A virtual 
payment card 
system for ordering and paying for goods, services and content over an internetwork is disclosed. The virtual 
payment card 
system comprises a commerce gateway component (52) and a credit 
processing server component (53). The virtual 
payment card 
system is a secure 
closed system comprising registered merchants and consumers. A 
consumer becomes a registered participant by applying for a virtual 
payment card. Likewise, a merchant becomes registered by applying for a 
merchant account. A 
consumer can instantly open an account on-line. That is, the credit 
processing component (53) immediately evaluates the 
consumer's virtual 
payment card application and assigns a 
credit limit to the account. Once an account is established, a digital 
certificate is stored on the registered participant's computer. The consumer can then order a product, i.e., goods, services or content from a merchant and charge it to the virtual 
payment card. When the product is shipped, the merchant notifies the commerce gateway component (52), which in turn notifies the credit 
processing server which applies the charges to the consumer's virtual card account. The consumer can settle the charges using a prepaid account, a 
credit card, or by using reward points earned through use of the virtual payment card. A consumer may create sub-account that have additional limitations imposed on the owner of the sub-account.