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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions | Sep. 30, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
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U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member] |  |
Financing receivable recorded investment aging |  |
Current | $ 49,146 | $ 50,508
30 to 59 days past due | 230 | 282
60 to 89 days past due | 161 | 226
90+ days past due | 349 | 549
Total aging | 49,886 | 51,565
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member] |  |
Financing receivable recorded investment aging |  |
Current | 18,575 | 18,864
30 to 59 days past due | 147 | 104
60 to 89 days past due | 75 | 55
90+ days past due | 160 | 132
Total aging | 18,957 | 19,155
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member] |  |
Financing receivable recorded investment aging |  |
Current | 8,134 | 9,044
30 to 59 days past due | 51 | 66
60 to 89 days past due | 35 | 48
90+ days past due | 73 | 97
Total aging | 8,293 | 9,255
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member] |  |
Financing receivable recorded investment aging |  |
90+ days past due | 63 | 64
Total aging | 6,746 | 6,673
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member] |  |
Financing receivable recorded investment aging |  |
90+ days past due | 98 | 96
Total aging | $ 13,866 | $ 11,259

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- Definition Financing receivables that are less than 60 days past due but more than 29 days past due. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524 + Details
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- Definition Financing receivables that are less than 90 days past due but more than 59 days past due. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524 + Details
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- Definition Financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524 + Details
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