Patent ID: 8615467

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving a first credential that is linked to a customer account containing one or more pre-established electronic payment mechanisms registered with a central card authority; responsive to authenticating the first credential: accessing the customer account; the computer weighing important purchasing factors related to the one or more pre-established electronic payment mechanisms and dynamically selecting one of the electronic payment mechanisms as a best mechanism for providing an electronic payment for a financial transaction based on the purchasing factors; responsive to the payment mechanisms including a plurality of credit cards, the computer: weighing important purchasing factors includes the computer evaluating from among an account balance, a credit limit, an available credit, and an interest rate associated with each of the plurality of credit cards; and dynamically selecting includes selecting one of the plurality of credits based on the evaluation of the account balance, credit limit, available credit, and interest rate of each of the plurality of credit cards; and outputting the selected one of the electronic payment mechanisms for use in completing electronic payment for the financial transaction.