Heartland Payment Systems (HPY) Inactive 10-K28 Feb 142013 FY Annual reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Billions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 24, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Entity Information [Line Items]	'	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'HEARTLAND PAYMENT SYSTEMS INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001144354	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	36,701,106	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$1.30

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$71,932	$48,440	'
Funds held for customers	127,375	131,405	'
Receivables, net	200,040	180,448	'
Investments	4,101	1,199	'
Inventory	11,087	9,694	'
Prepaid expenses	15,284	10,421	'
Current tax assets	10,426	0	'
Current deferred tax assets, net	9,548	10,475	'
Assets held for sale	0	17,044	'
Total current assets	449,793	409,126	'
Capitalized customer acquisition costs, net	61,027	56,425	55,014
Property and equipment, net	147,388	125,031	'
Goodwill	190,978	168,062	94,255
Intangible assets, net	49,857	53,594	'
Deposits and other assets, net	1,262	1,176	'
Total assets	900,305	813,414	596,921
Current liabilities:	'	'	'
Due to sponsor banks	19,109	37,586	'
Accounts payable	70,814	64,065	'
Customer fund deposits	127,375	131,405	'
Processing liabilities	130,871	95,273	'
Current portion of borrowings	0	102,001	'
Current portion of accrued buyout liability	13,943	10,478	'
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	49,861	47,817	'
Current tax liabilities	0	4,323	'
Liabilities related to assets held for sale	0	1,672	'
Total current liabilities	411,973	494,620	'
Deferred tax liabilities, net	40,600	29,632	'
Reserve for unrecognized tax benefits	5,633	3,069	1,819
Long-term portion of borrowings	150,000	50,000	'
Long-term portion of accrued buyout liability	25,436	24,932	'
Total liabilities	633,642	602,253	'
Commitments and contingencies	'	'	'
Equity	'	'	'
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 37,571,708 and 39,626,846 shares issued at December 31, 2012 and 2011; 36,855,908 and 38,847,957 outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011	37	38	'
Additional paid-in capital	245,055	222,705	'
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-88	-399	'
Retained earnings	35,960	7,629	'
Treasury stock, at cost (715,800 and 778,889 shares at December 31, 2012 and 2011)	-20,489	-20,187	'
Total stockholdersâ€™ equity	260,475	209,786	'
Noncontrolling interests	6,188	1,375	'
Total equity	266,663	211,161	220,052
Total liabilities and equity	$900,305	$813,414	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets Parentheticals (Unaudited) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity	'	'
Common stock, par value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	37,485,486	37,571,708
Common stock, shares outstanding	36,950,886	36,855,908
Treasury Stock, shares	534,600	715,800

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Total revenues	$2,135,372	$2,013,436	$1,985,577
Costs of services:	'	'	'
Interchange	1,335,487	1,284,038	1,359,448
Dues, assessments and fees	200,903	199,503	155,233
Processing and servicing	237,232	216,863	208,542
Customer acquisition costs	42,109	43,547	46,140
Depreciation and amortization	19,975	19,750	14,368
Total costs of services	1,835,706	1,763,701	1,783,731
General and administrative	173,568	139,934	125,765
Total expenses	2,009,274	1,903,635	1,909,496
Income from operations	126,098	109,801	76,081
Other income (expense):	'	'	'
Interest income	124	201	142
Interest expense	-5,429	-3,446	-4,122
Provision for processing system intrusion costs	-353	-563	-1,012
Other, net	112	-949	-1,550
Total other (expense) income	-5,546	-4,757	-6,542
Income before income taxes	120,552	105,044	69,539
Provision for income taxes	46,450	40,691	26,551
Net income from continuing operations	74,102	64,353	42,988
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax of $803, $575 and $160	3,970	2,185	1,359
Net income	78,072	66,538	44,347
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	'	'	'
Continuing operations	-610	0	0
Discontinued operations	56	649	408
Net income attributable to Heartland	78,626	65,889	43,939
Amounts Attributable to Heartland:	'	'	'
Net income from continuing operations, net of noncontrolling interests	74,712	64,353	42,988
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Heartland	3,914	1,536	951
Net income attributable to Heartland	$78,626	$65,889	$43,939
Basic earnings per share:	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$2.03	$1.67	$1.10
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0.11	$0.04	$0.03
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$2.14	$1.71	$1.13
Diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$1.96	$1.60	$1.07
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0.10	$0.04	$0.02
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$2.06	$1.64	$1.09
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:	'	'	'
Basic (in shares)	36,791	38,468	38,931
Diluted (in shares)	38,053	40,058	40,233

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc1

Consolidated Statements of Income (Parentheticals) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$46,450	$40,691	$26,551
Discontinued Operations [Member]	'	'	'
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$2,135	$803	$575

Consolidated_Statements_of_Equ

Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests
Stockholders' equity, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$177,594	$38	$185,689	$37	($8,471)	$0	$301
Common stock, shares outstanding, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2010	'	38,415,000	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - options exercised, shares	'	1,134,000	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - options exercised, amount	9,685	1	9,684	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - RSU's invested, shares	'	78,000	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - RSU's invested, amount	-732	'	-732	'	'	'	'
Excess tax benefit on stock options exercised	3,454	'	3,454	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, shares	'	-779,000	'	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, amount	-16,828	'	'	'	'	-16,828	'
Share-based compensation	9,548	'	9,548	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-784	'	'	-717	'	'	-67
Dividends on common stock	-6,232	'	'	'	-6,232	'	'
Net income	44,347	'	'	'	43,939	'	408
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	220,052	39	207,643	-680	29,236	-16,828	642
Common stock, shares outstanding, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	'	38,848,000	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - options exercised, shares	'	1,522,000	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - options exercised, amount	18,303	2	18,301	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - RSU's invested, shares	'	120,000	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - RSU's invested, amount	-1,641	'	-1,641	'	'	'	'
Excess tax benefit on stock options exercised	5,954	'	5,954	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, shares	'	-3,634,000	'	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, amount	-103,359	'	'	'	'	-103,359	'
Retirement of treasury stock, amount	0	-3	-21,739	'	-78,258	100,000	'
Share-based compensation	14,187	'	14,187	'	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income (loss)	365	'	'	281	'	'	84
Dividends on common stock	-9,238	'	'	'	-9,238	'	'
Net income	66,538	'	'	'	65,889	'	649
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	211,161	38	222,705	-399	7,629	-20,187	1,375
Common stock, shares outstanding, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	36,855,908	36,856,000	'	'	'	'	'
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - options exercised, shares	'	1,265,000	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - options exercised, amount	14,174	1	14,173	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - RSU's invested, shares	'	317,000	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of common stock - RSU's invested, amount	-6,233	'	-6,233	'	'	'	'
Excess tax benefit on stock options exercised	11,596	'	11,596	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, shares	'	-1,487,000	'	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, amount	-50,302	'	'	'	'	-50,302	'
Retirement of treasury stock, shares	'	0	'	'	'	'	'
Retirement of treasury stock, amount	0	-2	-10,024	'	-39,974	50,000	'
Share-based compensation	12,838	'	12,838	'	'	'	'
Changes in equity from sale of discontinued operation	-1,332	'	'	83	'	'	-1,415
Other comprehensive income (loss)	212	'	'	228	'	'	-16
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiary acquired	6,798	'	'	'	'	'	6,798
Dividends on common stock	-10,321	'	'	'	-10,321	'	'
Net income	78,072	'	'	'	78,626	'	-554
Stockholders' equity, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$266,663	$37	$245,055	($88)	$35,960	($20,489)	$6,188
Common stock, shares outstanding, ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	36,950,886	36,951,000	'	'	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Equ1

Consolidated Statements of Equity Consolidate Statements of Equity (Parentheticals) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 14, 2013

Sep. 14, 2013

Jun. 15, 2013

Mar. 15, 2013

Dec. 14, 2012

Sep. 14, 2012

Jun. 15, 2012

Mar. 15, 2012

Dec. 15, 2011

Sep. 15, 2011

Jun. 15, 2011

Mar. 15, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]

Common stock dividends (in dollars per share)

$0.07

$0.06

$0.04

$0.28

$0.24

$0.16

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'	'
Net income	$78,072	$66,538	$44,347
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Amortization of capitalized customer acquisition costs	45,648	45,125	47,188
Other depreciation and amortization	35,389	28,213	27,837
Addition to loss reserves	2,787	2,595	6,011
Provision for doubtful receivables	195	1,043	2,423
Deferred taxes	8,403	5,136	778
Share-based compensation	12,838	14,187	9,548
Gain on sale of business	-3,786	0	0
Other	1,034	1,066	2,044
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'	'
Increase in receivables	-19,693	-665	-1,409
Decrease (increase) in inventory	-1,343	1,460	-194
Payment of signing bonuses, net	-29,091	-29,320	-29,035
Increase in capitalized customer acquisition costs	-21,159	-17,216	-14,276
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses	-2,664	-612	-1,677
Decrease (increase) in current tax assets	-3,138	9,118	23,522
(Increase) decrease in deposits and other assets	-1,118	-451	-65
Excess tax benefits on employee share-based compensation	-11,596	-5,954	-3,454
Increase (decrease) in reserve for unrecognized tax benefits	2,564	1,251	510
Decrease in due to sponsor banks	-18,477	-26,295	-8,692
Increase in accounts payable	2,136	11,840	3,779
Decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities	-1,605	-964	-763
Increase (decrease) in processing liabilities	32,761	61,993	-4,104
Payouts of accrued buyout liability	-13,651	-11,886	-10,380
Increase in accrued buyout liability	17,620	15,638	13,228
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	112,126	171,840	107,166
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'	'
Purchase of investments held to maturity	-5,262	-6,556	-3,781
Maturities of investments held to maturity	2,000	4,714	2,934
Increase in funds held for customers	4,040	-88,839	-6,163
Increase in customer fund deposits	-4,030	88,893	5,988
Proceeds from sale of business	19,343	0	0
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	-15,182	-103,470	-23,165
Purchases of property and equipment	-52,924	-34,549	-36,543
Net cash used in investing activities	-52,015	-139,807	-60,730
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'	'
Proceeds from borrowings	156,416	133,000	0
Principal payments on borrowings	-161,001	-66,003	-38,287
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	14,174	18,303	9,685
Excess tax benefits on employee share-based compensation	11,596	5,954	3,454
Repurchases of common stock	-49,625	-103,774	-16,414
Dividends paid on common stock	-10,321	-9,238	-6,232
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-38,761	-21,758	-47,794
Net increase (decrease) in cash	21,350	10,275	-1,358
Effect of exchange rates on cash	1	5	-70
Cash at beginning of year	50,581	40,301	41,729
Cash at end of year	71,932	50,581	40,301
Cash paid (received) during the period for:	'	'	'
Interest	4,598	2,991	3,783
Income taxes	$38,827	$25,832	$2,349

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Net income	$78,072	$66,538	$44,347
Other comprehensive income (loss):	'	'	'
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of income tax of $8, $21 and $(4)	12	33	-5
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative financial instruments, net of tax of $153, $29 and ($341)	254	51	-556
Foreign currency translation adjustment	-54	281	-223
Comprehensive income	78,284	66,903	43,563
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-570	733	341
Comprehensive income attributable to Heartland	$78,854	$66,170	$43,222

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com1

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Parentheticals) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments, tax	$8	$21	($4)
Unrealized losses on derivative financial instruments, tax	$153	$29	($341)

Organization_and_Operations

Organization and Operations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Organization and Operations	'
	Organization and Operations

	Basis of Financial Statement Presentation— The accompanying consolidated financial statements include those of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Heartland Ovation Payroll, Inc. ("Ovation"), Educational Computer Systems, Inc. ("ECSI"), Debitek, Inc. (“Debitek”) and Heartland Acquisition LLC (“Network Services”), and as of September 11, 2013, Leaf Acquisition, LLC (which holds 66.67% of the outstanding capital stock of Leaf Holdings, Inc ("Leaf")), and until January 31, 2013, its previously 70% owned subsidiary Collective POS Solutions Ltd. (“CPOS”). The Company entered into an agreement during the fourth quarter of 2012 to sell CPOS. The transaction was settled on January 31, 2013 and the Company recorded a gain on the sale in the first quarter of 2013. The Company presents CPOS as a discontinued operation in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. See Note 20, Discontinued Operations for more detail. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. All intercompany balances and transactions with the Company's subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.

	Business Description—The Company’s primary business is to provide card payment processing services to merchants throughout the United States, and until January 31, 2013 in Canada (See Note 20, Discontinued Operations for more detail). This involves providing end-to-end electronic payment processing services to merchants by facilitating the exchange of information and funds between them and cardholders' financial institutions. To accomplish this, the Company undertakes merchant set-up and training, transaction authorization and electronic draft capture, clearing and settlement, merchant accounting, merchant assistance and support, and risk management. Card payment processing services also includes selling and renting point-of-sale devices. The Company also provides additional services, including those provided through subsidiaries, such as:

	•	School nutrition, point-of-sale solutions, and associated payment solutions, including online prepayment solutions to kindergarten through 12th grade ("K to 12") schools throughout the United States provided by Heartland School Solutions,

	•	Full-service payroll processing and related tax filing services throughout the United States provided by Heartland Ovation Payroll,

	•	Payment processing, higher education loan services and open- and closed-loop payment solutions to colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada provided by Campus Solutions,

	•	Prepaid Card including stored-value card solutions throughout the United States and Canada provided by Micropayments, and marketing solutions including loyalty and gift cards throughout the United States, provided through Heartland Marketing Solutions.

	Over 73% of the Company's revenue is derived from processing and settling Visa and MasterCard bankcard
	transactions for its merchant customers. Because the Company is not a ''member bank'' as defined by Visa and MasterCard, in
	order to process and settle these bankcard transactions for its merchants, the Company has entered into sponsorship agreements
	with member banks. Visa and MasterCard rules restrict the Company from performing funds settlement or accessing merchant
	settlement funds and require that these funds be in the possession of the member bank until the merchant is funded. A
	sponsorship agreement permits the Company to route Visa and MasterCard bankcard transactions under the member bank's
	control and identification numbers to clear credit and signature debit bankcard transactions through Visa and MasterCard. A sponsorship agreement also enables the Company to settle funds between cardholders and merchants by delivering funding files to the member bank, which in turn transfers settlement funds to the merchants' bank accounts. These restrictions place the settlement assets and obligations under the control of the member bank.

	The sponsorship agreements with the member banks require, among other things, that the Company abide by the bylaws and regulations of the Visa and MasterCard networks, and certain of the sponsor banks require a certificate of deposit or a cash balance in a deposit account. If the Company were to breach a sponsorship agreement and under certain circumstances,
	the sponsor banks may terminate the agreement and, under the terms of the agreement, the Company would have 180 days to identify an alternative sponsor bank. The Company is generally dependent on its sponsor banks, Visa and MasterCard for notification of any compliance breaches. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has not been notified of any such issues by its sponsor banks, Visa or MasterCard.

	At December 31, 2013, the Company is party to three bank sponsorship agreements.


	•	On February 8, 2012, the Company entered into a sponsorship agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.("WFB"). The WFB sponsorship agreement will be in effect until February 8, 2016 and will automatically renew for successive three year periods unless either party provides six months written notice of non-renewal to the other party. Processing for small and mid-sized merchants (referred to as "Small and Midsized Enterprises," or “SME merchants”) under the WFB sponsorship commenced in August 2012, when that activity was transferred from its previous sponsor, KeyBank, National Association.


	•	In November 2009, the Company entered into a sponsorship agreement with The Bancorp Bank ("TBB") to sponsor processing for the Company's Network Services merchants. The agreement with TBB expires in February 2015 and will automatically renew for successive one-year periods unless either party provides six months written notice of non-renewal to the other party.
	On October 1, 2013, the Company transfered sponsorship and processing for a portfolio SME merchants from Heartland Bank to TBB. The Company was party to a prior sponsorship agreement with Heartland Bank, an unrelated third party, to sponsor SME merchant processing. In March 2013, the Company notified Heartland Bank of its intention to terminate the sponsorship agreement and made arrangements for continuing sponsorship with TBB under the terms of the November 2009 sponsorship agreement.

	•	On March 24, 2011, the Company entered into a sponsorship agreement with Barclays Bank Delaware to sponsor processing for certain of the Company's large national merchants. The agreement with Barclays Bank Delaware expires in March 2016 and will automatically renew for successive one-year periods unless either party provides six months written notice of non-renewal to the other party.


	Following is a breakout of the Company’s total Visa and MasterCard settled card processing volume for the month ending December 31, 2013 by percentage processed under its individual bank sponsorship agreements:
			% of December 2013
		Sponsor Bank	Card Processing
			Volume
		Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.	67%
		The Bancorp Bank	22%
		Barclays Bank Delaware	11%


	The Company also provides card transaction processing for DFS Services, LLC ("Discover") and is designated as an acquirer by Discover. The agreement with Discover allows the Company to acquire, process and fund transactions directly through Discover's network without the need of a bank sponsor. The Company processes Discover transactions similarly to how it processes Visa and MasterCard transactions. The Company must comply with Discover acquirer operating regulations and uses its sponsor banks to assist in funding its merchants' Discover transactions.

	Under a sales and servicing program agreement with American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. ("American Express") the Company: (a) provides solicitation services by signing new-to-American Express merchants directly with American Express; (b) provides transactional support services on behalf of American Express to the Company's American Express accepting merchants; and (c) provides processing, settlement, customer support and reporting to merchants, similar to the services provided for the merchants' Visa, MasterCard and Discover transactions.

	Working Capital— The Company's working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, was positive by $37.8 million at December 31, 2013 and negative by $85.5 million at December 31, 2012. The change in working capital from negative to positive from 2012 to 2013 resulted primarily from refinancing the Company’s Prior Credit Agreement and classifying borrowings of $150.0 million under the new Revolving Credit Facility as a long-term liability at December 31, 2013. The revolving borrowings under the Prior Credit Facility at December 31, 2012 were classified as a current liability because management's intent was to repay the revolving borrowings within twelve months. The refinancing occurred on October 23, 2013. During 2012, the working capital was negative primarily due to classifying $102.0 million of the Company's borrowings under the Prior Credit Facility as current liabilities and using $103.4 million of operating cash to repurchase 3,634,044 shares of the Company's common stock during 2012. See Note 10, Credit Facilities for information on the Company's Revolving Credit Facility and Note 12, Stockholders' Equity for information on common stock repurchases. The Company believes that its current cash and investment balances, cash generated from operations and its agreements with its sponsor banks to fund SME merchant advances will provide sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated needs for operating capital for at least the next twelve months.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

	Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates include, among other things, the accrued buyout liability, capitalized customer acquisition costs, goodwill, loss reserves, certain accounts payable and accrued expenses and certain tax assets and liabilities as well as the related valuation allowances, if any. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

	Cash and Cash Equivalents— At December 31, 2013, cash included approximately $32.1 million of processing-related cash in transit and collateral, compared to approximately $31.6 million of processing-related cash in transit and collateral at December 31, 2012. Processing-related cash in transit and collateral includes funds in transit associated with timing differences arising between the amounts our sponsor banks receive from the bankcard networks and the amounts funded by the Company’s merchants. Processing related cash in transit and collateral also includes merchant deposits, collateral deposits, and funds in transit relating to timing differences for non-card payment processing businesses.

	Receivables—The Company's primary receivables are from its bankcard processing merchants. In addition to receivables for transaction fees the Company charges its merchants for processing transactions, these receivables include amounts resulting from the Company's practice of advancing interchange fees to most of its SME merchants during the month and collecting those fees at the beginning of the following month. The Company does not advance interchange fees to its Network Services merchants. Network Services merchants are invoiced monthly, on payment terms of 30 days net from date of invoicing. Receivables from merchants also include receivables from the sale of point-of-sale terminal equipment.

	Historically, the Company funded interchange advances to its SME merchants first with its available cash, and when that cash had been expended, by directing its sponsor banks to fund advances thereby incurring a payable to sponsor banks. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company accelerated the end-of-day presentment of transaction funding files to the bankcard networks resulting in its sponsor banks receiving settlement cash one day earlier and increasing funding obligations to its SME merchants, which are carried in processing liabilities. As a result of accelerated presentment, the Company funds these merchant interchange advances/receivables first from the accelerated settlement cash received from bankcard networks, then from the Company's available cash or by incurring a payable to its sponsor banks. At December 31, 2013, the Company did not use any of its available cash to fund merchant advances. At December 31, 2012, the Company used $3.8 million of its available cash to fund merchant advances. The amount due to sponsor banks for funding advances was $17.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $36.3 million at December 31, 2012. The Company pays its sponsor banks the prime rate on these payables. The payable to sponsor banks is repaid at the beginning of the following month out of the fees the Company collects from its merchants.

	Receivables also include amounts resulting from the pre-funding of Discover and American Express transactions to the Company's merchants as well as amounts due from PIN debit transactions. These amounts are recovered the next business day following the date of processing the transaction.

	Receivables also include amounts resulting from the sale, installation, training and repair of payment system hardware and software for Campus Solutions, Heartland School Solutions and Prepaid Card systems. These receivables are mostly invoiced on terms of 30 days net from date of invoicing.

	Receivables are stated net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company estimates its allowance based on experience with its merchants, customers, and sales force and its judgment as to the likelihood of their ultimate payment. The Company also considers collection experience and makes estimates regarding collectability based on trends in the aging. Historically, the Company has not experienced significant charge offs for its merchant and customer receivables.

	Investments and Funds Held for Customers—Investments, including those carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Funds held for customers, consist primarily of equity investments, fixed income bond funds and certificates of deposit. Funds held for customers also include overnight bank deposits. The majority of investments carried in Funds held for customers are available-for-sale and recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices. Certificates of deposit are classified as held to maturity and recorded at cost. In the event of a sale, cost is determined on a specific identification basis. At December 31, 2013, Funds held for customers included cash and cash equivalents of $114.1 million and investments available for sale of $13.2 million.

	The asset funds held for customers and the liability customer fund deposits include: (i) amounts collected from customers prior to funding their payroll liabilities, as well as related tax and fiduciary liabilities for those customers, and (ii) amounts collected by Campus Solutions in its capacity as loan servicer, which will be remitted to the customer/owner of the student loans the following month.

	Inventories—Inventories consist of point-of-sale terminal equipment held for sale to merchants, prepaid card and cashless payment systems hardware for sale to end users, resellers and distributors, and campus payments solutions equipment for sale to end users. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market price. Cost is arrived at using the first-in, first-out method. Market price is estimated based on current sales of equipment.

	Inventories also include purchased data encryption software licenses held for sale to merchants who acquire the Company's End-to-End Encryption Solution (“E3”) for processing bankcard transactions, or purchase the upgraded terminal and point-of-sale devices incorporating E3.

	Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, net—Capitalized customer acquisition costs consist of (1) up-front signing bonus payments made to Relationship Managers and sales managers (the Company's sales force, which are referred to as "salespersons") for the establishment of new merchant relationships, and (2) a deferred acquisition cost representing the estimated cost of buying out the residual commissions of vested salespersons. Capitalized customer acquisition costs represent incremental, direct customer acquisition costs that are recoverable through gross margins associated with merchant contracts. The capitalized customer acquisition costs are amortized using a method which approximates a proportional revenue approach over the initial three-year term of the merchant contract.

	The up-front signing bonus paid for new SME bankcard, payroll and loyalty marketing accounts is based on the estimated gross margin for the first year of the merchant contract. The signing bonus, amount capitalized, and related amortization are adjusted after the first year to reflect the actual gross margin generated by the merchant contract during that year. The deferred customer acquisition cost asset is accrued over the first year of SME bankcard, payroll and loyalty marketing merchant processing, consistent with the build-up in the accrued buyout liability, as described below.

	Management evaluates the capitalized customer acquisition costs for impairment on an annual basis by comparing, on a pooled basis by vintage month of origination, the expected future net cash flows from underlying merchant relationships to the carrying amount of the capitalized customer acquisition costs. If the estimated future net cash flows are lower than the recorded carrying amount, indicating an impairment of the value of the capitalized customer acquisition costs, the impairment loss will be charged to operations.

	The Company believed that no impairment of capitalized customer acquisition costs had occurred as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

	Property and Equipment—Property and equipment are carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation for the Company's owned service center building in Jeffersonville, Indiana is computed straight-line over 39 years with depreciation on certain building improvements computed over 15 years. Depreciation is computed straight-line over periods ranging from 3 to 10 years for furniture and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the economic useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease.

	Equipment held under capitalized lease arrangements is included in property and equipment, and the associated liabilities are included in current and long-term borrowings as appropriate. Amortization of equipment under capitalized leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense.

	Fully depreciated property and equipment are retained in property and equipment and accumulated depreciation accounts until their disposal or removal from service. When fully depreciated property and equipment is taken out of service, the original cost basis and matching accumulated depreciation amounts are written off.

	Rent expense on operating leases is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease agreement. Tenant improvement allowances are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease agreement as a reduction to rent expense.

	The Company capitalizes software development costs and amortizes such costs on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of 3 to 7 years. Preliminary project costs incurred prior to establishing technological feasibility are charged to operations as such costs are incurred. Once technological feasibility is established, costs are capitalized until the software is placed in service.

	Long-Lived Assets—The Company evaluates the potential for impairment when changes in circumstances indicate that undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by the related assets are less than the carrying amount. Management believed that no such changes in circumstances or impairment have occurred as of December 31, 2013 or 2012.

