Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing benefits to loyalty cardholders via loyalty card transactions

A system for providing benefits to loyalty cardholders via loyalty card transactions, the system comprising:

• at least one processor;
• memory;
• and
• a loyalty program module utilizing the at least one processor and the memory, wherein the loyalty program module is configured to:
• receive a message indicating that a loyalty card transaction has been initiated at a participating merchant site using a loyalty card associated with a cardholder account, wherein the cardholder account is enrolled in a loyalty benefit program managed via the loyalty program module;
• determine a loyalty level assigned to the cardholder account using information regarding the loyalty card transaction contained in the message;
• and
• utilize the loyalty level assigned to the cardholder account to determine at least one merchant-specific differentiated benefit to be provided to a holder of the loyalty card, wherein each loyalty level comprises at least one merchant-specific differentiated benefit designated by the participating partner merchant.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for controlling a computer to perform steps comprising:

• receiving, by a loyalty program module, a message indicating that a loyalty card transaction has been initiated at a participating merchant site using a loyalty card associated with a cardholder account, wherein the cardholder account is enrolled in a loyalty benefit program managed via the loyalty program module;
• determining a loyalty level assigned to the cardholder account using information regarding the loyalty card transaction contained in the message;
• and
• utilizing the loyalty level assigned to the cardholder account to determine at least one merchant-specific differentiated benefit to be provided to a holder of the loyalty card, wherein each loyalty level comprises at least one merchant-specific differentiated benefit designated by the participating partner merchant.