Patent ID: 7845558

Claim:
A method for completing a transaction between a customer and a financial institution with a mobile device, the method comprising: acquiring an image of a 3D (three dimensional) bar code, the 3D bar code affixed to a financial instrument sent by the financial institution to the customer; identifying data encoded in the image of the 3D bar code, the data associated with a web address; authenticating the customer at the mobile device; wherein authenticating the customer comprises: comparing information encoded in the 3D bar code with information stored in memory of the mobile device, wherein the information includes personal information associated with the customer; when the information compares, authenticating the customer; and when the information does not compare, displaying a message that the customer is not authenticated; requesting a web page from the web address; in response to the request for the web page, receiving a customer verification web page; sending customer information entered into the customer verification web page to the web address; receiving an activation message for the financial instrument, wherein the activation message is received if the customer information is authenticated; and displaying the activation message to the customer.