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It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Entity may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months. Compensating balance arrangements that do not legally restrict the withdrawal or usage of cash amounts may be reported as Cash and Cash Equivalents, while legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular deposits should not be reported as cash and cash equivalents. 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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b, c Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 8 -Article 7 false 7 Goodwill 2 us-gaap_Goodwill us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 2156500000 2156.5 false false false 2 false true false false 2143400000 2143.4 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to adoption of FAS 142 and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 43 false 8 Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $401.7 and $355.4, respectively 2 us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 471800000 471.8 false false false 2 false true false false 489200000 489.2 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. 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Examples include taxes, interest, rent, salaries and benefits, and utilities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 15 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph 1, 5 -Article 9 false 14 Settlement obligations 3 wu_SettlementObligations wu false credit instant Settlement obligations represent amounts payable under money transfers, money orders and consumer payment service... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 2341300000 2341.3 false false false 2 false true false false 2389100000 2389.1 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Settlement obligations represent amounts payable under money transfers, money orders and consumer payment service arrangements. 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No authoritative reference available. false 15 Income taxes payable 3 us-gaap_AccruedIncomeTaxes us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 305700000 305.7 false false false 2 false true false false 519000000 519.0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the unpaid sum of the known and estimated amounts payable to satisfy all domestic and foreign income tax obligations due. This amount is the total of current and noncurrent accrued income taxes. 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This caption alerts the reader that one or more notes to the financial statements disclose pertinent information about the entity's commitments and contingencies. 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This item includes treasury stock repurchased by the entity. Note: elements for number of nonredeemable preferred shares, par value and other disclosure concepts are in another section within stockholders' equity. 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This item includes treasury stock repurchased by the entity. Note: elements for number of common shares, par value and other disclosure concepts are in another section within stockholders' equity. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 false 24 Capital surplus 3 us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 73200000 73.2 false false false 2 false true false false 40700000 40.7 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Value received from shareholders in common stock-related transactions that are in excess of par value or stated value and amounts received from other stock-related transactions. Includes only common stock transactions (excludes preferred stock transactions). May be called contributed capital, capital in excess of par, capital surplus, or paid-in capital. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 31 -Article 5 false 25 Retained earnings 3 us-gaap_RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 364900000 364.9 false false false 2 false true false false 433200000 433.2 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary The cumulative amount of the reporting entity's undistributed earnings or deficit. 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Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, and unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge. 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