A method of conducting an e-commerce transaction on a global communication
network (306) by using personal account information of a credit card
retrieved from a credit card company server on the network (306). At a
user location disposed on the network, a machine-resolvable code (MRC)
(3402) of the credit card (3400) of a user is read with a reading device
(3410). Coded information is extracted from the MRC (3402). Routing
information associated with the coded information is obtained, which
routing information corresponds to the personal account information of
the user stored on a credit card company server (3300) disposed on the
network (306). The user location connects to the credit card company
server (3300) across the network (306) in accordance with the routing
information. The personal account information is returned from the credit
card company server (3300) to the user location. The personal account
information is then presented to the user at the user location. A
hyperlink to a vendor web site (3422) is provided in the personal account
information for automatic connection of the user location to the vendor
web site in response to selection thereof. Web site information of the
vendor web site (3422) is displayed in response to the user selecting the
hyperlink. The user can then purchase a product of the vendor web site
(3422).