SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                 
                     Washington,  D.C.  20549
                                 
                             FORM 8-K

                          CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 22, 1997


                  Commission File No.  001-12392

                     NATIONAL DATA CORPORATION
        (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

         DELAWARE                               58-0977458
       ------------                           --------------
(State or other jurisdiction of              (I.R.S.  Employer
 incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)
                                 
 National Data Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia          30329-2010
- ---------------------------------------       --------------
(Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code 404-728-2000

                               NONE
      -------------------------------------------------------                  
      (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if
                     changed since last year)


Item 5.  Other Events

On  December 22, 1997, National Data Corporation's ("the  Company")
Board  of  Directors authorized a plan to repurchase up to  200,000
shares  of the Company's common stock.  Subject to availability  at
prices  the Company deems appropriate, the repurchases may be  made
from  time-to-time in the open market.  The shares will be used  to
fund  the Company's internal requirements under various stock plans
such as stock option, employee stock purchase, restricted stock and
employee savings plans.

      Robert A. Yellowlees, the Company's chairman and CEO remarked
that "We are pleased with the Board's decision to use a portion  of
the  company's capital to repurchase our shares.  Given the current
market  conditions this program represents an attractive investment
that will further our goal of maximizing stockholder value."

      National  Data  Corporation is a leading provider  of  health
information services and payment systems solutions that  add  value
to its customers' operations.


                            Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                       NATIONAL DATA CORPORATION
                                       (Registrant)


Date:   December 22, 1997              By: /s/ Robert L. Walker
        _________________                 ______________________
                                          Robert L. Walker
                                          Chief Financial Officer