Patent ID: 8359265

Claim:
A computer-based banking system comprising: a computer processor configured to: provide a database in which clients of a bank are each allocated a financial database record in which data relating to banking transactions conducted by a client is maintained together with other data concerning the client, wherein each database record is identified by a bank account number generated to conform to banking numbering standards, wherein each database record is also identified by a communication number different from the bank account number, wherein the communication number comprises (a) a two, three, or four digit national area code or national mobile operator code followed by (b) a subscriber mobile telephone number or the subscriber's national identity number, or a part thereof followed by (c) a two or three digit bank identifying number followed by (d) a check digit; enable at least some of the bank's clients to function as participating system members with each participating system member having access to a mobile wireless device adapted to communicate with the computer-based banking system; receive the communication number from an instructing participating system member via the mobile wireless device; identify, using the communication number, a relevant database record within the bank's database without reference to the bank account number; and debit the relevant database record associated with the instructing participating system member and credit a different financial database record associated with any one of: a) the instructing participating system member; b) another participating system member that may be a client of the same or a different bank; or c) a merchant.