2.2.0.25truefalse062110 - Disclosure - Retirement Plans (Details 10)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Defined benefit pension plan cost [Member]
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
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{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis} : Other Funds [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
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{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Defined benefit pension plan cost [Member]
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Pension_Plans_Defined_Benefit_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseDefined benefit pension plan cost [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Defined benefit pension plan cost [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Pension_Plans_Defined_Benefit_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseDefined benefit pension plan cost [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Defined benefit pension plan cost [Member]
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Pension_Plans_Defined_Benefit_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseDefined benefit pension plan cost [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssetsByMeasurementAxis} : Level 3 [Member]
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
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{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Defined benefit pension plan cost [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Pension_Plans_Defined_Benefit_Member_Fair_Value_Inputs_Level3_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLevel 3 [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssetsByMeasurementAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssetsByMeasurementAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseDefined benefit pension plan cost [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanChangeInFairValueOfPlanAssetsRollForwardus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringA roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssetsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalseperiodstartlabel1truefalsefalse101000000101000000[1]falsetruefalsetruefalse2truefalsefalse9800000098000000[2]falsetruefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse9800000098000000[3]falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse187000000187000000falsetruefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse20520000002052000000falsetruefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse19890000001989000000falsetruefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse16930000001693000000falsetruefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse101000000101000000falsetruefalsetruefalse9truefalsefalse9800000098000000falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAssets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those nonbenefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph b
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph d(iv)(b)(i)
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 49
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 157
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph c(2)
falsefalse9false0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPeriodIncreaseDecreaseus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse30000003000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse-89000000-89000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the net change of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period. Such net change may be comprised of changes in fair value (gains or losses) whether realized or unrealized that have been included in earnings, changed net asset value, or other comprehensive income (a separate component of shareholders' equity); purchases, sales, issuances, or settlements of assets; and net transfers in to or out of this category within the fair value hierarchy.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 157
-Paragraph 32
-Subparagraph c(1), c(2), c(3)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph b
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph d(iv)(b)(i)
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 49
falsefalse1Consists of investments in private equity and real estate funds measured at reported net asset value.2Consists of investments in private equity, real estate and hedge funds measured at reported net asset value.3For cardmember receivables in International Card Services and Global Commercial Services, delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A cardmember account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the cardmember's billing statement date. In addition, if the Company initiates collection procedures on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing the associated cardmember receivable balance is considered as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes. Historically, data for periods prior to 90 days past billing are not available due to system constraints. Therefore, it has not been utilized for risk management purposes. The balances that are current - 89 days past due can be derived as difference between the Total and the 90+ Days Past Due balances99Retirement Plans (Details 10) (Defined benefit pension plan cost [Member], USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
