Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue:
Finance charges	$ 460,622	$ 388,050	$ 329,437
Premiums earned	40,019	32,659	33,605
Other income	24,551	21,426	17,622
Total revenue	525,192	442,135	380,664
Costs and expenses:
Salaries and wages	63,038	61,327	66,893
General and administrative	25,625	26,432	30,391
Sales and marketing	23,520	19,661	14,808
Provision for credit losses	28,956	10,037	(12,164)
Interest	57,236	47,752	32,399
Provision for claims	30,399	23,429	19,299
Total costs and expenses	228,774	188,638	151,626
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	296,418	253,497	229,038
Provision for income taxes	108,374	83,390	82,992
Income from continuing operations	188,044	170,107	146,046
Discontinued operations
(Loss) gain from discontinued United Kingdom operations	0	(30)	137
Credit for income taxes	0	0	(72)
(Loss) gain from discontinued United Kingdom operations	0	(30)	209
Net income	$ 188,044	$ 170,077	$ 146,255
Net income per share:
Basic	$ 7.15	$ 5.79	$ 4.78
Diluted	$ 7.07	$ 5.67	$ 4.62
Income from continuing operations per share:
Basic	$ 7.15	$ 5.79	$ 4.77
Diluted	$ 7.07	$ 5.67	$ 4.61
(Loss) gain from discontinued United Kingdom operations per share:
Basic	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.01
Diluted	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.01
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	26,302	29,393	30,590
Diluted	26,601	29,985	31,669