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Reportable Operating Segments and Geographic Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Jun. 30, 2010 | Mar. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2008
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-interest revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 25,321 | $ 22,713 | $ 21,212 |
Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,961 | 7,292 | 5,331 |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,320 | 2,423 | 2,207 |
Total revenues, net of interest expense | 7,742 | 7,571 | 7,618 | 7,031 | 7,244 | 6,973 | 6,805 | 6,560 | 29,962 | 27,582 | 24,336 |
Total provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,112 | 2,207 | 5,313 |
Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations | 1,748 | 1,711 | 1,765 | 1,732 | 1,477 | 1,640 | 1,595 | 1,252 | 6,956 | 5,964 | 2,841 |
Income tax provision (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,057 | 1,907 | 704 |
Income (loss) from continuing operations | 1,192 | 1,235 | 1,295 | 1,177 | 1,062 | 1,093 | 1,017 | 885 | 4,899 | 4,057 | 2,137 |
Total equity | 18,794 |  |  |  | 16,230 |  |  |  | 18,794 | 16,230 | 12,637 | 11,841
Previously Reported Balance [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,406 |
U S Card Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-interest revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,648 | 9,884 | 9,443 |
Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,230 | 5,390 | 3,216 |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 807 | 812 | 568 |
Total revenues, net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15,071 | 14,462 | 12,091 |
Total provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 687 | 1,591 | 3,769 |
Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,129 | 3,504 | 575 |
Income tax provision (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,449 | 1,279 | 171 |
Income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,680 | 2,225 | 404 |
Total equity | 8,800 |  |  |  | 7,400 |  |  |  | 8,800 | 7,400 | 6,000 |
International Card Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-interest revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,361 | 3,678 | 3,442 |
Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,304 | 1,393 | 1,509 |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 426 | 428 | 427 |
Total revenues, net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,239 | 4,643 | 4,524 |
Total provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 268 | 392 | 1,211 |
Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 762 | 589 | 271 |
Income tax provision (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 39 | 52 | (59) |
Income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 723 | 537 | 330 |
Total equity | 2,800 |  |  |  | 2,200 |  |  |  | 2,800 | 2,200 | 2,300 |
Global Commercial Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-interest revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,880 | 4,347 | 3,882 |
Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9 | 7 | 5 |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 264 | 227 | 180 |
Total revenues, net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,625 | 4,127 | 3,707 |
Total provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 76 | 157 | 177 |
Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,075 | 723 | 475 |
Income tax provision (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 337 | 273 | 144 |
Income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 738 | 450 | 331 |
Total equity | 3,600 |  |  |  | 3,700 |  |  |  | 3,600 | 3,700 | 3,700 |
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-interest revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,713 | 4,101 | 3,586 |
Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (224) | (200) | (177) |
Total revenues, net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,942 | 4,305 | 3,764 |
Total provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 75 | 61 | 135 |
Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,979 | 1,589 | 1,449 |
Income tax provision (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 686 | 564 | 510 |
Income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,293 | 1,025 | 939 |
Total equity | 2,000 |  |  |  | 1,900 |  |  |  | 2,000 | 1,900 | 1,400 |
Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Non-interest revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 719 | 703 | 859 |
Interest income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 413 | 498 | 600 |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,047 | 1,156 | 1,209 |
Total revenues, net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 85 | 45 | 250 |
Total provision |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 | 6 | 21 |
Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (989) | (441) | 71 |
Income tax provision (benefit) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (454) | (261) | (62) |
Income (loss) from continuing operations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (535) | (180) | 133 |
Total equity | $ 1,800 |  |  |  | $ 1,000 |  |  |  | $ 1,800 | $ 1,000 | $ 1,000 |

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