Patent ID: 8145565

Claim:
A credit card account shadowing method, comprising: selecting a predetermined type of transaction data to allow a charge associated with the predetermined type to be paid by a transfer of a balance; determining the charge on a first credit card of a user is associated with a predetermined type of transaction data, by an aggregator of a credit card engine; determining a balance on the first credit card of the user for the predetermined type of transaction data, by an aggregator of a credit card engine; determining an amount of available credit on a second credit card of the user, by the aggregator of the credit card engine; determining if the amount of available credit on the second credit card is sufficient for a transfer of the balance on the first credit card to the second credit card, by a balance transfer processor of the credit card engine; transferring the balance from the first credit card to the second credit card if the amount of available credit is sufficient, by the balance transfer processor; and if the amount of available credit on the second credit card is insufficient to pay the balance, then: paying a first portion of the balance that is up to the available credit on the second credit card, by the balance transfer processor, using the second credit card; notifying the user, by the balance transfer processor, that the amount of available credit on the second credit card is insufficient for the transfer of the balance on the first credit card to the second credit card; requesting instructions from the user, by the balance transfer processor, to identify a funding source other than a credit card with which to pay the balance; receiving instructions, at the balance transfer processor, from the user identifying the funding source; and paying at least a second portion of the balance, by the balance transfer processor, using the funding source in accordance with the instructions.