predicted to occur during the event. Rewards and/or an amount of the rewards are determined for predictions based on a comparison of actual outcomes with the predicted outcomes and/or one or more business rules. Users obtain rewards for accurate outcome predictions in near-real time during live events and can view reward amounts and/or actual game statistics during the live event.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and media are provided for inducing customer loyalty that are configured to: identify a loyalty account associated with a consumer, wherein the loyalty account is part of as loyalty program established by a retailer, create a monetary account linked to the consumer's loyalty account, designate an amount of change from a cash transaction at the retailer to be deposited into the monetary account, deposit the amount of change into the monetary account by adding the designated amount of change to an existing balance of the monetary account to create a new balance, determine if the consumer is entitled to a reward based on the depositing of the designated amount of change into the monetary account and at least one threshold; and display to the consumer the outcome of the determining.

Abstract: Individual users may log into the same online game from multiple different social networking platforms. The disclosed technology provides a way to unite users' accounts such that users that have logged into the online game from different social networking platforms can have their progress in the online game preserved regardless of which social networking platforms the user logged in from. Business intelligence about differences in the user's value when logging in from the different social networking platforms can be determined and incentivizing actions can be performed on the social networking platforms based on the business intelligence.

Abstract: The systems and methods of the disclosure allow a user to take advantage of offers via a mobile application. In response to a purchase associated with the offer is made, the transaction information may be processed by the system, such that, the credit and debit associated with the purchase are transmitted to the transaction account and the merchant. The transaction information may be further processed to determine whether the particular transaction is eligible for a reward. Where the transaction is eligible for a reward, the credit and debit associated with reward are transmitted to the transaction account and the sponsoring entity. The offers may be based on the location of the mobile device and/or location of the user.

Abstract: An account application product includes a package, an account identifier and a terms sheet. The package includes a first panel extending from a free edge to a first fold line, a second panel extending away from the first fold line to a second fold line, and a third panel extending away from the second fold line. The first panel is folded back along the first fold line toward a first surface of the second panel to define a storage area between the first panel and the second panel. The third panel is folded forward along the second fold line toward a second surface of the second panel. The account identifier indicates an account associated with the account application product and is configured to be machine readable. The terms sheet is selectively stored in the storage area and includes printed terms for the account. Associated packages and method are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, a method providing a private marketplace among early stage companies and investors in which dividend credits on investments are applicable to products or services offered for sale may register a plurality of companies with an equity crowd funding system. The method may also register an investor with the equity crowd funding system. The method further receives, from an investor, payment for investing in a given company in the plurality of companies. Then, the method receives, from the company, a dividend credit on the payment for the investor. The method applies the dividend credit to an account of the investor and displays to the investor offers to purchase goods or services from companies within the plurality of companies. The dividend credit is applicable to purchase prices of the goods or services.

Abstract: A system and method for funding a collective account such as a charitable account includes issuing a plurality of financial instruments, linking the financial instruments to the collective account, aggregating individual financial instrument usage, calculating a bonus or other reward based on the aggregate financial instrument usage and funding or distributing the reward to the collective account. According to the invention, members of a civic, charitable, political or other entity may generate collective rewards or other benefits which may be attributed to the designated organization.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for applying offers to purchase transactions at settlement based on an activity performed by a user. An exemplary apparatus is configured to determine at least one transaction associated with a user's financial institution account; and determine, when processing the at least one transaction, whether to apply at least one offer to the at least one transaction. The at least one offer enables the user's financial institution account to receive a discount or a rebate on the at least one transaction. In some embodiments, the at least one offer is applied to the at least one transaction based on substantially matching activity information associated with the at least one offer with at least one activity performed by the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for sequential offer aggregation. An exemplary apparatus is configured to determine a first offer that enables the user's financial institution account to receive a first discount or rebate on a first transaction; and in response to determining the user executed the first transaction, determine a second offer that enables the user's financial institution account to receive a second discount or rebate on a second transaction. In some embodiments, the second offer may be based on the first offer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for offer aggregation. An exemplary apparatus is configured to determine a first offer that is associated with a first discount or rebate on a first transaction; determine a second offer that is associated with a second discount or rebate on a second transaction; determine whether the user executed the first transaction and the second transaction; and in response to determining the user executed the first transaction and the second transaction when processing the first transaction and the second transaction, apply a third discount or rebate to the user's financial institution account, wherein the third discount or rebate is based on at least one of the first discount or rebate or the second discount or rebate.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a merchant loyalty program is disclosed. The invention includes receiving purchase data, wherein the purchase data comprises a consumer account code, a purchase amount, and a service establishment code; associating the service establishment code with a merchant proprietor rewards account code; calculating a reward amount based on the purchase amount; and, crediting a merchant proprietor reward account with at least a portion of said reward amount.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-executable instructions for managing financial information are provided. An exemplary method includes establishing a customer identifier associated with a customer and linking the customer identifier to one or more customer financial accounts in a database. The customer identifier is associated with the one or more customer financial accounts, but does not contain account numbers of the one or more customer financial accounts. The method also includes tracking purchasing behavior metrics associated with the customer financial accounts and reporting the purchasing behavior metrics using the customer identifier.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for reverse couponing. An exemplary apparatus is configured to determine user information and account information associated with a user; adjust offer information associated with an offer based on the user information and the account information, wherein the offer enables the user to receive at least one of a discount or a rebate on a purchase from a merchant; and transmit the adjusted offer to the user.

