BAR CODED MONETARY TRANSACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

A monetary transaction system consistent with the present disclosure comprises a mechanism allowing a biller to generate at least one invoice for at least one customer, where the invoice contains a unique bar code, comprising data identifying at least the customer and the biller, and a scanning apparatus and associated components, for use by a third party, configured both to scan the bar code and, based on the identifying data of the bar code, to effect payment to the biller in a predetermined or customer-specified amount. In method form, a bill payment method consistent with the disclosure comprises: generating a biller invoice for at least one customer, said invoice containing a unique bar code, said bar code comprising data identifying at least said customer and said biller; and enabling a third party to scan and process said bar code and, based on the identifying data of said bar code, to effect payment to said biller in a predetermined or customer-specified amount. In another embodiment, a bill payment system consistent with the disclosure comprises mechanisms allowing a plurality of billers to generate bar coded invoices, with each biller generating an invoice for at least one customer, the invoice comprising a unique bar code comprising data identifying at least the customer and the biller, and networked mechanisms allowing a plurality of third parties, in communication with said billers, to scan and process a given bar code and, based on the identifying data of said bar code, to effect payment to its associated biller in a predetermined or customer-specified amount.