Inventors:
Joseph Brenny - Minneapolis MN, US
David B. Smith - Falcon Heights MN, US
Michael Thomas Bahl - Plymouth MN, US
Assignee:
TARGET BRANDS, INC. - Minneapolis MN
International Classification:
G06Q 20/20
Abstract:
A method of facilitating activation of a general-purpose reloadable (GPR) card includes reading an activation storage medium from a GPR card using a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, wherein the GPR card is linked to a GPR account stored on a database. The method further includes collecting identification information from a card applicant and forwarding the collected identification information to a financial processing network, submitting an initial monetary amount to be loaded to the GPR account to the financial processing network, and communicating initial activation of the GPR account to the card applicant at the POS terminal after receiving activation approval from the financial processing network. The initial activation of the GPR account is a first phase of activation in a multiple phase activation characterized by the GPR account being available for use toward a price of purchases and unavailable for loading an additional monetary amount to the GPR account.