A method implemented in an electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant. The communication system receives through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer and a transaction amount from the merchant, contacts the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a payment method, and sends through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the customer to a financial services provider associated with the payment method.