Systems and methods for facilitating transactions

A method for processing a transaction involving at least a first product, the method comprising:

• receiving, over a first network, a redemption request message including information identifying a payment account identifier, a merchant, a total purchase amount, at least a first category, and at least a first category subtotal amount;
• identifying a payment account file structure associated with said payment account identifier, said payment account file structure including data identifying at least a first restricted subaccount, at least a first permitted category associated with said first restricted subaccount, and an available balance of said first restricted subaccount;
• comparing said at least a first category with said at least first permitted category and said available balance of said first restricted subaccount;
• transmitting, over said first network, a redemption response message including a transaction identifier, and a total redemption approval amount;
• subsequently receiving, over a second network, an authorization request message including information identifying said payment account identifier, said transaction identifier, and a requested authorization amount;
• and
• comparing said information from said authorization request message to said data in said payment account file structure to complete said transaction.

A method for processing a transaction involving at least a first product, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a merchant, an authorization request message including information identifying a payment account identifier, a merchant identifier, a total purchase amount, at least a first category, and at least a first category subtotal amount;
• identifying a payment account file structure associated with said payment account identifier, said payment account file structure including data identifying at least a first restricted subaccount, at least a first permitted category associated with said first restricted subaccount, and an available balance of said first restricted subaccount;
• comparing said at least a first category with said at least first permitted category and said available balance of said first restricted subaccount;
• creating an authorization response message, said authorization response message including information identifying a total redemption approval amount and a transaction identifier;
• transmitting said authorization response message to said merchant;
• and
• initiating a clearing and settlement process for said total redemption approval amount.

An account provider device, comprising:

• a communication device to receive request messages from a plurality of merchant devices, each request message including data identifying a payment account, a total purchase amount, a plurality of product categories, and a category subtotal for each of said product categories;
• a processor coupled to the communication device;
• and
• a storage device in communication with said processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to:
• identify a payment account file structure associated with said payment account;
• for each of said product categories, identify if the category is a permitted category of at least one restricted subaccount associated with said payment account and if the at least one restricted subaccount has an available balance greater than said category subtotal;
• for each of said product categories for which the category is at least one of (i) not a permitted category and (ii) has an available balance less than said category subtotal, identify if an unrestricted subaccount has an available balance greater than said category subtotal;
• and
• generate a response message including a transaction identifier and a total approved redemption amount.