Automated submission of prepaid programs

For a transaction processing system in which a transaction handler processes a plurality of sales transactions, each characterized by a consumer and a merchant engaging in a sales transaction upon an account that was provided to the consumer by an issuer, a method for approving a prepaid program having at least one debit account provided by the issuer, the method performed by the transaction handler comprising:

• providing a computer system with a portal that is remotely accessible by an issuer;
• presenting a program information form to the issuer via the computer system;
• receiving data including a selection of a prepaid program and associated prepaid program parameters that the issuer enters on the program information form;
• receiving an indication from the issuer that entry of data is complete;
• reviewing the data submitted by the issuer for compliance with rules associated with the prepaid program;
• and in response thereto
• approving or rejecting the prepaid program based on the review;
• and
• electronically communicating approval or rejection of the prepaid program to the issuer.

In a transaction processing system in which a transaction handler processes a plurality of sales transactions, each characterized by a consumer and a merchant engaging in a sales transaction upon a card that was provided to the consumer by an issuer, an apparatus for processing a request to approve a prepaid program comprising:

• a portal of a computer system that is accessible by an issuer at a remote location;
• a data gatherer connected to the portal and which presents a program information form to the issuer and receives data including a selection of a prepaid program and associated prepaid program parameters that the issuer enters on the program information form;
• a storage device coupled to the data gatherer for storing the data received from the issuer;
• a decision mechanism that determines, based on the data received from the issuer and compliance rules associated with the prepaid program, whether the prepaid program is approved or rejected;
• and
• a communicator for electronically notifying the issuer of approval or rejection of the prepaid program.