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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details Textuals) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2011
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |  |
Average basis point reduction in interest rate by class of cardmember loans | 13 | 11 |
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract] |  |  |
Other receivables, reserves | $ 88,000,000 |  | $ 102,000,000
Other loans, reserves | 18,000,000 |  | 18,000,000
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Cardmember receivables | 41,507,000,000 |  | 40,890,000,000
U S Card Services [Member] |  |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |  |
Average payment term extension | 15 |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Abstract] |  |  |
Cardmember receivables | 6,600,000,000 |  | 7,500,000,000
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Cardmember receivables | 19,319,000,000 |  | 20,645,000,000
International Card Services [Member] |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Cardmember receivables | 6,736,000,000 |  | 7,222,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member] |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Cardmember receivables | 15,298,000,000 |  | 12,829,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Airline [Member] |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Cardmember receivables | 757,000,000 |  | 563,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Airline [Member] | Delta [Member] |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Cardmember receivables | $ 535,000,000 |  | $ 340,000,000

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- Definition Represents the amount of gross receivables available to settle the obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity. + References No definition available. + Details
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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 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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