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TSYS(R) NEWS RELEASE
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For immediate release


Contacts:     Patrick Reynolds
              Director of Investor Relations
              (706) 649-4973

             Total System Services Announces Two-for-One Stock Split
                   Fourth Two-for-One Split in Ten-Year Period


     Columbus,  Ga., March 29, 1996 -- Today, Total System Services, Inc. (TSYS)
(NYSE - "TSS") announced a two-for-one  stock split. The two-for-one stock split
will be issued  on April 22,  1996,  to  shareholders  of record as of April 11,
1996.

     Commenting on the stock split,  TSYS Chairman of the Board and CEO, Richard
W. Ussery  stated,  "We are pleased to announce a two-for-one  stock split.  The
market has recognized  Total System  Services as a unique,  value-added  company
that  consistently  performs at the highest  levels in our industry,  handsomely
rewarding our shareholders.  This split, our fourth  two-for-one in the last ten
years,  will increase the number of shares  outstanding  and better  reflect the
historical trading range of our stock."

     Headquartered in Columbus,  Ga., TSYS is one of the world's largest credit,
debit and  private-label  card  processing  companies,  serving card issuing and
acquiring institutions located throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada
and  Mexico,  representing  more than 64  million  cardholder  and over  600,000
merchant  accounts.  TSYS  provides  a  comprehensive  on-line  system  of  data
processing  services  marketed  as THE TOTAL  SYSTEM(SM).  TSYS'  1995  revenues
totaled  $249.7  million.  The company is an 80.8 percent  owned  subsidiary  of
Synovus  Financial Corp.  (NYSE- "SNV"),  a $7.9 billion asset,  multi-financial
services company that also includes 34 banking  affiliates in four  southeastern
states, a full-service  brokerage firm, a comprehensive  trust services provider
and a mortgage services company. # # #