Abstract: A central asset management system is provided having a central reference facility for coordination of all transaction processing. For each customer, a unique identifier (UID) is assigned as a stable, semi-permanent tag. The UID is then used for subsequent processing relating to that customer, even with multiple customer accounts, rather than individual transaction numbers for each process. Use of the UID is facilitated through a front end processor that handles all incoming external transaction data and converts it into a usable format, cross-referenced with the appropriate UID. Use of the UID reduces the overall variability and number of transaction identifiers, thus increasing efficiency and simplifying all aspects of the system. The system makes other simplifying uses of the UID, for example, as a key for segregating the transaction processes into different processing areas to be performed simultaneously.