Abstract: In one implementation, preference information relevant to a set of items that has been submitted on behalf of multiple different users is compared to global ranking information for the set of items that has been compiled based on the preference information submitted on behalf of the multiple different users. Preference information submitted on behalf of a particular user then is identified as being similar to the global ranking information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a computer-implemented method for reducing funding burden on a credit issuer by offering an early payment rewards program to qualified card holders. The method may include identifying card holders having a payment history illustrating payment of an entire credit balance each month, determining whether each of the identified card holders generates an account-related fee total not exceeding a pre-selected threshold, and selecting the card holders having a history of payment of the entire credit balance each month and generating account-related fees not exceeding the pre-selected threshold. The method may further include offering the early payment rewards program to the selected card holders, wherein upon enrollment in the early payment rewards program the selected card holders receive rewards for early payment behavior.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-executable instructions for managing customer incentives in a payment processing system are provided. An exemplary method includes associating a customer identifier with a payment account of a customer in a database of the payment processing system. The method includes receiving activity information associated with an activity of the customer, identifying an incentive based on the received activity information and the customer identifier, and linking the incentive to the payment account in the database. In response to receiving a request to authorize a transaction using the payment account, the incentive is retrieved from the database and applied to the transaction if criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-executable instructions for automatically processing promotion redemptions are provided. An exemplary method includes linking promotion information with an account of a customer in a database. The promotion information pertains to a promotion for a product or service offered by a merchant. The method includes receiving a request to provide payment for a transaction using the customer account. The request includes an amount of the transaction and an identifier of the customer account. The method further includes retrieving the promotion information from the database based on the identifier, verifying that the transaction is eligible for the promotion based on the retrieved promotion information, and adjusting the amount of the transaction based on the retrieved promotion information.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a stored value account based on a purchase transaction are provided. An indicia of an identifier to be distributed to a customer at a point of sale as a result of a purchase is passed. A request to activate a stored value account associated with the identifier is received from the customer, wherein the request comprises the identifier. The stored value account is activated by a computer processor. The stored value account comprises information about a rebate value that is associated with the purchase and usable by the customer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering a discount using a partner-issued currency or a combination of virtual currency and partner-issued currency, offering a high-perceived savings value to an end-user while maintaining the perception of product value. An embodiment of an inventive method includes presenting a display of a price paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency along with a display of an amount payable by the end-user in actual currency in combination with an amount payable in virtual currency. The end-user perceives a benefit to using the virtual currency and since the price paid in actual currency is less than the displayed price to be paid by a consumer without access to the virtual currency.

Abstract: A method of automatic redemption of manufacturer offers comprises a loyalty card account linked to a remote offer redemption system. Manufacturers send offers to the remote system, wherein each offer comprises redemption rules and discount information. The user selects and saves offers to his remote system account and presents the loyalty account information to the merchant when making a purchase. The user's loyalty account information causes the transaction details to be forwarded to the merchant's loyalty backend, which determines that the user is registered with the remote system and forwards the transaction details to the remote system. The transaction details are analyzed to determine if the user has an offer that meets the redemption rules. If the user has an applicable saved offer, the offer is redeemed. The offer is marked as “redeemed,” and the user is notified of the redemption.

