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  <p align="center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br>
  Washington, D.C. 20549<br>
  <br>
  </p>
  
  <p align="center">Form 8-K<br>
  <br>
  </p>
  
  <p align="center">CURRENT REPORT<br>
  </p>
  
  <p align="center">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of<br>
  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934<br>
  <br>
  </p>
  
  <p align="center">October 16, 2001<br>
  ------------------------------<br>
  (Earliest Event Reported)<br>
  </p>
  
  <p align="center"><u>Total System Services, Inc.</u><br>
  (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)<br>
  </p>
  <div align="center"><center>
  
  <table border="0" width="85%">
      <tr>
          <td><u>Georgia</u></td>
          <td align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>1-10254</u></td>
          <td align="right"><u>58-1493818</u></td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>(State of </td>
          <td align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  (Commission File</td>
          <td align="right">(IRS Employer Identification</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>Incorporation)</td>
          <td align="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Number)</td>
          <td align="right">Number)</td>
      </tr>
  </table>
  </center></div>
  
  <p align="center">&nbsp;</p>
  
  <p align="center">1600 First Avenue, Columbus, Georgia
  31901<br>
  -----------------------------------------------------<br>
  (Address of principal executive offices)<br>
  <br>
  </p>
  
  <p align="center">(706) 649-2267<br>
  -------------------------------------<br>
  (Registrant's Telephone Number)<br>
  <br>
  </p>
  
  <p align="center"><br>
  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)<br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  </p>
  
  <table border="0" width="75%">
      <tr>
          <td width="5%"><u>Item 5.</u></td>
          <td width="50%"><u>Other Events.</u></td>
      </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p>On October 16, 2001, Total System Services,
  Inc. (&quot;Registrant&quot;), issued a press release
  with respect to its third quarter 2001 earnings.<br>
   </p>
  
  <p>A copy of Registrant's press release regarding the announcement
  referenced above is attached hereto as Exhibit 99<br>
  and by this reference is hereby incorporated by reference into
  this Form 8-K and made a part hereof. </p>
  
  <table border="0" width="90%">
      <tr>
          <td valign="top" width="5%"><u>Item 7.</u></td>
          <td valign="top" colspan="2" width="50%" nowrap><u>Financial
          Statements. Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.</u></td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
          <td>(a) &nbsp;&nbsp;Financial Statements - None. </td>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
          <td>(b) &nbsp;&nbsp;Pro Forma Financial Information -
          None. </td>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
          <td>(c) &nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits </td>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
          <td><!--webbot bot="HTMLMarkup" startspan -->&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<!--webbot
          bot="HTMLMarkup" endspan -->&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 99 -
          Registrant's press release, October 16, 2001.</td>
          <td>&nbsp;</td>
      </tr>
  </table>
  
  
  <p>  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>Signature</u><BR>
  
  <p>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
  1934, as amended, Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its <br>
  behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.<br>
  </p>
  
  <table border="0" width="80%">
      <tr>
          <td width="50%">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="50%">TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, INC.<br>
          (&quot;Registrant&quot;)</td>
      </tr>
  </table>
  
  <blockquote>
      <blockquote>
          <blockquote>
              <blockquote>
                  <blockquote>
                      <p><br>
                      <br>
                      </p>
                  </blockquote>
              </blockquote>
          </blockquote>
      </blockquote>
  </blockquote>
  
  <table border="0" width="80%">
      <tr>
          <td width="50%">Dated: October 16, 2001</td>
          <td width="50%">By:<u>/s/ Kathleen Moates </u></td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
          <td width="50%">&nbsp;</td>
          <td width="50%">Kathleen Moates <br>
          Senior Deputy General Counsel<br>
          </td>
      </tr>
  </table>
  
  <p><br>
  -</p>
  
  <p align="center">3</p>
  </body>
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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": "1760061"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1600 FIRST AVENUE", "street2": "P O BOX 1755", "city": "COLUMBUS", "state": "GA", "zip": "31901", "phone": "7066492267"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1600 FIRST AVENUE", "city": "COLUMBUS", "state": "GA", "zip": "31901"}}
text: 8k.htm
  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
  October 16, 2001
  ------------------------------
  (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 Identification
  Incorporation)
  Number)
  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 October 16, 2001, Total System Services,
  Inc. ("Registrant"), issued a press release
  with respect to its third quarter 2001 earnings.
  A copy of Registrant's press release regarding the announcement
  referenced above is attached hereto as Exhibit 99
  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 -
          Registrant's press release, October 16, 2001.
  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: October 16, 2001
  By:
  /s/ Kathleen Moates
  Kathleen Moates
  Senior Deputy General Counsel
  -
  3