Abstract: A locking system is utilized to control the locking and unlocking of a lock, such as on a door. The lock includes a magnetic card reader for reading a coded key card into a lock computer which in turn determines functions of and access to the lock. The key card includes a key code, key level code, and key record number stored thereon. The lock includes a memory accessed by the computer which is partitioned and includes a level storage area with level records identified by a lock level code and operational information for the level, and a key storage area for storing lock key records identified by a lock record number and associated with at least one lock level for storing key information associated with the record number. The computer validates a key card by reading and comparing the key level code to the lock level code to determine the level and the key record number to one of the lock record numbers identified with the level in the key storage area.