A system for implementing personal identification number (PIN)-based data transfer activities includes a host system and a PIN generator application and encryption engine executing on the host system. The PIN generator application and the encryption engine generate an instance of a PIN by the PIN generator application in response to a request by a holder of an instrument to create the PIN. Generation of the instance of the PIN includes receiving an instrument identifier and a data value from the holder of the instrument, retrieving a transfer system key and a seed value associated with the instrument from an account record associated with the instrument identifier, and encrypting the instrument identifier, the data value, the transfer system key, and the seed value to form the instance of the PIN. The instance of the PIN is provided to the holder of the instrument. The data value is encoded on the instrument.