System and method for providing a credit card with multiple credit lines

• US 7,406,442 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capital One Services LLC (Capital One Financial Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Capital One Financial Corporation
• Inventors: Kottmeier, Robert Arthur Jr., Barton, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisberger; Richard C
• Application Number:
  US09/659,585
• Time in Patent Office: 2,878 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/35, 705/33, 705/80
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system and method for providing a credit card with multiple lines of credit. One of the disclosed methods include, for example, analyzing credit information of a cardholder to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder; establishing a general purpose credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the general purpose credit line being set as a revolving credit line; establishing a private label credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the private label credit line being set as a revolving credit line; and issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established general purpose credit line and private label credit line.

Claims

1. A method for managing a credit card, the method comprising:

analyzing credit information of a cardholder to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder;

establishing a first credit line associated with the credit card based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the first credit line being set as a first revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made only with a particular merchant;

establishing a second credit line associated with the credit card based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the second credit line being set as a second revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made with any merchant other than the particular merchant, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first available credit and the second credit line is associated with a second available credit, the second available credit distinct from the first available credit;

issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established first credit line as a main credit line and the established second credit line as an embedded credit line, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with a second credit limit, and the first credit limit includes the second credit limit, and the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit and wherein the sum of the first available credit and the second available credit does not exceed the first credit limit;

adjusting the first available credit and the second available credit when a purchase is made against the second credit line; and

adjusting only the first available credit when the purchase is made against the first credit line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing credit information comprises determining a risk score from the credit information of the cardholder.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the second credit line comprises setting the second credit limit for the second credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein establishing the first credit line comprises setting the first credit limit for the first credit line based on the second credit limit set for the second credit line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the first credit line comprises setting the first credit limit for the first credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the first credit line comprises setting the first credit line using a line sloping model.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the cardholder of a customer account, the first credit limit for the first credit line, and the second credit limit for the second credit line.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the first credit line comprises establishing a plurality of first credit lines.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the second credit line comprises establishing a plurality of second credit lines.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a combined credit card account statement to the cardholder, wherein the account statement identifies purchase transactions respectively associated with the first credit line and the second credit line;

wherein the cardholder may make a single payment to be applied toward both the first credit line and the second credit line.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first interest rate and the second credit line is associated with a second interest rate, and wherein the first interest rate is less than the second interest rate.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with the second credit limit, and wherein the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with the second available credit, the method further comprising:

determining whether a purchase is made against the first credit line; and

reducing the first available credit or the second available credit by a purchase amount based on the determination of whether the purchase is made against the first credit line.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the credit card is associated with a particular identification value, and wherein the determining further comprises:

receiving purchase transaction data including an identification value; and

determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether the received identification value corresponds to the particular identification value.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the identification value is a BIN number of the credit card.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether a merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches a merchant identification number of the particular merchant associated with the first credit line.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

determining whether the purchase amount exceeds the first available credit if the merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches the merchant identification number of the particular merchant.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

reducing the first available credit if the purchase amount does not exceed the first available credit; and

reducing the second available credit if the purchase amount does exceed the first available credit, and the purchase amount does not exceed the second available credit.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the first credit line is issued based at least one of purchasing habits of the cardholder, the second credit limit established for the second credit line, a credit history of the cardholder with the particular merchant, types of goods or services provided by the particular merchant, or an average purchase amount the cardholder purchases from the particular merchant.

102. The method of claim 1, wherein the first credit line is a private label credit line.

103. The method of claim 1, wherein the second credit line is a general purpose credit line.

10. A method for managing a credit card, the method comprising:

receiving credit information for a cardholder;

analyzing the received credit information to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder;

establishing a first credit line associated with the credit card based on the level of risk associated with the cardholder, the first credit line being set as a first revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made only with a particular merchant;

establishing a second credit line associated with the credit card based on the level of risk associated with the cardholder that is part of the first credit line and for purchase transactions made with any merchant other than the particular merchant, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first available credit and the second credit line is associated with a second available credit, the second available credit distinct from the first available credit;

issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established first credit line as a main credit line and the established second credit line as an embedded credit line, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with a second credit limit, and the first credit limit includes the second credit limit, and the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit, and wherein the sum of the first available credit and the second available credit does not exceed the first credit limit;

adjusting the first available credit and the second available credit when a purchase is made against the second credit line; and

adjusting only the first available credit when the purchase is made against the first credit line.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein establishing the second credit line comprises setting the second credit limit for the second credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing the first credit line comprises setting the first credit limit for the first credit line based on the second credit limit set for the second credit line.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein establishing the first credit line comprises setting the first credit line using a line sloping model.

39. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a combined credit card account statement to the cardholder, wherein the account statement identifies purchase transactions respectively associated with the first credit line and the second credit line; and

wherein the cardholder may make a single payment to be applied toward both the first credit line and the second credit line.

40. The method of claim 10, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first interest rate and the second credit line is associated with a second interest rate, and wherein the first interest rate is less than the second interest rate.

41. The method of claim 10, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with the second credit limit, and wherein the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit.

42. The method of claim 10, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first available credit and the second credit line is associated with the second available credit, the method further comprising:

determining whether a purchase is made against the first credit line; and

reducing the first available credit or the second available credit by a purchase amount based on the determination of whether the purchase is made against the first credit line.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the credit card is associated with a particular identification value, and wherein the determining further comprises:

receiving purchase transaction data including an identification value; and

determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether the received identification value corresponds to the particular identification value.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the identification value is a BIN number of the credit card.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether a merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches a merchant identification number of the particular merchant associated with the first credit line.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

determining whether the purchase amount exceeds the first available credit if the merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches the merchant identification number of the particular merchant.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

reducing the first available credit if the purchase amount does not exceed the first available credit; and

reducing the second available credit if the purchase amount does exceed the first available credit, and the purchase amount does not exceed the second available credit.

48. The method of claim 10, wherein the first credit line is issued based at least one of purchasing habits of the cardholder, the second credit limit established for the second credit line, a credit history of the cardholder with the particular merchant, types of goods or services provided by the particular merchant, or an average purchase amount the cardholder purchases from the particular merchant.

104. The method of claim 10, wherein the first credit line is a private label credit line.

105. The method of claim 10, wherein the second credit line is a general purpose credit line.

14. A computer program product for managing a credit card, the computer program product comprising computer-readable media including computer-readable code, the computer program product comprising the following computer-readable program code for effecting actions in a computing platform:

program code for analyzing credit information of a cardholder to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder;

program code for establishing a first credit line associated with the credit card based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the first credit line being set as a first revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made only with a particular merchant;

program code for establishing a second credit line associated with the credit card based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the second credit line being set as a second revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made with any merchant other than the particular merchant, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first available credit and the second credit line is associated with a second available credit, the second available credit distinct from the first available credit;

program code for issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established first credit line as a main credit line and the established second credit line as an embedded credit line, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with a second credit limit, and the first credit limit includes the second credit limit, and the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit, and wherein the sum of the first available credit and the second available credit does not exceed the first credit limit;

program code for adjusting the first available credit and the second available credit when a purchase is made against the second credit line; and

program code for adjusting only the first available credit when the purchase is made against the first credit line.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein program code for analyzing credit information comprises program code for determining a risk score from the credit information of the cardholder.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein program code for establishing the second credit line comprises program code for setting the second credit limit for the second credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein program code for establishing the first credit line comprises program code for setting the first credit limit for the first credit line based on the second credit limit set for the second credit line.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein program code for establishing the first credit line comprises program code for setting the first credit limit for the first credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein program code for establishing the first credit line comprises program code for setting the first credit line using a line sloping model.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising program code for notifying the cardholder of a customer account, the first credit limit for the first credit line, and the second credit limit for the second credit line.

21. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein program code for establishing the first credit line comprises program code for establishing a plurality of first credit lines.

22. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein program code for establishing the second credit line comprises program code for establishing a plurality of second credit lines.

49. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:

program code for providing a combined credit card account statement to the cardholder, wherein the account statement identifies purchase transactions respectively associated with the first credit line and the second credit line; and

wherein the cardholder may make a single payment to be applied toward both the private label credit line and the general purpose credit line.

50. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first interest rate and the second credit line is associated with a second interest rate, and wherein the first interest rate is less than the second interest rate.

51. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with the second credit limit, and wherein the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit.

52. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first available credit and the second credit line is associated with the second available credit, the computer program product further comprising:

program code for determining whether a purchase is made against the first credit line; and

program code for reducing the first available credit or the second available credit by a purchase amount based on the determination of whether the purchase is made against the first credit line.

53. The computer program product of claim 52, wherein the credit card is associated with a particular identification value, and wherein the program code for determining further comprises:

program code for receiving purchase transaction data including an identification value; and

program code for determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether the received identification value corresponds to the particular identification value.

54. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein the identification value is a BIN number of the credit card.

55. The computer program product of claim 53, further comprising:

program code for determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether a merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches a merchant identification number of the particular merchant associated with the first credit line.

