1. A system, comprising: at least one processor; and memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to: provide a user interface for a user of the gift card to capture an image of the gift card, the gift card containing a plurality of claim code characters; receive the image of the gift card; binarize the image; determine a plurality of character patches of binarized image; group the plurality of character patches along one or more baselines; classify grouped character patches into a first set of candidate claim code characters according to one or more machine learning algorithms; determine whether the plurality of claim code characters are found in the first set of candidate claim code characters; in response to the plurality of claim code characters not being found in the first set of candidate claim code characters, rotate the grouped character patches along the one or more baselines to determine one or more new baselines; determine top and bottom positions of the grouped character patches to perform a first close cut based at least upon X-gradient information of the grouped character patches; perform a second close cut on the grouped character patches based at least upon Y-gradient information of the grouped character patches; classify the grouped character patches into a second set of candidate claim code characters according to the one or more machine learning algorithms; determine the plurality of claim code characters from the second set of candidate claim code characters; and in response to a successful verification of the plurality of claim code characters, enable funds associated with the gift card to be applied or accessed.