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Fair Values (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Financial Assets: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 27,082 | $ 24,893 | $ 22,027 | $ 16,356
Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 11,081 |  |  |
Long-term Debt | 56,844 | 59,570 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 41,083 | 40,452 |  |
Cardmember loans, net | 58,417 | 60,747 |  |
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Long-term Debt | 17,477 | 20,856 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 7,100 | 8,000 |  |
Cardmember loans, net | 30,900 | 33,300 |  |
Carrying Value [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial Assets: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 27 |  |  |
Other assets | 45 |  |  |
Assets Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 59 |  |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 54 |  |  |
Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 11 |  |  |
Long-term Debt | 57 |  |  |
Level 1 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial Assets: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 23 |  |  |
Other assets | 0 |  |  |
Assets Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 |  |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 |  |  |
Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 |  |  |
Long-term Debt | 0 |  |  |
Level 2 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial Assets: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 4 |  |  |
Other assets | 45 |  |  |
Assets Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 |  |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 54 |  |  |
Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 11 |  |  |
Long-term Debt | 60 |  |  |
Level 3 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial Assets: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 |  |  |
Other assets | 0 |  |  |
Assets Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 59 |  |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 |  |  |
Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 |  |  |
Long-term Debt | 0 |  |  |
Fair Value [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial Assets: |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 27 |  |  |
Other assets | 45 |  |  |
Assets Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 59 |  |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 54 |  |  |
Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 11 |  |  |
Long-term Debt | 60 |  |  |
Fair Value [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Long-term Debt | $ 17,700 | $ 21,100 |  |

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- Definition Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include accrued interest, customer deposits (excluding certificates of deposit), Travelers Cheques outstanding, short-term borrowings, and certain other liabilities for which the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short-term in duration, variable rate in nature, or have no defined maturity. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.9) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
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- Definition The sum of cash and cash equivalents plus Federal Funds Sold. Cash and cash equivalents consist of short term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and are so near their maturity that they present negligible risk of changes in value due to changes in interest rates -- usually with an original maturity less than 90 days. + 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 210.9-03.1,2,3) -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 95 -Paragraph 8, 9, 10 -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 OTS -Name Federal Regulation (FR) -Number Title 12 -Chapter V -Section 563c.102 -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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 + Details
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- Definition Reflects the aggregate carrying amount of all categories of loans and leases held in portfolio, net of unearned income and the allowance for losses on loans and leases. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 01-6 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph e -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 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6375948&loc=d3e4428-111522 Reference 3: 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) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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- Definition Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 7 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This element represents the fair value of assets categorized as other which are not in and of themselves material enough to require separate disclosure. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The aggregate amount of time deposits, including certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 12 -Article 9 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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