Segment Reporting and Major Customers - Operating Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ 155,327	$ 163,104	$ 442,835	$ 416,202
Total revenues	1,146,888	707,890	3,037,853	2,062,698
Depreciation and amortization	98,916	64,499	271,468	191,219
Reimbursable items, interchange and assessment expenses	357,300	71,504	781,684	208,444
Net revenue from external customers	789,588	636,386	2,256,169	1,854,254
North America Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	337,407	334,657	1,010,494	961,784
International Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	83,511	90,540	249,737	255,078
Merchant Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	571,220	143,045	1,276,733	409,493
NetSpend
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	154,750	139,648	500,889	436,343
Corporate, Non-Segment | Share Based Compensation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	13,069	11,295	33,792	31,468
Corporate, Non-Segment | TransFirst
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	1,830		25,908
Corporate, Non-Segment | Corporate Administration
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(37,022)	(14,736)	(99,830)	(72,753)
Depreciation and amortization	898	336	2,694	1,762
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation and amortization	53,341	22,883	134,748	69,601
Segment Reconciling Items | Acquisition Related Intangible Assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	53,341	22,883	134,748	69,601
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	223,567	197,282	637,283	517,271
Depreciation and amortization	44,677	41,280	134,026	119,856
Net revenue from external customers	$ 798,042	$ 643,386	$ 2,285,667	$ 1,879,352
Operating margin	13.50%	23.00%	14.60%	20.20%
Operating margin on net revenue	28.30%	31.00%	28.30%	27.90%
Operating Segments | North America Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ 113,425	$ 113,946	$ 350,955	$ 324,902
Depreciation and amortization	27,540	25,300	82,464	72,831
Net revenue from external customers	$ 300,754	$ 293,571	$ 901,563	$ 846,989
Operating margin on net revenue	37.70%	38.80%	38.90%	38.40%
Operating Segments | International Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ 15,524	$ 18,370	$ 41,564	$ 38,706
Depreciation and amortization	7,050	8,678	23,394	26,084
Net revenue from external customers	$ 79,445	$ 86,446	$ 236,570	$ 244,033
Operating margin on net revenue	19.50%	21.30%	17.60%	15.90%
Operating Segments | Merchant Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ 90,784	$ 42,387	$ 219,056	$ 117,192
Depreciation and amortization	6,846	4,670	18,702	13,394
Net revenue from external customers	$ 262,494	$ 123,721	$ 644,573	$ 351,987
Operating margin on net revenue	34.60%	34.30%	34.00%	33.30%
Operating Segments | NetSpend
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	$ 40,856	$ 37,315	$ 125,538	$ 109,224
Depreciation and amortization	3,241	2,632	9,466	7,547
Net revenue from external customers	$ 155,349	$ 139,648	$ 502,961	$ 436,343
Operating margin on net revenue	26.30%	26.70%	25.00%	25.00%
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenue from external customers	$ 8,454	$ 7,000	$ 29,498	$ 25,098