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Restructuring Charges (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | $ 403 | $ 119 | $ 96
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 738 |  |
Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 366 | 96 | 98
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 639 |  |
Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 37 | 23 | (2)
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 99 |  |
U S Card Services [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 26 |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 89 |  |
U S Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 83 |  |
U S Card Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 6 |  |
International Card Services [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 54 |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 129 |  |
International Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 128 |  |
International Card Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 1 |  |
Global Commercial Services [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 156 |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 289 |  |
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 272 |  |
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 17 |  |
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 25 |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 50 |  |
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 50 |  |
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 0 |  |
Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 142 |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 181 |  |
Severance and other charges | 166 |  |
Corporate and Other [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 106 |  |
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | $ 75 |  |

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- Definition Represents certain severance and other charges related to Company-wide support functions which were not allocated to the Company's operating segments, as these were corporate initiatives and are consistent with how such charges were reported internally. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of costs incurred to date for the specified type of restructuring cost. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -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 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 95-3 -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 + Details
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- Definition Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394695&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 146 -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 Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 95-3 -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 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 + Details
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