Payment processing method and system

A method of processing payments, comprising:

• receiving data that represents a first low-priced sales transaction between a first consumer and a first merchant;
• aggregating the cost of the first low-priced sales transaction and the cost of a second low-priced sales transaction between the consumer and the merchant;
• storing data associated with the first low-priced sales transaction such that the data is accessible by at least one banking entity associated with the merchant;
• and
• sending data that represents the aggregate cost to an acquiring banking entity associated with the merchant.

A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause that processor to:

• receive data that represents a first low-priced sales transaction between a first consumer and a first merchant;
• aggregate the cost of the first low-priced sales transaction and the cost of a second low-priced sales transaction between the consumer and the merchant;
• store data associated with the first low-priced sales transaction such that the data is accessible by at least one banking entity associated with the merchant;
• and
• send data that represents the aggregate cost to an acquiring banking entity associated with the merchant.