Segment Reporting and Major Customers - Operating Results (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	$ 287,373	$ 259,281	$ 559,330	$ 497,509
Share-based compensation	14,229	11,008	20,524	20,055
Operating income	208,698	193,248	396,969	360,431
Nonoperating expenses, net	(41,170)	(30,042)	(78,812)	(59,945)
Income before income taxes and equity in income of equity investments	167,528	163,206	318,157	300,486
Net revenue	956,548	844,068	1,892,045	1,676,960
Add: reimbursable items, interchange and assessment expenses	51,032	378,307	102,705	730,140
Total revenues	$ 1,007,580	$ 1,222,375	$ 1,994,750	$ 2,407,100
Operating margin on net revenue	30.00%	30.70%	29.60%	29.70%
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Segment Reporting
Share-based compensation	$ 14,229	$ 11,008	$ 20,524	$ 20,055
Issuer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	458,601	431,365	915,960	855,247
Merchant Solutions
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	348,714	608,373	668,137	1,172,158
Consumer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	200,265	182,637	410,653	379,695
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting
Net revenue	967,697	854,413	1,919,162	1,699,694
Operating Segments \| Issuer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	151,490	147,277	302,481	281,150
Net revenue	$ 421,015	$ 392,760	$ 844,589	$ 780,015
Operating margin on net revenue	36.00%	37.50%	35.80%	36.00%
Operating Segments \| Merchant Solutions
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	$ 124,817	$ 101,996	$ 234,831	$ 193,275
Net revenue	$ 346,389	$ 278,588	$ 663,792	$ 539,149
Operating margin on net revenue	36.00%	36.60%	35.40%	35.90%
Operating Segments \| Consumer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	$ 50,232	$ 46,044	$ 99,585	$ 94,692
Net revenue	$ 200,293	$ 183,065	$ 410,781	$ 380,530
Operating margin on net revenue	25.10%	25.20%	24.20%	24.90%
Corporate Administration and Other
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	$ (39,166)	$ (36,036)	$ (77,567)	$ (71,608)
Intersegment
Segment Reporting
Net revenue	11,149	10,345	27,117	22,734
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting
TransFirst and Cayan merger & acquisition (M&A) and integration expenses	2,581	4,165	16,949	9,034
Litigation, claims, judgements or settlements		(83)		1,878
Acquisition intangible amortization	$ 61,865	$ 50,943	$ 124,888	$ 106,111

The amount of adjusted Operating income calculated during the reporting period.

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Operating Income (Loss), Percent of Net Sales

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Reimbursable items, including interchange and payment network fees.

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Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

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Costs incurred to effect a business combination which have been expensed during the period. Such costs could include business integration costs, systems integration and conversion costs, and severance and other employee-related costs.

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Amount of gain (loss) recognized in settlement of litigation and insurance claims. Excludes claims within an insurance entity's normal claims settlement process.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments.

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The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business).

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