Operating Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues before reimbursable items	$ 636,386	$ 552,860	$ 1,854,254	$ 1,623,678
Revenue for reportable segment	707,890	616,891	2,062,698	1,811,774
Depreciation and amortization	64,499	62,434	191,219	183,430
Operating income	163,104	129,407	416,202	308,867
Total assets	3,889,522		3,889,522		$ 3,733,581
North America Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue for reportable segment	334,700	279,500	961,800	805,400
International Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue for reportable segment	90,500	89,300	255,100	258,200
Merchant Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue for reportable segment	143,100	134,100	409,500	384,700
NetSpend
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue for reportable segment	139,600	114,000	436,300	363,500
Share Based Compensation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(11,295)	(5,420)	(31,468)	(23,019)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	41,280	37,562	119,856	108,923
Operating income	212,018	185,244	590,024	483,182
Operating Segments | North America Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues before reimbursable items	293,571	240,957	846,989	698,543
Revenue for reportable segment	341,416	282,833	984,493	818,335
Depreciation and amortization	25,300	22,173	72,831	63,377
Operating income	113,946	92,736	324,902	251,892
Total assets	3,496,253		3,496,253		3,327,160
Operating Segments | International Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues before reimbursable items	86,446	87,385	244,033	248,890
Revenue for reportable segment	92,177	91,865	261,597	264,710
Depreciation and amortization	8,678	9,610	26,084	29,176
Operating income	18,370	15,976	38,706	32,274
Total assets	339,186		339,186		356,590
Operating Segments | Merchant Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues before reimbursable items	123,721	115,012	351,987	327,972
Revenue for reportable segment	143,100	134,117	409,676	384,824
Depreciation and amortization	4,670	3,624	13,394	10,591
Operating income	42,387	40,409	117,192	103,473
Total assets	697,154		697,154		695,744
Operating Segments | NetSpend
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues before reimbursable items	139,648	114,048	436,343	363,521
Revenue for reportable segment	139,648	114,048	436,343	363,521
Depreciation and amortization	2,632	2,155	7,547	5,779
Operating income	37,315	36,123	109,224	95,543
Total assets	1,518,196		1,518,196		1,556,369
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues before reimbursable items	(7,000)	(4,542)	(25,098)	(15,248)
Revenue for reportable segment	(8,451)	(5,972)	(29,411)	(19,616)
Total assets	(2,161,267)		(2,161,267)		$ (2,202,282)
Segment Reconciling Items | Acquisition Related Intangible Assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	22,883	24,210	69,601	72,805
Operating income	(22,883)	(24,210)	(69,601)	(72,805)
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	336	662	1,762	1,702
Corporate, Non-Segment | NetSpend
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income		(779)		(3,213)
Corporate, Non-Segment | Corporate Administration
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ (14,736)	$ (25,428)	$ (72,753)	$ (75,278)