content: 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
  
                                    March 9, 1998
                              (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)
  
                     1200 Sixth 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 March 9, 1998, Total System Services, Inc. ("Registrant") announced that
  it is engaged in  negotiations  with Sears,  Roebuck  and Co. to support  Sears'
  private-label credit card accounts.
  
       A copy of Registrant's press release regarding the announcement  referenced
  above is attached  hereto as Exhibit  99.1,  and by this  reference  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, March 9, 1998
  
                                          2
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
                                      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: March 9, 1998                        By:/s/ Kathleen Moates
         -------------------------               -------------------
                                                     Kathleen Moates
                                                     Deputy General Counsel
  
                                          3
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
                                    Exhibit Index
  
  Exhibit Number                      Description
  
  99.1                                Registrant's
                                      press release
                                      dated March 9, 1998
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                          4
  
  
  <PAGE>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2981}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES INC", "cik": "0000721683", "assigned-sic": "7374", "irs-number": "581493818", "state-of-incorporation": "GA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10254", "film-number": "98560589"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1200 SIXTH AVENUE", "street2": "P O BOX 1755", "city": "COLUMBUS", "state": "GA", "zip": "31901", "phone": "7066492267"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1200 SISTH AVENUE", "city": "COLUMBUS", "state": "GA", "zip": "31901"}}
text: 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
  
                                    March 9, 1998
                              (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)
  
                     1200 Sixth 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 March 9, 1998, Total System Services, Inc. ("Registrant") announced that
  it is engaged in  negotiations  with Sears,  Roebuck  and Co. to support  Sears'
  private-label credit card accounts.
  
       A copy of Registrant's press release regarding the announcement  referenced
  above is attached  hereto as Exhibit  99.1,  and by this  reference  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, March 9, 1998
  
                                          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: March 9, 1998                        By:/s/ Kathleen Moates
         -------------------------               -------------------
                                                     Kathleen Moates
                                                     Deputy General Counsel
  
                                          3
  Exhibit Index
  
  Exhibit Number                      Description
  
  99.1                                Registrant's
                                      press release
                                      dated March 9, 1998
  
                                          4