Methods and systems coordinate an Internet-based financial transaction
between an Internet merchant and a customer. A first information packet
is received with a payment network from the Internet merchant. The first
information packet has a credential assigned to the customer and
transaction information specifying at least a cost of the Internet-based
financial transaction. With the payment network, account information is
determined that identifies a financial account maintained by the customer
at a financial institution and authorization information that allows
debit access to the identified financial account. A second information
packet that includes the transaction information, the account
information, and the authorization information is generated with the
payment network. The second information packet is transmitted with the
payment network to the financial institution with a request to perform a
debit transaction from the identified financial account for the specified
cost of the Internet-based financial transaction.