An apparatus for facilitating payment using a payment card includes a computerized sales transaction device structured to determine a monetary amount for a sale, and a secure card activated terminal (CAT) device in electronic communication with the computerized sales transaction device. The computerized sales transaction device sends the monetary amount to the secure CAT device. The secure CAT device is structured to: (i) obtain sensitive payment card information from the card, (ii) automatically request in a secure, encrypted manner authorization for the sale using the monetary amount and the sensitive payment card information, (iii) receive in a secure, encrypted manner authorization approval for the sale, and (iv) in response to receiving the authorization approval, send purchase authorization approval information to the computerized sales transaction device. The computerized sales transaction device never receives the sensitive payment card information.