A decoding system, with a decoding engine, runs on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. The decoding engine accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of the first party's financial transaction card until the signals reach a steady state, identifies peaks in the incoming signals and digitizes the identified peaks into bits. A transaction engine is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives, as its input, decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party. The first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party. The transaction engine is configured to be coupled to a payment system and a first party's financial transaction card institution or a first party's financial account.