A system is proposed for performing transactions with terminals which fundamentally allow a plurality of different transactions to be performed. The terminals (10, 11) are connected for this purpose via a terminal network (30) with at least one node computer (40, 41) via which they can be set up for performing a transaction. The suitability for performing a further, hitherto unprepared transaction can be provided later anytime without any special setup measures. A terminal (10, 11) requests for this purpose data providing the functionality required for performing the further transaction from a node computer (40, 41) following a trigger signal designating the further transaction. The transaction is then performed in interaction between a terminal (10, 11) and a node computer (40, 41).