1. A method for electronically paying a bill, the method comprising the steps of: forwarding a bill pay order to a first processor, said bill pay order including information identifying said biller, an amount owed, and a consumer-biller account number; determining whether said consumer has sufficient funds to cover said amount owed; comparing said information identifying said biller to a local biller file to determine a biller financial institution identification number for a financial institution designated to receive funds for said biller; generating a payment message including said information identifying said biller, said amount owed, said consumer-biller account number, and said biller financial institution identification number; forwarding said payment message to a network if said step of determining whether said consumer has sufficient funds is satisfied; and routing said payment message to said biller financial institution over said network using said biller financial institution identification number.