Wide area network person-to-person payment

A system for providing a person-to-person payment service through a computer server of a computer network, comprising:

• a first interface, the first interface receiving, at the computer server and from a first individual located at a remote computer, send money transaction information, the second money transaction money directing payment of an amount of money from the first individual to a second individual, the send money transaction includes an email address of the second individual;
• a database of email addresses corresponding to individuals having accounts, the database operable to be searched for the email address of the second individual;
• and
• a computer server in communication with the first interface and the database, the computer server, in response to the first interface receiving the email address, operable to search the database for the email address of the second individual, operable to determine if the email address of the second individual is in the database, if the email address of the second individual is not in the database, operable to send the second individual an e-mail to notify the second individual that the second individual can receive a payment of the amount of money by registering for an account with the computer server, and, if the email address of the second individual is in the database, operable to complete a payment of the amount of money from the first individual to the second individual.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computer system for executing a method for providing a person-to-person payment service through a computer server of a computer network, the instructions comprising:

• instructions to maintain a database of email addresses corresponding to individuals having accounts that provide the individuals with functionality offered by the computer server for online management of financial transactions;
• instructions to receive, at the computer server and from a first individual located at a remote computer, send money transaction information, the second money transaction money directing payment of an amount of money from the first individual to a second individual, the send money transaction includes an email address of the second individual;
• in response to receiving the email address, instructions to search the database of email addresses for the email address of the second individual;
• in response to searching the database, instructions to determine if the email address of the second individual is in the database;
• if the email address is not found in the database, instructions to send the second individual an email to notify the second individual that the second individual can receive the payment of the amount of money by registering for an account with the computer server;
• and if the email address is found in the database, instructions to complete a payment of the amount of money from the first individual to the second individual.