A method for originating a vending transaction via machine-readable code includes storing, in a memory of a computing device, an account identifier associated with a transaction account, reading, by an optical imaging device of the computing device, a machine-readable code displayed on a vending machine, wherein the machine-readable code is encoded with at least a device identifier, electronically transmitting, by a transmitting device of the computing device, at least the device identifier and an account identifier to a third party system, and receiving, by a receiving device of the computing device, a transaction confirmation indicating approval of a payment transaction involving the transaction account and the vending machine.