Reward payments are applied to a first account and/or any linked second accounts at a financial institution. A computer program determines whether the first account qualifies for application of a reward, which may be a first alternate interest rate and/or a reward payment formula. The program communicates application of the reward to the first account and any linked second accounts for an accounting period applicable to the reward if the first account qualifies for the reward. In an event wherein the first account does not qualify for the reward, the program communicates application of the base interest rate to the first account and any linked second accounts for an accounting period applicable to the base interest rate.