	Goodwill— Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair values of net assets acquired in business combinations. The Company has recorded goodwill in connection with it acquisitions, including the 2011, 2012 and 2013 acquisitions of Comalex, mySchoolBucks, School-Link, Lunch Byte, Educational Computer Systems, Ovation Payroll and Leaf. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually and between annual tests if an event occurs or changes in circumstances suggest a potential decline in the fair value of the reporting unit. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator or change in circumstances relating to impairment has occurred. Such changes may include, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; a sustained decline in market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment testing in the fourth quarter. The Company's evaluation indicated that no impairment exists and the fair value of each reporting unit subject to the impairment evaluation exceeded the carrying value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, goodwill of $191.0 million and $168.1 million, respectively, was recorded on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities— Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated
	Balance Sheets includes deferred revenue of $18.2 million and $13.0 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which is primarily related to the Company's Heartland School Solutions, Campus Solutions, and Payroll businesses.

	Also included in accrued expenses and other liabilities at December 31, 2013 and 2012 is $3.4 million and $7.3 million, respectively, relating to the allocation of purchase price to an unfavorable processing contract associated with our September 30, 2011 acquisition of School-Link Technologies, Inc. During 2013, we recorded an adjustment to the carrying value of this unfavorable processing contract of $1.6 million to adjust the liability to reflect the latest estimate of the expected cash processing costs to be paid over the remainder of the contract. During the years ended 2013 and 2012, we amortized $2.4 million and $3.0 million of this accrued liability against the cash processing costs paid under that contract. This amortization was included in Cost of services in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

	Processing Liabilities—Processing liabilities result primarily from the Company's card processing activities.

	Processing liabilities primarily reflect funds in transit associated with differences arising between the amounts our sponsor banks receive from the bankcard networks and the amounts funded to the Company's merchants. Such differences arise from timing differences, interchange expense, merchant advances, merchant reserves and chargeback processing. These differences result in payables or receivables. If the settlement received from the bankcard networks precedes the funding obligation to the merchant, the Company records a processing liability. Conversely, if funding to the merchant precedes the settlement from the bankcard networks, the Company records a receivable from the bankcard network. In addition, certain bankcard networks restrict the Company from accessing merchant settlement funds and require that these funds be controlled by the Company's sponsor banks. The amounts are generally collected or paid the following business day.

	Chargebacks periodically arise due to disputes between a cardholder and a merchant resulting from the cardholder's dissatisfaction with merchandise quality or the merchant's service, and the disputes may not always be resolved in the merchant's favor. In some of these cases, the transaction is ''charged back'' to the merchant and the purchase price is refunded to the cardholder by the credit card-issuing institution. If the merchant is unable to fund the refund, the Company is liable for the full amount of the transaction. The Company's obligation to stand ready to perform is minimal. The Company maintains a deposit or the pledge of a letter of credit from certain merchants as an offset to potential contingent liabilities that are the responsibility of such merchants. The Company evaluates its ultimate risk and records an estimate of potential loss for chargebacks based upon an assessment of actual historical loss rates compared to recent bankcard processing volume levels. The Company believes that the liability recorded as loss reserves approximates fair value.

	Accrued Buyout Liability—The Company's Relationship Managers and sales managers are paid residual commissions based on the gross margin generated by monthly SME merchant processing activity. The Company has the right, but not the obligation, to buy out some or all of these commissions, and intends to do so periodically. Such purchases of the commissions are at a fixed multiple of the last twelve months' commissions. Because of the Company's intent and ability to execute purchases of the residual commissions, and the mutual understanding between the Company and the Relationship Managers and sales managers, the Company has accounted for this deferred compensation arrangement pursuant to the substantive nature of the plan. The Company therefore records the amount that it would have to pay (the ''settlement cost'') to buy out non-servicing related commissions in their entirety from vested Relationship Managers and sales managers, and an accrual, based on their progress towards vesting, for those unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers who are expected to vest in the future. As noted above, as the liability increases over the first year of a SME merchant contract, the Company also records a related deferred acquisition cost asset for currently vested Relationship Managers and sales managers. The accrued buyout liability associated with unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers is not included in the deferred acquisition cost asset since future services are required in order to vest. Subsequent changes in the estimated accrued buyout liability due to merchant attrition, same-store sales growth and changes in gross margin are included in the same income statement caption as customer acquisition costs expense.

	Beginning in June 2012, Relationship Managers and sales managers earn portfolio equity on their newly installed payroll and loyalty marketing merchant accounts based on the residual commissions they earn on those accounts. The accrued buyout liability and deferred acquisition cost asset are accrued in the same manner as the SME bankcard merchant portfolio equity.

	The accrued buyout liability is based on merchants under contract at the balance sheet date, the gross margin generated by those merchants over the prior twelve months, and the contractual buyout multiple. The liability related to a new merchant is therefore zero when the merchant is installed, and increases over the twelve months following the installation date. The same procedure is applied to unvested commissions over the expected vesting period, but is further adjusted to reflect the Company's estimate that 31% of unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers become vested, which represents the Company's historical vesting rate.

The classification of the accrued buyout liability between current and non-current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is based upon the Company's estimate of the amount of the accrued buyout liability that it reasonably expects to pay over the next twelve months. This estimate is developed by calculating the cumulative annual average percentage that total historical buyout payments represent of the accrued buyout liability. That percentage is applied to the period-end accrued buyout liability to determine the current portion.

Revenue—The Company classifies its revenues into five categories: Card Payment Processing, Heartland School Solutions, Heartland Ovation Payroll, Campus Solutions and Prepaid Card/Other. The Company recognizes revenue when (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been performed; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.

Card Payment Processing revenue primarily consists of discount, per-transaction and periodic (primarily monthly) fees from the processing of Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover transactions for SME merchants and per-transaction fees for the authorization and settlement of transactions for Network Services merchants. Also included in this category are American Express and Discover servicing fees, merchant service fees, fees for processing chargebacks, termination fees on terminated contracts and fees from selling, renting and deploying point-of-sale devices. Interchange fees, which are the Company’s most significant expense, are set by the card networks and paid to the card issuing banks. For the majority of SME card processing revenue, the Company does not offset processing revenues and interchange fees because its business practice is to advance the interchange fees to most SME merchants when settling their daily transactions (thus paying the full amount of the transaction to the merchant), and then to collect the full discount fees from merchants on the first business day of the next month. The Company has merchant portability, credit risk, and the ultimate responsibility to the merchant and, as such, revenue is reported at the time of settlement on a gross basis. Payment processing services are transaction based and priced either as a fixed fee per transaction or calculated as a percentage of the transaction value. The fees are charged for the processing services provided and do not include the gross sales price paid by the ultimate buyer to the merchant. For SME merchants to whom the Company does not advance interchange, it records card processing revenues net of interchange fees. As Network Services does not advance interchange fees to its merchants, the Company records its card processing revenues net of interchange fees.
The Company evaluates its contractual arrangements for indications that multiple element arrangements may exist. For contracts with multiple deliverables, the Company records revenue based on vendor specific objective evidence of selling price where applicable, or based on the best estimate of the selling price.

Heartland School Solutions revenues include fees from sales and maintenance of cafeteria point-of-sale solutions and associated payment solutions, including online prepayment solutions, back office management and hardware and technical support. Revenues are recorded at the time of shipment, over the maintenance period, or at the provision of services.
Heartland Ovation Payroll revenue includes fees charged for payroll processing services, including check printing, direct deposit, related federal, state and local tax deposits and providing accounting documentation and interest income earned on funds held for customers. Revenues are recorded at the time service is provided.
Campus Solutions revenue includes fees associated with providing solutions to support administrative services for higher education, including student loan payment processing, delinquency and default services, refund management, tuition payment plans, electronic billing and payment, tax document services, and business outsourcing. Campus Solutions revenue also includes fees from the sale and maintenance of open- and closed-loop payment hardware and software solutions for college or university campuses to process small value electronic transactions. Revenues are recorded at the time of shipment, over the maintenance period, or at the provision of services.
Prepaid Card and Other revenues include Micropayments fees from selling hardware and software for unattended online wireless credit card based payment systems, and unattended value top up systems for off-line closed-loop smart (chip) card based payment systems. Also included in this category are Heartland Marketing Solutions fees from selling mobile and card-based marketing services, gift cards and rewards services. Revenues are recorded at the time of shipment, over the maintenance period, or at the provision of services.

Loss Contingencies and Legal Expenses—The Company records a liability for loss contingencies when the liability is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. Legal fees associated with loss contingencies are recorded when the legal fees are incurred. The Company records recoveries from its insurance providers when cash is received from the provider.

Other Income (Expense)—Other income (expense) consists of interest income on cash and investments, the interest expense on our borrowings, the gains or losses on the disposal of property and equipment and other non-operating income or expense items.

In 2013, other income (expense) includes:

•	Pre-tax income of $0.2 million relating to the sale of a group of merchant contracts within our Prepaid Card business.

•	Pre-tax charges of $0.4 million related to the Provision for Processing System Intrusion costs. See Note 17, Commitments and Contingencies for information on the Processing System Intrusion.

In 2012, other income (expense) includes:

•	Pre-tax charges of $0.9 million primarily due to write downs of capitalized information technology development projects.

•	Pre-tax charges of $0.6 million related to the Provision for Processing System Intrusion costs.

In 2011, other income (expense) includes:
Ÿ Pre-tax charges of $0.8 million reflecting the costs (primarily staff termination costs and fixed asset write downs) associated with closing of the Company's Johnson City, Tennessee service center.
Ÿ A pre-tax charge of $1.1 million reflecting costs associated with the decision to discontinue Express Funds, the Company's remote deposit capture product, including writedowns of receivables, inventory, customer acquisition costs and fixed assets.
Ÿ A pre-tax charge of $1.0 million for legal fees and costs incurred for defending various claims and actions associated with the Processing System Intrusion.

•	Pre-tax income of $0.3 million related to an earnout payment relating to the 2010 sale of SME merchant bankcard processing contracts.

Income Taxes—The Company accounts for income taxes by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. The impact on deferred assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that the rate change is enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded when it is determined that it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to sell CPOS. Because the Company would no longer be indefinitely reinvesting undistributed earnings of CPOS, the Company recognized income tax expense net of foreign tax credits, of $0.4 million in 2012 on the Company's 70% portion of the CPOS cumulative undistributed earnings at December 31, 2012. See Note 13, Income Taxes and Note 20, Discontinued Operation, for more detail.

Share–Based Compensation—The Company expenses employee share-based payments under the fair value method. Share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period.

Excess tax benefits are generated when employees exercise non-qualified stock options, make disqualifying dispositions of shares acquired through their exercise of incentive stock options and vest in restricted share units.
These excess tax benefits are reported as a financing cash inflow rather than a reduction of taxes paid, which is included within operating cash flows. Accordingly, cash provided by operating activities decreased and cash provided by financing activities increased by $11.6 million in 2013, $6.0 million in 2012 and $3.5 million in 2011 related to excess tax benefits from stock-based awards.

Earnings per Share—Basic earnings per share was computed by dividing net income by weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share was computed based on the weighted average outstanding common shares plus equivalent shares assuming exercise of stock options and vesting of Restricted Share Units, where dilutive.

Derivative Financial Instruments—The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk on certain borrowings under its Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 10 herein). The Company recognizes the fair value of derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in investments, or accrued expenses and other liabilities. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments are recognized immediately in earnings unless the derivative is designated and qualifies as a hedge of future cash flows. For derivatives that qualify as hedges of future cash flows, the effective portion of changes in fair value is recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified into interest expense in the same periods during which the hedged item affects earnings. Any ineffectiveness of cash flow hedges would be recognized in other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statements of Income during the period of change.

In January 2011, the Company entered into fixed-pay amortizing interest rate swaps having an initial notional amount of $50 million as a hedge of future cash flows on the variable rate debt outstanding under its credit facilities. These interest rate swaps convert the related notional amount of variable rate debt to fixed rate. The following table summarizes the components of the interest rate swaps.


		December 31, 2013			31-Dec-12
		(In thousands)
Notional value		$	25,000		$	35,000

Fair value (a)		(411		)	(817		)
Deferred tax benefit		153			313

(a) Recorded as a liability in accrued expenses and other liabilities

Foreign Currency—The Canadian dollar was the functional currency of CPOS, which operated in Canada. CPOS' revenues and expenses were translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The foreign currency assets and liabilities of CPOS were translated at the period-end rate of exchange. The resulting translation adjustment was allocated between the Company and CPOS' noncontrolling interests and is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. At December 31, 2012, the cumulative foreign currency translation reflected a loss of $45,000. CPOS was sold in a transaction which settled on January 31, 2013. See Note 20, Discontinued Operations for more detail.

Noncontrolling Interests— Noncontrolling interests represent noncontrolling stockholders' share of the equity and after-tax net income or loss of Leaf as of December 31, 2013 and CPOS as of December 31, 2012.

Noncontrolling stockholders' share of after-tax net income or loss of Leaf is included in Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2013, continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2013. The minority stockholders' interests included in noncontrolling interests in the December 31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheet is $6.2 million and reflects the original investments by these minority shareholders in Leaf, along with their proportionate share of earnings or losses of Leaf. Noncontrolling stockholders' share of after-tax net income or loss of CPOS is included in Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2012, discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2012. The minority stockholders' interests included in noncontrolling interests in the December 31, 2012 Consolidated Balance Sheet was $1.4 million and reflected the original investments by these minority shareholders in CPOS, along with their proportionate share of earnings or losses of CPOS. CPOS was sold in a transaction which settled on January 31, 2013. See Note 20, Discontinued Operations for more detail.

Subsequent Events—The Company evaluated subsequent events through the issuance date with respect to the Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013.

New Accounting Pronouncements—From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or other standards setting bodies that are adopted by us as of the specified effective date.

In July 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which provides guidance on the risks that are permitted to be hedged in a fair value or cash flow hedge. Among those risks for financial assets and financial liabilities is the risk of changes in a hedged item's fair value or a hedged transaction's cash flows attributable to changes in the designated benchmark interest rate (referred to as interest rate risk). This update is effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. The implementation of this update did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In July 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which provides explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The amendments in this update are expected to reduce diversity in practice by providing guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits and will reflect the manner in which an entity would settle at the reporting date any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carryfowards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exist. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, with early adoption permitted. The amendments would be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted. The implementation of this update is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Combinations [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions	'
	Acquisitions

	The Company initiated its Heartland School Solutions business through its acquisitions of the school solutions businesses operated by Lunchbox, Comalex, mySchoolBucks, School-Link Technologies and Lunch Byte Systems which currently serves approximately 4,400, 3,700, 900, 10,000 and 10,000 schools, respectively. The combined Heartland School Solutions develops, manufactures, sells, services and maintains computer software designed to facilitate accounting and management functions of school food service operations. These acquisitions provide the Company with the ability to offer Internet payment capability to parents, which facilitates on-line deposits of funds into student accounts. The Company has consolidated the individual platforms and products. Pro forma results of operations have not been presented because the effect of these acquisitions were not material in the years acquired. The entire amount of goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax reporting. Details of the individual acquisition transactions follow:

	Lunchbox
	On December 30, 2010, the Company purchased for a $7.7 million cash payment the net assets of the K to 12 School Solutions business previously operated by Lunchbox. The acquisition was financed through a combination of cash on hand and our credit facilities. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Beginning December 30, 2010, Lunchbox's results of operations are included in the Company's results of operations. The allocation of the total purchase price was as follows: $6.0 million to goodwill, $1.9 million to intangible assets and $0.2 million to net tangible liabilities.

	Comalex, Inc.
	On January 12, 2011, the Company purchased for a $6.1 million cash payment the net assets of Comalex, Inc. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Beginning January 12, 2011, Comalex's results of operations are included in the Company's results of operations. The allocation of the total purchase price was as follows: $4.9 million to goodwill, $1.8 million to intangible assets and $0.6 million to net tangible liabilities.

	mySchoolBucks LLC
	On February 4, 2011, the Company purchased for a $1.5 million cash payment the net assets of mySchoolBucks, LLC. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Beginning February 4, 2011, mySchoolBucks' results of operations are included in the Company's results of operations. The allocation of the total purchase price was as follows: $1.0 million to goodwill and $0.5 million to intangible assets.

	School-Link Technologies, Inc.
	On September 30, 2011, the Company purchased for a $15.6 million cash payment the net assets of School-Link Technologies, Inc. The acquisition was funded with cash on hand. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Beginning October 1, 2011, School-Link's results of operations are included in the Company's results of operations. The allocation of the total purchase price was as follows: $25.2 million to goodwill, $4.3 million to intangible assets, $2.8 million to net tangible liabilities, and $11.1 million to the liability for an unfavorable processing contract. The fair values of School-Link's assets acquired and liabilities assumed were estimated as of their acquisition date.

	Lunch Byte Systems, Inc.
	On June 29, 2012, the Company purchased for a $26.0 million cash payment the net assets of Lunch Byte Systems, Inc. (a.k.a. "Nutrikids"). The $26.0 million cash payment made on June 29, 2012 was funded through the Company's credit facilities and subsequently repaid with cash on hand in July 2012. Beginning July 1, 2012, Lunch Byte's results of operations are included in the Company's results of operations. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. The allocation of the total purchase price was as follows: $16.1 million to goodwill, $7.0 million to intangible assets and $2.9 million to net tangible assets.

	Other acquisition transactions in 2012 included:

	Educational Computer Systems, Inc.
	On December 14, 2012, the Company purchased for a $37.6 million cash payment, the stock of Education Computer Systems, Inc. ("ECSI") and net assets of related entities. The cash purchase price was financed under the Company's Credit Facility. The acquisition expanded the Company's Campus Solutions division. ECSI supports the entire life cycle of higher education and post-graduation school/student services, including student loan payment processing, default solutions, refund services, tuition payment plans, electronic billing and payment, tax document services, and business outsourcing to more than 1,800 colleges and universities nationwide. With this acquisition, the Company's Campus Solutions business gained ECSI’s client portfolio, increasing the number of higher education clients to more than 2,000 colleges and universities throughout North America.

	The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Beginning December 15, 2012, ECSI results of operations were included in the Company's results of operations. The allocation of the total purchase price was as follows: $32.5 million to goodwill, $10.5 million to intangible assets and $5.4 million to net tangible liabilities. Pro forma results of operations have not been presented because the effect of this acquisition was not material. Only a portion of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax reporting.
	Ovation Payroll, Inc.
	On December 31, 2012, the Company purchased for a $44.2 million cash payment, the stock of Ovation Payroll, Inc. ("Ovation"). The cash purchase price was financed under the Company's Credit Facility. The acquisition expands the Company's existing payroll processing business. Ovation serves over 10,000 clients in 48 states providing payroll processing, payroll tax preparation, Internet payroll reporting, and direct deposit.

	The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Beginning January 1, 2013, Ovation's results of operations were included in the Company's results of operations. The allocation of the total purchase price was as follows: $31.0 million to goodwill, $6.6 million to intangible assets and $6.6 million to net tangible assets. Pro forma results of operations have not been presented because the effect of this acquisition was not material. Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax reporting.

	Leaf Holdings, Inc.
	On September 11, 2013, the Company purchased 66.67% of the outstanding capital stock of Leaf for a $14.5 million cash payment. The cash purchase price was financed from operating cash flows.

	The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Beginning on September 11, 2013, Leaf's results of operations are included in the Company's results of operations. The allocation of the total purchase price was as follows: $20.6 million to goodwill, $6.9 million to intangible assets, $6.2 million to net tangible liabilities and $6.8 million to noncontrolling interest. Pro forma results of operations have not been presented because the effect of this acquisition was not material. Goodwill is not expected to be deductible for income tax reporting.


	The weighted average amortization life for the 2013 acquired finite lived intangible assets related to acquisition of Leaf is as follows:
		Weighted-average amortization life
			(In years)
		Software	7
		Patents	5
		Overall	6.9

Receivables

Receivables	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Receivables	'
	Receivables


	A summary of receivables by major class was as follows at December 31, 2013 and 2012:
			December 31,
			2013				2012
			(In thousands)
		Accounts receivable from merchants	$	172,147			$	160,702

		Accounts receivable from bankcard networks	26,842				19,588

		Accounts receivable from others	2,083				1,596

			201,072				181,886

		Less allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,032		)		(1,438		)
		Total receivables, net	$	200,040			$	180,448


	Included in accounts receivable from others are amounts due from employees (predominately salespersons), which are $1.1 million and $0.4 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Accounts receivable related to bankcard networks are primarily amounts which were pre-funded to merchants for processing Discover and American Express bankcard transactions as well as amounts due from Visa for PIN debit transactions.


	A summary of the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012
	and 2011 was as follows:			Year Ended December 31,
				2013				2012			2011
				(In thousands)
		Beginning balance		$	1,438			$	1,407		$	661

		Additions to allowance		180				818			2,234

		Charges against allowance		(586		)		(787		)	(1,488		)
		Ending balance		$	1,032			$	1,438		$	1,407

Funds_Held_for_Customers_and_I

Funds Held for Customers and Investments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Funds Held for Payroll Customers and Investments [Abstract]	'
Funds Held for Customers and Investments	'
	Funds Held for Customers and Investments

	A summary of Funds held for customers and investments, including the cost, gross unrealized gains (losses) and estimated fair value for investments held to maturity and investments available-for-sale by major security type and class of security was as follows at December 31, 2013 and 2012:


		Cost		Gross		Gross		Estimated
				Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
		(In thousands)
	December 31, 2013
	Funds Held for Customers:
	Conservative income bond fund - available for sale	$	12,000	$	10	$	—	$	12,010

	Fixed income bond fund - available for sale	968		254		—		1,222

	Cash held for payroll customers	88,376		—		—		88,376

	Cash held for Campus Solutions customers	25,767		—		—		25,767

	Total Funds held for customers	$	127,111	$	264	$	—	$	127,375


	Investments:
	Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit (a)	$	33	$	—	$	—	$	33

	Total investments	$	33	$	—	$	—	$	33



		Cost		Gross		Gross		Estimated
				Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
		(In thousands)
	December 31, 2012
	Funds Held for Customers:
	Fixed income bond fund - available for sale	$	968	$	244	$	—	$	1,212

	Cash held for payroll customers	110,334		—		—		110,334

	Cash held for Campus Solutions customers	19,859		—		—		19,859

	Total Funds held for customers	$	131,161	$	244	$	—	$	131,405


	Investments:
	Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit	$	1,199	$	—	$	—	$	1,199

	Total investments	$	1,199	$	—	$	—	$	1,199

	(a) Certificates of deposit have remaining term of 8 months.

	Also included in Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet are other investments, at cost. As of December 31, 2013, other investments, at cost, includes a $4.0 million investment in the equity of ATX Innovation, Inc. ("Tabbedout").

	During the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company did not experience any other-than-temporary losses on its investments.

	All available-for-sale debt securities and held to maturity investments, having aggregate amortized cost of $5.1 million and estimated fair value of $5.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2013, are due in one year or less.

Capitalized_Customer_Acquisiti

Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net [Abstract]	'
Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net	'
	Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net


	A summary of net capitalized customer acquisition costs as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was as follows:
			December 31,
			2013			2012
			(In thousands)
		Capitalized signing bonuses	$	86,886		$	84,728

		Less accumulated amortization	(43,775		)	(42,941		)
			43,111			41,787

		Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	45,241			37,736

		Less accumulated amortization	(27,325		)	(23,098		)
			17,916			14,638

		Capitalized customer acquisition costs, net	$	61,027		$	56,425



	A summary of the activity in capitalized customer acquisition costs, net for the three years ended December 31, 2013,
	2012 and 2011 was as follows:		Year Ended December 31,
			2013			2012			2011
			(In thousands)
		Balance at beginning of period	$	56,425		$	55,014		$	59,251

		Plus additions to:
		Capitalized signing bonuses, net	29,091			29,320			29,035

		Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	21,159			17,216			14,276

			50,250			46,536			43,311

		Less amortization expense on:
		Capitalized signing bonuses, net (a)	(27,767		)	(29,244		)	(32,088		)
		Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	(17,881		)	(15,881		)	(15,460		)
			(45,648		)	(45,125		)	(47,548		)
		Balance at end of period	$	61,027		$	56,425		$	55,014



	Net signing bonus adjustments from estimated amounts to actual were $(3.7) million, $(3.1) million, and $(1.5) million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, representing reductions of amounts paid. Net signing bonus adjustments are netted against additions in the table above. Negative signing bonus adjustments occur when the actual gross margin generated by the merchant contract during the first year is less than the estimated gross margin for that year, resulting in the overpayment of the up-front signing bonus and would be recovered from the relevant salesperson. Positive signing bonus adjustments result from the prior underpayment of signing bonuses and would be paid to the relevant salesperson.

	Fully amortized signing bonuses of $27.8 million, $31.2 million and $42.3 million, respectively, were written off during the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011. In addition, fully amortized customer deferred acquisition costs of $13.7 million, $16.0 million and $16.4 million, respectively, were written off during the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

	The Company believes that no impairment of capitalized customer acquisition costs has occurred as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Property_and_Equipment_Net

Property and Equipment, Net	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]	'
Property and Equipment, Net	'
	Property and Equipment, Net


	A summary of property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:
			December 31,
			2013			2012
			(In thousands)
		Computer hardware and software	$	184,515		$	151,916

		Building	54,910			54,359

		Leasehold improvements	7,815			5,734

		Furniture, fixtures and equipment	17,761			16,342

		Land	7,427			5,873

			272,428			234,224

		Less accumulated depreciation	(125,040		)	(109,193		)
			$	147,388		$	125,031


	Depreciation expense for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $30.1 million, $25.7 million and $23.0 million, respectively.

	Included in property and equipment at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $30.2 million and $17.0 million, respectively, representing the cost of assets not yet placed in service. During the years ended December 31, 2013 , 2012, and 2011 the amount of capitalized costs for internally developed projects amounted to $38.4 million, $26.7 million, and $22.6 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 the amounts of capitalized costs for internally developed projects placed in service were $25.7 million, $22.7 million, and $15.9 million, respectively.

