Patent ID: 8700529

Claim:
A computerized method for transferring funds resulting from use by multiple accountholders of payment instrument accounts provided by a card issuer to investment accounts of the accountholders, each accountholder having both a payment instrument account and a corresponding investment account, the method comprising: maintaining a database having information of payment instrument accounts of accountholders, each payment instrument account comprising one or more of a credit card account, a debit card account, and a stored value account provided by a card issuer; maintaining a database having information of at least some investment accounts provided by an investment account provider, wherein the investment account provider is a financial institution and each investment account is funded with funds determined as a result of accountholder use of the corresponding payment instrument account for transactions; linking, using one or more computer processors, each payment instrument account with a corresponding investment account of each accountholder, the linking establishing a direct payment or fund transfer path between said card issuer and said corresponding investment account of said each accountholder without requiring any intermediary escrow account and without restricting investment activities of said corresponding investment account of said each accountholder; processing, using a transaction processor system including at least one computer processor, information of accountholder transactions carried out using the payment instrument account and storing the information; and determining, implementing a rewards processing system operated by the card issuer and including at least one computer processor, a funds transfer amount based on the stored information including each accountholder's use of the corresponding payment instrument account to conduct one or more transactions, wherein the funds transfer amount is a reward funded by the card issuer and/or the investment account provider; determining, with a reward issue and transfer system including at least one computer processor, whether the funds transfer amount is subject to an automatic transfer based on data stored in the payment instrument account database; if it is determined that the funds transfer amount is subject to an automatic transfer, transferring the determined funds transfer amount from the card issuer automatically and directly to the corresponding investment account of the accountholder; and if it is determined that the funds transfer amount is not subject to an automatic transfer, issuing a payment of the determined funds transfer amount to the corresponding accountholder.