Merchant-centric gift card processing

A monitor that performs restricted credits to a user, the monitor comprising:

• a central processing unit (CPU);
• a memory coupled to the CPU;
• an input coupled to the CPU and further coupled to a service provider that processes transactions;
• a parser coupled to the input, the parser programmed to:
• i) receive a first data set from a service provider corresponding to receipt of a first value by a merchant and a personal account number (PAN) of an open loop card of a user to be associated with the first value;
• ii) receive a second data set corresponding to a transaction from the service provider, the transaction between the merchant and the user, the parser further programed to separate the data set into individual component elements;
• a database interface that uses selected individual component elements from the first data set to generate a query string for a database, the query string identifying a stored value record that matches predetermined criteria corresponding to the component elements;
• a rules engine coupled to the database interface that receives the matching stored value record and applies a rule set to determine that conditions are met corresponding to application of at least a portion of a predetermined credit amount and to further determine a value of the credit amount;
• a message generator coupled to the rules engine, the message generator programmed to generate a message that causes the value of the credit amount to be moved from the merchant to the open loop card.

A method of performing transaction-related cashless credits to a user by an entity, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a merchant server, a funding message corresponding to receipt of a first value by the merchant and a personal account number (PAN) of an open loop card to be associated with the first value;
• creating a record of the first value and PAN at the monitor responsive to receiving the funding message at the merchant server;
• receiving, at a monitor, a plurality of records for every open loop card transaction conducted with the merchant;
• determining, at the monitor, when a first record of the plurality of records contains the PAN associated with the funds;
• calculating a credit amount that is less than or equal to the first value to be applied to a transaction associated with the first record;
• sending, via the monitor, a message that causes the credit amount to be applied to the transaction;
• reducing the first value by the credit amount responsive to sending the message that causes the credit amount to be applied to the transaction;
• generating, at the monitor, a settlement message transferring the credit amount directly from the merchant to the clearing service.