Assets in Excess of Payment Service Obligations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets in excess of payment service obligations
Cash and cash equivalents (substantially restricted)	$ 2,548,257	$ 2,572,174
Receivables, net (substantially restricted)	1,266,882	1,220,065
Short-term investments (substantially restricted)	524,055	522,024
Available-for-sale investments (substantially restricted)	85,281	102,771
Assets available for payment service obligations	4,424,475	4,417,034
Payment service obligations	(4,155,880)	(4,205,375)
Assets in excess of payment service obligations	$ 268,595	$ 211,659

Total debt and equity financial instruments including: (1) securities held-to-maturity, (2) trading securities, and (3) securities available-for-sale that are pledged to one or more secured parties who have the right to buy, sell, or re-pledge the collateral.

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

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