56. The computer program product of claim 55, further comprising:

program code for determining whether the purchase amount exceeds the first available credit if the merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches the merchant identification number of the particular merchant.

57. The computer program product of claim 56, further comprising:

program code for reducing the first available credit if the purchase amount does not exceed the first available credit; and

program code for reducing the second available credit if the purchase amount does exceed the first available credit, and the purchase amount does not exceed the second available credit.

58. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first credit line is issued based at least one of purchasing habits of the cardholder, the second credit limit established for the second credit line, a credit history of the cardholder with the particular merchant, types of goods or services provided by the particular merchant, or an average purchase amount the cardholder purchases from the particular merchant.

106. The method of claim 14, wherein the first credit line is a private label credit line.

107. The method of claim 14, wherein the second credit line is a general purpose credit line.

23. A computer program product for managing a credit card, the computer program product comprising computer-readable media having computer-readable code, the computer program product comprising the following computer-readable program code for effecting actions in a computing platform:

program code for receiving credit information for a cardholder;

program code for analyzing the received credit information to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder;

program code for establishing a first credit line associated with the credit card based on the level of risk associated with the cardholder, the first credit line being set as a first revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made only with a particular merchant;

program code for establishing a second credit line associated with the credit card based on the level of risk associated with the cardholder that is part of the first credit line and for purchase transactions made with any merchant other than the particular merchant, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first available credit and the second credit line is associated with a second available credit, the second available credit distinct from the first available credit;

program code for issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established first credit line as a main credit line and the established second credit line as an embedded credit line, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with a second credit limit, and the first credit limit includes the second credit limit, and the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit, and wherein the sum of the first available credit and the second available credit does not exceed the first credit limit;

program code for adjusting the first available credit and the second available credit when a purchase is made against the second credit line; and

program code for adjusting only the first available credit when the purchase is made against the first credit line.

24. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein program code for establishing the second credit line comprises program code for setting the second credit limit for the second credit line based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein program code for establishing the first credit line comprises program code for setting the first credit limit for the first credit line based on the second credit limit set for the second credit line.

26. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein program code for establishing the first credit line comprises program code for setting the first credit line using a line sloping model.

59. The computer program product of claim 23, further comprising:

program code for providing a combined credit card account statement to the cardholder, wherein the account statement identifies purchase transactions respectively associated with the first credit line and the second credit line; and

wherein the cardholder may make a single payment to be applied toward both the first credit line and the second credit line.

60. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first interest rate and the second credit line is associated with a second interest rate, and wherein the first interest rate is less than the second interest rate.

61. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the first credit line is associated with the first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with the second credit limit, and wherein the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit.

62. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first available credit and the second credit line is associated with the second available credit, the computer program product further comprising:

program code for determining whether a purchase is made against the first credit line; and

program code for reducing the first available credit or the second available credit by a purchase amount based on the determination of whether the purchase is made against the first credit line.

63. The computer program product of claim 62, wherein the credit card is associated with a particular identification value, and wherein the program code for determining further comprises:

program code for receiving purchase transaction data including an identification value;

program code for determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether the received identification value corresponds to the particular identification value.

64. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein the identification value is a BIN number of the credit card.

65. The computer program product of claim 63, further comprising:

program code for determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether a merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches a merchant identification number of the particular merchant associated with the first credit line.

66. The computer program product of claim 65, further comprising:

program code for determining whether the purchase amount exceeds the first available credit if the merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches the merchant identification number of the particular merchant.

67. The computer program product of claim 66, further comprising:

program code for reducing the first available credit if the purchase amount does not exceed the first available credit; and

program code for reducing the second available credit if the purchase amount does exceed the first available credit, and the purchase amount does not exceed the second available credit.

68. The computer program product of claim 23, wherein the first credit line is issued based at least one of purchasing habits of the cardholder, the second credit limit established for the second credit line, a credit history of the cardholder with the particular merchant, types of goods or services provided by the particular merchant, or an average purchase amount the cardholder purchases from the particular merchant.

108. The method of claim 23, wherein the first credit line is a private label credit line.

109. The method of claim 23, wherein the second credit line is a general purpose credit line.

27. A system for providing a credit card, comprising:

means for analyzing credit information of a cardholder to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder;

means for establishing a first credit line associated with the credit card based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the first credit line being set as a first revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made only with a particular merchant;

means for establishing a second credit line associated with the credit card based on the determined level of risk associated with the cardholder, the second credit line being set as a second revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made with any merchant other than the particular merchant, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first available credit and the second credit line is associated with a second available credit, the second available credit distinct from the first available credit;

means for issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established first credit line as a main credit line and the established second credit line as an embedded credit line, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with a second credit limit, and the first credit limit includes the second credit limit, and the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit and wherein the sum of the first available credit and the second available credit does not exceed the first credit limit;

means for adjusting the first available credit and the second available credit when a purchase is made against the second credit line; and

means for adjusting only the first available credit when the purchase is made against the first credit line.

69. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

means for providing a combined credit card account statement to the cardholder, wherein the account statement identifies purchase transactions respectively associated with the first credit line and the second credit line;

wherein the cardholder may make a single payment to be applied toward both the first credit line and the second credit line.

70. The system of claim 27, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first interest rate and the second credit line is associated with a second interest rate, and wherein the first interest rate is less than the second interest rate.

71. The system of claim 27, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first available credit and the second credit line is associated with the second available credit, the system further comprising:

means for determining whether a purchase is made against the first credit line; and

means for reducing the first available credit or the second available credit by a purchase amount based on the determination of whether a purchase is made against the first credit line.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the credit card is associated with a particular identification value, and wherein the means for determining further comprises:

means for receiving purchase transaction data including an identification value; and

means for determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether the received identification value corresponds to the particular identification value.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the identification value is a BIN number of the credit card.

74. The system of claim 72, further comprising:

means for determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether a merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches a merchant identification number of the particular merchant associated with the first credit line.

75. The system of claim 74, further comprising:

means for determining whether the purchase amount exceeds the first available credit if the merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches the merchant identification number of the particular merchant.

76. The system of claim 75, further comprising:

means for reducing the first available credit if the purchase amount does not exceed the first available credit; and

means for reducing the second available credit if the purchase amount does exceed the first available credit, and the purchase amount does not exceed the second available credit.

77. The system of claim 27, wherein the first credit line is issued based at least one of purchasing habits of the cardholder, the second credit limit established for the second credit line, a credit history of the cardholder with the particular merchant, types of goods or services provided by the particular merchant, or an average purchase amount the cardholder purchases from the particular merchant.

110. The method of claim 27, wherein the first credit line is a private label credit line.

111. The method of claim 27, wherein the second credit line is a general purpose credit line.

28. A system for providing a dual line credit card, comprising:

means for receiving credit information for a cardholder;

means for analyzing the received credit information to determine a level of risk associated with the cardholder;

means for establishing a first credit line associated with the credit card based on the level of risk associated with the cardholder, the first credit line being set as a first revolving credit line and for purchase transactions made only with a particular merchant;

means for establishing a second credit line associated with the credit card based on the level of risk associated with the cardholder that is part of the first credit line and for purchase transactions made with any merchant other than the particular merchant, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first available credit and the second credit line is associated with a second available credit, the second available credit distinct from the first available credit;

means for issuing the credit card to the cardholder with the established first credit line as a main credit line and the established second credit line as an embedded credit line, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first credit limit and the second credit line is associated with a second credit limit, and the first credit limit includes the second credit limit, and the second credit limit is less than the first credit limit and wherein the sum of the first available credit and the second available credit does not exceed the first credit limit;

means for adjusting the first available credit and the second available credit when a purchase is made against the second credit line; and

means for adjusting only the first available credit when the purchase is made against the first credit line.

78. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for providing a combined credit card account statement to the cardholder, wherein the account statement identifies purchase transactions respectively associated with the first credit line and the second credit line; and

wherein the cardholder may make a single payment to be applied toward both the first credit line and the second credit line.

79. The system of claim 28, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first interest rate and the second credit line is associated with a second interest rate, and wherein the first interest rate is less than the second interest rate.

80. The system of claim 28, wherein the first credit line is associated with the first available credit and the second credit line is associated with the second available credit, the system further comprising:

means for determining whether a purchase is made against the first credit line; and

means for reducing the first available credit or the second available credit by a purchase amount based on the determination of whether the purchase is made against the first credit line.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the credit card is associated with a particular identification value, and wherein the means for determining further comprises:

means for receiving purchase transaction data including an identification value; and

means for determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether the received identification value corresponds to the particular identification value.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the identification value is a BIN number of the credit card.

83. The system of claim 81, further comprising:

means for determining that the received purchase transaction is made against the first credit line based on a determination of whether a merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches a merchant identification number of the particular merchant associated with the first credit line.

84. The system of claim 83, further comprising:

means for determining whether the purchase amount exceeds the first available credit if the merchant identification number associated with the purchase matches the merchant identification number of the particular merchant.

