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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Uln83j2BHbnIKcnbwpT8PSwd6m1X8ts3a2884/VCmVHbl4wt8/4vdEuMeu1XuI8O
 PccEYCnVlqVEnBK0Wh3CFw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001254438-03-000003.txt : 20030717
<SEC-HEADER>0001254438-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030717
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030717113703
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001254438-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030715
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030717

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANKHEAD DAVID
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001254438

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25346
		FILM NUMBER:		03790609

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		224 S 108TH AVE
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68154

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000935036
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				470772104
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		224 SOUTH 108TH AVE
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68154
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4023907600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		224 SOUTH 108TH
		CITY:			OMAHA
		STATE:			NE
		ZIP:			68154
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000935036</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSAI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254438</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BANKHEAD DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>S.V.P., CFO &amp; TREASURER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>10.24</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-15</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>150000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-07-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-07-15</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>150000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>150000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning on July 15, 2004</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: ERIC NIPP, ATTORNEY IN FACT  For: DAVID R BANKHEAD</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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