Patent ID: 8010422

Claim:
A computer implemented method for online transfer of a balance from a first credit account associated with an account holder to a second credit account associated with the account holder comprising: receiving at a computer a balance transfer request for transferring a balance from the first credit account to the second credit account; obtaining account data associated with the first credit account, said account data comprising at least an identifier for a first financial institution with which the first credit account is held; determining with a business logic server, using the account data associated with the first credit account, whether the first financial institution with which the first credit account is held is related to a second financial institution with which the second credit account is held; and processing the balance transfer request if it meets all of at least one eligibility requirement for transferring the balance, and otherwise not processing the balance transfer request; the at least one eligibility requirement comprising a requirement that the first credit account and the second credit card account not be held by related financial institutions.