Patent ID: 7783537

Claim:
A Web server operated by an on-line intermediary, comprising: a processor; and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor result in: receiving, from a seller, information descriptive of a product that the seller desires to sell via the on-line intermediary; receiving, from the seller, an application to open a new financial account with a financial institution; receiving, from the seller, an authorization for the on-line intermediary to credit a sale price of the product and an incentive amount to the new financial account, in the case that the application for the new financial account is approved and in the case that the product is sold via the on-line intermediary; receiving, from the seller, information descriptive of an existing financial account owned by the seller; receiving, from the seller, an authorization for the on-line intermediary to credit the sale price of the product to the existing financial account, in the case that the application for the new financial account is declined and in the case that the product is sold via the on-line intermediary; providing information indicative of the application to open the new financial account to the financial institution; receiving, from the financial institution and in response to the providing of the information indicative of the application to open the new financial account, an indication descriptive of whether the application is accepted or declined; and crediting, upon a sale of the product to a buyer in exchange for the sale price, and in accordance with the authorizations received from the seller, an appropriate monetary amount to an appropriate one of the financial accounts.