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Fair Values (Details 2) (USD $) | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 22,250,000,000 | $ 24,893,000,000 | $ 16,356,000,000 | $ 16,599,000,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 9,577,000,000 | 12,000,000,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 58,973,000,000 | 59,570,000,000 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 42,338,000,000 | 40,452,000,000 |  |
Cardmember loans, net | 63,758,000,000 | 60,747,000,000 |  |
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 19,277,000,000 | 20,856,000,000 |  |
Carrying Value [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Other financial assets | 47,000,000,000 | 45,000,000,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 64,000,000,000 | 61,000,000,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 55,000,000,000 | 51,000,000,000 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 22,000,000,000 | 25,000,000,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 47,000,000,000 | 45,000,000,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 65,000,000,000 | 62,000,000,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 55,000,000,000 | 51,000,000,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 10,000,000,000 | 12,000,000,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 62,000,000,000 | 62,000,000,000 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 32,400,000,000 | 33,300,000,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 19,500,000,000 | 21,100,000,000 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 8,000,000,000 | 8,000,000,000 |  |
Level 1 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 21,000,000,000 |  |  |
Other financial assets | 0 |  |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 |  |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 |  |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 |  |  |
Long-term debt | 0 |  |  |
Level 2 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 1,000,000,000 |  |  |
Other financial assets | 47,000,000,000 |  |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 |  |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 55,000,000,000 |  |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 10,000,000,000 |  |  |
Long-term debt | 62,000,000,000 |  |  |
Level 3 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 |  |  |
Other financial assets | 0 |  |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 65,000,000,000 |  |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 |  |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 |  |  |
Long-term debt | $ 0 |  |  |

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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 OTS -Name Federal Regulation (FR) -Number Title 12 -Section 563c.102 -Chapter V -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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 Reference 3: 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 4: 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 + Details
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- Definition Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + References Reference 1: 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 2: 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 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 Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. + 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 210.9-03.16) -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 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 5: 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 6: 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 + 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 Amount of deposits that cannot be withdrawn before a set date without penalty or for which notice of withdrawal is required. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts. + 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 210.9-03.12) -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 -Section 03 -Paragraph 12 -Article 9 + Details
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