Patent ID: 8694425

Claim:
A computer implemented payment method for facilitating online purchase transactions, the method comprising: storing in at least one computer memory information pertaining to an online merchant and a consumer and transactions between the online merchant and the consumer; using a computer processor for accessing the information from the computer memory and executing instructions to perform steps including: receiving from the online merchant, purchase transaction information for an online purchase transaction, the purchase transaction information including a bill payment message related to the online purchase transaction by the consumer, the purchase transaction information including merchant information, a transaction ID, and a transaction amount related to the online purchase transaction; processing the purchase transaction information received from the online merchant for displaying an interface to the consumer using the computer processor, the interface related to the online purchase transaction and displaying the merchant information, the transaction ID and the transaction amount, the merchant information including a destination to which payment for the online purchase is made using bill payment from a financial institution trusted by the consumer thereby avoiding disclosure of the consumer's confidential financial information to the online merchant; receiving, from the financial institution, at a payment portal processor, online banking bill payment information upon payment by the consumer using online banking bill payment, and providing, to the online merchant and the consumer, a payment notification; and storing information pertaining to the online merchant, the consumer and the transactions in a database stored in the computer memory.