A near field communication device included in a secure transaction card provides an addition and/or transitional communication link for communicating secure transaction information. The near field communication device may be selectively engaged or disengaged and, when engaged, either active or passive modes of operation of the near field communication device can be selected. in the active mode, secure transaction information is transmitted upon establishment of a communication link with a complementary near field communication device. In the passive mode, secure transaction information is transmitted upon interrogation from a complementary near field communication device. Secure transaction information is generated and stored for transmission in a memory and at least a portion of the memory is erased or nulled upon transmission or upon expiration of a selected period of time.

A computer-implemented method of identifying a payment card design includes partitioning an image of a detected payment card into a plurality of blocks, the image comprising predetermined portions irreversibly masked; and generating an individual numerical representation of each respective one of the plurality of blocks, thereby generating a collective numerical representation of the design of the detected payment card. The method also includes selecting, from a database storing a plurality of payment card designs, one or more payment card designs based on the collective numerical representation of the design of the detected payment card. The method further includes generating a similarity score between the design of the detected payment card and each of the one or more selected payment card designs; and associating the design of the detected payment card with one of the one or more selected payment card designs based on the similarity score.

A method and portable apparatus for settling a transaction are provided, in which the portable apparatus may be used as a card substitute payment device for settling a transaction. Information to conduct a settlement may be stored in the portable apparatus. The portable apparatus may be, for example, a portable phone or a PDA. A transaction inquiry machine may read or receive the information from the portable apparatus, similar to that of a card reader reading a magnetic card, and transmit the information to a VAN company server or a card company server, to then request for an approval to settle the transaction.

A method of promoting a business of goods and services by a business entity is provided. The method involves sharing a proportion of the profit made by the business entity from a customer with the customer, wherein a proportion of the bill amount incurred by the customer is credited to an account/record associated with the customer and the customer could redeem a certain proportion of the accumulated balance in his/her record during their subsequent purchases. The shared profit could entice potential customers and bring back the old customers, without the need for the business entity to spend on advertisements, or providing discount coupons and vouchers.

The present invention relates to a multi card generation method, a multi card use method and a multi card system. The present invention relates to a multi card in which at least one piece of card information is issued in one multi card having an IC chip, and one of such a plurality of cards is selected and used as a main card.

The invention relates to a customer initiated fraud management. With an embodiment of the present invention, customers may control card utilization through a mobile application. For example, customers may restrict the utilization on their cards when they do not need to use their cards as well as allow specific types of transactions on demand (e.g., PoS, Cash, card absent environment transactions, etc.). Also, an interactive user interface provides cardholders the ability to open utilization windows in specific countries and for specific utilization types.

Universal cards are used in place of all the other traditional cards which a person may want to carry. The universal card can include a short range communications transceiver to communicate with a mobile device. The mobile device can include a user interface and an e-wallet application so that the user can interface with the e-wallet application for programming the universal card via the short range communication link. Once programmed, the universal card emulates a function of a traditional card.

The rewards program system and method provide an efficient and effective way for customers to enroll in rewards programs, and accrue and redeem rewards at participating merchants. The system generates promotions, analyzes transaction data to identify whether a customer used a promotion, issued by the system (e.g., promotions provider), with a merchant. When the customer redeems a promotion, the system accrues reward amounts in a customer account, and allows the customer to redeem accrued rewards amounts. The system generates credit card profiles and customer profiles, and offers customers subsequent promotions based on the transaction data and/or the customer's customer profile. The system issues the customer subsequent promotions when the amount credited to the rewards account satisfies a redemption threshold. The subsequent promotions may be redeemable at merchants that have promotions issued by the promotion provider, including the merchant where the promotion was used that resulted in the credited amount.

Embodiments of systems, computer program product, and related computer implemented methods to issue a closed-loop retail prepaid card including a user-designed external face using a chit, the chit being defined by an identification mechanism representing a financial commitment to issue a closed-loop retail prepaid card in an amount associated with a value paid for the chit, are provided. Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a service that enables a consumer to purchase, at the storefront of a retail establishment, a chit card that the consumer can subsequently redeem through a graphical user interface of an Internet website for a closed-loop retail prepaid card with a user-designed external face. The user-designed closed-loop retail prepaid card, for example, can be subsequently printed and delivered to an intended recipient. Advantageously, such a service can be made available to any retail establishment that uses a point-of-sale system.

An electronic device and method for processing card operating information is provided. The electronic device includes a first memory which stores account information and card operating information, a second memory which stores payment required information, and a processor which receives the account information, transmits the account information to a first external device, and receives a response from the first external device. When the response indicates that the account information corresponds to the payment required information stored in the second memory, the processor receives, from the first external device, the card operating information corresponding to the payment required information and stores the received card operating information in the first memory. When the response indicates that the account information does not correspond to the payment required information stored in the second memory, the processor receives a request, from a second external device, to delete the payment required information from the second memory.