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Reserves For Losses (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Additions: |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember loans provisions |  |  | $ 23 | $ 1,429 |  |
Cardmember loans provisions - other |  |  | 81 | 61 |  |
Total provision | 48 | 262 | 104 | 1,490 |  |
Deductions: |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember loans net write-offs - principal |  |  | (1,375) | (2,630) |  |
Cardmember loans net write-offs - interest and fees |  |  | (159) | (287) |  |
Cardmember loans - other |  |  | (77) | (54) |  |
Reserves For Losses Textuals [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for loan and lease losses, recoveries of bad debts |  |  | 444 | 422 |  |
Reserve For Losses Securitized Loans | 2,139 | 4,318 | 2,139 | 4,318 | 3,646 | 5,799
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] | Scenario Adjustment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Changes in the cardmember loans reserve for losses |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, January 1 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,531
Deductions: |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, September 30 |  |  |  |  |  | 2,531
Reserves For Losses Textuals [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserve For Losses Securitized Loans |  |  |  |  |  | 2,531
Scenario Previously Reported [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Changes in the cardmember loans reserve for losses |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, January 1 |  |  |  |  | 3,646 | 3,268
Deductions: |  |  |  |  |  |
Balance, September 30 |  |  |  |  | $ 3,646 | $ 3,268

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- Definition Cardmember loans reserve deductions. + Details
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- Definition Reflects the interest and fees amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities for the period. + Details
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- Definition Represents adjustments to cardmember loans reserve including foreign currency translation adjustments and net write-offs related to unauthorized transactions for the period. + Details
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- Definition Reflects the principal amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, net of recoveries, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities for the period. + Details
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- Definition Primarily represents adjustments to cardmember loans resulting from unauthorized transactions for the period. + Details
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- Definition Represents loss provisions for cardmember loans consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), interest and fee reserves components for the period. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Reflects a reduction in bad debt expense attributable to collections of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially charged off as bad debts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 114 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 9 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524 + Details
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- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + Details
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- Definition The allowance for loan and lease losses represents the reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified loans and leases, as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. For banks, include currently required allocated transfer risk reserves. Include carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations determined to be appropriate. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher OTS -Name Federal Regulation (FR) -Number Title 12 -Chapter V -Section 563c.102 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph a(ii) -Subsection I -LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy. It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section L -Subsection 1 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 114 -Paragraph 20 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 9 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 8, 9 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544 + Details
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- Definition The sum of the periodic provision charged to operations, based on an assessment of the uncollectibility of the loan and lease portfolio, the offset to which is either added to or deducted from the allowance account for the purpose of reducing loan receivable and leases to an amount that approximates their net realizable value (the amount expected to be collected). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 9 -Section 04 -Paragraph 11 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-DEP -Chapter 5 -Paragraph 168, 169, 170 -IssueDate 2006-05-01 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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