<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000721683 <NAME> TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 43,335,922 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 70,186,878 <ALLOWANCES> 735,959 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 132,405,707 <PP&E> 134,082,690 <DEPRECIATION> 65,114,116 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 296,857,937 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 61,506,397 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 12,948,352 <OTHER-SE> 208,938,499 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 296,857,937 <SALES> 361,499,349 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 361,499,349 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 301,570,084 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 71,555,909 <INCOME-TAX> 24,077,347 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 47,478,472 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 47,478,472 <EPS-PRIMARY> .37 <EPS-DILUTED> .37