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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 1) (USD $)
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Sep. 30, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Sep. 30, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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| Loans segment information | ||||
| Card Member loans, gross | $ 62,970,000,000 | $ 65,229,000,000 | ||
| Less: Reserve for losses | 1,281,000,000 | 1,471,000,000 | 1,459,000,000 | 1,874,000,000 |
| Card Member loans, net | 61,689,000,000 | 63,758,000,000 | ||
| Other loans, net | 526,000,000 | 551,000,000 | ||
| Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract] | ||||
| Other loans, reserves | 16,000,000 | 20,000,000 | ||
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Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
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| Loans segment information | ||||
| Card Member loans, gross | 29,491,000,000 | 32,731,000,000 | ||
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U S Card Services [Member]
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| Loans segment information | ||||
| Card Member loans, gross | 54,481,000,000 | 55,953,000,000 | ||
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U S Card Services [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
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| Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract] | ||||
| Gross Card Member loans available to settle the obligations of a variable interest entity | 29,500,000,000 | 32,700,000,000 | ||
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International Card Services [Member]
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| Loans segment information | ||||
| Card Member loans, gross | 8,445,000,000 | 9,236,000,000 | ||
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Global Commercial Services [Member]
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| Loans segment information | ||||
| Card Member loans, gross | $ 44,000,000 | $ 40,000,000 |