Patent ID: 8732082

Claim:
A computer system for processing an electronic payment that is automatically initiated in response to a primary financial transaction between a first entity and a second entity, comprising: a computer configured to receive electronic digital information relating to a primary financial transaction between a first entity and a second entity; a non-transitory computer readable electronic storage medium in operable communication with said computer that is configured to store at least one customizable business rule associated with the electronic digital information, which business rule specifies the conditions under which the computer will initiate an independent electronic payment in response to the received electronic digital information; and a transaction processor in operable communication with at least one of the computer and electronic storage medium that is configured to (a) determine, based on the received electronic digital information, whether any of the at least one customizable business rule applies to the primary financial payment transaction, and (b) initiate execution of an electronic payment from the second entity to the third entity upon a determination that the at least one customizable business rule applies to the primary financial transaction, and that the rule calls for the initiation of the electronic payment from the second entity to the third entity, wherein the electronic payment between the second entity and the third entity is unrelated to the primary financial transaction between the first entity and the second entity other than by being initiated by the primary financial transaction, and wherein the processing and the details of the electronic payment from the second entity to the third entity are controlled by one or more instructions contained in the at least one customizable business rule.