	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012 there were $42.4 million and $34.1 million, respectively, of net capitalized costs for internally developed projects placed into service.


	The estimated depreciation expense related to capitalized costs for internally developed projects placed in service for the next five years is as follows:
		For the Years Ended December 31,
			(In thousands)
		2014	$	18,624

		2015	12,914

		2016	6,709

		2017	1,810

		2018	1,463

		Thereafter	857

			$	42,377

Intangible_Assets_and_Goodwill

Intangible Assets and Goodwill	12 Months Ended
Intangible Assets and Goodwill	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Intangible Assets and Goodwill	'
	Intangible Assets and Goodwill


	Intangible Assets — Intangible assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		December 31, 2013								Amortization Life and Method
		Gross			Accumulated		Net Asset
		Assets			Amortization		Net Asset
		(In thousands)
	Finite Lived Assets:
	Customer relationships	$	49,814		$	14,107	$	35,707		3 to 18 years—proportional cash flow
	Customer relationships	$	49,814		$	14,107	$	35,707		3 to 18 years—proportional cash flow
	Merchant portfolio	4,095			2,703		1,392			7 years—proportional cash flow
	Merchant portfolio	4,095			2,703		1,392			7 years—proportional cash flow
	Software	20,750			10,934		9,816			2 to 5 years—straight line
	Software	20,750			10,934		9,816			2 to 5 years—straight line
	Non-compete agreements	4,489			1,880		2,609			3 to 5 years—straight line
	Non-compete agreements	4,489			1,880		2,609			3 to 5 years—straight line
	Other	385			52		333			2 to 9 years—straight line
	Other	385			52		333			2 to 9 years—straight line
		$	79,533		$	29,676	$	49,857
		$	79,533		$	29,676	$	49,857


		December 31, 2012								Amortization Life and Method
		Gross			Accumulated		Net Asset
		Assets			Amortization		Net Asset
		(In thousands)
	Finite Lived Assets:
	Customer relationships	$	52,125		$	8,318	$	43,807		3 to 18 years—proportional cash flow
	Customer relationships	$	52,125		$	8,318	$	43,807		3 to 18 years—proportional cash flow
	Merchant portfolio	3,345			2,316		1,029			7 years—proportional cash flow
	Merchant portfolio	3,345			2,316		1,029			7 years—proportional cash flow
	Software	14,150			9,016		5,134			3 to 5 years—straight line
	Software	14,150			9,016		5,134			3 to 5 years—straight line
	Non-compete agreements	4,590			1,030		3,560			3 to 5 years—straight line
	Non-compete agreements	4,590			1,030		3,560			3 to 5 years—straight line
	Other	85			21		64			2 to 9 years—straight line
	Other	85			21		64			2 to 9 years—straight line
		$	74,295		$	20,701	$	53,594
		$	74,295		$	20,701	$	53,594


	Amortization expense related to the intangible assets was $9.0 million, $5.1 million and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.


	The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for the next five years is as follows:
		For the Years Ended December 31,
			(In thousands)
		2014	$	8,499
		2014	$	8,499
		2015	7,954
		2015	7,954
		2016	6,952
		2016	6,952
		2017	5,628
		2017	5,628
		2018	4,398
		2018	4,398
		Thereafter	16,426
		Thereafter	16,426
			$	49,857
			$	49,857



Goodwill — The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the years ended December 31, 2013,
2012 and 2011 were as follows:		Card Payment Processing			Heartland Ovation Payroll		Heartland School Solutions			Campus Solutions		Other		Total
Balance at January 1, 2011		$	43,701		$	—	$	5,507		$	3,321	$	6,501	$	59,030
Balance at January 1, 2011		$	43,701		$	—	$	5,507		$	3,321	$	6,501	$	59,030
	Goodwill acquired during the period	—			—		34,506			—		—		34,506
	Goodwill acquired during the period	—			—		34,506			—		—		34,506
	Other (a)	—			—		719			—		—		719
	Other (a)	—			—		719			—		—		719
Balance at December 31, 2011		43,701			—		40,732			3,321		6,501		94,255
Balance at December 31, 2011		43,701			—		40,732			3,321		6,501		94,255
	Goodwill acquired during the period	—			30,831		15,231			30,358		—		76,420
	Goodwill acquired during the period	—			30,831		15,231			30,358		—		76,420
	Other (a)	—			—		(2,613		)	—		—		(2,613		)
	Other (a)	—			—		(2,613		)	—		—		(2,613		)
Balance at December 31, 2012		43,701			30,831		53,350			33,679		6,501		168,062
Balance at December 31, 2012		43,701			30,831		53,350			33,679		6,501		168,062
	Goodwill acquired during the period	20,619			—		—			—		—		20,619
	Goodwill acquired during the period	20,619			—		—			—		—		20,619
	Other (a)	—			187		—			2,110		—		2,297
	Other (a)	—			187		—			2,110		—		2,297
Balance at December 31, 2013		$	64,320		$	31,018	$	53,350		$	35,789	$	6,501	$	190,978
Balance at December 31, 2013		$	64,320		$	31,018	$	53,350		$	35,789	$	6,501	$	190,978
(a) Reflects adjustments to preliminary allocations of purchase price within the measurement period.


Percentage of total reportable segments' assets that was goodwill as of December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 is as
follows:		Percent of Goodwill to Reportable Segments' Total Assets
		2013		2012	2011
	Card Payment Processing	11.30%		9.40%	9.70%
	Heartland Ovation Payroll	19.90%		18.50%	—
	Heartland School Solutions	67.90%		74.90%	77.60%
	Campus Solutions	43.80%		43.60%	48.70%
	Other	37.70%		20.00%	20.30%

Processing_Liabilities

Processing Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Processing Liabilities and Loss Reserves [Abstract]	'
Processing Liabilities and Loss Reserves	'
	Processing Liabilities

	Processing liabilities result primarily from the Company's card processing activities and include merchant deposits maintained to offset potential liabilities from merchant chargeback processing. A summary of processing liabilities and loss reserves was as follows at December 31, 2013 and 2012:


		December 31,
		2013				2012
		(In thousands)
	Merchant bankcard processing	$	121,143			$	86,882

	Merchant deposits	8,223				6,436

	Loss reserves	1,505				1,955

		$	130,871			$	95,273



	In addition to the merchant deposits listed above, the Company held letters of credit related to merchant bankcard processing totaling $260,000 and $100,000 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

	The Company's merchants have the liability for any charges properly reversed by the cardholder through a mechanism known as a chargeback. If the merchant is unable to pay this amount, the Company will be liable to the card brand networks for the reversed charges. The Company has determined that the fair value of its obligation to stand ready to perform is minimal. The Company requires personal guarantees and merchant deposits from certain merchants to minimize its obligation.

	The card networks generally allow chargebacks up to four months after the later of (1) the date the transaction is processed or (2) the delivery of the product or service to the cardholder. As the majority of the Company's SME merchant transactions involve the delivery of the product or service at the time of the transaction, a reasonable basis for determining an estimate of the Company's exposure to chargebacks is the last four months' processing volume on the SME portfolio, which was $24.4 billion and $23.5 billion for the four months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. However, for the four months ended December 31, 2013 , 2012, and 2011 the Company was presented with $11.7 million, $11.8 million, and $12.2 million, respectively, in chargebacks by issuing banks. In the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 the Company incurred merchant credit losses of $3.1 million , $2.0 million, and $5.1 million, respectively, on total SME card processing volumes processed of $74.6 billion , $71.7 billion, $67.5 billion, respectively. These credit losses are included in processing and servicing costs in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income and Other Comprehensive Income.

	The loss recorded by the Company for chargebacks associated with any individual merchant is typically small, due both to the relatively small size and the processing profile of the Company's SME merchants. However, from time to time the Company will encounter instances of merchant fraud, and the resulting chargeback losses may be considerably more significant to the Company. The Company has established a contingent reserve for estimated currently existing credit and fraud losses on its Consolidated Balance Sheets, amounting to $1.5 million at December 31, 2013 and $2.0 million at December 31, 2012. This reserve is determined by performing an analysis of the Company's historical loss experience applied to current processing volume and exposures.


	A summary of the activity in the loss reserve for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was as follows:
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012			2011
			(In thousands)
		Beginning balance	$	1,955			$	1,957		1,625

		Additions to reserve	2,738				2,123			5,658

		Charges against reserve (a)	(3,188		)		(2,125		)	(5,326	)
		Ending balance	$	1,505			$	1,955		1,957


	(a)	Included in these amounts are Payroll Processing segment losses for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 of $111,000, $93,000 and $223,000
	Chargeback losses originating from Network Services' bankcard processing on Passport during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were immaterial.

Credit_Facilities

Credit Facilities	12 Months Ended
Credit Facilities	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Credit Facilities	'
	Credit Facilities

	On October 23, 2013, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain lenders who are a party to the Credit Agreement. This Credit Agreement replaces the Company's November 2010 Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Prior Credit Agreement”). Credit extended under the Credit Agreement is guaranteed by the Company's subsidiaries and is secured by substantially all of the Company's assets and the assets of the Company's subsidiaries.

	The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility in the aggregate amount of up to $350 million (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), of which up to $35 million may be used for the issuance of letters of credit and up to $35 million is available for swing line loans. The Revolving Credit Facility also provides for, upon the prior approval of the administrative agent and subject to the receipt of commitments, an increase to the total revolving commitments of $150 million for a total commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility of $500 million. The Revolving Credit Facility is available to the Company on a revolving basis until October 23, 2018. All principal and interest not previously paid on the Revolving Credit Facility will mature and be due and payable on October 23, 2018.

	The Credit Agreement and the Prior Credit Agreement contain covenants which include: maintenance of certain leverage and fixed charge coverage ratios; limitations on our indebtedness, liens on our properties and assets, investments in, and loans to other business units, our ability to enter into business combinations and asset sales; and certain other financial and non-financial covenants. These covenants also apply to the Company's subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2013.

	The Prior Credit Agreement provided a term credit facility (the “Term Credit Facility”). The Term Credit Facility required amortization payments in the amount of $5.0 million for each fiscal quarter during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, and $7.5 million for each fiscal quarter during the period commencing on January 1, 2015 through the Term Credit Facility maturity date on November 24, 2015.

	On October 23, 2013, the Company drew down $150.0 million on its Revolving Credit Facility and used those proceeds to repay borrowings then outstanding under its Prior Credit Agreement; $55.0 million under the Term Credit Facility and $91.0 million under the Prior Credit Agreement revolving credit facility (the "Prior Revolving Credit Facility"). The remainder of the proceeds from the Revolving Credit Facility was used to provide ongoing working capital and for other general purposes. At December 31, 2013, the Company had $150.0 million under the Credit Agreement.

	At December 31, 2012, the Company had $70.0 million outstanding under the Term Credit Facility and $82.0 million outstanding under the Prior Revolving Credit Facility.

	Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may borrow, at its option, at interest rates equal to one, two, three or six month adjusted LIBOR rates, or equal to the greater of the prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50% and the adjusted LIBOR rate plus 1%, in each case plus a margin determined by the Company's current leverage ratio.

	The weighted average interest rate at December 31, 2013 was 1.7%. Total fees and direct costs paid for the Company's credit facilities as of December 31, 2013 were $3.3 million, including $2.6 million paid on October 23, 2013. These costs are being amortized to interest expense over the life of the Credit Agreement.

Accrued_Buyout_Liability

Accrued Buyout Liability	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accrued Buyout Liability [Abstract]	'
Accrued Buyout Liability	'
	Accrued Buyout Liability


	A summary of the accrued buyout liability was as follows as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
			December 31,
			2013			2012
			(In thousands)
		Vested Relationship Managers and sales managers	$	38,082		$	33,926

		Unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers	1,297			1,484

			39,379			35,410

		Less current portion	(13,943		)	(10,478		)
		Long-term portion of accrued buyout liability	$	25,436		$	24,932



	In calculating the accrued buyout liability for unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers, the Company has assumed that 31% of the unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers will vest in the future, which represents the Company’s historical vesting rate. A 5% increase to 36% in the expected vesting rate would have increased the accrued buyout liability for unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers by $0.1 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012.


	A summary of the activity in the accrued buyout liability for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and
	2011 was as follows:		Year Ended December 31,
			2013			2012			2011
			(In thousands)
		Beginning balance	$	35,410		$	31,658		$	28,810

		Increase in settlement obligation, net	17,620			15,638			13,228

		Buyouts	(13,651		)	(11,886		)	(10,380		)
		Ending balance	$	39,379		$	35,410		$	31,658



	The Company buys out portfolio equity regularly. During 2013, 2012 and 2011, we made total buyout payments of approximately $13.7 million, $11.9 million and $10.4 million, respectively. Residual commission expense is recorded in Processing and servicing costs on the Consolidated Statement of Income. The amount of future annual reductions in residual commission expense will be impacted by any additional portfolio equity buyouts and merchant attrition. Partially offsetting the impact of these buyouts are increases in the settlement obligation due to new SME merchant account signings, as adjusted for changes in same-store sales growth, changes in gross margin for existing merchant relationships, and the impact of SME merchant attrition.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	Stockholders' Equity

	Common Stock Repurchases. On each of October 21, 2011, July 27, 2012 and November 2, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50 million of the Company's outstanding common stock. Repurchases under the October 21, 2011 and July 27, 2012 authorizations were completed during the year ended December 31, 2012 and repurchases under the November 2, 2012 authorization were completed during the second quarter of 2013. Repurchases under these programs were made through the open market in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. On May 8, 2013, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $75 million of the Company's outstanding common stock. Repurchases under the May 8, 2013 authorization are ongoing. The Company intends to fund any repurchases with cash flow from operations, existing cash on the balance sheet, and other sources including the Company's Revolving Credit Facility and the proceeds of options exercises. The manner, timing and amount of repurchases, if any, will be determined by management and will depend on a variety of factors, including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, market conditions and other corporation liquidity requirements. The repurchase program may be modified or discontinued at any time.

	A summary of repurchase activity under these authorizations is as follows:


		Repurchase Programs by Authorization Date
		Oct-11				Jul-12		Nov-12	May-13	Total
	Activity For the Year ended December 31, 2013
	Shares repurchased	—				—		952,183	534,600	1,486,783

	Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands)	—				—		$29,813	$20,488	$50,301

	Average cost per share	—				—		$31.31	$38.32	$33.83

	Remaining authorization (in thousands)	—				—		—	$54,512	$54,512


	Activity For the Year ended December 31, 2012
	Shares repurchased	1,157,440				1,760,804		715,800	—	3,634,044

	Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands)	$33,172				$50,000		$20,187	—	$103,359

	Average cost per share	$28.66				$28.40		$28.20	—	$28.44


	Activity For the Year ended December 31, 2011
	Shares repurchased	778,889				—		—	—	778,889

	Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands)	$16,828				—		—	—	$16,828

	Average cost per share	$21.61				—		—	—	$21.61



	On November 1, 2012, the Company's board of directors resolved to retire all common shares repurchased and include the retired shares in the authorized and unissued shares of the Company. Until November 1, 2012, the final disposition of the repurchased shares had not been decided. The excess of the purchase price of the treasury stock over the stated value was allocated between additional paid-in-capital and retained earnings. It is expected that future retirements of common shares repurchased will be recorded as repurchase authorizations are completed.

	Dividends on Common Stock. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company's Board of Directors declared the following quarterly cash dividends on common stock:


	Date Declared		Record Date		Date Paid		Amount Paid
							Per Common Share
	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2013

	February 7, 2013		March 4, 2013		March 15, 2013		$0.07

	April 30, 2013		May 24, 2013		June 15, 2013		$0.07

	July 30, 2013		August 23, 2013		September 13, 2013		$0.07

	October 29, 2013		November 22, 2013		December 13, 2013		$0.07

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012

	February 8, 2012		March 2, 2012		March 15, 2012		$0.06

	May 1, 2012		May 24, 2012		June 15, 2012		$0.06

	July 27, 2012		August 24, 2012		September 14, 2012		$0.06

	November 1, 2012		November 23, 2012		December 14, 2012		$0.06

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011

February 16, 2011		March 4, 2011		March 15, 2011		$0.04

May 13, 2011		May 24, 2011		June 15, 2011		$0.04

August 2, 2011		August 24, 2011		September 15, 2011		$0.04

October 21, 2011		November 24, 2011		December 15, 2011		$0.04


On February 5, 2014, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.085 per share of common stock, payable on March 14, 2014 to stockholders of record as of March 3, 2014.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes


	The provision for income taxes for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 consists of the
	following:		Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
		Continuing Operations:	(in thousands)
		Current:
		Federal	$	31,326			$	32,155			$	23,949

		State	4,810				3,481				740

		Deferred:
		Federal	8,766				3,737				(435		)

		State	1,548				1,318				2,297

		Total provision for income taxes from continuing operations	46,450				40,691				26,551



	The differences in federal income taxes provided (benefited) from continuing operations and the amounts determined by applying the federal statutory tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 are:


		Year Ended December 31,
		2013							2012						2011
		%			Amount				%			Amount			%		Amount
					(In thousands)							(In thousands)					(In thousands)
	U.S. federal income tax at statutory rate	35	%		$	42,193			35	%		$	36,765		35	%	$	24,338

	U.S. state and local income taxes, net	3.26	%		3,932				2.93	%		3,065			2.88	%	2,001

	Nondeductible expenses	0.52	%		621				0.46	%		492			0.37	%	261

	Research and development credit, net	(1.19	)%		(1,435		)		—	%		—			—		—

	Valuation allowance	0.6	%		724				—	%		—			(0.01	)%	(5		)

	U.S. tax on foreign income, net	—	%		—				0.38	%		400			—		—

	Other	0.34	%		415				(0.03	)%		(31		)	(0.06	)%	(44		)

	Provision for income taxes from	38.53	%		$	46,450			38.74	%		$	40,691		38.18	%	$	26,551
	continuing operations


	On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 ("ATR Act") was enacted which included an extension of the federal research and development credit retroactively to 2012 and prospectively for 2013. The effect of the research and development credit for 2012 is being reflected in 2013 in conjunction with the filing of the Company’s 2012 tax return. The effect of the estimated research and development credit for 2013 is also reflected in 2013. The research and development credit expired December 31, 2013 and has not been renewed.

	As discussed in Note 20, Discontinued Operations, in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to sell CPOS. Because the Company would no longer be indefinitely reinvesting undistributed earnings of CPOS, the Company recognized income tax expense net of foreign tax credits, of $0.4 million in 2012 on the Company's 70% portion of the CPOS cumulative undistributed earnings at December 31, 2012. The Company presented CPOS as a discontinued operation in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

	The Company recorded a liability of approximately $5.6 million, $3.1 million and $1.8 million for total gross unrecognized tax benefits of which approximately $3.8 million, $2.0 million and $1.1 million as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, would impact the effective tax rate. The Company does not expect any significant changes
	within the next twelve months in its unrecognized tax benefits.

	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 is as follows:


		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
		(In thousands)
	Balance at January 1,	$	3,069			$	1,819			$	1,309

	Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	2,681				1,429				637

Lapse of statute of limitations	(117		)		(32		)		(127		)
Settlements	—				(147		)		—

Balance at December 31,	$	5,633			$	3,069			$	1,819



The Company accrues interest related to uncertain tax positions in interest expense and accrues penalties in general and administrative expense. At December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 the Company had an accrued interest liability on uncertain tax positions of approximately $441,000, $281,000, and $216,000, respectively. During 2013, 2012, and 2011 the Company recognized $160,000, $65,000, and $48,000, respectively, of interest expense related to uncertain tax positions. The Company does not expect to be assessed any penalties on its uncertain tax positions.

The tax years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 remain subject to examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the Company is no longer subject to state income tax examinations prior to 2007, except in California where a Protest of Proposed Assessments for the years 2004 to 2008 is currently in progress. Currently the Company does not expect that its state liability will significantly increase or decrease during the next 12 months. The Company files income tax returns in all states where required.

During 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded current tax assets reflecting excess tax benefits of $11.6 million and $6.0 million, respectively, resulting from employees exercising non-qualified stock options, making disqualifying dispositions of shares acquired through their exercise of incentive stock options, and vesting of restricted share units. The Company classified the $11.6 million and $6.0 million of excess tax benefits for 2013 and 2012, respectively, as cash inflows from financing activities and cash outflows from operating activities in its Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.


The net deferred tax asset (liability) was comprised of the following at December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		December 31,
		2013				2012
	Deferred tax assets:	(In thousands)
	Merchant contract costs	$	8,542			$	8,165

	Loss reserve and accounts receivable allowance	859				1,189

	Share-based compensation	8,154				8,702

	FIN No. 48 deferred tax reserve-state tax	1,968				1,185

	Other comprehensive income	170				312

	Net operating loss carry-forward	11,034				8,333

	Reserve for litigation	591				605

	State net operating loss carry-forwards	24				30

	Reserve for processor incentive	44				217

	Deferred compensation	2,632				2,950

	Deferred state tax assets	1,487				1,141

	Other	1,229				799

	Deferred tax assets	36,734				33,628

	Less valuation allowance	(2,906		)		(158		)
	Net deferred tax assets	33,828				33,470

	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Capitalized signing bonus	17,173				16,068

	Software development	27,419				18,970

	Unearned rent	(240		)		227

	Property and equipment	3,597				3,916

	Goodwill	12,591				9,044

	Investment in CPOS	—				400

	Intangibles	4,340				4,002

	Deferred tax liabilities	64,880				52,627

	Net deferred tax liabilities	(31,052		)		(19,157		)
	Less current deferred tax asset, net	9,548				10,475

	Net deferred tax liabilities - non-current portion	$	(40,600	)		$	(29,632	)


Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. Significant judgment is required in the evaluation of the deferred tax benefits and differences in future results from management’s estimates could result in material differences in the realization of these assets.

On September 11, 2013, the Company purchased 66.67% of the outstanding capital stock of Leaf. Because Leaf is less than 80% owned, it cannot be consolidated for tax purposes and must file a separate tax return. Since Leaf recorded cumulative net operating losses in recent years and projects losses in the near term, management has provided a 100% valuation allowance against its deferred tax asset resulting from its net operating losses carryforwards and will continue to carry the valuation allowance until such time as management believes that these deferred tax assets are more-likely- than-not to be realized.

A valuation allowance has not been recorded to reduce the tax benefit of the state net operating loss carry-forwards of $307,000, for December 31, 2010 or other net deferred tax assets as management believes that the Company will attain sufficient future taxable income within the carry-forward periods to fully recover these taxes. If not used, the state net operating loss carry-forwards will begin to expire in 2022.

On December 31, 2012, the Company acquired Ovation and its $23.2 million of net operating losses ("NOLs"). This acquisition was a “change of ownership” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, and, as a result, such NOLs are subject to an annual limitation. Based upon the historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over periods in which these NOLs will be deductible, we believe that it is more likely than not that the Company will be able to fully utilize these NOLs before the carry-forward periods begin to expire in fiscal 2023 and therefore a valuation allowance is not required.

Stock_Incentive_Plans

Stock Incentive Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock Incentive Plans	'
	Stock Incentive Plans

	As described below, the Company maintained two share-based plans for its employees under which it has granted stock options, Restricted Share Units and performance-based Restricted Share Units. Amounts the Company recognized in its consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 with respect to these share-based plans were as follows:


			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
			(In thousands)
	Compensation expense recognized on share-based		$	12,838			$	14,187			$	9,548
	plans before income tax benefit
	Related income tax benefit recognized in the		4,981				5,458				3,635
	income statement
	Cash received from stock option exercises		14,174				18,303				9,685

	Excess tax benefit recorded for tax deductions		11,596				5,954				3,454
	resulting from the exercise of stock options
	Tax benefit realized as reductions of estimated tax		8,587				4,220				2,954
	payments during the period
	The Company expenses employee share-based payments under the fair value method. Share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period.

	Stock Options. The Company estimates the grant date fair value of the stock options it issues using a Black-Scholes valuation model for “plain-vanilla” stock options and performance-based stock options, and uses a lattice valuation model to measure grant date fair value for stock options containing market vesting conditions. The Company's assumption for expected volatility is based on its historical volatility data related to market trading of its own common stock. The Company bases its assumptions for the expected life of new stock option grants on its analysis of the historical exercise patterns of its stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based on dividends expected to be paid over the expected life of the stock option. The risk-free interest rate assumption for stock options granted is determined by using U.S. treasury rates of the same period as the expected option term of each stock option.

	The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 were $9.36 and $7.95, respectively. No stock options were granted during the year ended December 31, 2013. The fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was estimated at the grant date using the following weighted average assumptions:


		Year ended December 31,
			2012			2011
	Expected volatility		55	%		55	%
	Expected life		3.75 years			3.65 years

	Expected dividends		1	%		0.8	%
	Risk-free interest rate		0.51	%		0.55	%

	Restricted Share Units. In the fourth quarters of 2011, 2012, and 2013, the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved grants of performance-based Restricted Share Units with grant-specific vesting and performance target terms as shown in the following table:


				Performance Awards by Grant Date
				4th Quarter 2011		4th Quarter 2012		4th Quarter 2013
		RSU's Granted		164,808		72,004		115,223
		Vesting during 2014		50%		—		—
		Vesting during 2015		50%		50%		—
		Vesting during 2016		—		50%		—
		Vesting during 2017		—		—		50%
		Vesting during 2018		—		—		50%
		Grant Performance Target		(a)		(b)		(c)


	(a)	These Restricted Share Units will vest 50% in 2014 and 50% in 2015 since the Company achieved a pro forma diluted earnings per share compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") for the two-year period ending December 31, 2013 in excess of the performance target. The CAGR achieved for the two-year period ending December 31, 2013 resulted in holders earning the maximum 100% increase in the number of shares awarded.


