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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details Textuals) (USD $) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2011 U S Card Services [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 U S Card Services [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 International Card Services [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 International Card Services [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Global Commercial Services [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 Global Commercial Services [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Global Commercial Services [Member] Airline [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 Global Commercial Services [Member] Airline [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Global Commercial Services [Member] Airline [Member] Delta [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 Global Commercial Services [Member] Airline [Member] Delta [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Cardmember Loans [Member] U S Card Services [Member] bp | Dec. 31, 2011 Cardmember Receivables [Member] U S Card Services [Member] M
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Average basis point reduction in interest rate by class of cardmember loans |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 11 |
Average payment term extension |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15
Outstanding balance of cardmember loans and receivables modified through settlement programs | $ 5,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reserve on the outanding balance of cardmember loans and receivables modified through settlement programs | 3,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember loans and receivables totaling | 41,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other receivables, reserves | 102,000,000 | 175,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other loans, reserves | 18,000,000 | 24,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember receivables | $ 40,890,000,000 | $ 37,266,000,000 | $ 20,645,000,000 | $ 19,155,000,000 | $ 7,222,000,000 | $ 6,673,000,000 | $ 12,829,000,000 | $ 11,259,000,000 | $ 563,000,000 | $ 106,000,000 | $ 340,000,000 | $ 68,000,000 |  |

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- Definition Reserves for losses relating to other receivables represent management's best estimate of the losses inherent in the Company's outstanding portfolio of other receivables. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The allowance for other loan and lease losses represents the reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified other loans and leases, as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of the other 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 other loan losses in connection with business combinations determined to be appropriate. + 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 5 -Paragraph 8 -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 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 310 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6951948&loc=d3e18832-111554 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 Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6228006&loc=d3e74567-122707 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 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 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6951948&loc=d3e18805-111554 Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section L -Subsection 1 Reference 10: 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 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of loans that have been pledged as collateral for borrowings. If the secured party has the right by contract or custom to sell or re-pledge the collateral, then the debtor reclassifies that asset and report that asset in its statement of financial position separately from other assets not so encumbered. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 140 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph a -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5086-111524 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 860 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6467456&loc=d3e113888-111728 + Details
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- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, an amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Company (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s). Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale. + 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 210.9-03.10(3)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 9 -Section 03 -Paragraph 10 -Subparagraph 3 + Details
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