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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2011
Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans And Receivables [Line Items] |  |
Interest income recognized | $ 20 | $ 27
Average balance of impaired loans | 1,547 | 2,284
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member] |  |
Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans And Receivables [Line Items] |  |
Interest income recognized | 16 | 18
Average balance of impaired loans | 1,307 | 2,036
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member] |  |
Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans And Receivables [Line Items] |  |
Interest income recognized | 0 | 0
Average balance of impaired loans | 160 | 118
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member] |  |
Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans And Receivables [Line Items] |  |
Interest income recognized | 4 | 9
Average balance of impaired loans | $ 80 | $ 130

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- Definition The average recorded investment related to impaired financing receivables. + References Reference 1: 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 -Subparagraph (c)(1) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5258-111524 + Details
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- Definition The interest income recognized during the time within that period that the financing receivables were impaired. + References Reference 1: 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 -Subparagraph (c)(2) + Details
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