INTERNET-BASED CREDIT INTERCHANGE SYSTEM OF CONVERTING PURCHASE CREDIT AWARDS FOR PURCHASE OF INVESTMENT VEHICLE

摘要

An Internet-based purchase credit award interchange center (22) interfaces with a credit award exchange center (24) for conversion of merchant or purchase credit award resulting from customer purchase of goods or services to investment in an investment vehicle utilizing computer. A credit card account having investment credit awards is issued through the Internet to a customer. While inputting information through the Internet necessary for establishing the credit card account, the customer also provides any information needed to authorize the purchase of investment vehicles on his or her behalf. The customer may also select particular investment vehicles out of a group of possible investment vehicles. Subsequent use of the credit card by the customer automatically results in accrual of credit award accumulations in the selected investment vehicle.