The invention relates, in part, to a computerized method for managing electronically stored value accounts which comprises storing at a host computer system a plurality of stored value customer accounts that each comprise a unique identifier. At the host computer system, requests are received from a point of sale device to activate at least some of the accounts. The requests to activate comprise unique identifiers and values that are associated with the identifiers. Also received at the host computer system is a request to transfer value from one of the customer accounts to another one of the customer accounts. The requested value is electronically transferred between the accounts.