	(b)	These Restricted Share Units will vest only if the Company achieves a pro forma diluted earnings per share CAGR of fifteen percent (15%) for the two-year period ending December 31, 2014. For each 1% that the CAGR actually achieved for the two year period ending on December 31, 2014 is above the 15% target, the number of shares underlying the Restricted Share Units awarded would be increased by 2.08%; provided, however, that the maximum increase in the number of shares that may be awarded is 125%. Likewise, for each 1% that the CAGR actually achieved for the two-year period ending on December 31, 2014 is below the 15% target, the number of shares underlying the Restricted Share Units awarded would be decreased by 1.31%. If the target CAGR is missed by 67% or more, then the number of shares awarded is zero. The Company has recorded expense on these Restricted Share Units based on achieving the 15% target.

	(c)	These Restricted Share Units will vest only if the Company achieves a pro forma diluted earnings per share growth rate of forty percent (40%) over the three-year period ending December 31, 2016. For each 1% that the growth rate actually achieved for the three-year period ending on December 31, 2016 is above the 40% target, the number of shares underlying the Restricted Share Units awarded would be increased by 1.20%; provided, however, that the maximum increase in the number of shares that may be awarded is 150%. Likewise, for each 1% that the growth rate actually achieved for the three-year period ending on December 31, 2016 is below the 40% target, the number of shares underlying the Restricted Share Units awarded would be decreased by 1.50%. If the target growth rate is missed by 50% or more, then the number of shares awarded is zero. The Company has recorded expense on these Restricted Share Units based on achieving the 40% target
	Pro forma diluted earnings per share for (a), (b) and (c) performance targets will be calculated excluding non-operating gains and losses, if any, and excluding the after-tax impact of share-based compensation expense. The closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date equals the grant date fair value of these nonvested Restricted Share Units awards and will be recognized as compensation expense over their vesting periods.

	In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved target grants of 72,345 Relative Total Shareholder Return Restricted Share Units (referred to as “Relative TSRs”). These Relative TSRs are nonvested share awards for which vesting percentages and ultimate number of units vesting will be calculated based on the total shareholder return of the Company's common stock as compared to the total shareholder return of 86 peer companies. The payout schedule can produce vesting percentages ranging from 0% to 225%. Total shareholder return will be calculated based upon the average closing price for the 30 calendar day period ending December 9, 2015, divided by the closing price on December 10, 2012. The target number of units is based on achieving a total shareholder return equal to the 65th percentile of the peer group. The Company recorded expense on these Relative TSRs based on achieving the target. A lattice valuation model was applied to measure the grant date fair value of these Relative TSRs.

	In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Compensation Committee approved target grants of 57,598 Relative TSRs. These Relative TSRs are nonvested share awards for which vesting percentages and ultimate number of units vesting will be calculated based on the total shareholder return of the Company's common stock as compared to the total shareholder return of 91 peer companies. The payout schedule can produce vesting percentages ranging from 0% to 200%. Total shareholder return will be calculated based upon the average closing price for the 30 calendar day period ending December 6, 2016, divided by the closing price on December 6, 2013. The target number of units is based on achieving a total shareholder return equal to the 65th percentile of the peer group. The Company recorded expense on these TSRs based on achieving the target. A lattice valuation model was applied to measure the grant date fair value of these Relative TSRs.

	In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Compensation Committee approved target grants of 59,533Absolute Total Shareholder Return Restricted Share Units (referred to as “Absolute TSRs”). These Absolute TSRs are nonvested share awards for which vesting percentages and ultimate number of units vesting will be calculated based on the Company's three or four year total shareholder return of our common stock. The payout schedule can produce vesting percentages ranging from 0% to 200%. Total shareholder return will be calculated based upon the average closing price for the 30 calendar day period ending December 6, 2016 or December 6, 2017, divided by the closing price on December 6, 2013. The target number of units is based on achieving a total shareholder return of 33% over three years or 46% over four years. The Company recorded expense on these Absolute TSRs based on achieving the target. A lattice valuation model was applied to measure the grant date fair value of these Absolute TSRs.

	Diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were computed based on the weighted average outstanding common shares plus equivalent shares assuming exercise of stock options and vesting of Restricted Share Units, where dilutive.

At December 31, 2013, there was a total of $28.2 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options and Restricted Share Units, which the Company expects to recognize over a weighted average period of 2.2 years.

Amended and Restated *2008 Equity Incentive Plan.* In May 2010, the Company approved the Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. The maximum number of share awards which may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan is 7,700,000, of which 1,297,064 stock options, 881,989 Restricted Share Units and 817,957 performance-based Restricted Share Units were granted during 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010. The stock options and Restricted Share Units granted in 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 generally vest over four years, while the performance-based Restricted Share Units will vest only if, over the term of these Restricted Share Units, performance targets are achieved. At December 31, 2013, 6,121,399 shares of the 7,700,000 authorized shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan remain available for future grant.

The stock options and Restricted Share Units were granted with terms of 5 years and an exercise price equal to the closing market price on the date of grant. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised under the Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan during 2013 and 2012 was $27.9 million and $22.6 million, respectively. The total intrinsic value of Restricted Share Units vested under the Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan during 2013 and 2012 was $17.0 million and $5.2 million, respectively.

Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan. The Amended and Restated 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2000 Equity Incentive Plan”) was replaced in May 2008 by the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. No awards were granted under the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan in 2013, 2012, 2011 or 2010. At December 31, 2013, there were 49,571 options outstanding and vested under the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised under the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan during 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $3.1 million, $4.0 million and $6.4 million, respectively.

Share-Based Plan Activity. During 2013 and 2012, employees exercised 1,264,825 and 1,522,429 stock options, respectively, to acquire the Company's common stock, generating $14.2 million and $18.3 million of stockholders' equity from the exercises and $11.6 million and $6.0 million of stockholders' equity related to tax deductions, which accrued to the Company as employees exercised non-qualified stock options, vested in Restricted Share Units, or made disqualifying dispositions of shares acquired through the exercise of incentive stock options. Stock option and restricted share activity in the Company's share-based plans during 2011, 2012 and 2013 was as follows:


		Stock Options						Restricted Share Units						Combined
		Shares		Weighted-Average Exercise Price				Shares			Weighted-Average Grant Price			Shares		Weighted-Average Exercise/Grant Price
Options outstanding		7,454,166		$	15.28			880,110			$	14.23		8,334,276		$	15.17
at January 1, 2011
Issued		31,568		$	20.59			372,532			$	22.02		404,100		$	21.91

Exercised/vested		(1,133,974	)	$	8.54			(112,480		)	$	10.59		(1,246,454	)	$	8.72

Forfeited/cancelled		(385,695	)	$	20.39			(37,060		)	$	16.35		(422,755	)	$	20.04

Outstanding at		5,966,065		$	16.26			1,103,102			$	17.11		7,069,167		$	16.39
December 31, 2011
Options exercisable		2,264,769		$	16.67			—			$	—		2,264,769		$	16.67
at December 31, 2011
Issued		27,496		$	24.28			568,624			$	29.88		596,120		$	29.62

Exercised/vested		(1,522,429	)	$	12.03			(175,000		)	$	14.57		(1,697,429	)	$	12.29

Forfeited/cancelled		(240,945	)	$	22.2			(32,090		)	$	21.78		(273,035	)	$	22.15

Outstanding at		4,230,187		$	17.39			1,464,636			$	22.31		5,694,823		$	18.65
December 31, 2012
Options exercisable		808,962		$	12.16			—			$	—		808,962		$	12.16
at December 31, 2012
Issued		—		$	—			491,542			$	42.5		491,542		$	42.5

Exercised/vested		(1,264,825	)	$	11.21			(502,225		)	$	18.72		(1,767,050	)	$	13.34

Forfeited/cancelled		(2,283,218	)	$	21.84			(98,451		)	$	23.88		(2,381,669	)	$	21.92

Outstanding at		682,144		$	14.26			1,355,502			$	30.83		2,037,646		$	25.29
December 31, 2013
Options exercisable		394,252		$	13.2			—			$	—		394,252		$	13.2
at December 31, 2013

Stock options and Restricted Share Units which were outstanding at December 31, 2013 totaled 2,037,646 and had a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 2.1 years, a weighted average exercise/grant price of $25.29, and total intrinsic value of $100.2 million. Stock options which were exercisable at December 31, 2013 totaled 394,252 and had a weighted-average remaining contractual life of 1.2 years, a weighted average exercise price of $13.20, and total intrinsic value of $14.4 million. We have historically issued new shares to satisfy the exercise of options. Stock options and Restricted Share Units outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013 are summarized by exercise price below:


	Outstanding									Exercisable
Exercise price per share	Stock Options			Restricted Share Units			Total			Stock Options			Restricted Share Units	Total
$6.25 to $12.16	164,371			—			164,371			164,371			—	164,371

$15.22 to $24.28	517,773			457,715			975,488			229,881			—	229,881

$29.57 to $44.62	—			897,787			897,787			—			—	—

	682,144			1,355,502			2,037,646			394,252			—	394,252


The table below summarizes stock options and Restricted Share Units outstanding at December 31, 2013 by their weighted average remaining contractual term:


	Stock Options					Restricted Share Units
Exercise price per share	Outstanding			Average Remaining Contractual Term		Outstanding			Average Remaining Contractual Term
$6.25 to $12.16	164,371			0.6 years		—			—

$15.22 to $24.28	517,773			1.7 years		457,715			1.2 years

$29.57 to $44.62	—			—		897,787			3.2 years

	682,144			1.4 years		1,355,502			2.4 years

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Financial Instruments

	The Company applies a fair value framework in order to measure and disclose its financial assets and liabilities which include fixed income equity securities, interest swap derivatives and certain other financial instruments. The Company determines fair value based on quoted prices when available or through the use of alternative approaches when market quotes are not readily accessible or available.

	The Company’s framework for measuring fair value provides a three-level hierarchy, which prioritizes the factors (inputs) used to calculate the fair value of assets and liabilities as follows:


	•	Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices, such as a New York Stock Exchange closing price, in active markets for identical assets. Level 1 is the highest priority in the hierarchy.

	•	Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as other significant inputs that are observable at commonly quoted intervals, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and yield curves.

	•	Level 3 inputs are unobservable and are based on the Company's assumptions due to little, if any, observable market information. Level 3 is the lowest priority in the hierarchy.
	For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, there have been no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 categories. The following tables provide the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:


	December 31, 2013				Fair Value Measurement Category
		Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:	(In thousands)
	Investments available for sale:
	Conservative income bond fund (a)	$	12,010		$	12,010		$	—		$	—

	Fixed income bond fund (a)	1,222			1,222			—			—

	Total assets	$	13,232		$	13,232		$	—		$	—


	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swaps	$	411		$	—		$	411		$	—

	Total liabilities	$	411		$	—		$	411		$	—



	December 31, 2012				Fair Value Measurement Category
		Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:	(In thousands)
	Investments available for sale:
	Fixed income bond fund (a)	$	1,212		$	1,212		$	—		$	—

	Total assets	$	1,212		$	1,212		$	—		$	—


	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swaps	$	817		$	—		$	817		$	—

	Total liabilities	$	817		$	—		$	817		$	—

	(a) amounts included in Funds held for customers on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
	The following tables provide the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:


	December 31, 2013				Fair Value Measurement Category
		Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
	Assets:	(In thousands)
	Investments held to maturity:
	Certificates of deposit	$	33		$	—		$	33		$	—

	Total assets	$	33		$	—		$	33		$	—


	Liabilities:
	Revolving credit facility	$	150,000		$	—		$	150,000		$	—

Total liabilities	$	150,000		$	—		$	150,000		$	—



December 31, 2012				Fair Value Measurement Category
	Total			Level 1			Level 2			Level 3
Assets:	(In thousands)
Investments held to maturity:
Certificates of deposit	$	1,199		$	—		$	1,199		$	—

Total assets	$	1,199		$	—		$	1,199		$	—


Liabilities:
Term Credit Facility	$	70,000		$	—		$	70,000		$	—

Prior Revolving Credit Facility	82,000			—			82,000			—

Total liabilities	$	152,000		$	—		$	152,000		$	—


The Company's liabilities include interest rate swaps that are measured at fair value using observable market inputs
including the Company's credit risk and its counterparties' credit risks. Based on these inputs, the interest rate swaps are
classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. Based on the Company's continued ability to enter into these swaps, the
Company considers the markets for its fair value instruments to be active. The Company's liabilities as of December 31, 2012 also include borrowings under its credit facilities and the carrying value of these liabilities approximates fair value.

The Company's financial instruments also include cash and cash equivalents and cash held for customers and their
carrying values approximate fair value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, because they bear interest at market
rates and have maturities of less than 90 days at the time of purchase.

Employee_Benefit_Plan

Employee Benefit Plan	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plan	Dec. 31, 2013
Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plan	'
	Employee Benefit Plan

	The Company offers a defined contribution plan (the "Plan") to all employees. Company contributions are generally based upon fixed amounts of eligible compensation. The Company contributed approximately $2.5 million, $1.9 million and $1.6 million to the Plan for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Commitments and Contingencies

	Litigation—The Company is involved in ordinary course legal proceedings, which include all claims, lawsuits, investigations and proceedings, including unasserted claims, which are probable of being asserted, arising in the ordinary course of business and otherwise not described below. The Company has considered all such ordinary course legal proceedings in formulating its disclosures and assessments. In the opinion of the Company, based on consultations with outside counsel, material losses in addition to amounts previously accrued are not considered reasonably possible in connection with these ordinary course legal proceedings.

	The Company has also been subject to lawsuits, claims, and investigations which resulted from the criminal breach of its payment systems environment (the "Processing System Intrusion"). See *Contingencies* below for a description of the Processing System Intrusion.

	Contingencies—The Company collects and stores sensitive data about its merchant customers and bankcard holders. If the Company’s network security is breached or sensitive merchant or cardholder data is misappropriated, the Company could be exposed to assessments, fines or litigation costs.
	On January 20, 2009, the Company publicly announced the Processing System Intrusion. The Processing System Intrusion involved malicious software that appears to have been used to collect in-transit, unencrypted payment card data while it was being processed by the Company during the transaction authorization process. The Company believes the breach did not extend beyond 2008. The Company does not consider it a reasonable possibility that losses exceeding the amounts previously recognized on the matters subject to Processing System Intrusion settlement agreements entered into to date will be incurred. With regard to unsettled claims related to the Processing System Intrusion, the Company determined material losses in addition to those previously accrued are not considered reasonably possible on any such claim disclosed. The Company is prepared to vigorously defend itself against any unsettled claims relating to the Processing System Intrusion that have been asserted against it and feels it has strong defenses to all claims that have been asserted against it relating to the Processing System Intrusion.
	Leases—The Company leases various office spaces and certain equipment under operating leases with remaining terms ranging up to 10 years. The majority of the office space lease agreements contain renewal options and generally require the Company to pay certain operating expenses.
	Future minimum lease payments for all non-cancelable leases as of December 31, 2013 were as follows:


	For the Years Ended December 31,	Operating
	For the Years Ended December 31,	Leases (a)
		(In thousands)
	2014	$	10,410
	2014	$	10,410
	2015	7,747
	2015	7,747
	2016	5,479
	2016	5,479
	2017	3,627
	2017	3,627
	2018	3,624
	2018	3,624
	Thereafter	8,020
	Thereafter	8,020
	Total future minimum lease payments	$	38,907
	Total future minimum lease payments	$	38,907
	(a) There were no material capital leases at December 31, 2013.
	Rent expense for leased facilities and equipment was $10.2 million, $8.0 million and $8.7 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011.

	Commitments—Certain officers of the Company have entered into employee confidential information and non-competition agreements under which they are entitled to severance pay equal to their base salary and medical benefits for six months, one year or two years depending on the officer and a pro-rated bonus in the event they are terminated by the Company other than for cause. There were no payouts under these agreements in the year ended December 31, 2013.
	The following table reflects the Company’s other significant contractual obligations, including leases from above, as of December 31, 2013:


			Payments Due by Period
	Contractual Obligations		Total		Less than		1 to 3		3 to 5		More
					1 year		Years		years		than 5
											years
			(In thousands)
	Processing providers (a)		$	12,922	$	6,844	$	6,078	$	—	$	—
	Processing providers (a)		$	12,922	$	6,844	$	6,078	$	—	$	—
	Telecommunications providers (b)		6,939		3,359		2,743		837		—
	Telecommunications providers (b)		6,939		3,359		2,743		837		—
	Facility and equipment leases		38,907		10,410		13,226		7,251		8,020
	Facility and equipment leases		38,907		10,410		13,226		7,251		8,020
	Revolving Credit Facility (c)		150,000		—		—		150,000		—
	Revolving Credit Facility (c)		150,000		—		—		150,000		—
			$	208,768	$	20,613	$	22,047	$	158,088	$	8,020
			$	208,768	$	20,613	$	22,047	$	158,088	$	8,020


	(a)	The Company has agreements with several third-party processors to provide to us on a non-exclusive basis payment processing and transmittal, transaction authorization and data capture services, and access to various reporting tools. The Company's agreements with third-party processors require it to submit a minimum monthly number of transactions or volume for processing. If the Company submits a number of transactions or volume that is lower than the minimum, it is required to pay the third-party processors the fees that they would have received if the Company had submitted the required minimum number or volume of transactions.

	(b)	The Company has agreements in place with several large telecommunications companies that provide data center services, wide area network connectivity, and voice services that are used by both the Company call center and card payment processing platforms. These providers require both dollar and term commitments for the services they provide. If the Company does not meet the minimum terms, then there is a requirement to pay the remaining commitments.

	(c)	Interest rates on the Revolving Credit Facility are variable in nature; however, the Company is party to fixed-pay amortizing interest rate swaps having a remaining notional amount at December 31, 2013 of $25.0 million. If interest rates were to remain at the December 31, 2013 level, the Company would make interest payments of $1.4 million in the next year and $0.5 million in the next 1 to 3 years or a total of $2.0 million including net settlements on the fixed-pay amortizing interest rate swaps. The Revolving Credit Facility is available on a revolving basis until October 23, 2018.

Segments

Segments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segments	'
	Segments

	The Company bases its business segments on how it monitors and manages the performance of its operations as determined by the Company's chief operating decision maker or decision making group. The Company's operating segments are strategic business units that offer different products and services. They are managed separately because each business requires different marketing strategies, personnel skill sets and technology.

	The Company has the following five reportable segments: (1) Card Payment Processing, which provides card payment processing and related services to our SME merchants and Network Services Merchants (2) Heartland Ovation Payroll, which provides payroll processing and related tax filing services, (3) Heartland School Solutions, which provides school nutrition and point-of-sale solutions and associated payment solutions, (4) Campus Solutions, which provides payment processing, higher education loan services and open- and closed-loop payment solutions, and (5) Other. The Other segment consists of Prepaid Card, which provides prepaid card, stored-value card and loyalty and gift card marketing solutions and other miscellaneous income. The components of the Other segment do not meet the defined thresholds for being an individually reportable segment.
	SME merchants and Network Services merchants are aggregated for financial reporting purposes in the Card Segment, as they both provide processing services related to bankcard transactions, exhibit similar economic characteristics, and share the same systems to provide services.
	The Company allocates revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities to segments only where directly attributable. The unallocated corporate administration amounts consist primarily of costs attributed to finance, corporate administration, human resources and corporate services. Reconciling items include eliminations of intercompany investments and receivables.
	The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same as described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company believes the terms and conditions of transactions between the segments are comparable to those which could have been obtained in transactions with unaffiliated parties.
	At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 62% and 67%, respectively, of Heartland Ovation Payroll's total assets were funds that the Company holds as a fiduciary in its payroll processing services activities for payment to taxing authorities. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 32% and 26%, respectively, of the Campus Solutions segment's total assets represent funds held for our loan servicing customers related to payment processing services provided for federal student loan billing and processing that are payable to higher education institutions and other businesses. See Note 8, Intangible Assets and Goodwill for goodwill as a percentage of the reportable segments' total assets.
	A summary of the Company’s segments for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was as follows:


			December 31,
			2013				2012			2011
	Revenues		(In thousands)
	Card Payment Processing		$	1,981,011			$	1,923,145		$	1,925,667

	Heartland School Solutions		50,541				36,614			11,178

	Heartland Ovation Payroll		44,565				21,368			19,505

	Campus Solutions		36,186				8,065			6,488

	Other		23,069				24,244			22,739

	Total revenues		$	2,135,372			$	2,013,436		$	1,985,577




	Depreciation and amortization
	Card Payment Processing		$	26,934			$	24,057		$	23,313

	Heartland School Solutions		2,282				482			1,412

	Heartland Ovation Payroll		3,478				1,153			694

	Campus Solutions		2,330				418			263

	Other		1,641				1,481			1,288

	Unallocated Corporate Administration Amounts		(1,311		)		241			471

	Total depreciation and amortization		$	35,354			$	27,832		$	27,441




	Interest Income
	Card Payment Processing		$	121			$	201		$	142

	Campus Solutions		3				—			—

	Total interest income		$	124			$	201		$	142




	Interest Expense
	Card Payment Processing		$	5,425			$	3,729		$	4,329

	Campus Solutions		7				7			2

Other		—				—			3

Reconciling		(3		)		(290		)	(212		)
Total interest expense		$	5,429			$	3,446		$	4,122




Net income from continuing operations
Card Payment Processing		$	80,985			$	75,691		$	68,613

Heartland School Solutions		9,085				5,371			2,255

Heartland Ovation Payroll		2,056				1,682			393

Campus Solutions		2,255				(104		)	(404		)

Other		462				975			1,589

Unallocated corporate administration amounts		(20,741		)		(19,262		)	(29,458		)
Total net income from continuing operations		$	74,102			$	64,353		$	42,988




Assets
Card Payment Processing		$	566,943			$	466,196		$	451,757

Heartland School Solutions		78,573				71,182			52,520

Heartland Ovation Payroll		155,823				166,317			53,750

Campus Solutions		81,719				77,168			6,826

Other		17,247				32,551			32,068

Total assets		$	900,305			$	813,414		$	596,921

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	Earnings Per Share

	The Company presents earnings per share data following the established standards for the computation and presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share data. Under these standards, the dilutive effect of stock options is excluded from the calculation of basic earnings per share but included in diluted earnings per share. The following is a reconciliation of the amounts used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share:


		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
		(In thousands, except per share)
	Numerator:
	Income from continuing operations attributable to Heartland	$	74,712	$	64,353	$	42,988

	Income from discontinued operations attributable to Heartland	3,914		1,536		951

	Net income attributable to Heartland	$	78,626	$	65,889	$	43,939


	Denominator:
	Basic weighted average shares outstanding	36,791		38,468		38,931

	Effect of dilutive instruments:
	Stock options and restricted stock units	1,262		1,590		1,302

	Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	38,053		40,058		40,233


	Basic earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations	$	2.03	$	1.67	$	1.1

	Income from discontinued operations	$	0.11	$	0.04	$	0.03

	Basic earnings per share	$	2.14	$	1.71	$	1.13

	Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations	$	1.96	$	1.6	$	1.07

	Income from discontinued operations	$	0.1	$	0.04	$	0.02

	Diluted earnings per share	$	2.06	$	1.64	$	1.09

Discontinued_Operation

Discontinued Operation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Discontinued Operation	'
	Discontinued Operations

	In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company along with the 30% noncontrolling shareholders of CPOS entered into an agreement to sell CPOS to a third party. CPOS was not a significant subsidiary and the Company has no continuing
	involvement in its operations. After receiving regulatory approval, the transaction settled on January 31, 2013. The total sales price was $30.3 million cash including net working capital, of which the Company received $20.9 million for its 70% ownership in CPOS. The total gain recorded on the sale was $3.8 million, net of income taxes of $2.1 million.

	Assets held for sale and liabilities related to assets held for sale included the following at December 31, 2013 and 2012:


		As of December 31,
		2013		2012
		(In thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	2,141

	Receivables, net	—		904

	Investments held to maturity	—		3,229

	Inventory	—		406

	Property and equipment, net	—		620

	Goodwill	—		9,337

	Intangible assets, net	—		260

	Other assets	—		147

	Total assets held for sale	$	—	$	17,044


	Accounts payable	$	—	$	497

	Processing liabilities	—		86

	Accrued expenses and other liabilities	—		1,089

	Total liabilities related to assets held for sale	$	—	$	1,672


	Income from discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands of dollars):


		As of December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Revenues	$	1,117	$	13,123	$	11,373

	Expenses	870		10,186		9,471

	Income from operations	247		2,937		1,902

	Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax	184		2,185		1,359
	of $68, $803, and $575
	Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of income tax of $2,067	3,786		—		—

	Net income from discontinued operations attributable to	56		649		408
	non-controlling interests
	Net income from discontinued operations attributable to Heartland	3,914		1,536		951

Quarterly_Consolidated_Results

Quarterly Consolidated Results of Income (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Consolidated Results of Income (Unaudited)	'
	Quarterly Consolidated Results of Income (Unaudited)

	The Company's unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:


		For the Quarter Ended
		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2013		2013		2013
		(In thousands, except per share data)
	Total revenues	$	501,239	$	546,624	$	557,129	$	530,380

	Costs of services	428,624		469,763		480,386		456,933

	General and administrative expenses	45,840		43,531		41,871		42,326

	Total expenses	474,464		513,294		522,257		499,259

	Income from operations	26,775		33,330		34,872		31,121

	Net income attributable to Heartland	19,559		19,681		21,981		17,405


	Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations	$	0.41	$	0.53	$	0.58	$	0.46

	Income from discontinued operations	0.1		—		—		—

	Diluted earnings per share	0.51		0.53		0.58		0.46



		For the Quarter Ended
		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
		2012		2012		2012		2012
		(In thousands, except per share data)
	Total revenues	$	467,576	$	515,218	$	530,677	$	499,965

	Costs of services	413,232		454,920		461,084		434,465

	General and administrative expenses	31,549		31,309		36,787		40,289

	Total expenses	444,781		486,229		497,871		474,754

	Income from operations	22,795		28,989		32,806		25,211

	Net income attributable to Heartland	13,754		17,801		19,380		14,954


	Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations	$	0.33	$	0.43	$	0.47	$	0.37

	Income from discontinued operations	0.01		0.01		0.01		0.01

	Diluted earnings per share	0.34		0.44		0.48		0.38

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Use of Estimates	'
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates include, among other things, the accrued buyout liability, capitalized customer acquisition costs, goodwill, loss reserves, certain accounts payable and accrued expenses and certain tax assets and liabilities as well as the related valuation allowances, if any. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Receivables	'
	Receivables—The Company's primary receivables are from its bankcard processing merchants. In addition to receivables for transaction fees the Company charges its merchants for processing transactions, these receivables include amounts resulting from the Company's practice of advancing interchange fees to most of its SME merchants during the month and collecting those fees at the beginning of the following month. The Company does not advance interchange fees to its Network Services merchants. Network Services merchants are invoiced monthly, on payment terms of 30 days net from date of invoicing. Receivables from merchants also include receivables from the sale of point-of-sale terminal equipment.

