Restructuring charges (restructuring accruals by year and by segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended	30 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	30 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	18 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		30 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	30 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	30 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	30 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	30 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	30 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014 2012 initiatives [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 2012 initiatives [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 2013 initiatives [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 2013 initiatives [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 2014 initiatives [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Employee severance benefits [Member] Small Business Services [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Employee severance benefits [Member] Small Business Services [Member]		Jun. 30, 2014 Employee severance benefits [Member] Financial Services [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Employee severance benefits [Member] Financial Services [Member]		Jun. 30, 2014 Employee severance benefits [Member] Direct Checks [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Employee severance benefits [Member] Direct Checks [Member]		Jun. 30, 2014 Employee severance benefits [Member] Corporate [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Employee severance benefits [Member] Corporate [Member]		Jun. 30, 2014 Operating lease obligations [Member] Small Business Services [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating lease obligations [Member] Small Business Services [Member]		Jun. 30, 2014 Operating lease obligations [Member] Direct Checks [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating lease obligations [Member] Direct Checks [Member]
Restructuring accruals [Line Items]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 5,638			$ 409		$ 5,229		$ 0	$ 1,624			$ 1,991			$ 365			$ 1,508			$ 150			$ 0
Restructuring charges	2,667	18,037	[1]	21	8,012	200	7,579	2,446	1,497	6,374	[1]	436	4,324	[1]	0	549	[1]	734	6,178	[1]	0	442	[1]	0	170	[1]
Restructuring reversals	(595)	(2,083)	[1]	(10)	(1,361)	(538)	(675)	(47)	(265)	(706)	[1]	(104)	(373)	[1]	(9)	(31)	[1]	(217)	(816)	[1]	0	(157)	[1]	0	0	[1]
Inter-segment transfer		0	[1]							0	[1]		0	[1]		(25)	[1]		25	[1]		0	[1]		0	[1]
Payments	(4,774)	(13,018)	[1]	(286)	(6,517)	(3,775)	(5,788)	(713)	(1,626)	(4,438)	[1]	(1,653)	(3,281)	[1]	(260)	(397)	[1]	(1,175)	(4,537)	[1]	(60)	(195)	[1]	0	(170)	[1]
Balance, end of period	$ 2,936	$ 2,936		$ 134	$ 134	$ 1,116	$ 1,116	$ 1,686	$ 1,230	$ 1,230		$ 670	$ 670		$ 96	$ 96		$ 850	$ 850		$ 90	$ 90		$ 0	$ 0

[1] Includes accruals related to our cost reduction initiatives for 2012 through 2014.