Patent ID: 7890422

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for using a financial transaction device associated with multiple accounts, comprising: issuing the financial transaction device to a cardholder wherein the financial device comprises machine readable data pertaining to the multiple accounts wherein the multiple accounts are held by the cardholder and the multiple accounts are maintained by a financial institution that issues the financial transaction device; determining a default account for the financial transaction device to be accessed during a transaction; determining, by a computer processor, a set of criteria which set conditions for a second account to be accessed during the transaction, wherein the second account is selected from the multiple accounts associated with the financial transaction device; processing, by the computer processor, a transaction initiated by the financial transaction device; determining, by the computer processor, that the transaction meets the set of criteria for the second account; determining, by the computer processor, that at least one arbitration rule exists comprising logic to resolve conflicts in the set of criteria for accessing the second account based upon the transaction, wherein the at least one arbitration rule presents an option for override; and routing, by the computer processor, the transaction through a financial processing chain based on the default account if the set of criteria is not met.