	Historically, the Company funded interchange advances to its SME merchants first with its available cash, and when that cash had been expended, by directing its sponsor banks to fund advances thereby incurring a payable to sponsor banks. In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company accelerated the end-of-day presentment of transaction funding files to the bankcard networks resulting in its sponsor banks receiving settlement cash one day earlier and increasing funding obligations to its SME merchants, which are carried in processing liabilities. As a result of accelerated presentment, the Company funds these merchant interchange advances/receivables first from the accelerated settlement cash received from bankcard networks, then from the Company's available cash or by incurring a payable to its sponsor banks. At December 31, 2013, the Company did not use any of its available cash to fund merchant advances. At December 31, 2012, the Company used $3.8 million of its available cash to fund merchant advances. The amount due to sponsor banks for funding advances was $17.8 million at December 31, 2013 and $36.3 million at December 31, 2012. The Company pays its sponsor banks the prime rate on these payables. The payable to sponsor banks is repaid at the beginning of the following month out of the fees the Company collects from its merchants.

	Receivables also include amounts resulting from the pre-funding of Discover and American Express transactions to the Company's merchants as well as amounts due from PIN debit transactions. These amounts are recovered the next business day following the date of processing the transaction.

	Receivables also include amounts resulting from the sale, installation, training and repair of payment system hardware and software for Campus Solutions, Heartland School Solutions and Prepaid Card systems. These receivables are mostly invoiced on terms of 30 days net from date of invoicing.
Investments and Funds Held for Payroll Customers	'
Investments and Funds Held for Payroll Customers	Investments and Funds Held for Customers—Investments, including those carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Funds held for customers, consist primarily of equity investments, fixed income bond funds and certificates of deposit. Funds held for customers also include overnight bank deposits. The majority of investments carried in Funds held for customers are available-for-sale and recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices. Certificates of deposit are classified as held to maturity and recorded at cost. In the event of a sale, cost is determined on a specific identification basis.
Inventories	'
	Inventories—Inventories consist of point-of-sale terminal equipment held for sale to merchants, prepaid card and cashless payment systems hardware for sale to end users, resellers and distributors, and campus payments solutions equipment for sale to end users. Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market price. Cost is arrived at using the first-in, first-out method. Market price is estimated based on current sales of equipment.

	Inventories also include purchased data encryption software licenses held for sale to merchants who acquire the Company's End-to-End Encryption Solution (“E3”) for processing bankcard transactions, or purchase the upgraded terminal and point-of-sale devices incorporating E3.
Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, net	'
	Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, net—Capitalized customer acquisition costs consist of (1) up-front signing bonus payments made to Relationship Managers and sales managers (the Company's sales force, which are referred to as "salespersons") for the establishment of new merchant relationships, and (2) a deferred acquisition cost representing the estimated cost of buying out the residual commissions of vested salespersons. Capitalized customer acquisition costs represent incremental, direct customer acquisition costs that are recoverable through gross margins associated with merchant contracts. The capitalized customer acquisition costs are amortized using a method which approximates a proportional revenue approach over the initial three-year term of the merchant contract.

	The up-front signing bonus paid for new SME bankcard, payroll and loyalty marketing accounts is based on the estimated gross margin for the first year of the merchant contract. The signing bonus, amount capitalized, and related amortization are adjusted after the first year to reflect the actual gross margin generated by the merchant contract during that year. The deferred customer acquisition cost asset is accrued over the first year of SME bankcard, payroll and loyalty marketing merchant processing, consistent with the build-up in the accrued buyout liability, as described below.

	Management evaluates the capitalized customer acquisition costs for impairment on an annual basis by comparing, on a pooled basis by vintage month of origination, the expected future net cash flows from underlying merchant relationships to the carrying amount of the capitalized customer acquisition costs. If the estimated future net cash flows are lower than the recorded carrying amount, indicating an impairment of the value of the capitalized customer acquisition costs, the impairment loss will be charged to operations.
Property and Equipment	'
	Property and Equipment—Property and equipment are carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation for the Company's owned service center building in Jeffersonville, Indiana is computed straight-line over 39 years with depreciation on certain building improvements computed over 15 years. Depreciation is computed straight-line over periods ranging from 3 to 10 years for furniture and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the economic useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease.

	Equipment held under capitalized lease arrangements is included in property and equipment, and the associated liabilities are included in current and long-term borrowings as appropriate. Amortization of equipment under capitalized leases is included in depreciation and amortization expense.

	Fully depreciated property and equipment are retained in property and equipment and accumulated depreciation accounts until their disposal or removal from service. When fully depreciated property and equipment is taken out of service, the original cost basis and matching accumulated depreciation amounts are written off.

	Rent expense on operating leases is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease agreement. Tenant improvement allowances are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease agreement as a reduction to rent expense.

	The Company capitalizes software development costs and amortizes such costs on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of 3 to 7 years. Preliminary project costs incurred prior to establishing technological feasibility are charged to operations as such costs are incurred. Once technological feasibility is established, costs are capitalized until the software is placed in service.
Long-Lived Assets	'
Long-Lived Assets	Long-Lived Assets—The Company evaluates the potential for impairment when changes in circumstances indicate that undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by the related assets are less than the carrying amount. Management believed that no such changes in circumstances or impairment have occurred as of December 31, 2013 or 2012.
Goodwill	'
Goodwill	Goodwill— Goodwill represents the excess of acquisition costs over the fair values of net assets acquired in business combinations. The Company has recorded goodwill in connection with it acquisitions, including the 2011, 2012 and 2013 acquisitions of Comalex, mySchoolBucks, School-Link, Lunch Byte, Educational Computer Systems, Ovation Payroll and Leaf. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually and between annual tests if an event occurs or changes in circumstances suggest a potential decline in the fair value of the reporting unit. A significant amount of judgment is involved in determining if an indicator or change in circumstances relating to impairment has occurred. Such changes may include, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; a sustained decline in market capitalization; a significant adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate; unanticipated competition; and slower growth rates. The Company performs its annual goodwill impairment testing in the fourth quarter. The Company's evaluation indicated that no impairment exists and the fair value of each reporting unit subject to the impairment evaluation exceeded the carrying value as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, goodwill of $191.0 million and $168.1 million, respectively, was recorded on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Processing Liabilities And Loss Reserves	'
	Processing Liabilities—Processing liabilities result primarily from the Company's card processing activities.

	Processing liabilities primarily reflect funds in transit associated with differences arising between the amounts our sponsor banks receive from the bankcard networks and the amounts funded to the Company's merchants. Such differences arise from timing differences, interchange expense, merchant advances, merchant reserves and chargeback processing. These differences result in payables or receivables. If the settlement received from the bankcard networks precedes the funding obligation to the merchant, the Company records a processing liability. Conversely, if funding to the merchant precedes the settlement from the bankcard networks, the Company records a receivable from the bankcard network. In addition, certain bankcard networks restrict the Company from accessing merchant settlement funds and require that these funds be controlled by the Company's sponsor banks. The amounts are generally collected or paid the following business day.

	Chargebacks periodically arise due to disputes between a cardholder and a merchant resulting from the cardholder's dissatisfaction with merchandise quality or the merchant's service, and the disputes may not always be resolved in the merchant's favor. In some of these cases, the transaction is ''charged back'' to the merchant and the purchase price is refunded to the cardholder by the credit card-issuing institution. If the merchant is unable to fund the refund, the Company is liable for the full amount of the transaction. The Company's obligation to stand ready to perform is minimal. The Company maintains a deposit or the pledge of a letter of credit from certain merchants as an offset to potential contingent liabilities that are the responsibility of such merchants. The Company evaluates its ultimate risk and records an estimate of potential loss for chargebacks based upon an assessment of actual historical loss rates compared to recent bankcard processing volume levels. The Company believes that the liability recorded as loss reserves approximates fair value.
Accrued Buyout Liability	'
	Accrued Buyout Liability—The Company's Relationship Managers and sales managers are paid residual commissions based on the gross margin generated by monthly SME merchant processing activity. The Company has the right, but not the obligation, to buy out some or all of these commissions, and intends to do so periodically. Such purchases of the commissions are at a fixed multiple of the last twelve months' commissions. Because of the Company's intent and ability to execute purchases of the residual commissions, and the mutual understanding between the Company and the Relationship Managers and sales managers, the Company has accounted for this deferred compensation arrangement pursuant to the substantive nature of the plan. The Company therefore records the amount that it would have to pay (the ''settlement cost'') to buy out non-servicing related commissions in their entirety from vested Relationship Managers and sales managers, and an accrual, based on their progress towards vesting, for those unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers who are expected to vest in the future. As noted above, as the liability increases over the first year of a SME merchant contract, the Company also records a related deferred acquisition cost asset for currently vested Relationship Managers and sales managers. The accrued buyout liability associated with unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers is not included in the deferred acquisition cost asset since future services are required in order to vest. Subsequent changes in the estimated accrued buyout liability due to merchant attrition, same-store sales growth and changes in gross margin are included in the same income statement caption as customer acquisition costs expense.

	Beginning in June 2012, Relationship Managers and sales managers earn portfolio equity on their newly installed payroll and loyalty marketing merchant accounts based on the residual commissions they earn on those accounts. The accrued buyout liability and deferred acquisition cost asset are accrued in the same manner as the SME bankcard merchant portfolio equity.

	The accrued buyout liability is based on merchants under contract at the balance sheet date, the gross margin generated by those merchants over the prior twelve months, and the contractual buyout multiple. The liability related to a new merchant is therefore zero when the merchant is installed, and increases over the twelve months following the installation date. The same procedure is applied to unvested commissions over the expected vesting period, but is further adjusted to reflect the Company's estimate that 31% of unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers become vested, which represents the Company's historical vesting rate.

	The classification of the accrued buyout liability between current and non-current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets is based upon the Company's estimate of the amount of the accrued buyout liability that it reasonably expects to pay over the next twelve months. This estimate is developed by calculating the cumulative annual average percentage that total historical buyout payments represent of the accrued buyout liability. That percentage is applied to the period-end accrued buyout liability to determine the current portion.
Revenue	'
	Revenue—The Company classifies its revenues into five categories: Card Payment Processing, Heartland School Solutions, Heartland Ovation Payroll, Campus Solutions and Prepaid Card/Other. The Company recognizes revenue when (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been performed; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.

	Card Payment Processing revenue primarily consists of discount, per-transaction and periodic (primarily monthly) fees from the processing of Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover transactions for SME merchants and per-transaction fees for the authorization and settlement of transactions for Network Services merchants. Also included in this category are American Express and Discover servicing fees, merchant service fees, fees for processing chargebacks, termination fees on terminated contracts and fees from selling, renting and deploying point-of-sale devices. Interchange fees, which are the Company’s most significant expense, are set by the card networks and paid to the card issuing banks. For the majority of SME card processing revenue, the Company does not offset processing revenues and interchange fees because its business practice is to advance the interchange fees to most SME merchants when settling their daily transactions (thus paying the full amount of the transaction to the merchant), and then to collect the full discount fees from merchants on the first business day of the next month. The Company has merchant portability, credit risk, and the ultimate responsibility to the merchant and, as such, revenue is reported at the time of settlement on a gross basis. Payment processing services are transaction based and priced either as a fixed fee per transaction or calculated as a percentage of the transaction value. The fees are charged for the processing services provided and do not include the gross sales price paid by the ultimate buyer to the merchant. For SME merchants to whom the Company does not advance interchange, it records card processing revenues net of interchange fees. As Network Services does not advance interchange fees to its merchants, the Company records its card processing revenues net of interchange fees.
	The Company evaluates its contractual arrangements for indications that multiple element arrangements may exist. For contracts with multiple deliverables, the Company records revenue based on vendor specific objective evidence of selling price where applicable, or based on the best estimate of the selling price.

	Heartland School Solutions revenues include fees from sales and maintenance of cafeteria point-of-sale solutions and associated payment solutions, including online prepayment solutions, back office management and hardware and technical support. Revenues are recorded at the time of shipment, over the maintenance period, or at the provision of services.
	Heartland Ovation Payroll revenue includes fees charged for payroll processing services, including check printing, direct deposit, related federal, state and local tax deposits and providing accounting documentation and interest income earned on funds held for customers. Revenues are recorded at the time service is provided.
	Campus Solutions revenue includes fees associated with providing solutions to support administrative services for higher education, including student loan payment processing, delinquency and default services, refund management, tuition payment plans, electronic billing and payment, tax document services, and business outsourcing. Campus Solutions revenue also includes fees from the sale and maintenance of open- and closed-loop payment hardware and software solutions for college or university campuses to process small value electronic transactions. Revenues are recorded at the time of shipment, over the maintenance period, or at the provision of services.
	Prepaid Card and Other revenues include Micropayments fees from selling hardware and software for unattended online wireless credit card based payment systems, and unattended value top up systems for off-line closed-loop smart (chip) card based payment systems. Also included in this category are Heartland Marketing Solutions fees from selling mobile and card-based marketing services, gift cards and rewards services. Revenues are recorded at the time of shipment, over the maintenance period, or at the provision of services.
Loss Contingencies and Legal Expenses	'
Loss Contingencies and Legal Expenses	Loss Contingencies and Legal Expenses—The Company records a liability for loss contingencies when the liability is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. Legal fees associated with loss contingencies are recorded when the legal fees are incurred. The Company records recoveries from its insurance providers when cash is received from the provider.
Other Income (Expense)	'
Other Income (Expense)	Other Income (Expense)—Other income (expense) consists of interest income on cash and investments, the interest expense on our borrowings, the gains or losses on the disposal of property and equipment and other non-operating income or expense items.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes—The Company accounts for income taxes by recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. The impact on deferred assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that the rate change is enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded when it is determined that it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized.

	In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company entered into an agreement to sell CPOS. Because the Company would no longer be indefinitely reinvesting undistributed earnings of CPOS, the Company recognized income tax expense net of foreign tax credits, of $0.4 million in 2012 on the Company's 70% portion of the CPOS cumulative undistributed earnings at December 31, 2012. See Note 13, Income Taxes and Note 20, Discontinued Operation, for more detail.
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	Share–Based Compensation—The Company expenses employee share-based payments under the fair value method. Share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period.

	Excess tax benefits are generated when employees exercise non-qualified stock options, make disqualifying dispositions of shares acquired through their exercise of incentive stock options and vest in restricted share units.
	These excess tax benefits are reported as a financing cash inflow rather than a reduction of taxes paid, which is included within operating cash flows. Accordingly, cash provided by operating activities decreased and cash provided by financing activities increased by $11.6 million in 2013, $6.0 million in 2012 and $3.5 million in 2011 related to excess tax benefits from stock-based awards.

	Earnings per Share—Basic earnings per share was computed by dividing net income by weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share was computed based on the weighted average outstanding common shares plus equivalent shares assuming exercise of stock options and vesting of Restricted Share Units, where dilutive.
Derivative Financial Instruments	'
Derivative Financial Instruments	Derivative Financial Instruments—The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk on certain borrowings under its Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 10 herein). The Company recognizes the fair value of derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in investments, or accrued expenses and other liabilities. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments are recognized immediately in earnings unless the derivative is designated and qualifies as a hedge of future cash flows. For derivatives that qualify as hedges of future cash flows, the effective portion of changes in fair value is recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified into interest expense in the same periods during which the hedged item affects earnings. Any ineffectiveness of cash flow hedges would be recognized in other income (expense) in the Consolidated Statements of Income during the period of change.
Foreign Currency	'
Foreign Currency	Foreign Currency—The Canadian dollar was the functional currency of CPOS, which operated in Canada. CPOS' revenues and expenses were translated at the average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The foreign currency assets and liabilities of CPOS were translated at the period-end rate of exchange. The resulting translation adjustment was allocated between the Company and CPOS' noncontrolling interests and is recorded as a component of other comprehensive income. At December 31, 2012, the cumulative foreign currency translation reflected a loss of $45,000.
Noncontrolling Interests	'
	Noncontrolling Interests— Noncontrolling interests represent noncontrolling stockholders' share of the equity and after-tax net income or loss of Leaf as of December 31, 2013 and CPOS as of December 31, 2012.

	Noncontrolling stockholders' share of after-tax net income or loss of Leaf is included in Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2013, continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the year ended December 31, 2013.
Subsequent Events	'
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events—The Company evaluated subsequent events through the issuance date with respect to the Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013.
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	New Accounting Pronouncements—From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) or other standards setting bodies that are adopted by us as of the specified effective date.

	In July 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which provides guidance on the risks that are permitted to be hedged in a fair value or cash flow hedge. Among those risks for financial assets and financial liabilities is the risk of changes in a hedged item's fair value or a hedged transaction's cash flows attributable to changes in the designated benchmark interest rate (referred to as interest rate risk). This update is effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. The implementation of this update did not have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

	In July 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which provides explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. The amendments in this update are expected to reduce diversity in practice by providing guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits and will reflect the manner in which an entity would settle at the reporting date any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carryfowards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exist. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013, with early adoption permitted. The amendments would be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted. The implementation of this update is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Organization_and_Operations_Ta

Organization and Operations (Tables) (Visa And MasterCard [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Visa And MasterCard [Member]	'
Organization and Operations Tables	'
Bankcard Processing Volume	'


	Following is a breakout of the Company’s total Visa and MasterCard settled card processing volume for the month ending December 31, 2013 by percentage processed under its individual bank sponsorship agreements:
			% of December 2013
		Sponsor Bank	Card Processing
			Volume
		Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.	67%
		The Bancorp Bank	22%
		Barclays Bank Delaware	11%

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Components of Interest Rate Swaps	'
	The following table summarizes the components of the interest rate swaps.


		December 31, 2013			31-Dec-12
		(In thousands)
	Notional value	$	25,000		$	35,000

	Fair value (a)	(411		)	(817		)
	Deferred tax benefit	153			313

	(a) Recorded as a liability in accrued expenses and other liabilities

Acquisitions_Acquisitions_Tabl

Acquisitions Acquisitions (Tables) (Leaf Acquisition, LLC [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Leaf Acquisition, LLC [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Weighted Average Amortization Life for Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets	'


	The weighted average amortization life for the 2013 acquired finite lived intangible assets related to acquisition of Leaf is as follows:
		Weighted-average amortization life
			(In years)
		Software	7
		Patents	5
		Overall	6.9

Receivables_Tables

Receivables (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable	'


	A summary of receivables by major class was as follows at December 31, 2013 and 2012:
			December 31,
			2013				2012
			(In thousands)
		Accounts receivable from merchants	$	172,147			$	160,702

		Accounts receivable from bankcard networks	26,842				19,588

		Accounts receivable from others	2,083				1,596

			201,072				181,886

		Less allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,032		)		(1,438		)
		Total receivables, net	$	200,040			$	180,448

Summary of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivables	'


	A summary of the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012
	and 2011 was as follows:			Year Ended December 31,
				2013				2012			2011
				(In thousands)
		Beginning balance		$	1,438			$	1,407		$	661

		Additions to allowance		180				818			2,234

		Charges against allowance		(586		)		(787		)	(1,488		)
		Ending balance		$	1,032			$	1,438		$	1,407

Funds_Held_for_Customers_and_I1

Funds Held for Customers and Investments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Funds Held for Payroll Customers and Investments [Abstract]	'
Funds Held for Customers and Investments [Text Block]	'
	Funds Held for Customers and Investments

	A summary of Funds held for customers and investments, including the cost, gross unrealized gains (losses) and estimated fair value for investments held to maturity and investments available-for-sale by major security type and class of security was as follows at December 31, 2013 and 2012:


		Cost		Gross		Gross		Estimated
				Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
		(In thousands)
	December 31, 2013
	Funds Held for Customers:
	Conservative income bond fund - available for sale	$	12,000	$	10	$	—	$	12,010

	Fixed income bond fund - available for sale	968		254		—		1,222

	Cash held for payroll customers	88,376		—		—		88,376

	Cash held for Campus Solutions customers	25,767		—		—		25,767

	Total Funds held for customers	$	127,111	$	264	$	—	$	127,375


	Investments:
	Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit (a)	$	33	$	—	$	—	$	33

	Total investments	$	33	$	—	$	—	$	33



		Cost		Gross		Gross		Estimated
				Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
		(In thousands)
	December 31, 2012
	Funds Held for Customers:
	Fixed income bond fund - available for sale	$	968	$	244	$	—	$	1,212

	Cash held for payroll customers	110,334		—		—		110,334

	Cash held for Campus Solutions customers	19,859		—		—		19,859

	Total Funds held for customers	$	131,161	$	244	$	—	$	131,405


	Investments:
	Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit	$	1,199	$	—	$	—	$	1,199

	Total investments	$	1,199	$	—	$	—	$	1,199

	(a) Certificates of deposit have remaining term of 8 months.

	Also included in Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet are other investments, at cost. As of December 31, 2013, other investments, at cost, includes a $4.0 million investment in the equity of ATX Innovation, Inc. ("Tabbedout").

	During the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company did not experience any other-than-temporary losses on its investments.

	All available-for-sale debt securities and held to maturity investments, having aggregate amortized cost of $5.1 million and estimated fair value of $5.3 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2013, are due in one year or less.
Funds Held for Payroll Customers and Investments	'
	A summary of Funds held for customers and investments, including the cost, gross unrealized gains (losses) and estimated fair value for investments held to maturity and investments available-for-sale by major security type and class of security was as follows at December 31, 2013 and 2012:


		Cost		Gross		Gross		Estimated
				Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
		(In thousands)
	December 31, 2013
	Funds Held for Customers:
	Conservative income bond fund - available for sale	$	12,000	$	10	$	—	$	12,010

	Fixed income bond fund - available for sale	968		254		—		1,222

	Cash held for payroll customers	88,376		—		—		88,376

	Cash held for Campus Solutions customers	25,767		—		—		25,767

	Total Funds held for customers	$	127,111	$	264	$	—	$	127,375


	Investments:
	Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit (a)	$	33	$	—	$	—	$	33

	Total investments	$	33	$	—	$	—	$	33



		Cost		Gross		Gross		Estimated
				Unrealized		Unrealized		Fair Value
				Gains		Losses
		(In thousands)
	December 31, 2012
	Funds Held for Customers:
	Fixed income bond fund - available for sale	$	968	$	244	$	—	$	1,212

	Cash held for payroll customers	110,334		—		—		110,334

	Cash held for Campus Solutions customers	19,859		—		—		19,859

	Total Funds held for customers	$	131,161	$	244	$	—	$	131,405


	Investments:
	Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit	$	1,199	$	—	$	—	$	1,199

	Total investments	$	1,199	$	—	$	—	$	1,199

	(a) Certificates of deposit have remaining term of 8 months.

