a method and apparatus for facilitating a business transaction wherein a merchant / operator is presented with transaction - related information in the operator &# 39 ; s preferred language and currency , wherein the customer is presented with transaction - related information in the customer &# 39 ; s preferred language and currency , and wherein the customer &# 39 ; s language and currency are different from the operator &# 39 ; s language and currency . this allows persons who speak different languages and who are used to conducting transactions in different currencies to readily engage in business transactions . the method and apparatus can be employed , for example , in a credit card or debit card terminal , thereby allowing a merchant to easily accommodate tourists from foreign countries . the customer &# 39 ; s language and / or currency preferences may be obtained from a credit card / debit card , cellular telephone , smart card , or other portable memory medium prior to or during the transaction , thereby obviating the need to manually select a preferred a language and currency for each transaction .