85. The system of claim 84, further comprising:

means for reducing the first available credit if the purchase amount does not exceed the first available credit; and

means for reducing the second available credit if the purchase amount does exceed the first available credit, and the purchase amount does not exceed the second available credit.

86. The system of claim 28, wherein the first credit line is issued based at least one of purchasing habits of the cardholder, the second credit limit established for the second credit line, a credit history of the cardholder with the particular merchant, types of goods or services provided by the particular merchant, or an average purchase amount the cardholder purchases from the particular merchant.

112. The method of claim 28, wherein the first credit line is a private label credit line.

113. The method of claim 28, wherein the second credit line is a general purpose credit line.

87. A method for managing a credit card account for a consumer, the method comprising:

determining a particular merchant to be associated with the credit card;

establishing a first line of credit associated with the credit card, wherein the first credit line is for purchase transactions associated only with the particular merchant;

establishing a second line of credit line associated with the credit card, wherein the second line of credit is for purchase transactions associated with merchants other than the particular merchant;

associating the first line of credit with a first credit limit and the second line of credit with a second credit limit, wherein the first credit limit is higher than the second credit limit, wherein the first line of credit is a main line of credit and the second line of credit is an embedded line of credit and the credit limit of the first line of credit includes the credit limit of the second line of credit, wherein the first credit line is associated with a first available credit and the second credit line is associated with a second available credit, the first available credit distinct from the second available credit;

determining, for each purchase transaction made by the consumer, whether the purchase transaction is to be associated with the first line of credit or with the second line of credit;

wherein the sum of the first available credit and the second available credit does not exceed the first credit limit;

adjusting the first available credit and the second available credit when a purchase is made against the second credit line;

adjusting only the first available credit when the purchase transaction is made against the first line of credit; and

providing an account statement to the consumer, wherein the account statement identifies which purchase transactions are associated with the first line of credit and the second line of credit, respectively;

wherein a payment received from the consumer is allocated to at least one of the first line of credit or the second line of credit.

88. The method of claim 87, further including:

receiving purchase transaction data associated with the particular merchant over a first network; and

receiving purchase transaction data associated with the particular merchant over a second network, wherein the second network is different than the first network.

89. The method of claim 87, wherein associating the first line of credit with the first credit limit and the second line of credit with the second credit limit comprises analyzing credit information of the consumer to determine a level of risk associated with the consumer.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein analyzing credit information comprises determining a risk score from credit information of the consumer.

91. The method of claim 87, where the first line of credit is determined using a line sloping model.

92. The method of claim 87, wherein establishing the first line of credit associated with the credit card comprises establishing a plurality of first lines of credits.

93. The method of claim 87, wherein establishing the second line of credit associated with the credit card comprises establishing a plurality of second lines of credits.

94. The method of claim 87, wherein the first line of credit is associated with a first interest rate and the second line of credit is associated with a second interest rate, and wherein the first interest rate is less than the second interest rate.

95. The method of claim 87, wherein the first line of credit is associated with a first available credit and the second line of credit is associated with a second available credit, the method further comprising:

reducing the first available credit or the second available credit by a purchase transaction amount based on the determination of whether the purchase transaction is to be associated with the first line of credit or with the second line of credit.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the credit card is associated with a particular identification value, and wherein the determining further comprises:

receiving purchase transaction data including an identification value;

determining that the received purchase transaction is to be associated with the first line of credit based on a determination of whether the received identification value corresponds to the particular identification value.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the identification value is a BIN number of the credit card.

98. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

determining that the received purchase transaction is to be associated with the first line of credit based on a determination of whether a merchant identification number associated with the purchase transaction matches a merchant identification number of the particular merchant associated with the first line of credit.

99. The method of claim 98, further comprising:

determining whether the purchase transaction amount exceeds the first available credit if the merchant identification number associated with the purchase transaction matches the merchant identification number of the particular merchant.

100. The method of claim 99, further comprising:

reducing the first available credit if the purchase transaction amount does not exceed the first available credit; and

reducing the second available credit if the purchase transaction amount does exceed the first available credit, and the purchase transaction amount does not exceed the second available credit.

101. The method of claim 87, wherein the first line of credit is issued based at least one of purchasing habits of the cardholder, the second credit limit established for the second line of credit, a credit history of the cardholder with the particular merchant, types of goods or services provided by the particular merchant, and an average purchase transaction amount the cardholder purchases from the particular merchant.

114. The method of claim 87, wherein the first line of credit is a private label credit line.

115. The method of claim 87, wherein the second line of credit is a general purpose credit line.