Systems and methods for operating loyalty programs

A method for operating a loyalty system, the method comprising:

• maintaining a loyalty host including administration criteria for each of a plurality of distinct loyalty programs comprised by the loyalty system;
• receiving transaction information at the loyalty host for a transaction between a customer and a first merchant enrolled in at least one of the loyalty programs;
• and
• augmenting a point total for the customer in accordance with the transaction information and with the administration criteria for the at least one of the loyalty programs,
• wherein the augmented point total is available to be applied by the customer towards a reward from a second merchant enrolled in the at least one of the loyalty programs substantially immediately after execution of the transaction.

A method for operating a loyalty program, the method comprising:

• maintaining customer records for the loyalty program in a central database;
• receiving transaction information for a transaction between a customer and a first merchant enrolled in the loyalty program, wherein the transaction information is initiated from a chip card that identifies the customer;
• and
• modifying the customer records in accordance with the transaction information.

A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a computer system including a communications system, a processor, and a storage device, wherein the computer-readable program includes instructions for operating the computer system for operating a loyalty program integrated with a financial infrastructure in accordance with the following:

• receiving a transaction instruction initiated by a customer at a merchant over the communications system;
• determining whether the customer and merchant are participants in the loyalty program from data stored on the storage device;
• executing a loyalty process with the processor in accordance with the loyalty program if the customer and merchant are participants;
• and
• transmitting the transaction instruction to the financial infrastructure over the communications system.

A computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of a loyalty host including a communications system, a processor, and a storage device, wherein the computer-readable program includes instructions for operating the loyalty host for operating a loyalty system in accordance with the following:

• storing administration criteria on the storage device for each of a plurality of distinct loyalty programs comprised by the loyalty system;
• receiving transaction information over the communications system for a transaction between a customer and a first merchant enrolled in at least one of the loyalty programs;
• and
• augmenting a point total for the customer in accordance with the transaction information and with the administration criteria for the at least one of the loyalty programs,
• wherein the augmented point total is available to be applied by the customer towards a reward from a second merchant enrolled in the at least one of the loyalty programs substantially immediately after execution of the transaction.

A loyalty host for operating a loyalty system including a plurality of loyalty programs, the loyalty host comprising:

• a communications interface configured for exchanging information with a plurality of merchants and a plurality of issuers who issue instruments to customers participating in at least one of the loyalty programs;
• a storage device;
• a processor in communication with the communications interface and the storage device;
• and
• a memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising a computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of the loyalty host, the computer-readable program including:
• instructions for receiving transaction information over the communications interface for a transaction between a customer and a first merchant;
• and
• instructions augmenting a point total for the customer in accordance with at least one of the loyalty programs, wherein the augmented point total is available to be applied by the customer towards a reward from a second merchant substantially immediately after execution of the transaction.