Abstract: The disclosure includes comprehensive system and methods for enabling a user of a social gaming service to receive additional virtual value based on transaction account activities in the physical world. A participant that is registered with the system and that is issued a participating transaction account may receive loyalty points in the form of at least one of virtual currency and/or virtual goods in response to activities associated with a participating/linked transaction account, such as an open loop pre-paid transaction account.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online payment transaction through a point of sale device. The method includes receiving input from a user selecting an item for purchase through the point of sale device; calculating a total purchase amount for the item in response to a request from the user to purchase the item; and sending payment authorization for the total purchase amount from the point of sale device to a payment entity, in which the payment authorization is sent to the payment entity via a mobile communication device of the user. The method further includes receiving a result of the payment authorization from the payment entity through the mobile communication device; and completing the payment transaction based on the result of the payment authorization.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for a payment service provider to provide benefits through provisional accounts established at in-store checkout to consumers who do not have accounts with the payment service provider to drive use sign-up. The payment service provider may offer cash paying consumers electronic cash stored in provisional accounts instead of any change at a point-of-sale, or offer credit card paying consumers a guest checkout experience to receive discounts, incentives, or rewards. The consumers are asked to provide identifying information such as a phone number of their mobile devices. A provisional account is established and linked it to the identification information if the provisional account does not already exist. Otherwise, the payment service provider may verify that the provisional account has not expired. The payment service provider may send reminders to the mobile devices to encourage the consumers to register an account before the provisional account expires.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided that receive client data for a plurality of clients and financial product data at a processor. The processor prepares a client communication for some of the clients. The client communication incorporates a portion of the client data and a portion of the financial product data. The financial product data for each client is based on the client data. Moreover, the financial product data constitutes the financial product offered in the client communication. decision criteria pertaining to selection from among the financial products, The method also includes storing the client information, the financial products information, the ancillary information, and the decision criteria. This method further includes using the client information, the financial products information, the ancillary information, and the decision criteria to select a subset of the financial products.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a financial transaction using a co-brand proprietary payment card through a multi-party payment card interchange network is provided. The method includes storing within a database a list of merchants participating in a co-brand program with the interchange network, receiving an authorization request for the transaction involving the co-brand payment card wherein the authorization request includes a merchant identifier, determining whether the transaction originated at one of the participating merchants by comparing the received merchant identifier to the list of participating merchants stored within the database, manipulating the authorization request to include a private label identifier when the transaction is determined to have originated at one of the participating merchants, and transmitting an authorization response from the interchange network to the acquirer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and machine-readable media for integrating communications between multiple systems and/or processes related to different aspects of financial transactions of a consumer. Generally speaking, an integrated communications engine can be communicatively coupled with and adapted to manage communications between a plurality of routines or processes to manage interactions with a consumer throughout a lifecycle of a financial relationship with the consumer. According to one embodiment, the integrated communications engine can further comprise a rules engine. The rules engine can be adapted to monitor the plurality of routines, determine whether a condition specified in a rule is satisfied, and in response to determining that the condition is satisfied, trigger an action by one or more of the routines of the plurality of routines based on the rule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for linking accounts corresponding to different products together to create a group so that group processing can be performed at the group level while independent processing of the accounts is performed at the account level. The method links the accounts into a group by linking a financial record for each account to group master data for the group. The group master data includes information about the group, including group control settings, aggregate data, and a group identifier. A group typically includes a key account and one or more dependent accounts. The relationship between a dependent account and the group is specified by a dependent strategy. A dependent strategy specifies group level processing options for the account. The relationships between the accounts and the group are flexible to accommodate changes in the status of the group cardholders.

Abstract: Systems and methods for producing and maintaining account related triggers are provided herein. The systems and methods may be utilized for marketing service savings opportunities to a customer of one or more accounts of a financial institution. Triggers may be executed to monitor outbound transactions for services. The outbound transactions may be compared to a control. The financial institution may then determine a service savings opportunity offer to present to the customer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recruiting, communicating with, and paying participants of interactive advertising are described. The present invention is a system through which advertisers car recruit, communicate with, and pay their potential customers for their time. The system achieves these functions without the advertiser or the customer having to be in the same location—all logistics are handled through the system's web site, database, and communications interfaces. The system enables advertisers to promote interactive seminars in which they try to sell products to potential customers. Most importantly, the advertisers are able to offer their potential customers financial rewards for their time, such as 25 cents per minute to reward a customer for listening to a sales pitch. The system then provides a real-time communications link between the advertiser and customer. The system automatically bills the advertiser and rewards the customer for the time that they interact.

Abstract: A method and system for conducting an online payment transaction through a point of sale device. The method includes receiving input from a user selecting an item for purchase through the point of sale device; calculating a total purchase amount for the item in response to a request from the user to purchase the item; and sending payment authorization for the total purchase amount from the point of sale device to a payment entity, in which the payment authorization is sent to the payment entity via a mobile communication device of the user. The method further includes receiving a result of the payment authorization from the payment entity through the mobile communication device; and completing the payment transaction based on the result of the payment authorization.