Patent attributes
The present invention is a method, system and computer program whereby a loyalty program may be linked to one or more card issuers and the corresponding cardholders may be added as members. The loyalty program may also be connected to systems associated with the card issuers and one or more associated merchant acquirers. The system may be operable to enable the creation, implementation and management of one or more loyalty programs that provide benefits to members based upon transactions between the members and one or more merchants associated with the system. The merchants may be permitted to establish rules for the accrual and processing of benefits from the merchants to cardholders based upon the transactions. The present invention may further provide a method for increasing transactions within a loyalty system, and for card issuers and merchants to share the risk and costs associated with directing loyalty programs to cardholders.