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SEGMENT INFORMATION - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,987,760	$ 1,105,941	$ 935,152	$ 883,039	$ 880,555	$ 857,670	$ 833,164	$ 794,977	$ 4,911,892	$ 3,366,366	$ 3,975,163
Operating income (loss) for segments	$ 196,162	$ 174,037	$ 221,726	$ 199,492	$ 166,986	$ 223,162	$ 190,737	$ 156,170	791,417	737,055	558,868
Depreciation and amortization									878,335	522,813	451,151
Merchant Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration expenses									56,100
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									4,930,674	3,366,366	3,975,163
Operating Segments \| Merchant Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									4,098,580	3,345,181	3,955,988
Operating income (loss) for segments									1,148,975	940,157	771,911
Depreciation and amortization									677,196	516,731	444,100
Operating Segments \| Issuer Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									604,654	21,185	19,175
Operating income (loss) for segments									82,172	14,084	12,710
Depreciation and amortization									157,799	710	647
Operating Segments \| Business and Consumer Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									227,440	0	0
Operating income (loss) for segments									19,473	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									34,914	0	0
Intersegment Revenues
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(18,782)	0	0
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss) for segments									(459,203)	(217,186)	(225,753)
Depreciation and amortization									8,426	5,372	6,404
Corporate \| Heartland
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Acquisition and integration expenses									$ 199,500	$ 56,100	$ 94,600