A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks. The universal central processor is programmed to issue the stored-value cards directly to the cardholder or card purchaser by download over respective communication gateways. The universal central processor is further programmed for reporting the card activations, issuances, transactions and activities to the cardholders and the merchants thereby providing a universal management system.

A service uses a system of servers and specialized interfaces to facilitate transfer of value from a gift card to an open loop card of a user. The service may support user-facing interfaces that interact with customers. The service may also support an API-based interface with a gift card processor to obtain gift card value, effect the value transfer, and confirm that the gift card value has been depleted. The service may also include a programmatic interface to various transaction processor services such as associating the transferred value with a personal account number of the user, a merchant associated with the original gift card, transaction monitoring, and messaging services that provide status information to the user.

A system of servers and algorithms allows merchants to award value to a customer when certain criteria have been met, such as buy $100 worth of clothing and get a $20 credit toward a future purchase. Unlike a gift card, the funding for the award is held by the merchant until the award is used, at which time the award funds are transferred to the user's designated account, such as an open loop credit or debit card.

A computer-implemented method for prepaid card funding for sponsored purchases includes receiving a payment request for funding a sponsored purchase using a payment vehicle, deducting funds from a financial account associated with the payment vehicle, such that the financial account has a negative balance, and loading additional funds into the financial account associated with the payment vehicle, such that the financial account has a zero balance.

Provided is a process of classifying ambient signals to reduce fraudulent use of information, the process including: receiving, with the mobile computing device, from a remote server, balance-access information by which a stored value card balance can be spent at a point of sale terminal; storing, with the mobile computing device, the balance-access information; sensing, with one or more sensors of a mobile computing device, ambient signals; classifying the ambient signals as indicating the user is in a retail establishment; and in response to the classification, displaying, on a display screen of the mobile computing device, the balance-access information, such that the balance-access information can be input to a point-of-sale terminal.

Provided is a process including: receiving a stored value card from a first computing device and a first geolocation of the first computing device, the first computing device having balance access information of the stored value card; receiving a request for a stored value card from a second computing device at a second geolocation; determining to not send the stored value card to the second computing device as a result of the second geolocation being within a threshold geographic distance to the first geolocation; receiving another request for a stored value card from a third computing device at a third geolocation; and determining to send the stored value card to the third computing device as a result of the third geolocation not being within the threshold geographic distance to the first geolocation; and sending balance-access information of the stored value card to the third computing device.

A computerized system for activating, issuing and otherwise managing transactions and activities pertaining to stored-value cards over a communications network. A central information database is provided for storing stored-value cardholder and card purchaser information received directly from respective stored-value cardholders and card purchasers PCs through a universal central processor via respective communication gateways. The central processor is coupled for communication realtime to multiple unaffiliated stored-value card processing networks normally operated by respective hosts. Each network includes a stored-value card processor coupled to a stored-value card database and multiple respective merchant communication devices. The central processor is programmed for managing the activation and issuance of transactions and activities for the stored-value card through the respective unaffiliated networks. The universal central processor is programmed to issue the stored-value cards directly to the cardholder or card purchaser by download over respective communication gateways. The universal central processor is further programmed for reporting the card activations, issuances, transactions and activities to the cardholders and the merchants thereby providing a universal management system.

A gift card system and method for purchasing gift cards at a kiosk is disclosed. The system/method includes a gift card distribution kiosk located at a retail establishment that provides a user with access to a multitude of different forms of gift cards that may be purchased and printed onto a customizable card with a personalized message. The kiosk includes a kiosk processor interface, a gift card dispenser, a card reader and gift card management server connected to a network. The gift card management server, through the kiosk processor interface, provides vendor options to users to select and pay via the card reader. In another embodiment, the kiosk is used to redeem unused user gift cards for a reduced value user selected gift card, reduced cash value, full value store card, rewards points, bank debit, and/or electronic code user towards online purchases.

Disclosed are techniques for achieving high-volumes of low-latency price plus discount transactions that are dynamically created through transaction optimization. Aspects may include combining and optimizing different types of discounts into a single discount and dynamically controlling the single discount through a single user-facing transaction. A computer model may determine one or more transactions and sets of discounts applicable to those transactions upon which the user-facing transaction and single discount are based. Associations between discounts and items may be determined for at least some different types of discounts to apply a set of discounts including at least two different discounts of different discount types to a desired transaction for one or more items. Aspects may include determining a discount transaction comprising a plurality of constituent transactions that form a single user-facing transaction.

A gift card system and method for purchasing gift cards at a kiosk is disclosed. The system/method includes a gift card distribution kiosk located at a retail establishment that provides a user with access to a multitude of different forms of gift cards that may be purchased and printed onto a customizable card with a personalized message. The kiosk includes a kiosk processor interface, a gift card dispenser, a card reader and gift card management server connected to a network. The gift card management server, through the kiosk processor interface, provides vendor options to users to select and pay via the card reader. In another embodiment, the kiosk is used to redeem unused user gift cards for a reduced value user selected gift card, reduced cash value, full value store card, rewards points, bank debit, and/or electronic code user towards online purchases.