Methods and apparatus for funding transactions are presented herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an account information unit to store information about an account, the account being associated with a first financial institution. The apparatus can also include a transaction processor to receive a request for a debit amount, to determine that the account has a balance less than the debit amount, to determine that the account is associated with a backup funding source, and to provide the debit amount. The apparatus can also include a backup funding unit to request a backup funding amount equal to at least a difference between the balance and the debit amount, wherein the backup funding source resides with a second financial institution.