Capitalized_Customer_Acquisiti1

Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net [Abstract]	'
Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs Net	'


	A summary of net capitalized customer acquisition costs as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was as follows:
			December 31,
			2013			2012
			(In thousands)
		Capitalized signing bonuses	$	86,886		$	84,728

		Less accumulated amortization	(43,775		)	(42,941		)
			43,111			41,787

		Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	45,241			37,736

		Less accumulated amortization	(27,325		)	(23,098		)
			17,916			14,638

		Capitalized customer acquisition costs, net	$	61,027		$	56,425

Capitalized Customer Acquisition Activity	'


	A summary of the activity in capitalized customer acquisition costs, net for the three years ended December 31, 2013,
	2012 and 2011 was as follows:		Year Ended December 31,
			2013			2012			2011
			(In thousands)
		Balance at beginning of period	$	56,425		$	55,014		$	59,251

		Plus additions to:
		Capitalized signing bonuses, net	29,091			29,320			29,035

		Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	21,159			17,216			14,276

			50,250			46,536			43,311

		Less amortization expense on:
		Capitalized signing bonuses, net (a)	(27,767		)	(29,244		)	(32,088		)
		Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	(17,881		)	(15,881		)	(15,460		)
			(45,648		)	(45,125		)	(47,548		)
		Balance at end of period	$	61,027		$	56,425		$	55,014

Property_and_Equipment_Net_Tab

Property and Equipment, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'


	A summary of property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows:
			December 31,
			2013			2012
			(In thousands)
		Computer hardware and software	$	184,515		$	151,916

		Building	54,910			54,359

		Leasehold improvements	7,815			5,734

		Furniture, fixtures and equipment	17,761			16,342

		Land	7,427			5,873

			272,428			234,224

		Less accumulated depreciation	(125,040		)	(109,193		)
			$	147,388		$	125,031

Intangible_Assets_and_Goodwill1

Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class	'


	Intangible Assets — Intangible assets consisted of the following as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
		December 31, 2013											Amortization Life and Method
		Gross				Accumulated			Net Asset
		Assets				Amortization			Net Asset
		(In thousands)
	Finite Lived Assets:
	Customer relationships	$	49,814			$	14,107		$	35,707			3 to 18 years—proportional cash flow
	Customer relationships	$	49,814			$	14,107		$	35,707			3 to 18 years—proportional cash flow
	Merchant portfolio	4,095				2,703			1,392				7 years—proportional cash flow
	Merchant portfolio	4,095				2,703			1,392				7 years—proportional cash flow
	Software	20,750				10,934			9,816				2 to 5 years—straight line
	Software	20,750				10,934			9,816				2 to 5 years—straight line
	Non-compete agreements	4,489				1,880			2,609				3 to 5 years—straight line
	Non-compete agreements	4,489				1,880			2,609				3 to 5 years—straight line
	Other	385				52			333				2 to 9 years—straight line
	Other	385				52			333				2 to 9 years—straight line
		$	79,533			$	29,676		$	49,857
		$	79,533			$	29,676		$	49,857


		December 31, 2012											Amortization Life and Method
		Gross				Accumulated			Net Asset
		Assets				Amortization			Net Asset
		(In thousands)
	Finite Lived Assets:
	Customer relationships	$	52,125			$	8,318		$	43,807			3 to 18 years—proportional cash flow
	Customer relationships	$	52,125			$	8,318		$	43,807			3 to 18 years—proportional cash flow
	Merchant portfolio	3,345				2,316			1,029				7 years—proportional cash flow
	Merchant portfolio	3,345				2,316			1,029				7 years—proportional cash flow
	Software	14,150				9,016			5,134				3 to 5 years—straight line
	Software	14,150				9,016			5,134				3 to 5 years—straight line
	Non-compete agreements	4,590				1,030			3,560				3 to 5 years—straight line
	Non-compete agreements	4,590				1,030			3,560				3 to 5 years—straight line
	Other	85				21			64				2 to 9 years—straight line
	Other	85				21			64				2 to 9 years—straight line
		$	74,295			$	20,701		$	53,594
		$	74,295			$	20,701		$	53,594

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense	'


	The estimated amortization expense related to intangible assets for the next five years is as follows:
		For the Years Ended December 31,
			(In thousands)
		2014	$	8,499
		2014	$	8,499
		2015	7,954
		2015	7,954
		2016	6,952
		2016	6,952
		2017	5,628
		2017	5,628
		2018	4,398
		2018	4,398
		Thereafter	16,426
		Thereafter	16,426
			$	49,857
			$	49,857

Schedule of Goodwill	'


	Goodwill — The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the years ended December 31, 2013,
	2012 and 2011 were as follows:		Card Payment Processing				Heartland Ovation Payroll			Heartland School Solutions				Campus Solutions		Other		Total
	Balance at January 1, 2011		$	43,701			$	—		$	5,507			$	3,321	$	6,501	$	59,030
	Balance at January 1, 2011		$	43,701			$	—		$	5,507			$	3,321	$	6,501	$	59,030
		Goodwill acquired during the period	—				—			34,506				—		—		34,506
		Goodwill acquired during the period	—				—			34,506				—		—		34,506
		Other (a)	—				—			719				—		—		719
		Other (a)	—				—			719				—		—		719
	Balance at December 31, 2011		43,701				—			40,732				3,321		6,501		94,255
	Balance at December 31, 2011		43,701				—			40,732				3,321		6,501		94,255
		Goodwill acquired during the period	—				30,831			15,231				30,358		—		76,420
		Goodwill acquired during the period	—				30,831			15,231				30,358		—		76,420
		Other (a)	—				—			(2,613		)		—		—		(2,613		)
		Other (a)	—				—			(2,613		)		—		—		(2,613		)
	Balance at December 31, 2012		43,701				30,831			53,350				33,679		6,501		168,062
	Balance at December 31, 2012		43,701				30,831			53,350				33,679		6,501		168,062
		Goodwill acquired during the period	20,619				—			—				—		—		20,619
		Goodwill acquired during the period	20,619				—			—				—		—		20,619
		Other (a)	—				187			—				2,110		—		2,297
		Other (a)	—				187			—				2,110		—		2,297
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	64,320			$	31,018		$	53,350			$	35,789	$	6,501	$	190,978
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	64,320			$	31,018		$	53,350			$	35,789	$	6,501	$	190,978
	(a) Reflects adjustments to preliminary allocations of purchase price within the measurement period.
PercentofGoodwillbySegment [Table Text Block]	'


	Percentage of total reportable segments' assets that was goodwill as of December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 is as
	follows:		Percent of Goodwill to Reportable Segments' Total Assets
			2013		2012		2011
		Card Payment Processing	11.30%		9.40%		9.70%
		Heartland Ovation Payroll	19.90%		18.50%		—
		Heartland School Solutions	67.90%		74.90%		77.60%
		Campus Solutions	43.80%		43.60%		48.70%
		Other	37.70%		20.00%		20.30%

Processing_Liabilities_Tables

Processing Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Processing Liabilities and Loss Reserves [Abstract]	'
Summary Of Processing Liabilities And Loss Reserves	'
	A summary of processing liabilities and loss reserves was as follows at December 31, 2013 and 2012:


		December 31,
		2013				2012
		(In thousands)
	Merchant bankcard processing	$	121,143			$	86,882

	Merchant deposits	8,223				6,436

	Loss reserves	1,505				1,955

		$	130,871			$	95,273


Schedule Of Credit And Fraud Loss Reserve	'


	A summary of the activity in the loss reserve for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was as follows:
			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012			2011
			(In thousands)
		Beginning balance	$	1,955			$	1,957		1,625

		Additions to reserve	2,738				2,123			5,658

		Charges against reserve (a)	(3,188		)		(2,125		)	(5,326	)
		Ending balance	$	1,505			$	1,955		1,957


	(a)	Included in these amounts are Payroll Processing segment losses for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 of $111,000, $93,000 and $223,000

Accrued_Buyout_Liability_Table

Accrued Buyout Liability (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accrued Buyout Liability [Abstract]	'
Summary of Accrued Buyout Liability	'


	A summary of the accrued buyout liability was as follows as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:
			December 31,
			2013			2012
			(In thousands)
		Vested Relationship Managers and sales managers	$	38,082		$	33,926

		Unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers	1,297			1,484

			39,379			35,410

		Less current portion	(13,943		)	(10,478		)
		Long-term portion of accrued buyout liability	$	25,436		$	24,932


Summary of Activity in Accrued Buyout Liability	'


	A summary of the activity in the accrued buyout liability for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and
	2011 was as follows:		Year Ended December 31,
			2013			2012			2011
			(In thousands)
		Beginning balance	$	35,410		$	31,658		$	28,810

		Increase in settlement obligation, net	17,620			15,638			13,228

		Buyouts	(13,651		)	(11,886		)	(10,380		)
		Ending balance	$	39,379		$	35,410		$	31,658

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Summary of Common Stock Repurchases	'
	A summary of repurchase activity under these authorizations is as follows:


		Repurchase Programs by Authorization Date
		Oct-11			Jul-12		Nov-12	May-13	Total
	Activity For the Year ended December 31, 2013
	Shares repurchased	—			—		952,183	534,600	1,486,783

	Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands)	—			—		$29,813	$20,488	$50,301

	Average cost per share	—			—		$31.31	$38.32	$33.83

	Remaining authorization (in thousands)	—			—		—	$54,512	$54,512


	Activity For the Year ended December 31, 2012
	Shares repurchased	1,157,440			1,760,804		715,800	—	3,634,044

	Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands)	$33,172			$50,000		$20,187	—	$103,359

	Average cost per share	$28.66			$28.40		$28.20	—	$28.44


	Activity For the Year ended December 31, 2011
	Shares repurchased	778,889			—		—	—	778,889

	Cost of shares repurchased (in thousands)	$16,828			—		—	—	$16,828

	Average cost per share	$21.61			—		—	—	$21.61


Schedule Of Dividends Paid	'
	During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company's Board of Directors declared the following quarterly cash dividends on common stock:


	Date Declared		Record Date	Date Paid		Amount Paid
						Per Common Share
	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2013

	February 7, 2013		March 4, 2013	March 15, 2013		$0.07

	April 30, 2013		May 24, 2013	June 15, 2013		$0.07

	July 30, 2013		August 23, 2013	September 13, 2013		$0.07

	October 29, 2013		November 22, 2013	December 13, 2013		$0.07

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2012

	February 8, 2012		March 2, 2012	March 15, 2012		$0.06

	May 1, 2012		May 24, 2012	June 15, 2012		$0.06

	July 27, 2012		August 24, 2012	September 14, 2012		$0.06

	November 1, 2012		November 23, 2012	December 14, 2012		$0.06

	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2011

	February 16, 2011		March 4, 2011	March 15, 2011		$0.04

	May 13, 2011		May 24, 2011	June 15, 2011		$0.04

	August 2, 2011		August 24, 2011	September 15, 2011		$0.04

	October 21, 2011		November 24, 2011	December 15, 2011		$0.04

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	'


	The provision for income taxes for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 consists of the
	following:		Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
		Continuing Operations:	(in thousands)
		Current:
		Federal	$	31,326			$	32,155			$	23,949

		State	4,810				3,481				740

		Deferred:
		Federal	8,766				3,737				(435		)

		State	1,548				1,318				2,297

		Total provision for income taxes from continuing operations	46,450				40,691				26,551


Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation	'
	The differences in federal income taxes provided (benefited) from continuing operations and the amounts determined by applying the federal statutory tax rate of 35% to income before income taxes for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 are:


		Year Ended December 31,
		2013							2012						2011
		%			Amount				%			Amount			%		Amount
					(In thousands)							(In thousands)					(In thousands)
	U.S. federal income tax at statutory rate	35	%		$	42,193			35	%		$	36,765		35	%	$	24,338

	U.S. state and local income taxes, net	3.26	%		3,932				2.93	%		3,065			2.88	%	2,001

	Nondeductible expenses	0.52	%		621				0.46	%		492			0.37	%	261

	Research and development credit, net	(1.19	)%		(1,435		)		—	%		—			—		—

	Valuation allowance	0.6	%		724				—	%		—			(0.01	)%	(5		)

	U.S. tax on foreign income, net	—	%		—				0.38	%		400			—		—

	Other	0.34	%		415				(0.03	)%		(31		)	(0.06	)%	(44		)

	Provision for income taxes from	38.53	%		$	46,450			38.74	%		$	40,691		38.18	%	$	26,551
	continuing operations

Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reconciliation	'
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 is as follows:


		Year Ended December 31,
		2013				2012				2011
		(In thousands)
	Balance at January 1,	$	3,069			$	1,819			$	1,309

	Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	2,681				1,429				637

	Lapse of statute of limitations	(117		)		(32		)		(127		)
	Settlements	—				(147		)		—

	Balance at December 31,	$	5,633			$	3,069			$	1,819


Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	'


	The net deferred tax asset (liability) was comprised of the following at December 31, 2013 and 2012:
			December 31,
			2013				2012
		Deferred tax assets:	(In thousands)
		Merchant contract costs	$	8,542			$	8,165

		Loss reserve and accounts receivable allowance	859				1,189

		Share-based compensation	8,154				8,702

		FIN No. 48 deferred tax reserve-state tax	1,968				1,185

		Other comprehensive income	170				312

		Net operating loss carry-forward	11,034				8,333

		Reserve for litigation	591				605

		State net operating loss carry-forwards	24				30

		Reserve for processor incentive	44				217

		Deferred compensation	2,632				2,950

		Deferred state tax assets	1,487				1,141

		Other	1,229				799

		Deferred tax assets	36,734				33,628

		Less valuation allowance	(2,906		)		(158		)
		Net deferred tax assets	33,828				33,470

		Deferred tax liabilities:
		Capitalized signing bonus	17,173				16,068

		Software development	27,419				18,970

		Unearned rent	(240		)		227

		Property and equipment	3,597				3,916

		Goodwill	12,591				9,044

		Investment in CPOS	—				400

		Intangibles	4,340				4,002

		Deferred tax liabilities	64,880				52,627

		Net deferred tax liabilities	(31,052		)		(19,157		)
		Less current deferred tax asset, net	9,548				10,475

		Net deferred tax liabilities - non-current portion	$	(40,600	)		$	(29,632	)

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Tables

Stock Incentive Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation Allocation of Recognized Period Costs	'
	Amounts the Company recognized in its consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 with respect to these share-based plans were as follows:


			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
			(In thousands)
	Compensation expense recognized on share-based		$	12,838			$	14,187			$	9,548
	plans before income tax benefit
	Related income tax benefit recognized in the		4,981				5,458				3,635
	income statement
	Cash received from stock option exercises		14,174				18,303				9,685

	Excess tax benefit recorded for tax deductions		11,596				5,954				3,454
	resulting from the exercise of stock options
	Tax benefit realized as reductions of estimated tax		8,587				4,220				2,954
	payments during the period
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions	'
	The fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was estimated at the grant date using the following weighted average assumptions:


		Year ended December 31,
			2012			2011
	Expected volatility		55	%		55	%
	Expected life		3.75 years			3.65 years

	Expected dividends		1	%		0.8	%
	Risk-free interest rate		0.51	%		0.55	%

Summary of Future Diluted Earnings Per Share Target Associated With Restricted Share Units	'
	In the fourth quarters of 2011, 2012, and 2013, the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved grants of performance-based Restricted Share Units with grant-specific vesting and performance target terms as shown in the following table:


				Performance Awards by Grant Date
				4th Quarter 2011		4th Quarter 2012		4th Quarter 2013
		RSU's Granted		164,808		72,004		115,223
		Vesting during 2014		50%		—		—
		Vesting during 2015		50%		50%		—
		Vesting during 2016		—		50%		—
		Vesting during 2017		—		—		50%
		Vesting during 2018		—		—		50%
		Grant Performance Target		(a)		(b)		(c)


	(a)	These Restricted Share Units will vest 50% in 2014 and 50% in 2015 since the Company achieved a pro forma diluted earnings per share compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") for the two-year period ending December 31, 2013 in excess of the performance target. The CAGR achieved for the two-year period ending December 31, 2013 resulted in holders earning the maximum 100% increase in the number of shares awarded.


	(b)	These Restricted Share Units will vest only if the Company achieves a pro forma diluted earnings per share CAGR of fifteen percent (15%) for the two-year period ending December 31, 2014. For each 1% that the CAGR actually achieved for the two year period ending on December 31, 2014 is above the 15% target, the number of shares underlying the Restricted Share Units awarded would be increased by 2.08%; provided, however, that the maximum increase in the number of shares that may be awarded is 125%. Likewise, for each 1% that the CAGR actually achieved for the two-year period ending on December 31, 2014 is below the 15% target, the number of shares underlying the Restricted Share Units awarded would be decreased by 1.31%. If the target CAGR is missed by 67% or more, then the number of shares awarded is zero. The Company has recorded expense on these Restricted Share Units based on achieving the 15% target.

	(c)	These Restricted Share Units will vest only if the Company achieves a pro forma diluted earnings per share growth rate of forty percent (40%) over the three-year period ending December 31, 2016. For each 1% that the growth rate actually achieved for the three-year period ending on December 31, 2016 is above the 40% target, the number of shares underlying the Restricted Share Units awarded would be increased by 1.20%; provided, however, that the maximum increase in the number of shares that may be awarded is 150%. Likewise, for each 1% that the growth rate actually achieved for the three-year period ending on December 31, 2016 is below the 40% target, the number of shares underlying the Restricted Share Units awarded would be decreased by 1.50%. If the target growth rate is missed by 50% or more, then the number of shares awarded is zero. The Company has recorded expense on these Restricted Share Units based on achieving the 40% target
	Pro forma diluted earnings per share for (a), (b) and (c) performance targets will be calculated excluding non-operating gains and losses, if any, and excluding the after-tax impact of share-based compensation expense. The closing price of the Company's common stock on the grant date equals the grant date fair value of these nonvested Restricted Share Units awards and will be recognized as compensation expense over their vesting periods.
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Activity	'
	Stock option and restricted share activity in the Company's share-based plans during 2011, 2012 and 2013 was as follows:


			Stock Options						Restricted Share Units						Combined
			Shares		Weighted-Average Exercise Price				Shares			Weighted-Average Grant Price			Shares		Weighted-Average Exercise/Grant Price
	Options outstanding		7,454,166		$	15.28			880,110			$	14.23		8,334,276		$	15.17
	at January 1, 2011
	Issued		31,568		$	20.59			372,532			$	22.02		404,100		$	21.91

	Exercised/vested		(1,133,974	)	$	8.54			(112,480		)	$	10.59		(1,246,454	)	$	8.72

	Forfeited/cancelled		(385,695	)	$	20.39			(37,060		)	$	16.35		(422,755	)	$	20.04

	Outstanding at		5,966,065		$	16.26			1,103,102			$	17.11		7,069,167		$	16.39
	December 31, 2011
	Options exercisable		2,264,769		$	16.67			—			$	—		2,264,769		$	16.67
	at December 31, 2011
	Issued		27,496		$	24.28			568,624			$	29.88		596,120		$	29.62

	Exercised/vested		(1,522,429	)	$	12.03			(175,000		)	$	14.57		(1,697,429	)	$	12.29

	Forfeited/cancelled		(240,945	)	$	22.2			(32,090		)	$	21.78		(273,035	)	$	22.15

	Outstanding at		4,230,187		$	17.39			1,464,636			$	22.31		5,694,823		$	18.65
	December 31, 2012
	Options exercisable		808,962		$	12.16			—			$	—		808,962		$	12.16
	at December 31, 2012
	Issued		—		$	—			491,542			$	42.5		491,542		$	42.5

	Exercised/vested		(1,264,825	)	$	11.21			(502,225		)	$	18.72		(1,767,050	)	$	13.34

	Forfeited/cancelled		(2,283,218	)	$	21.84			(98,451		)	$	23.88		(2,381,669	)	$	21.92

	Outstanding at		682,144		$	14.26			1,355,502			$	30.83		2,037,646		$	25.29
	December 31, 2013
	Options exercisable		394,252		$	13.2			—			$	—		394,252		$	13.2
	at December 31, 2013

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range	'
	Stock options and Restricted Share Units outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2013 are summarized by exercise price below:


		Outstanding									Exercisable
	Exercise price per share	Stock Options			Restricted Share Units			Total			Stock Options			Restricted Share Units	Total
	$6.25 to $12.16	164,371			—			164,371			164,371			—	164,371

	$15.22 to $24.28	517,773			457,715			975,488			229,881			—	229,881

	$29.57 to $44.62	—			897,787			897,787			—			—	—

		682,144			1,355,502			2,037,646			394,252			—	394,252


	The table below summarizes stock options and Restricted Share Units outstanding at December 31, 2013 by their weighted average remaining contractual term:


		Stock Options					Restricted Share Units
	Exercise price per share	Outstanding			Average Remaining Contractual Term		Outstanding			Average Remaining Contractual Term
	$6.25 to $12.16	164,371			0.6 years		—			—

	$15.22 to $24.28	517,773			1.7 years		457,715			1.2 years

	$29.57 to $44.62	—			—		897,787			3.2 years

		682,144			1.4 years		1,355,502			2.4 years

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	The following tables provide the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:


	December 31, 2013			Fair Value Measurement Category
		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Assets:	(In thousands)
	Investments available for sale:
	Conservative income bond fund (a)	$	12,010	$	12,010	$	—	$	—

	Fixed income bond fund (a)	1,222		1,222		—		—

	Total assets	$	13,232	$	13,232	$	—	$	—


	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swaps	$	411	$	—	$	411	$	—

	Total liabilities	$	411	$	—	$	411	$	—



	December 31, 2012			Fair Value Measurement Category
		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Assets:	(In thousands)
	Investments available for sale:
	Fixed income bond fund (a)	$	1,212	$	1,212	$	—	$	—

	Total assets	$	1,212	$	1,212	$	—	$	—


	Liabilities:
	Interest rate swaps	$	817	$	—	$	817	$	—

	Total liabilities	$	817	$	—	$	817	$	—

	(a) amounts included in Funds held for customers on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Nonrecurring Basis	'
	The following tables provide the assets and liabilities carried at fair value measured on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2013 and 2012:


	December 31, 2013			Fair Value Measurement Category
		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Assets:	(In thousands)
	Investments held to maturity:
	Certificates of deposit	$	33	$	—	$	33	$	—

	Total assets	$	33	$	—	$	33	$	—


	Liabilities:
	Revolving credit facility	$	150,000	$	—	$	150,000	$	—

	Total liabilities	$	150,000	$	—	$	150,000	$	—



	December 31, 2012			Fair Value Measurement Category
		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	Assets:	(In thousands)
	Investments held to maturity:
	Certificates of deposit	$	1,199	$	—	$	1,199	$	—

	Total assets	$	1,199	$	—	$	1,199	$	—


	Liabilities:
	Term Credit Facility	$	70,000	$	—	$	70,000	$	—

	Prior Revolving Credit Facility	82,000		—		82,000		—

	Total liabilities	$	152,000	$	—	$	152,000	$	—

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases	'
	Future minimum lease payments for all non-cancelable leases as of December 31, 2013 were as follows:


	For the Years Ended December 31,	Operating
	For the Years Ended December 31,	Leases (a)
		(In thousands)
	2014	$	10,410
	2014	$	10,410
	2015	7,747
	2015	7,747
	2016	5,479
	2016	5,479
	2017	3,627
	2017	3,627
	2018	3,624
	2018	3,624
	Thereafter	8,020
	Thereafter	8,020
	Total future minimum lease payments	$	38,907
	Total future minimum lease payments	$	38,907
	(a) There were no material capital leases at December 31, 2013.
Schedule Of Contractual Obligations	'
	The following table reflects the Company’s other significant contractual obligations, including leases from above, as of December 31, 2013:


			Payments Due by Period
	Contractual Obligations		Total		Less than		1 to 3		3 to 5		More
					1 year		Years		years		than 5
											years
			(In thousands)
	Processing providers (a)		$	12,922	$	6,844	$	6,078	$	—	$	—
	Processing providers (a)		$	12,922	$	6,844	$	6,078	$	—	$	—
	Telecommunications providers (b)		6,939		3,359		2,743		837		—
	Telecommunications providers (b)		6,939		3,359		2,743		837		—
	Facility and equipment leases		38,907		10,410		13,226		7,251		8,020
	Facility and equipment leases		38,907		10,410		13,226		7,251		8,020
	Revolving Credit Facility (c)		150,000		—		—		150,000		—
	Revolving Credit Facility (c)		150,000		—		—		150,000		—
			$	208,768	$	20,613	$	22,047	$	158,088	$	8,020
			$	208,768	$	20,613	$	22,047	$	158,088	$	8,020


	(a)	The Company has agreements with several third-party processors to provide to us on a non-exclusive basis payment processing and transmittal, transaction authorization and data capture services, and access to various reporting tools. The Company's agreements with third-party processors require it to submit a minimum monthly number of transactions or volume for processing. If the Company submits a number of transactions or volume that is lower than the minimum, it is required to pay the third-party processors the fees that they would have received if the Company had submitted the required minimum number or volume of transactions.

	(b)	The Company has agreements in place with several large telecommunications companies that provide data center services, wide area network connectivity, and voice services that are used by both the Company call center and card payment processing platforms. These providers require both dollar and term commitments for the services they provide. If the Company does not meet the minimum terms, then there is a requirement to pay the remaining commitments.

	(c)	Interest rates on the Revolving Credit Facility are variable in nature; however, the Company is party to fixed-pay amortizing interest rate swaps having a remaining notional amount at December 31, 2013 of $25.0 million. If interest rates were to remain at the December 31, 2013 level, the Company would make interest payments of $1.4 million in the next year and $0.5 million in the next 1 to 3 years or a total of $2.0 million including net settlements on the fixed-pay amortizing interest rate swaps. The Revolving Credit Facility is available on a revolving basis until October 23, 2018.

