Segment Reporting and Major Customers - Operating Results (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting
Operating income	$ 167,183	$ 151,687
Share-based compensation expense	9,047	8,158
TransFirst and NetSpend M&A and integration expenses	4,868	3,401
Litigation, claims, judgements or settlements	1,961
Acquisition intangible amortization	55,167	22,921
Total revenues	1,184,725	739,378
Less: reimbursable items, interchange and assessment expenses	351,833	67,734
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	$ 832,892	$ 671,644
Operating margin	14.10%	20.50%
Operating margin on net revenue	28.60%	27.70%
Issuer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	$ 423,881	$ 417,201
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	375,529	366,884
Merchant Solutions
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	563,786	137,978
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	260,305	120,561
Netspend
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	197,058	184,199
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	197,058	184,199
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) (b)	238,226	186,167
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	845,281	683,613
Operating Segments | Issuer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) (b)	133,873	135,077
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	$ 387,255	$ 378,009
Operating margin on net revenue	34.60%	35.70%
Operating Segments | Merchant Solutions
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) (b)	$ 91,279	$ 38,357
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	$ 260,561	$ 120,612
Operating margin on net revenue	35.00%	31.80%
Operating Segments | Netspend
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) (b)	$ 48,648	$ 42,201
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	$ 197,465	$ 184,992
Operating margin on net revenue	24.60%	22.80%
Corporate Administration and Other
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) (b)	$ (35,574)	$ (29,468)
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting
Net revenue (non-GAAP)	$ (12,389)	$ (11,969)