SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    Form 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                                January 11, 2000
                        ------------------------------------
                            (Earliest Event Reported)



                           Total System Services, Inc.
                        -------------------------------------
                          (Exact Name of Registrant as
                            Specified in its Charter)


 Georgia                          1-10254                         58-1493818
- ---------                     ----------------                   -------------
(State of                     (Commission File                   (IRS Employer
  Incorporation)                Number)                          Identification
                                                                  Number)



                   1600 First Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31901
                   -------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (706) 649-2267
                          ------------------------------
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number)


           ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)







Item 5.  Other Events.

     On January 11, 2000, Total System Services, Inc.  ("Registrant")  announced
earnings for the year ended December 31, 1999.

     A copy of Registrant's press release regarding the announcement  referenced
above is  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit  99.1 and by this  reference  is  hereby
incorporated by reference into this Form 8-K and made a part hereof.

Item 7.      Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

        (a)  Financial Statements - None.

        (b)  Pro Forma Financial Information - None.

        (c)  Exhibits

             99.1 - Registrant's press release, January 11, 2000.

                                        2




                                    Signature


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  Registrant  has caused  this  report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                           TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, INC.
                                           ("Registrant")


Dated: January 11, 2000                    By:/s/ Kathleen Moates
       ---------------------------            ---------------------------------
                                                    Kathleen Moates
                                                    Deputy General Counsel




                                        4





                                  Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number                Description
- -------------                 -------------
99.1                          Registrant's
                              press release
                              dated January 11, 2000




















                                        5