1. A computer system for verifying a commercial transaction between an account-holder and a merchant, said computer system comprising: a processing unit for processing data and code; and a memory device for storing said data and said code, said code including a merchant communications module operative to facilitate a connection with said merchant for receiving a transaction approval request including a complete account number associated with said account-holder, said data including at least one pre-verification criteria associated with said account-holder, and said code further including an authorization module responsive to said transaction approval request and operative to compare said transaction approval request with said pre-verification criteria, and to verify said transaction approval request if said at least one pre-verification criteria is satisfied.