Importance

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Abstract

A system, process and computer readable medium for providing purchasing incentives to a plurality of retailers from a central clearing location. The plurality of retailers transmit customer identifiers and, optionally, descriptions of customer purchases to a central incentive system via a communications system. The central incentive system determines purchasing incentives based on the customer identifiers and stored information and then transmits the purchasing incentives that have been associated with the customer identifiers to the originating retail store via the communications system. The Point of Sale system in the retail store determines if the customer qualifies for an incentive and will transmit data defining applied incentives to the central incentive system. The central incentive system may transfer funds, which cover the cost of the incentive, from an account of the incentive's sponsor to an account belonging to the retailer providing the incentive. Alternative embodiments will determine qualification for incentives and apply them at the central incentive system. One embodiment will locate a central incentive system at a financial services provider and use existing communications from retailers to the financial services provider to implement the communications system.

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First Claim