BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (segment results) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business segment information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers	$ 522,071	$ 493,593	$ 493,986	$ 499,065	$ 524,677	$ 493,190	$ 488,244	$ 491,914	$ 2,008,715	$ 1,998,025	$ 1,965,556
Operating (loss) income									(158,141)	231,221	329,176
Depreciation and amortization expense									126,036	131,100	122,652
Asset impairment charges	0	$ 390,980	$ 0	$ 0	0	$ 99,170	$ 0	$ 2,149	390,980	101,319	54,880
Total assets	1,943,311				2,305,096				1,943,311	2,305,096	2,208,827
Capital asset purchases									66,595	62,238	47,450
Reportable business segments [Member] | Small Business Services [Member]
Business segment information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers									1,255,779	1,283,620	1,239,739
Operating (loss) income									(124,235)	119,808	181,528
Depreciation and amortization expense									62,138	66,031	56,834
Asset impairment charges									273,583	99,437	54,880
Total assets	841,858				1,094,262				841,858	1,094,262	1,081,098
Capital asset purchases									0	0	0
Reportable business segments [Member] | Financial Services [Member]
Business segment information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers									633,498	586,967	585,275
Operating (loss) income									(67,524)	69,939	101,047
Depreciation and amortization expense									60,622	61,843	62,592
Asset impairment charges									117,397	1,882	0
Total assets	583,555				751,242				583,555	751,242	679,547
Capital asset purchases									0	0	0
Reportable business segments [Member] | Direct Checks [Member]
Business segment information [Line Items]
Total revenue from external customers									119,438	127,438	140,542
Operating (loss) income									33,618	41,474	46,601
Depreciation and amortization expense									3,276	3,226	3,226
Asset impairment charges									0	0	0
Total assets	154,687				157,802				154,687	157,802	158,827
Capital asset purchases									0	0	0
Corporate [Member]
Business segment information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization expense related to corporate assets which was allocated to segments									36,239	33,812	33,302
Total revenue from external customers									0	0	0
Operating (loss) income									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization expense									0	0	0
Asset impairment charges									0	0	0
Total assets	$ 363,211				$ 301,790				363,211	301,790	289,355
Capital asset purchases									$ 66,595	$ 62,238	$ 47,450