Patent ID: 8606631

Claim:
A method for redeeming rewards, the method comprising: maintaining a first financial account, wherein the first financial account is associated with a first party and a first reward, wherein the first financial account is further associated with a first account number and a first presentation instrument having the first account number, and wherein the reward is at least partially accrued based on purchases made at multiple different merchants using the first account number that is associated with the first presentation instrument; receiving at a computer a redemption request, wherein the redemption request is initiated by a second party who has a second account associated with a second account number, a second presentation instrument having the second account number and a second reward that was accrued at least partially based on purchases made at multiple different merchants using the second account number associated with the second presentation instrument; in response to the redemption request, determining by the computer that the redemption request exceeds the second reward and then identifying by the computer the first account and a relationship between the first account and the second party; displaying at least the first account to permit an operator to select how the first and second rewards are to be applied from the first and second accounts; receiving a selection of the first account; and satisfying the redemption request, wherein the redemption request is satisfied from at least a portion of the first reward in the first account and the second reward in the second account.