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Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans held for sale.

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Fair Values (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 23,572,000,000	$ 22,288,000,000	$ 20,740,000,000	$ 19,486,000,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Certificates of deposit	7,723,000,000us-gaap_TimeDeposits
Long-term debt	54,712,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt	57,955,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, less reserves	43,274,000,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet	44,386,000,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet
Card Member loans, net	65,705,000,000	69,184,000,000
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt	16,419,000,000	19,516,000,000
Carrying Value [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	24,000,000,000	22,000,000,000
Other financial assets	46,000,000,000	48,000,000,000
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Loans, net	67,000,000,000	70,000,000,000
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	59,000,000,000	61,000,000,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Certificates of deposit	8,000,000,000	8,000,000,000
Long-term debt	55,000,000,000	58,000,000,000
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	24,000,000,000	22,000,000,000
Other financial assets	46,000,000,000	48,000,000,000
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Loans, net	67,000,000,000	71,000,000,000
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	59,000,000,000	61,000,000,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Certificates of deposit	8,000,000,000	8,000,000,000
Long-term debt	57,000,000,000	60,000,000,000
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] \| Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt	16,500,000,000	19,500,000,000
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, less reserves	6,000,000,000	7,000,000,000
Card Member loans, net	27,500,000,000	29,900,000,000
Level 1 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	23,000,000,000	21,000,000,000
Other financial assets	0	0
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Loans, net	0	0
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	0	0
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Certificates of deposit	0	0
Long-term debt	0	0
Level 2 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Other financial assets	46,000,000,000	48,000,000,000
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Loans, net	0	0
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	59,000,000,000	61,000,000,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Certificates of deposit	8,000,000,000	8,000,000,000
Long-term debt	57,000,000,000	60,000,000,000
Level 3 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Other financial assets	0	0
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Loans, net	67,000,000,000	71,000,000,000
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	0	0
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Certificates of deposit	0	0
Long-term debt	$ 0	$ 0