A system for managing bar or restaurant tabs includes a payment card storage apparatus, such as a carousel, to receive and store payment cards under computer control, and a payment card reader to read identifying information from the payment cards that are to be stored in the payment card storage apparatus. The system permits a server to conveniently receive and store a payment card to secure a patron's tab, and then return it to the patron at the time the tab is closed and paid out. An associated point-of-sale system displays tab information and a list of names of those patrons having open tabs. A particular patron's card can be returned from the payment card storage apparatus by selecting the patron's tab from the list. The system may further be applied in any situation in which a debt or obligation can be secured by the possession of a personally-identifiable token that has, holds or permits access to value.