Systems and methods for linking ach data with merchant loyalty data

Abstract

A method for linking alternative payment information with customer loyalty data includes obtaining a customer loyalty identifier associated with a customer, reading customer data from a database based on the obtained customer loyalty identifier, obtaining alternative payment information from the read customer data, determining whether payment by the alternative payment information is enabled for the customer loyalty identifier, prompting the customer to enable payment by the alternative payment information, prompting the customer for authorization information associated with payment by the alternative payment information, enabling payment by the alternative payment information for the customer loyalty identifier, and applying the alternative payment information to a current purchase of the customer.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for linking payment information with customer loyalty data, the method comprising:
 determining whether a payment vehicle associated with a received customer loyalty identifier reduces one or more fees to a merchant in exchange for completing a purchase transaction;   upon determining that the payment vehicle reduces one or more fees to the merchant, determining whether the payment vehicle is enabled for a customer to apply to the purchase transaction;   sending, based upon determining that the payment vehicle is not enabled for the customer loyalty identifier, first display instructions to a point of sale (POS) system for prompting the customer to complete the purchase transaction using the payment vehicle; and   completing the purchase transaction using the payment vehicle.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 sending second display instructions to the POS system for prompting the customer for authorization information associated with payment by the payment vehicle; and   enabling a payment feature of the payment vehicle.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein prompts presented to the customer are presented using a display device of a point of sale system maintained by a merchant. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein prompting the customer to enable payment by the payment vehicle comprises offering an incentive for the customer to enable payment by the payment vehicle, the incentive being one or more of a discount on the purchase transaction, coupons to be applied to future purchases, a monetary gift, or a non-monetary gift. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the authorization information comprises one or more of a numeric or alphanumeric authorization code or biometric information of the customer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 prompting the customer to apply the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction, the prompt comprising an offer of an incentive for the customer to apply the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction; and   applying the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the payment vehicle is automated clearing house (ACH) data associated with the customer. 
     
     
         28 . A computer system for linking payment information with customer loyalty data, the system comprising:
 a memory having processor-readable instructions stored therein; and   a processor configured to access the memory and execute the processor-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor configures the processor to perform a plurality of functions, including functions to:
 determine whether a payment vehicle associated with a received customer loyalty identifier reduces one or more fees to a merchant in exchange for completing a purchase transaction; 
 upon determining that the payment vehicle reduces one or more fees to the merchant, determining whether the payment vehicle is enabled for a customer to apply to the purchase transaction; 
 send, based upon determining that the payment vehicle is not enabled for the customer loyalty identifier, first display instructions to a point of sale (POS) system for prompting the customer to complete the purchase transaction using the payment vehicle; and 
 complete the purchase transaction using the payment vehicle. 
   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor further cause the processor to:
 send second display instructions to the POS system for prompting the customer for authorization information associated with payment by the payment vehicle; and   enable a payment feature of the payment vehicle.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein prompts presented to the customer are presented using a display device of a point of sale system maintained by a merchant. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein prompting the customer to enable payment by the payment vehicle comprises offering an incentive for the customer to enable payment by the payment vehicle, the incentive being one or more of a discount on the purchase transaction, coupons to be applied to future purchases, a monetary gift, or a non-monetary gift. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the authorization information comprises one or more of a numeric or alphanumeric authorization code or biometric information of the customer. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions executed by the processor further cause the processor to:
 prompt the customer to apply the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction, the prompt comprising an offer of an incentive for the customer to apply the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction; and   apply the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the payment vehicle is automated clearing house (ACH) data associated with the customer. 
     
     
         35 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a method of linking payment information with customer loyalty data, the method comprising:
 determining whether a payment vehicle associated with a received customer loyalty identifier reduces one or more fees to a merchant in exchange for completing a purchase transaction;   upon determining that the payment vehicle reduces one or more fees to a merchant, determining whether the payment vehicle is enabled for a customer to apply to the purchase transaction;   sending, based upon determining that the payment vehicle is not enabled for the customer loyalty identifier, first display instructions to a point of sale (POS) system for prompting the customer to complete the purchase transaction using the payment vehicle; and   completing the purchase transaction using the payment vehicle.   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35 , the method further comprising:
 sending second display instructions to the POS system for prompting the customer for authorization information associated with payment by the payment vehicle; and   enabling a payment feature of the payment vehicle.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein prompts presented to the customer are presented using a display device of a point of sale system maintained by a merchant. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein prompting the customer to enable payment by the payment vehicle comprises offering an incentive for the customer to enable payment by the payment vehicle, the incentive being one or more of a discount on the purchase transaction, coupons to be applied to future purchases, a monetary gift, or a non-monetary gift. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35 , the method further comprising:
 prompting the customer to apply the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction, the prompt comprising an offer of an incentive for the customer to apply the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction; and   applying the payment vehicle to the purchase transaction.   
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35 , wherein the payment vehicle is automated clearing house (ACH) data associated with the customer.