Transaction flows and transaction processing for bridged payment systems

A method of operating a payment card account system, the method comprising:

• receiving, in a payment card account system computer, a transaction request message, the transaction request message related to a purchase transaction performed by a customer and a merchant point of sale;
• routing the transaction request message for payment to benefit the merchant from a deposit bank account of the customer via an EFT (electronic funds transfer) system;
• receiving confirmation of said payment;
• receiving, from a payment card account transaction acquirer computer, a clearing request message, said clearing request message requesting to include said purchase transaction in a payment card account system clearing process;
• and
• excluding said purchase transaction from said payment card account system.

A method comprising:

• initiating a transaction at a card acceptance terminal, said initiating including receipt of payment credentials;
• evaluating the payment credentials at a merchant system;
• determining an originator payment services provider (O-PSP) at the merchant system;
• building a transaction request message at the merchant system;
• submitting the transaction request message from the merchant system to the O-PSP;
• evaluating the transaction request message at the O-PSP;
• authenticating consumer credentials at the O-PSP;
• debiting a consumer's account in response to the O-PSP;
• determining a transaction routing path at a payment network;
• routing a transaction message from the payment network to a beneficiary payment services provider (B-PSP);
• evaluating the transaction message at the B-PSP;
• checking validity of a beneficiary account at the B-PSP;
• posting the transaction against the beneficiary account;
• returning a response message from the B-PSP to the O-PSP via the payment network;
• and
• returning the response message from the O-PSP to at least one of the merchant system and the card acceptance terminal.