Abstract: A system and method for interfacing external processes to a transaction processing system. An interface system is provided that accepts input messages from external processes wherein in the input messages are to be processed by a transaction processing system. The interface system logs received messages and notifies the transaction processing system that a message has been received for processing. The interface system sends a confirmation to the external process indicating that the message has been received. The interface system periodically examines the status of each message as it is being processed by the transaction processing system. Output status messages indicative of such status are created, stored, and sent to an external destination for informational purposes. Outbound data messages are created, stored and sent to an external application. The interface system is event driven, but includes a monitor subsystem to time the start-up of certain processes at periodic intervals.