Debit purchasing of stored value card for use by and/or delivery to others

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the method comprising:

publishing an offer to purchase the stored value card over a computer network;

receiving, by at least one computer processor, a purchase request from the individual for the stored value card;

creating, by at least one computer processor, one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual funds the account with an initial value;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring and storing funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account;

providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating, by at least one computer processor, the independent and separate account over the computer network; and

loading, by at least one computer processor, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the independent and separate account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the card is provided to the cardholder through a financial institution that issues the card to the cardholder.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein in the card is provided to the cardholder by having a third party issue the card to the cardholder.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the card comprises issuing the card to the cardholder through a financial institution.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the card comprises administering the issuance of the card to the cardholder through a financial institution.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stored value card is purchased as a gift for the cardholder.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the individual and the cardholder are the same.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer network is the Internet.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the purchase request is received via the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the offer is published on a web site on the Internet.

11. A computer-implemented method for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor, a request from the individual for the stored value card

loading an independent and separate account, associated with the stored value card, with an initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

providing or issuing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided or issued, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is accepted wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating, by at least one computer processor, the independent and separate account over a computer network; and

loading, by at least one computer processor, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the independent and separate account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the card is issued to the cardholder by a financial institution.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the card is provided to the cardholder by administering the issuance of the card by a financial institution.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the card is provided or issued to the cardholder by at least one issuer.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

creating, by at least one computer processor, the one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual provides the initial value.

16. A computer-implemented method for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor, a request from the individual for the stored value card;

creating, by at least one computer processor, one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual funds the account with an initial value;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating, by at least one computer processor, the independent and separate account over a computer network; and

loading, by at least one computer processor, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the independent and separate account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder or the individual.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the card is activated upon receiving notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the notification is received via an activation center.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the notification is received via a telephone call.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the computer network is the Internet.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

publishing an offer to purchase the stored value card.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the offer is published on a web site on the Internet.

23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the computer network is the Internet.

24. The method of claim 16 , wherein the request is received via the Internet.

25. A computer-implemented method for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the method comprising:

publishing an offer over a computer network to provide the stored value card;

receiving, by at least one computer processor, a request from the individual for the stored value card;

creating, by at least one computer processor, one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual funds the account with an initial value;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, over the computer network, an activation request from the cardholder to activate the stored value card, wherein the activation request provides notification that the cardholder has received the card; and

loading, by at least one computer processor, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder or the sponsoring entity.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the card is activated upon receipt of the activation request from the cardholder.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the activation request is received via an activation center.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the activation request is received via a telephone call.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the activation request is received via the Internet.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the stored value card is purchased as a gift for the cardholder.

31. The method of claim 25 , wherein the individual and the cardholder are the same.

32. The method of claim 25 , wherein the computer network is the Internet.

33. A computer-implemented method for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the method comprising:

creating, by at least one computer processor, one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein an individual funds the account with an initial value;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating, by at least one computer processor, the independent and separate account over a computer network; and

loading, by at least one computer processor, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder or the individual.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the load request is received via a financial institution.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the financial institution is an issuer of the card.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein loading the stored value card or account comprises adding an amount of value to the independent and separate account.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the amount of value is determined by the sponsoring entity.

38. The method of claim 33 , further comprising:

publishing an offer to provide the stored value card over the computer network;

receiving, by at least one computer processor, a purchase request from the individual for the stored value card;

wherein the computer network is the Internet.

39. A computer-implemented method for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the method comprising:

publishing an offer to purchase the stored value card over a computer network, wherein the computer network is the Internet;

receiving, by at least one computer processor, a purchase request from the individual for the stored value card to purchase the stored value card as a gift;

creating, by at least one computer processor, one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual funds the account with an initial value, wherein the initial value is added before the card is provided to a cardholder;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

providing the stored value card to the cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card over the computer network;

activating, by at least one computer processor, the independent and separate account over the computer network; and

loading, by at least one computer processor, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder or the individual.

40. A system for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing information relating to the stored value card; and

at least one processor for performing the following steps:

publishing an offer to purchase the stored value card over a computer network;

receiving a purchase request from the purchaser for the stored value card;

creating one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual funds the account with an initial value;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

processing data relating to providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating the independent and separate account over the computer network; and

loading, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder.

41. The system of claim 40 , wherein the computer network is the Internet.

42. A system for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing information relating to the stored value card; and

at least one processor for performing the following steps:

receiving a request from the individual for the stored value card

loading an independent and separate account associated with the stored value card with an initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

processing data relating to providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating the independent and separate account over a computer network; and

loading, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder or the sponsoring entity.

43. A system for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing information relating to the stored value card; and

at least one processor for performing the following steps:

creating one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual funds the account with an initial value;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

processing data relating to providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating the independent and separate account wherein the independent and separate account is activated over a computer network based on the notification; and

loading, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder or the individual.

44. The system of claim 43 , wherein the computer network is the Internet.

45. A system for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network, the system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing information relating to the stored value card; and

at least one processor for performing the following steps:

receiving a purchase request from an individual for the stored value card;

creating one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual funds the account with an initial value;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

processing data relating to providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, an activation request from the cardholder to activate the stored value card over a computer network, wherein the activation request provides notification that the cardholder has received the card; and

loading, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder.

46. A system for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing information relating to the stored value card; and

at least one processor for performing the following steps:

receiving a request from an individual for the stored value card;

creating one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with an initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

processing data relating to providing the stored value card to a cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating the independent and separate account over a computer network; and

loading, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder.

47. A system for providing a stored value card associated with a predetermined transaction network and an individual, the system comprising:

at least one storage device for storing information relating to the stored value card; and

at least one processor for performing the following steps:

publishing an offer to provide the stored value card over a computer network;

receiving a request from an individual for the stored value card over the computer network;

creating one independent and separate account associated with the stored value card, wherein the individual funds the account with an initial value, wherein the initial value is added before or after the card is provided to a cardholder;

loading the independent and separate account with the initial value by transferring funds associated with the initial value into the independent and separate account and storing the funds in the independent and separate account;

processing data relating to providing the stored value card to the cardholder, wherein:

a) before the card is provided, the stored value card is marked with the cardholder's name; and

b) the stored value card is capable of being used wherever cards associated with the predetermined transaction network are accepted;

receiving, by a provider of the stored value card, notification from the cardholder that the cardholder has received the stored value card;

activating the independent and separate account over the computer network; and

loading, subsequent to the funding of the initial value, the stored value card or account upon receiving a load request from the cardholder or the individual.