Segments_Tables

Segments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment	'
	A summary of the Company’s segments for the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was as follows:


			December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
	Revenues		(In thousands)
	Card Payment Processing		$	1,981,011			$	1,923,145			$	1,925,667

	Heartland School Solutions		50,541				36,614				11,178

	Heartland Ovation Payroll		44,565				21,368				19,505

	Campus Solutions		36,186				8,065				6,488

	Other		23,069				24,244				22,739

	Total revenues		$	2,135,372			$	2,013,436			$	1,985,577




	Depreciation and amortization
	Card Payment Processing		$	26,934			$	24,057			$	23,313

	Heartland School Solutions		2,282				482				1,412

	Heartland Ovation Payroll		3,478				1,153				694

	Campus Solutions		2,330				418				263

	Other		1,641				1,481				1,288

	Unallocated Corporate Administration Amounts		(1,311		)		241				471

	Total depreciation and amortization		$	35,354			$	27,832			$	27,441




	Interest Income
	Card Payment Processing		$	121			$	201			$	142

	Campus Solutions		3				—				—

	Total interest income		$	124			$	201			$	142




	Interest Expense
	Card Payment Processing		$	5,425			$	3,729			$	4,329

	Campus Solutions		7				7				2

	Other		—				—				3

	Reconciling		(3		)		(290		)		(212		)
	Total interest expense		$	5,429			$	3,446			$	4,122




	Net income from continuing operations
Card Payment Processing		$	80,985			$	75,691			$	68,613

Heartland School Solutions		9,085				5,371				2,255

Heartland Ovation Payroll		2,056				1,682				393

Campus Solutions		2,255				(104		)		(404		)

Other		462				975				1,589

Unallocated corporate administration amounts		(20,741		)		(19,262		)		(29,458		)
Total net income from continuing operations		$	74,102			$	64,353			$	42,988




Assets
Card Payment Processing		$	566,943			$	466,196			$	451,757

Heartland School Solutions		78,573				71,182				52,520

Heartland Ovation Payroll		155,823				166,317				53,750

Campus Solutions		81,719				77,168				6,826

Other		17,247				32,551				32,068

Total assets		$	900,305			$	813,414			$	596,921

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share	'
	The following is a reconciliation of the amounts used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share:


		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
		(In thousands, except per share)
	Numerator:
	Income from continuing operations attributable to Heartland	$	74,712	$	64,353	$	42,988

	Income from discontinued operations attributable to Heartland	3,914		1,536		951

	Net income attributable to Heartland	$	78,626	$	65,889	$	43,939


	Denominator:
	Basic weighted average shares outstanding	36,791		38,468		38,931

	Effect of dilutive instruments:
	Stock options and restricted stock units	1,262		1,590		1,302

	Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	38,053		40,058		40,233


	Basic earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations	$	2.03	$	1.67	$	1.1

	Income from discontinued operations	$	0.11	$	0.04	$	0.03

	Basic earnings per share	$	2.14	$	1.71	$	1.13

	Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations	$	1.96	$	1.6	$	1.07

	Income from discontinued operations	$	0.1	$	0.04	$	0.02

	Diluted earnings per share	$	2.06	$	1.64	$	1.09

Discontinued_Operation_Tables

Discontinued Operation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Discontinued Operation, Balance Sheet and Income Statement Disclosures	'
	Assets held for sale and liabilities related to assets held for sale included the following at December 31, 2013 and 2012:


		As of December 31,
		2013		2012
		(In thousands)
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	2,141

	Receivables, net	—		904

	Investments held to maturity	—		3,229

	Inventory	—		406

	Property and equipment, net	—		620

	Goodwill	—		9,337

	Intangible assets, net	—		260

	Other assets	—		147

	Total assets held for sale	$	—	$	17,044


	Accounts payable	$	—	$	497

	Processing liabilities	—		86

	Accrued expenses and other liabilities	—		1,089

	Total liabilities related to assets held for sale	$	—	$	1,672


	Income from discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands of dollars):


		As of December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Revenues	$	1,117	$	13,123	$	11,373

	Expenses	870		10,186		9,471

	Income from operations	247		2,937		1,902

	Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax	184		2,185		1,359
	of $68, $803, and $575
	Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of income tax of $2,067	3,786		—		—

	Net income from discontinued operations attributable to	56		649		408
	non-controlling interests
	Net income from discontinued operations attributable to Heartland	3,914		1,536		951

Quarterly_Consolidated_Results1

Quarterly Consolidated Results of Income (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information	'
	The Company's unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows:


		For the Quarter Ended
		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
		2013		2013		2013		2013
		(In thousands, except per share data)
	Total revenues	$	501,239	$	546,624	$	557,129	$	530,380

	Costs of services	428,624		469,763		480,386		456,933

	General and administrative expenses	45,840		43,531		41,871		42,326

	Total expenses	474,464		513,294		522,257		499,259

	Income from operations	26,775		33,330		34,872		31,121

	Net income attributable to Heartland	19,559		19,681		21,981		17,405


	Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations	$	0.41	$	0.53	$	0.58	$	0.46

	Income from discontinued operations	0.1		—		—		—

	Diluted earnings per share	0.51		0.53		0.58		0.46



		For the Quarter Ended
		March 31,		June 30,		September 30,		December 31,
		2012		2012		2012		2012
		(In thousands, except per share data)
	Total revenues	$	467,576	$	515,218	$	530,677	$	499,965

	Costs of services	413,232		454,920		461,084		434,465

	General and administrative expenses	31,549		31,309		36,787		40,289

	Total expenses	444,781		486,229		497,871		474,754

	Income from operations	22,795		28,989		32,806		25,211

	Net income attributable to Heartland	13,754		17,801		19,380		14,954


	Diluted earnings per share:
	Income from continuing operations	$	0.33	$	0.43	$	0.47	$	0.37

	Income from discontinued operations	0.01		0.01		0.01		0.01

	Diluted earnings per share	0.34		0.44		0.48		0.38

Organization_and_Operations_Ba

Organization and Operations (Bankcard Processing Volume) (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 11, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Bank_Sponsorship_Agreements

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The Bancorp Bank

Barclays Bank Delaware

Visa And MasterCard [Member]

Merchant Bankcard Processing [Member]

Common Stock

Leaf Acquisition, LLC [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The Bancorp Bank

Barclays Bank Delaware

Visa And MasterCard [Member]

Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

Organization and Operations Tables

Long-term Debt, Current Maturities

$102,001,000

Parent's ownership percentage

66.67%

Sales revenue, minimum percentage

73.00%

Days to identify alternative bank sponsor following terminated agreement

'180 days

Number of bank sponsorship agreements

Automatic renewal period, sponsor bank agreement

'3 years

'1 year

Written Notice of Non-renewal

'6 months

Sponsor banks, bankcard processing volume percentage

67.00%

22.00%

11.00%

Working capital

85,500,000

37,800,000

Revolving Credit Facility, amount outstanding

150,000,000

82,000,000

150,000,000

82,000,000

Repurchases of common stock

$49,625,000

$103,774,000

$16,414,000

$50,301,000

$103,359,000

$16,828,000

Common stock repurchased during period, shares

1,486,783

3,634,044

778,889

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Jan. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Sep. 30, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

CPOS [Member]

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]

Information Technology Development Projects [Member]

Accrued Liabilities and Other Liabilities [Member]

Building [Member]

Building Improvements [Member]

Furniture and Fixtures [Member]

Software Development [Member]

Funding Advances [Member]

Johnson City, Tennessee service center [Member]

Express Funds [Member]

School Link Technologies [Member]

Cash Equivalents [Member]

Fixed Income Funds [Member]

Processing System Intrusion [Member]

Prepaid Card Business [Member]

Discover [Member]

CPOS [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

Goodwill, Impairment Loss

Other Income related to Sale of merchant Contracts

200,000

Processing-related cash in transit and collateral

32,100,000

31,600,000

Cash used to fund merchant advances

3,800,000

Due to sponsor banks

19,109,000

37,586,000

17,800,000

36,300,000

Invoicing terms

'30 days

Funds held for customers

127,375,000

131,405,000

114,100,000

Funds held for payroll customers, investments available for sale

13,200,000

Amortization of capitalized customer acquisition costs, period

'3 years

Signing bonus amount and amortization, adjustment period

'1 year

Estimated useful life

'39 years

'15 years

'3 years

'10 years

'3 years

'7 years

Goodwill

190,978,000

168,062,000

94,255,000

59,030,000

25,200,000

Deferred revenue

18,200,000

13,000,000

Accrued liabilities

3,400,000

7,300,000

Unfavorable Processing Contract, Fair Value Adjustment

1,600,000

Amortization of accrued liabilities

2,400,000

3,000,000

Buy out of Relationship Managers and sales managers commissions, fixed multiple period

'12 months

Determination of accrued buyout liability, gross margin for prior period

'12 months

New SME merchant accrued buyout liability

Estimated vesting percentage, Relationship Managers and sales managers

31.00%

Business exit costs, pre-tax

800,000

1,100,000

Impairment of intangible assets (excluding goodwill)

900,000

Other non-operating expense

600,000

Proceeds from sale of merchant bankcard processing contracts, pre-tax

300,000

Legal fees, pre-tax

1,000,000

Income tax expense

46,450,000

40,691,000

26,551,000

400,000

Parent's ownership percentage

70.00%

Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation, financing activities

11,596,000

5,954,000

3,454,000

Notional amount of interest rate derivatives

50,000,000

Cumulative foreign currency translation gain (loss)

-45,000

Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interest

6,188,000

1,375,000

Recovery of Accounts Receivable

'1 day

Impairment of Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Interest Rate Swaps) (Details) (USD $)	Jan. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified		Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Interest Rate Swap [Member]
				Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
				Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Notional amount of interest rate derivatives	$50,000	$25,000	$35,000	'	'
Fair value	'	'	'	-411	-817
Deferred tax benefit	'	$153	$313	'	'

Acquisitions_Narrative_Details

Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 30, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

Jan. 12, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Feb. 04, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Jun. 29, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 14, 2012

Dec. 14, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 11, 2013

Sep. 30, 2011

Dec. 14, 2012

Lunchbox [Member]

Comalex [Member]

mySchoolBucks [Member]

School Link Technologies [Member]

Lunch Byte Systems [Member]

Educational Computer Systems, Inc. [Member]

Ovation Payroll, Inc. [Member]

Leaf Acquisition, LLC [Member]

Unfavorable Processing Contract [Member]

Campus Solutions Segment [Member]

school

Minimum [Member]

State

Minimum [Member]

School Link Technologies [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Colleges_and_Universities

Client

Colleges_and_Universities

Business Acquisition [Line Items]

Approximate number of schools served

4,400

3,700

900

10,000

Cost of acquired entity, cash payment

$7,700,000

$6,100,000

$1,500,000

$15,600,000

$26,000,000

$37,600,000

$44,200,000

$14,500,000

Goodwill

190,978,000

168,062,000

94,255,000

59,030,000

6,000,000

4,900,000

1,000,000

25,200,000

16,100,000

32,500,000

31,000,000

20,600,000

Intangible assets acquired

1,900,000

1,800,000

500,000

4,300,000

7,000,000

10,500,000

6,600,000

6,900,000

11,100,000

Net tangible assets acquired

2,900,000

6,600,000

Net tangible liabilities assumed

200,000

600,000

-2,800,000

-5,400,000

-6,200,000

Number of colleges and universities

1,800

2,000

Number of clients

10,000

Number of states in which company operates

Percentage of outstanding capital stock acquired

66.67%

Acquisition of less than 100 percent, allocated to noncontrolling interest

$6,800,000

Acquisitions_Acquisitions_Weig

Acquisitions Acquisitions (Weighted Average Amortization Life) (Details) (Leaf Acquisition, LLC [Member])	0 Months Ended
	Sep. 11, 2013
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'6 years 10 months 24 days
Software	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'7 years
Patents	'
Acquired Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'5 years

Receivables_Schedule_of_Accoun

Receivables (Schedule of Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Total receivables, gross	$201,072,000	$181,886,000
Less allowance for doubtful accounts	-1,032,000	-1,438,000
Total receivables, net	200,040,000	180,448,000
Due from employees	1,100,000	400,000
Accounts receivable from merchants	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Total receivables, gross	172,147,000	160,702,000
Accounts receivable from bankcard networks	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Total receivables, gross	26,842,000	19,588,000
Accounts receivable from others	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Total receivables, gross	$2,083,000	$1,596,000

Receivables_Summary_of_Allowan

Receivables (Summary of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivables) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Provision for doubtful receivables	'	$195	$1,043	$2,423
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	'	'	'	'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Provision for doubtful receivables	'	180	'	'
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	1,438	1,438	1,407	661
Additions to allowance	'	'	818	2,234
Charges against allowance	-586	'	787	1,488
Ending balance	'	$1,032	$1,438	$1,407

Funds_Held_for_Customers_and_I2

Funds Held for Customers and Investments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Funds Held for Customers and Investments (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Funds Held for Payroll Customers:	'		'
Cost	$127,111,000		$131,161,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	264,000		244,000
Gross Unrealized Losses	0		0
Estimated Fair Value	127,375,000		131,405,000
Investments:	'		'
Other investment, Cost	33,000		'
Other investment, Estimated Fair Value	33,000		'
Certificates of deposit, term, maximum	'8 months		'
Amortized cost, marketable securities maturing within one year	5,069,000		'
Estimated fair value, marketable securities maturing within one year	5,323,000		'
Equity Securities [Member]	'		'
Investments:	'		'
Other equity investment	4,000,000		'
Conservative Income Bond fund [Member] \| Available-for-sale securities	'		'
Funds Held for Payroll Customers:	'		'
Cost	12,000,000		'
Gross Unrealized Gains	10,000		'
Gross Unrealized Losses	0		'
Estimated Fair Value	12,010,000		'
Fixed income bond fund \| Available-for-sale securities	'		'
Funds Held for Payroll Customers:	'		'
Cost	968,000		968,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	254,000		244,000
Gross Unrealized Losses	0		0
Estimated Fair Value	1,222,000		1,212,000
Cash held for payroll customers	'		'
Funds Held for Payroll Customers:	'		'
Cost	88,376,000		110,334,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	0		0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0		0
Estimated Fair Value	88,376,000		110,334,000
Cash held for Campus Solutions customers	'		'
Funds Held for Payroll Customers:	'		'
Cost	25,767,000		19,859,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	0		0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0		0
Estimated Fair Value	25,767,000		19,859,000
Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit	'		'
Investments:	'		'
Cost	'		1,199,000
Estimated Fair Value	33,000	[1]	1,199,000	[1]
Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit \| Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]	'		'
Investments:	'		'
Cost	33,000	[1]	1,199,000	[1]
Investments held to maturity - Certificates of deposit \| Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]	'		'
Investments:	'		'
Cost	$33,000		$1,199,000

[1]	Certificates of deposit have remaining term of 8 months.

Capitalized_Customer_Acquisiti2

Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net (Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs Net) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Impairment net of signing bonus	$0	$0	'	'
Signing bonus adjustments from estimated amounts to actual	-3,700,000	-3,100,000	-1,500,000	'
Capitalized signing bonuses	86,886,000	84,728,000	'	'
Less accumulated amortization	-43,775,000	-42,941,000	'	'
Capitalized signing bonuses, net	43,111,000	41,787,000	'	'
Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	45,241,000	37,736,000	'	'
Less accumulated amortization	-27,325,000	-23,098,000	'	'
Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs, net	17,916,000	14,638,000	'	'
Capitalized customer acquisition costs, net	$61,027,000	$56,425,000	$55,014,000	$59,251,000

Capitalized_Customer_Acquisiti3

Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net (Capitalized Customer Acquisition Activity) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	$56,425,000	$55,014,000	$59,251,000
Capitalized signing bonuses, net	29,091,000	29,320,000	29,035,000
Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	21,159,000	17,216,000	14,276,000
Capitalized customer acquisition costs, additions	50,250,000	46,536,000	43,311,000
Capitalized signing bonuses, net	-27,767,000	-29,244,000	-32,088,000
Capitalized customer deferred acquisition costs	-17,881,000	-15,881,000	-15,460,000
Capitalized customer acquisition costs, amortization expense	-45,648,000	-45,125,000	-47,548,000
Balance at end of period	61,027,000	56,425,000	55,014,000
Signing bonus adjustments from estimated amounts to actual	-3,700,000	-3,100,000	-1,500,000
Write-off of fully amortized signing bonuses	27,800,000	31,200,000	42,300,000
Write-off of fully amortized customer deferred acquisition costs	13,654,000	16,045,000	16,421,000
Impairment net of signing bonus	$0	$0	'

Property_and_Equipment_Net_Pro

Property and Equipment, Net (Property, Plant and Equipment) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$272,428,000	$234,224,000	'
Less accumulated depreciation	-125,040,000	-109,193,000	'
Property and equipment, net	147,388,000	125,031,000	'
Depreciation	30,100,000	25,700,000	23,000,000
Computer hardware and software	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	184,515,000	151,916,000	'
Building	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	54,910,000	54,359,000	'
Leasehold improvements	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	7,815,000	5,734,000	'
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	17,761,000	16,342,000	'
Land	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	7,427,000	5,873,000	'
Internally developed projects	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, by Type [Abstract]	'	'	'
Property and equipment, net	42,377,000	34,100,000	'
Assets not placed in service	30,200,000	17,000,000	'
Increase in capitalized costs	38,400,000	26,700,000	22,600,000
Capitalized costs placed in service	$25,700,000	$22,700,000	$15,900,000

Property_and_Equipment_Net_Pro1

Property and Equipment, Net Property and Equipment, Net (Estimated Future Depreciation) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property and equipment, net	$147,388	$125,031
Capitalized costs, internally developed projects	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
2014	18,624	'
2015	12,914	'
2016	6,709	'
2017	1,810	'
2018	1,463	'
Thereafter	857	'
Property and equipment, net	$42,377	$34,100

Intangible_Assets_and_Goodwill2

Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross Assets	$79,533,000	$74,295,000	'
Accumulated Amortization	-29,676,000	-20,701,000	'
Net Asset	49,857,000	53,594,000	'
Finite-Lived intangible assets, amortization expense	9,000,000	5,100,000	4,400,000
Customer relationships	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross Assets	49,814,000	52,125,000	'
Accumulated Amortization	-14,107,000	-8,318,000	'
Net Asset	35,707,000	43,807,000	'
Merchant portfolio	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross Assets	4,095,000	3,345,000	'
Accumulated Amortization	-2,703,000	-2,316,000	'
Net Asset	1,392,000	1,029,000	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'7 years	'7 years	'
Software	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross Assets	20,750,000	14,150,000	'
Accumulated Amortization	-10,934,000	-9,016,000	'
Net Asset	9,816,000	5,134,000	'
Non-compete agreements	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross Assets	4,489,000	4,590,000	'
Accumulated Amortization	-1,880,000	-1,030,000	'
Net Asset	2,609,000	3,560,000	'
Other	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Gross Assets	385,000	85,000	'
Accumulated Amortization	-52,000	-21,000	'
Net Asset	$333,000	$64,000	'
Minimum [Member] \| Customer relationships	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'3 years	'3 years	'
Minimum [Member] \| Software	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'2 years	'3 years	'
Minimum [Member] \| Non-compete agreements	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'3 years	'3 years	'
Minimum [Member] \| Other	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'2 years	'2 years	'
Maximum [Member] \| Customer relationships	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'18 years	'18 years	'
Maximum [Member] \| Software	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'5 years	'5 years	'
Maximum [Member] \| Non-compete agreements	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'5 years	'5 years	'
Maximum [Member] \| Other	'	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Weighted-average amortization life	'9 years	'9 years	'

Intangible_Assets_and_Goodwill3

Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]	'	'
2013	$8,499	'
2014	7,954	'
2015	6,952	'
2016	5,628	'
2017	4,398	'
Thereafter	16,426	'
Net Asset	$49,857	$53,594

Intangible_Assets_and_Goodwill4

Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Schedule of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	$168,062	$94,255	$59,030
Goodwill acquired during the period	20,619	76,420	34,506
Other	2,297	-2,613	719	[1]
Ending balance	190,978	168,062	94,255
Card Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	43,701	43,701	43,701
Goodwill acquired during the period	20,619	0	0
Other	0	0	0
Ending balance	64,320	43,701	43,701
Payroll Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	30,831	0	0
Goodwill acquired during the period	0	30,831	0
Other	187	0	0
Ending balance	31,018	30,831	0
Heartland School Solutions [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	53,350	40,732	5,507
Goodwill acquired during the period	0	15,231	34,506
Other	0	-2,613	719
Ending balance	53,350	53,350	40,732
Campus Solutions Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	33,679	3,321	3,321
Goodwill acquired during the period	0	30,358	0
Other	2,110	0	0
Ending balance	35,789	33,679	3,321
All Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	6,501	6,501	6,501
Goodwill acquired during the period	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0
Ending balance	$6,501	$6,501	$6,501

[1]	Reflects adjustments to preliminary allocations of purchase price within the measurement period.

Intangible_Assets_and_Goodwill5

Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Goodwill Segment Percentage of Total Assets) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Card Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Portion of Total Assets That Are Goodwill	11.30%	9.40%	9.70%
Payroll Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Portion of Total Assets That Are Goodwill	19.90%	18.50%	0.00%
Heartland School Solutions [Member]	'	'	'
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Portion of Total Assets That Are Goodwill	67.90%	74.90%	77.60%
Campus Solutions Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Portion of Total Assets That Are Goodwill	43.80%	43.60%	48.70%
All Other Segments [Member]	'	'	'
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Portion of Total Assets That Are Goodwill	37.70%	20.00%	20.30%

Processing_Liabilities_Details

Processing Liabilities (Details) (USD $)

4 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

SME [Member]

Merchant bankcard processing

Merchant deposits

Loss reserves

Processing Liabilities and Loss Reserves [Line Items]

Processing liabilities

$130,871,000

$95,273,000

$121,143,000

$86,882,000

$8,223,000

$6,436,000

$1,505,000

$1,955,000

Letters of credit

260,000

100,000

Chargebacks, card brand networks, period

'4 months

Processing volume

24,400,000,000

23,500,000,000

74,578,500,000

71,724,000,000

67,499,200,000

Bank chargebacks

11,700,000

11,800,000

12,200,000

Merchant credit losses

$3,100,000

$2,000,000

$5,100,000

Processing_Liabilities_Schedul

Processing Liabilities (Schedule Of Credit And Fraud Loss Reserve) (Details) (USD $)	4 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
				Loss reserves	Loss reserves	Loss reserves	Payroll [Member]	Payroll [Member]	Payroll [Member]
							Loss reserves	Loss reserves	Loss reserves
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	'	$1,955,000	$1,957,000	$1,625,000	'	'	'
Additions to reserve	'	'	'	2,738,000	2,123,000	5,658,000	'	'	'
Charges against reserve	'	'	'	-3,188,000	2,125,000	5,326,000	-111,000	-93,000	-223,000
Ending balance	'	'	'	1,505,000	1,955,000	1,957,000	'	'	'
Bank chargebacks	$11,700,000	$11,800,000	$12,200,000	'	'	'	'	'	'

Credit_Facilities_Schedule_of_

Credit Facilities (Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt) (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

2 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

Oct. 23, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Oct. 23, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Oct. 23, 2013

Federal Funds Rate [Member]

LIBOR [Member]

Prior Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Prior Term Credit Facility [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]

Subsequent To Administrative Agent Approval [Member]

Letter of Credit [Member]

Swing Line Loans [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

Prior Term Credit Facility [Member]

Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]

Line of Credit Facility

Maximum borrowing capacity

$350,000,000

$500,000,000

$35,000,000

Commitment Increase Agreement, additional borrowings

150,000,000

Quarterly repayments of principal, for fiscal years ended 2011 and 2012

5,000,000

Quarterly repayments of principal, for fiscal years ended 2013 and 2014

7,500,000

Total principal payments due under Term Credit Facility

91,000,000

82,000,000

55,000,000

150,000,000

Compliance with covenants, expected term

'12 months

Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis

'interest rates equal to one, two, three or six month adjusted LIBOR rates

'LIBOR

Adjusted monthly LIBOR rates

'1 month

'2 months

'3 months

'6 months

Credit agreement, basis spread on variable rate

0.50%

1.00%

Credit agreement, weighted average interest rate

1.70%

Credit agreement, fees and direct costs

$2,600,000

$3,300,000

Accrued_Buyout_Liability_Summa

Accrued Buyout Liability (Summary of Accrued Buyout Liability) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Accrued Buyout Liability [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Accrued buyout liability, total	$39,379,000	$35,410,000	$31,658,000	$28,810,000
Less current portion	-13,943,000	-10,478,000	'	'
Long-term portion of accrued buyout liability	25,436,000	24,932,000	'	'
Estimated vesting percentage, Relationship Managers and sales managers	31.00%	'	'	'
Hypothetical increase to vesting percentage, Relationship Managers and sales managers	5.00%	'	'	'
Hypothetical vesting percentage, Relationship Managers and sales managers	36.00%	'	'	'
Hypothetical increase to accrued buyout liability	100,000	100,000	'	'
Payouts of accrued buyout liability	-13,651,000	-11,886,000	-10,380,000	'
Accrued Buyout Liability [Member]	'	'	'	'
Accrued Buyout Liability [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Accrued buyout liability, total	39,379,000	35,410,000	'	'
Less current portion	-13,943,000	-10,478,000	'	'
Long-term portion of accrued buyout liability	25,436,000	24,932,000	'	'
Accrued Buyout Liability [Member] \| Vested Relationship Managers and sales managers [Member]	'	'	'	'
Accrued Buyout Liability [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Accrued buyout liability, total	38,082,000	33,926,000	'	'
Accrued Buyout Liability [Member] \| Unvested Relationship Managers and sales managers [Member]	'	'	'	'
Accrued Buyout Liability [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Accrued buyout liability, total	$1,297,000	$1,484,000	'	'

Accrued_Buyout_Liability_Summa1

Accrued Buyout Liability (Summary of Activity in Accrued Buyout Liability) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accrued Buyout Liability [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	$35,410	$31,658	$28,810
Increase in settlement obligation, net	17,620	15,638	13,228
Buyouts	-13,651	-11,886	-10,380
Ending balance	$39,379	$35,410	$31,658

Stockholders_Equity_Schedule_O

Stockholders' Equity (Schedule Of Dividends Paid) (Details) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 14, 2013

Sep. 14, 2013

Jun. 15, 2013

Mar. 15, 2013

Dec. 14, 2012

Sep. 14, 2012

Jun. 15, 2012

Mar. 15, 2012

Dec. 15, 2011

Sep. 15, 2011

Jun. 15, 2011

Mar. 15, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Feb. 05, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Oct. 21, 2011

Dec. 31, 2012

Jul. 27, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Nov. 03, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

8-May-13

Dec. 31, 2013

Subsequent Event [Member]

Common Stock

October 21, 2011 Program [Member]

July 27, 2012 Program [Member]

November 2, 2012 Program [Member]

May 8, 2013 Program [Member]

Common Stock

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Stock repurchase program, authorized purchase amount

