CUSIP means Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures. The CUSIP number identifies stocks, bonds, commercial paper, and other financial instruments offered in the United States and Canada.
The American Bankers Association (ABA) owns the CUSIP system, which FactSet Research Systems Inc. operates and maintains.
The CUSIP Global Services website provides a portal to apply for a CUSIP number and many other entity identification numbers (e.g., CINS, ISIN, LEI, CEI). Users can also create an account and search their database.