System for coordinating access to multiple accounts using a single access card

A system for the coordinated access to multiple accounts supported by a plurality of account holding organizations, comprising:

• a card having at least on data storage mechanism supported thereon, wherein the data storage mechanism maintains data related to a user and to least one of a plurality of accounts held by the user;
• a card reader operating in conjunction with a merchant computing system, wherein the card reader is configured to receive the card and read information stored in the data storage systems, and to provide selected information to the merchant;
• and
• an account management system in communication with the merchant computing system and a plurality of account holding organizations, the account management system configured to recognize that the card is tied to the multiple accounts, the account management system further having communication mechanisms to securely communicate with the plurality account holding organizations supporting the multiple accounts so that the user will be able to securely access any selected one of the multiple accounts, the account management system incorporating at least one level of security in all communications with the account holding organizations to prevent unauthorized access to any one of the multiple accounts.