$50,000,000

$75,000,000

Common stock repurchased during period, shares

1,486,783

3,634,044

778,889

1,157,440

1,760,804

952,183

715,800

534,600

Repurchases of common stock

49,625,000

103,774,000

16,414,000

50,301,000

103,359,000

16,828,000

33,172,000

50,000,000

29,813,000

20,187,000

20,488,000

Treasury stock acquired, average cost per share

$33.83

$28.44

$21.61

$28.66

$28.40

$31.31

$28.20

$38.32

Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchase amount

$54,512,000

Amount Paid Per Common Share

$0.07

$0.06

$0.04

$0.28

$0.24

$0.16

Dividends declared per share

$0.09

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Compo

Income Taxes (Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current	'	'	'
Federal	$31,326	$32,155	$23,949
State	4,810	3,481	740
Deferred	'	'	'
Federal	8,766	3,737	-435
State	1,548	1,318	2,297
Total provision for income taxes from continuing operations	$46,450	$40,691	$26,551

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Effec

Income Taxes (Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Continuing Operations) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Effective Income Tax Rate, Tax Rate Reconciliation	'	'	'
U.S. federal income tax at statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
U.S. state and local income taxes, net	3.26%	2.93%	2.88%
Nondeductible expenses	0.52%	0.46%	0.37%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Research, Percent	-1.19%	'	'
Valuation Allowance	0.60%	0.00%	-0.01%
U.S. tax on foreign income, net	0.00%	0.38%	0.00%
Other	0.34%	-0.03%	-0.06%
Provision for income taxes from continuing operations (percent)	38.53%	38.74%	38.18%
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Income Tax Reconciliation	'	'	'
U.S. federal income tax at statutory rate	$42,193,000	$36,765,000	$24,338,000
U.S. state and local income taxes, net	3,932,000	3,065,000	2,001,000
Nondeductible expenses	621,000	492,000	261,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Credit, Research, Amount	-1,435,000	'	'
Valuation Allowance	724,000	0	-5,000
U.S. tax on foreign income, net	0	400,000	0
Other	415,000	-31,000	-44,000
Total provision for income taxes from continuing operations	46,450,000	40,691,000	26,551,000
Liability for uncertain tax positions	5,633,000	3,069,000	1,819,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate	3,800,000	2,000,000	1,100,000
Liability for uncertain tax positions, current	441,000	281,000	216,000
Uncertain tax positions, interest expense	160,000	65,000	48,000
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation, financing activities	$11,596,000	$5,954,000	$3,454,000

Income_Taxes_Unrecognized_Tax_

Income Taxes (Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reconciliation) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 11, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
				Leaf Acquisition, LLC [Member]	CPOS [Member]	CPOS [Member]
						Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income tax expense net of foreign tax credits	'	'	'	'	'	$400,000
Parent's ownership percentage	'	'	'	66.67%	70.00%	'
Liability for uncertain tax positions	5,633,000	3,069,000	1,819,000	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate	3,800,000	2,000,000	1,100,000	'	'	'
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Balance at January 1,	3,069,000	1,819,000	1,309,000	'	'	'
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year	2,681,000	1,429,000	637,000	'	'	'
Lapse of statute of limitations	-117,000	-32,000	-127,000	'	'	'
Settlements	0	-147,000	0	'	'	'
Balance at December 31,	5,633,000	3,069,000	1,819,000	'	'	'
Liability for uncertain tax positions, current	441,000	281,000	216,000	'	'	'
Uncertain tax positions, interest expense	160,000	65,000	48,000	'	'	'
Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation, financing activities	$11,596,000	$5,954,000	$3,454,000	'	'	'

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Defer

Income Taxes (Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Deferred tax assets:	'	'
Merchant contract costs	$8,542	$8,165
Loss reserve and accounts receivable allowance	859	1,189
Share-based compensation	8,154	8,702
FIN No. 48 deferred tax reserve-state tax	1,968	1,185
Other comprehensive income	170	312
Net operating loss carry-forward	11,034	8,333
Reserve for litigation	591	605
State net operating loss carry-forwards	24	30
Reserve for processor incentive	44	217
Deferred compensation	2,632	2,950
Deferred state tax assets	1,487	1,141
Other	1,229	799
Deferred tax assets	36,734	33,628
Less valuation allowance	-2,906	-158
Net deferred tax assets	33,828	33,470
Deferred tax liabilities:	'	'
Capitalized signing bonus	17,173	16,068
Software development	27,419	18,970
Unearned rent	-240	227
Property and equipment	3,597	3,916
Goodwill	12,591	9,044
Deferred compensation	0	400
Intangibles	4,340	4,002
Deferred tax liabilities	64,880	52,627
Net deferred tax liabilities	-31,052	-19,157
Less current deferred tax asset, net	9,548	10,475
Net deferred tax liabilities - non-current portion	-40,600	-29,632
Ovation Payroll, Inc. [Member]	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities:	'	'
Operating loss carryforwards, state	'	23,200
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'
Deferred tax liabilities:	'	'
Operating loss carryforwards, state	$307	'

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Stock_In

Stock Incentive Plans Stock Incentive Plans (Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation Allocation of Recognized Period Costs) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
	Employee_share-based_plans	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Number of employee share-based plans	2	'	'	'
Compensation expense recognized on share-based plans before income tax benefit	$12,838	$14,187	$9,548	'
Related income tax benefit recognized in the income statement	4,981	5,458	3,635	'
Cash received from stock option exercises	14,174	18,303	9,685	'
Excess tax benefit recorded for tax deductions resulting from the exercise of stock options	11,596	5,954	3,454	'
Tax benefit realized as reductions of estimated tax payments during the period	$8,587	$4,220	$2,954	'
Stock options, grants in period, weighted average grant date fair value	'	$9.36	$7.95	'
Stock options, grants in period	0	'	'	1,297,064

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Stock_In1

Stock Incentive Plans Stock Incentive Plans (Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	31-May-10
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected volatility	55.00%	55.00%	'
Expected life	'3 years 9 months 1 day	'3 years 7 months 26 days	'
Expected dividends	1.00%	0.80%	'
Risk-free interest rate	0.51%	0.55%	'
Stock options, granted	7,700,000	'	7,700,000

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Stock_In2

Stock Incentive Plans Stock Incentive Plans (Summary of Future Diluted Earnings Per Share Target Associated With Restricted Share Units) (Details) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

24 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

31-May-10

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Restricted Stock Units Performance Based [Member]

Relative Total Shareholder Return Restricted Share Units (TSRs) [Member]

2000 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Absolute Relative Total Shareholder Return Restricted Share Units (ATSRs) [Member]

2008 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Two-year period ending December 31, 2013 [Member]

Two-year period ending December 31, 2014 [Member]

Three Year Period Ending December 31, 2016 [Member]

Three Year Term [Member]

Four Year Term [Member]

4th Quarter 2011 [Member]

Peer

Percentile

Relative Total Shareholder Return Restricted Share Units (TSRs) [Member]

Absolute Relative Total Shareholder Return Restricted Share Units (ATSRs) [Member]

Relative Total Shareholder Return Restricted Share Units (TSRs) [Member]

Absolute Relative Total Shareholder Return Restricted Share Units (ATSRs) [Member]

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]

Restricted share units, vesting rate in one year

50.00%

Share-based payment awards, shares authorized

7,700,000

164,808

57,598

72,345

57,598

59,533

Restricted share units, vesting percentage rate in year two

50.00%

Compound annual growth rate, diluted earnings per share, target

15.00%

Growth rate Diluted Earnings per share

40.00%

Restricted Share Units, Increase for Achieving Target

1.20%

Compound annual growth rate, increase over target

1.00%

Diluted earnings per share growth rate, term

'2 years

'3 years

Growth rate Achieved Diluted Earnings per share

1.00%

Restricted share units, increase for exceeding CAGR target

2.08%

Restricted share units, maximum number of shares authorized to award, percent

100.00%

125.00%

150.00%

Diluted Earnings Per Share Growth Rate, Decrease Below Target

1.00%

Compound annual growth rate, decrease below target, percent

1.00%

Restricted share units, decrease for falling below CAGR target, percent

1.31%

Compound annual growth rate, percentage of target required to award shares

67.00%

Restricted Share Units, Awards if CAGR Target Missed by 67% or More

Number of Peers

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Percentage

0.00%

200.00%

225.00%

200.00%

Common Stock, Average Closing Price, Term

'30 days

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shareholder Return, Peer Group Percentile

Total shareholder return, target percentage

33.00%

46.00%

Total shareholder return, base term

'3 years

'4 years

Share-based payment awards, nonvested, total compensation cost not yet recognized

$28.20

Share-based payment awards, outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term (in years)

2.2

Stock options, grants in period

1,297,064

Restricted share units, grants in period

881,989

Performance-based restricted share units, grants in period

817,957

Share-based payment award, award vesting period

'4 years

Share-based payment awards, shares available for grant

6,121,399

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Period From Grant Date to Expiration

'5 years

Stock options, exercises in period, total intrinsic value

3.1

6.4

27.9

22.6

Restricted share units, vested in period, total intrinsic value

$17

$5.20

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period

49,571

Restricted Share Units, Decrease for Falling Below Target

1.50%

Growth Rate, Percentage of Target Required to Award Shares

50.00%

Restricted Share Units, Awards if CAGR Target Missed by 50% or More

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Stock_In3

Stock Incentive Plans Stock Incentive Plans (Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Activity) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	31-May-10
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Share Units, Awards if CAGR Target Missed by 50% or More	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted Share Units, Awards if CAGR Target Missed by 67% or More	'	0	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based payment awards, shares authorized	'	'	'	'	7,700,000	7,700,000	7,700,000
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	'	'	$14,174,000	$18,303,000	$9,685,000	'	'
Excess tax benefits on options exercised	'	'	11,596,000	5,954,000	3,454,000	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options, grants in period	'	'	0	'	'	1,297,064	'
Stock options, exercisable	'	808,962	'	808,962	2,264,769	2,264,769	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, grants in period	'	'	'	'	'	881,989	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options and Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding	'	'	5,694,823	7,069,167	8,334,276	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, grants in period	'	'	491,542	596,120	404,100	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, exercised/vested in period	'	'	-1,767,050	-1,697,429	-1,246,454	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, forfeited/cancelled in period	'	'	-2,381,669	-273,035	-422,755	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding	2,037,646	5,694,823	2,037,646	5,694,823	7,069,167	7,069,167	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options, exercisable, weighted average exercise price	'	$12.16	'	$12.16	$16.67	$16.67	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options and Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding, weighted average exercise grant price	'	'	$18.65	$16.39	$15.17	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, grants in period, weighted average exercise grant price	'	'	$42.50	$29.62	$21.91	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, exercised in period, weighted average exercise grant price	'	'	$13.34	$12.29	$8.72	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, forfeited/cancelled in period, weighted average exercise grant price	'	'	$21.92	$22.15	$20.04	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding, weighted average exercise grant price	$25.29	$18.65	$25.29	$18.65	$16.39	$16.39	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'	'	'2 years 1 month 6 days	'	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding, intrinsic value	100,200,000	'	100,200,000	'	'	'	'
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options, outstanding	'	'	4,230,187	5,966,065	7,454,166	'	'
Stock options, grants in period	'	'	0	27,496	31,568	'	'
Stock options, exercised/vested in period	'	'	1,264,825	1,522,429	1,133,974	'	'
Stock options, forfeited/cancelled in period	'	'	-2,283,218	-240,945	-385,695	'	'
Stock options, outstanding	682,144	4,230,187	682,144	4,230,187	5,966,065	5,966,065	'
Stock options, exercisable	394,252	808,962	394,252	808,962	2,264,769	2,264,769	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options, outstanding, weighted average exercise price	'	'	$17.39	$16.26	$15.28	'	'
Stock options, grants in period, weighted average exercise price	'	'	$0	$24.28	$20.59	'	'
Stock options, exercised/vested in period, weighted average exercise price	'	'	$11.21	$12.03	$8.54	'	'
Stock options, forfeited/cancelled in period, weighted average exercise price	'	'	$21.84	$22.20	$20.39	'	'
Stock options, outstanding, weighted average exercise price	$14.26	$17.39	$14.26	$17.39	$16.26	$16.26	'
Stock options, exercisable, weighted average exercise price	$13.20	$12.16	$13.20	$12.16	$16.67	$16.67	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options and Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'	'	'1 year 4 months 24 days	'	'	'	'
Share-based payment awards, intrinsic value	$14,400,000	'	$14,400,000	'	'	'	'
Stock options, exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual term	'	'	'1 year 2 months 12 days	'	'	'	'
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, outstanding	'	'	1,464,636	1,103,102	880,110	'	'
Restricted share units, grants in period	'	'	491,542	568,624	372,532	'	'
Restricted share units, exercised/vested in period	'	'	-502,225	-175,000	-112,480	'	'
Restricted share units, forfeited/cancelled in period	'	'	-98,451	-32,090	-37,060	'	'
Restricted share units, outstanding	1,355,502	1,464,636	1,355,502	1,464,636	1,103,102	1,103,102	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value	'	'	$22.31	$17.11	$14.23	'	'
Restricted share units, grants in period, weighted average grant date fair value	'	'	$42.50	$29.88	$22.02	'	'
Restricted share units, exercised/vested in period, weighted Average grant date fair value	'	'	$18.72	$14.57	$10.59	'	'
Restricted share units, forfeited/cancelled in period, weighted average grant date fair value	'	'	$23.88	$21.78	$16.35	'	'
Restricted share units, outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value	$30.83	$22.31	$30.83	$22.31	$17.11	$17.11	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options and Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'	'	'2 years 4 months 24 days	'	'	'	'
4th Quarter 2011 [Member] \| Restricted Stock Units Performance Based [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based payment awards, shares authorized	'	'	'	'	164,808	164,808	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options and Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, vesting rate in one year	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, vesting percentage rate in year two	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'
4th Quarter 2012 [Member] \| Restricted Stock Units Performance Based [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based payment awards, shares authorized	'	72,004	'	72,004	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options and Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, vesting percentage rate in year two	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, vesting percentage rate in year three	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'
4th Quarter 2013 [Member] \| Restricted Stock Units Performance Based [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based payment awards, shares authorized	115,223	'	115,223	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options and Non-Option Equity Instruments, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, vesting percentage rate in year four	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'
Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instrument Other Than Options, Vesting Rate In five Years	'	'	50.00%	'	'	'	'

Stock_Incentive_Plans_Stock_In4

Stock Incentive Plans Stock Incentive Plans (Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
	Y	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options and Restricted Share Units, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2.2	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding	2,037,646	5,694,823	7,069,167	8,334,276
Stock options, exercisable	'	808,962	2,264,769	'
Stock options and restricted share units, exercisable	394,252	'	'	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'2 years 1 month 6 days	'	'	'
$6.25 to $12.16 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares authorized under stock option plans, exercise price range, lower range limit	6.25	'	'	'
Shares authorized under stock option plans, exercise price range, upper range limit	12.16	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding	164,371	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, exercisable	164,371	'	'	'
$15.22 to $24.28 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares authorized under stock option plans, exercise price range, lower range limit	15.22	'	'	'
Shares authorized under stock option plans, exercise price range, upper range limit	24.28	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding	975,488	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, exercisable	229,881	'	'	'
$29.57 to $44.62 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares authorized under stock option plans, exercise price range, lower range limit	29.57	'	'	'
Shares authorized under stock option plans, exercise price range, upper range limit	44.62	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, outstanding	897,787	'	'	'
Stock options and restricted share units, exercisable	0	'	'	'
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock options, outstanding	682,144	4,230,187	5,966,065	7,454,166
Stock options, exercisable	394,252	808,962	2,264,769	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'1 year 4 months 24 days	'	'	'
Stock options, exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual term	'1 year 2 months 12 days	'	'	'
Stock Options [Member] \| $6.25 to $12.16 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock options, outstanding	164,371	'	'	'
Stock options, exercisable	164,371	'	'	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'7 months 6 days	'	'	'
Stock Options [Member] \| $15.22 to $24.28 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock options, outstanding	517,773	'	'	'
Stock options, exercisable	229,881	'	'	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'1 year 8 months 12 days	'	'	'
Stock Options [Member] \| $29.57 to $44.62 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Stock options, outstanding	0	'	'	'
Stock options, exercisable	0	'	'	'
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, outstanding	1,355,502	1,464,636	1,103,102	880,110
Restricted share units, exercisable	0	'	'	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'2 years 4 months 24 days	'	'	'
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| $6.25 to $12.16 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, outstanding	0	'	'	'
Restricted share units, exercisable	0	'	'	'
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| $15.22 to $24.28 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, outstanding	457,715	'	'	'
Restricted share units, exercisable	0	'	'	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'1 year 2 months 12 days	'	'	'
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| $29.57 to $44.62 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Restricted share units, outstanding	897,787	'	'	'
Restricted share units, exercisable	0	'	'	'
Stock options outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	'3 years 2 months 12 days	'	'	'

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis) (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Certificates of Deposit [Member]

Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]

Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]

Revolving Credit Facility [Member]

Conservative Income Bond fund [Member]

Fixed Income Funds [Member]

Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Fixed Income Funds [Member]

Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]

Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]

Term Credit Facility [Member]

Certificates of Deposit [Member]

Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]

Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]

Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]

Conservative Income Bond fund [Member]

Fixed Income Funds [Member]

Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Fixed Income Funds [Member]

Interest Rate Swap [Member]

Certificates of Deposit [Member]

Term Credit Facility [Member]

Certificates of Deposit [Member]

Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]

Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]

Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]

Transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 categories

Assets:

Certificates of deposit

1,199,000

33,000

[1]

1,199,000

[1]

33,000

1,199,000

Bonds

12,010,000

1,222,000

1,212,000

[2]

12,010,000

1,222,000

1,212,000

Total assets

13,232,000

1,212,000

13,232,000

1,212,000

33,000

1,199,000

33,000

1,199,000

Liabilities:

Interest rate swaps

411,000

817,000

411,000

817,000

Credit Facility

70,000,000

150,000,000

82,000,000

150,000,000

82,000,000

Total Liabilities

$411,000

$817,000

$411,000

$817,000

$150,000,000

$152,000,000

$150,000,000

$152,000,000

[1]

Certificates of deposit have remaining term of 8 months.

[2]

amounts included in Funds held for customers on the Consolidated Balance Sheet

Employee_Benefit_Plan_Narrativ

Employee Benefit Plan (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Benefit Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan, Employer Discretionary Contribution Amount	$2.50	$1.90	$1.60

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies (Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013		Maximum [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'		'
2014	'	'	'	$10,410,000		'
2015	'	'	'	7,747,000		'
2016	'	'	'	5,479,000		'
2017	'	'	'	3,627,000		'
2018	'	'	'	3,624,000		'
Thereafter	'	'	'	8,020,000		'
Total future minimum lease payments	'	'	'	38,907,000	[1]	'
Leases, Operating [Abstract]	'	'	'	'		'
Term of operating lease agreements	'	'	'	'		'10 years
Rent expense, leased facilities and expense	$10,200,000	$8,000,000	$8,700,000	'		'

[1]	There were no material capital leases at December 31, 2012

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies (Schedule of Contractual Obligations) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Processing providers [Member]	Telecommunications providers [Member]	Office and equipment leases [Member]	Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Term Credit Facility [Member]
									Interest Payments Including Net Settlements On Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Notional amount of interest rate derivatives	'	$50,000	$25,000	$35,000	'	'	'	'	'
Other significant contractual obligations:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total	208,768	'	'	'	12,922	6,939	38,907	150,000	2,000
Less than 1 year	20,613	'	'	'	6,844	3,359	10,410	0	1,400
1 to 3 years	22,047	'	'	'	6,078	2,743	13,226	0	500
3 to 5 years	158,088	'	'	'	0	837	7,251	150,000	'
More than 5 years	$8,020	'	'	'	$0	$0	$8,020	'	'

Segments_Segments_Narrative_De

Segments Segments (Narrative) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
	Segment	Payroll Segment [Member]	Payroll Segment [Member]	Campus Solutions Segment [Member]	Campus Solutions Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Number of reportable segments	5	'	'	'	'
Portion of total assets representing funds for loan servicing customers	'	62.00%	67.00%	32.00%	26.00%

Segments_Schedule_of_Segment_R

Segments (Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	$530,380	$557,129	$546,624	$501,239	$499,965	$530,677	$515,218	$467,576	$2,135,372	$2,013,436	$1,985,577
Total depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	35,354	27,832	27,441
Total interest income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	124	201	142
Total interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,429	3,446	4,122
Net income from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	74,102	64,353	42,988
Total assets	900,305	'	'	'	813,414	'	'	'	900,305	813,414	596,921
Card Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,981,011	1,923,145	1,925,667
Total depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	26,934	24,057	23,313
Total interest income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	121	201	142
Total interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5,425	3,729	4,329
Net income from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	80,985	75,691	68,613
Total assets	566,943	'	'	'	466,196	'	'	'	566,943	466,196	451,757
Payroll Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	44,565	21,368	19,505
Total depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,478	1,153	694
Net income from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,056	1,682	393
Total assets	78,573	'	'	'	71,182	'	'	'	78,573	71,182	52,520
Heartland School Solutions [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	50,541	36,614	11,178
Total depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,282	482	1,412
Net income from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	9,085	5,371	2,255
Total assets	155,823	'	'	'	166,317	'	'	'	155,823	166,317	53,750
Campus Solutions Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	36,186	8,065	6,488
Total depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,330	418	263
Total interest income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3	0	0
Total interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	7	7	2
Net income from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	2,255	-104	-404
Total assets	81,719	'	'	'	77,168	'	'	'	81,719	77,168	6,826
Other Segment [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	23,069	24,244	22,739
Total depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,641	1,481	1,288
Total interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	0	3
Net income from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	462	975	1,589
Total assets	17,247	'	'	'	32,551	'	'	'	17,247	32,551	32,068
Unallocated Corporate Administration Amounts [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total depreciation and amortization	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-1,311	241	471
Net income from continuing operations	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-20,741	-19,262	-29,458
Reconciling Items [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total interest expense	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	($3)	($290)	($212)

Earnings_Per_Share_Schedule_of

Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Numerator:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations attributable to Heartland	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$74,712	$64,353	$42,988
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Heartland	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,914	1,536	951
Net income attributable to Heartland	$17,405	$21,981	$19,681	$19,559	$14,954	$19,380	$17,801	$13,754	$78,626	$65,889	$43,939
Denominator:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	36,791	38,468	38,931
Stock options and restricted share units (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,262	1,590	1,302
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	38,053	40,058	40,233
Basic earnings per share:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$2.03	$1.67	$1.10
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$0.11	$0.04	$0.03
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$2.14	$1.71	$1.13
Diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.46	$0.58	$0.53	$0.41	$0.37	$0.47	$0.43	$0.33	$1.96	$1.60	$1.07
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$0	$0.10	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01	$0.10	$0.04	$0.02
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$0.46	$0.58	$0.53	$0.51	$0.38	$0.48	$0.44	$0.34	$2.06	$1.64	$1.09

Discontinued_Operation_Details

Discontinued Operation (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Discontinued Operation (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on sale of business	'	$3,786,000	$0	$0	'
Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax	'	3,970,000	2,185,000	1,359,000	'
Net income from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interests	'	-56,000	-649,000	-408,000	'
Net income from discontinued operations attributable to Heartland	'	3,914,000	1,536,000	951,000	'
CPOS [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	'	0	1,000	1,000	'
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	'	'	30.00%	'	'
Sale of subsidiary, including amount attributable to noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'	30,300,000
Sale of subsidiary, portion attributable to parent	'	'	'	'	20,900,000
Parent's ownership percentage	'	70.00%	'	'	'
Gain on sale of business	'	3,786,000	'	'	'
Tax effect of gain on sale of business	2,067,000	2,000	'	'	'
Discontinued Operation, Balance Sheet Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	'	0	2,141,000	'	'
Receivables, net	'	0	904,000	'	'
Investments held to maturity	'	0	3,229,000	'	'
Inventory	'	0	406,000	'	'
Property and equipment, net	'	0	620,000	'	'
Goodwill	'	0	9,337,000	'	'
Intangible assets, net	'	0	260,000	'	'
Other assets	'	0	147,000	'	'
Total assets held for sale	'	0	17,044,000	'	'
Accounts payable	'	0	497,000	'	'
Processing liabilities	'	0	86,000	'	'
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	'	0	1,089,000	'	'
Total liabilities related to assets held for sale	'	0	1,672,000	'	'
Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Revenues	'	1,117,000	13,123,000	11,373,000	'
Expenses	'	870,000	10,186,000	9,471,000	'
Income from operations	'	247,000	2,937,000	1,902,000	'
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax	'	184,000	2,185,000	1,359,000	'
Net income from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interests	'	($56,000)	($649,000)	($408,000)	'

Quarterly_Consolidated_Results2

Quarterly Consolidated Results of Income (Unaudited) (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total revenues	$530,380	$557,129	$546,624	$501,239	$499,965	$530,677	$515,218	$467,576	$2,135,372	$2,013,436	$1,985,577
Costs of services	456,933	480,386	469,763	428,624	434,465	461,084	454,920	413,232	1,835,706	1,763,701	1,783,731
General and administrative expenses	42,326	41,871	43,531	45,840	40,289	36,787	31,309	31,549	173,568	139,934	125,765
Total expenses	499,259	522,257	513,294	474,464	474,754	497,871	486,229	444,781	2,009,274	1,903,635	1,909,496
Income from operations	31,121	34,872	33,330	26,775	25,211	32,806	28,989	22,795	126,098	109,801	76,081
Net income attributable to Heartland	$17,405	$21,981	$19,681	$19,559	$14,954	$19,380	$17,801	$13,754	$78,626	$65,889	$43,939
Diluted earnings per share:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.46	$0.58	$0.53	$0.41	$0.37	$0.47	$0.43	$0.33	$1.96	$1.60	$1.07
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$0	$0	$0	$0.10	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01	$0.10	$0.04	$0.02
Earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$0.46	$0.58	$0.53	$0.51	$0.38	$0.48	$0.44	$0.34	$2.06	$1.64	$1.09