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Guarantees (Tables) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2011
Guarantees (Tables) [Abstract] |
Information related to guarantees | The following table provides information related to such guarantees as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
|  | Maximum amount of |  |
| undiscounted future | Amount of related
|  | payments(a) | liability(b)
| (Billions) | (Millions)
Type of Guarantee |  | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
Card and travel operations(c) |  | $ | 51 |  | $ | 67 |  | $ | 97 |  | $ | 114
Other(d) |  |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 99 |  |  | 99
Total |  | $ | 52 |  | $ | 68 |  | $ | 196 |  | $ | 213
(a) Represents the notional amounts that could be lost under the guarantees and indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed parties. The Merchant Protection guarantee is calculated using management's best estimate of maximum exposure based on all eligible claims as measured against annual billed business volumes. The Company mitigates this risk by withholding settlement from the merchant or obtaining deposits and other guarantees from merchants considered higher risk due to various factors. The amounts being held by the Company are not signif icant when compared to the maxi mum potential amount of undiscounted future payments. (b) Included as part of other liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. (c) Primarily i ncludes Credit Card Registry, Return Protection, Account Protection and Merchant Protection, which the Company offers directly to cardmembers. (d) Other primarily includes guarantees related to the Company's business dispositions and real estate, each of which are individually smaller indemnifications.

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- Definition Represents table summarizing the maximum amount of undiscounted future payments and the amount of related liability associated with the Company's guarantees. + Details
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- Definition Guarantees. + Details
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