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Quarterly Financial Data (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Data (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Membership rewards expense | $ 342 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Membership rewards expense, after-tax | 212 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Earnings allocated to participating share awards and other items | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 49 | 58 | 51
Restructuring Reserve By Type Of Restructuring [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, gross of revision adjustments | 400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, after-tax | 287 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Statement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember reimbursements | 153 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember reimbursements, after-tax | 95 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Periods in the current year [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Statement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember reimbursements | 49 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Periods prior to the current year [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Statement [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cardmember reimbursements | $ 83 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Represents cardmember reimbursements for various types of transactions dating back several years related to fees, interest and bonus rewards as well as incremental expense related to the consent orders entered into with the Company's U.S. banking regulators. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents cardmember reimbursements (after tax) for various types of transactions dating back several years related to fees, interest and bonus rewards as well as incremental expense related to the consent orders entered into with the Company's U.S. banking regulators. + References No definition available. + Details
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