MANAGED PURCHASING ACCOUNT FOR DEFINED COMMODITIES

A purchase account may be managed to control purchases made using the account. An account number may be provided at a point of sale. The account number is associated with or includes an identifier for a class or type of goods or services. A merchant computer may receive the identifier and process it to determine whether what is proposed for purchase using the account is a qualified type of good or service. The computer may obtain a list of qualified or unqualified products and compare the list to what is proposed for purchase. In the alternative, the computer may provide instructions to a human operator for the merchant, who may determine whether or not the proposed product is qualified. If the proposed product is deemed qualified for purchase, use of the account may be approved; if otherwise, use of the account may be refused.