AFFINITY GROUP

1 . A computer-implemented method for creating an affinity group image for each of the members of the affinity group to select and apply to an affinity group transaction card for that member, the method comprising:

causing an image to be displayed at a user interface that, following editing, is to later be offered to each of the members of the affinity group for application to an affinity croup transaction card for that member;

providing an internet communications link coupling the user interface to an image processor;

receiving at the image processor from the user interface instructions to edit the image that, following editing, is to later be offered to each of the members of the affinity croup for application to an affinity croup transaction card for that member;

causing the image processor to editing the received image editing instructions to produce an affinity group image that is to later be offered to each of the members of the affinity croup for application to an affinity group transaction card for that member; and

saving in an electronic storage device the affinity group image in a manner that permits it to later be offered to each of the members of the affinity group for application to an affinity croup transaction card for that member.

2 . A computer-implemented method for creating an affinity group image for application to affinity group transaction cards associated with the affinity croup, the method comprising:

causing at least one image for application to the affinity group transaction cards associated with the affinity group to be displayed;

receiving instructions to edit an image selected from the at least one image;

processing the selected image by applying the received editing instructions to the elected image to produce the affinity group image; and

saving the affinity group image in a manner that permits it to be later offered to each of the members of the affinity group for selection by that member of the affinity group to be applied to an affinity group transaction card for that member.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the method is repeated to generate multiple, different group affinity images and further comprising:

associating a different group identifier with each different affinity group image; and

saving each different affinity group image with its associated group identifier.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein each group identifier comprises an affinity group image identifier and an affinity group identifier.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the image as an upload from a user's computer.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions to edit include rotating, resizing, moving, and adding text to the image.

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the affinity group image comprises multiple one or more images overlaid on each other.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the image is a logo representative of the affinity group.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising offering the affinity group image only to members of the affinity group for application to affinity group transaction cards for the members.

11 . A computer-implemented method for automating the setup of an affinity group scheme for affinity group financial transaction cards for members of the affinity group, the method comprising:

enabling an affinity group to apply through a user interface for the affinity group scheme;

displaying an image;

enabling editing of the image;

receiving instructions to edit the image and editing the image in accordance with the received instructions;

storing the edited image in a storage device; and

making the stored edited image available for selection by a member of the affinity group for application to an affinity group transaction card for that member.

12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

enabling the affinity group to upload an image from an affinity group computer;

storing the uploaded image in the storage device; and

enabling selection and editing of the uploaded image.

13 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

enabling edits of a different image;

storing the different edited image in the storage device; and

making the stored edited images available for selection by a member of the affinity group for application to an affinity group transaction card for that member.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the image and the edited image are stored in the same storage device.

15 . The method of claim 11 wherein the image and the edited image are stored in separate storage devices.

16 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

creating an image identifier;

associating the image identifier with the edited image; and

storing the edited image with the associated image identifier in the storage device.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the image identifier comprises:

a first identifier identifying the affinity group; and

a second identifier identifying the edited image.

18 . The method of claim 11 further comprising:

storing the image in a remote image store;

causing a graphical representation of the image to be displayed on a user interface, the user interface being coupled to a remote image processor by an internet communications link, the link being operable to transfer information about edits applied to the graphical representation between the user interface and the remote image processor; and

the remote image processor accessing the remote image store in order to apply edits to the image held in the remote image store that emulate those applied to the graphical representation.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising a scheme provider or a transaction card issuer checking the edited image.

20 . A computer-implemented method of automating the setup of an affinity group scheme for issuing transaction cards, the method comprising:

enabling an affinity group to apply through a user interface for an affinity group scheme;

requesting that the affinity group input affinity group data or an affinity group image; and

automatically generating an affinity group website based on a template affinity group website and inputting the affinity group data or image to that website.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the affinity group image is an affinity group logo representative of the affinity group.

23 . A computer-implemented method of automating the setup of an affinity group scheme comprising:

enabling an affinity group to apply through a user interface for an affinity group scheme;

requesting that the affinity group input affinity group data or an affinity group image; and

automatically generating affinity group marketing material based on a template affinity group marketing material that includes the inputted affinity group data or the affinity group image.

24 . The method of 23 wherein the affinity group image is an affinity group logo representative of the affinity group.