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
  
  
  
                                  December 22, 1997
                              (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)
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
  Item 5.           Other Events.
  
           On December  22,  1997,  Total  System  Services,  Inc.  ("Registrant")
  announced  the  signing of a ten year  processing  agreement  with Royal Bank of
  Canada to process its credit card portfolio.
  
           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, December 22, 1997
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                          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: December 22, 1997                      By:/s/ Kathleen Moates
         -----------------------------             -------------------
                                                    Kathleen Moates
                                                    Deputy General Counsel
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                          3
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
                                    Exhibit Index
  
  Exhibit Number                        Description
  
  99.1                                  Registrant's
                                        press release
                                        dated December 22, 1997
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                                           4
  
  <PAGE>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3091}]
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": "97742321"}, "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
  
                                  December 22, 1997
                              (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 December  22,  1997,  Total  System  Services,  Inc.  ("Registrant")
  announced  the  signing of a ten year  processing  agreement  with Royal Bank of
  Canada to process its credit card portfolio.
  
           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, December 22, 1997
  
                                          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: December 22, 1997                      By:/s/ Kathleen Moates
         -----------------------------             -------------------
                                                    Kathleen Moates
                                                    Deputy General Counsel
  
                                          3
  Exhibit Index
  
  Exhibit Number                        Description
  
  99.1                                  Registrant's
                                        press release
                                        dated December 22, 1997
  
                                                           4