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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Receivable and Loans (Tables) [Abstract] |
Cardmember receivables segment detail | Accounts receivable as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows:
(Millions) |  | 2012 |  | 2011
U.S. Card Services(a) |  | $ | 21,124 |  | $ | 20,645
International Card Services |  |  | 7,778 |  |  | 7,222
Global Commercial Services(b) |  |  | 13,671 |  |  | 12,829
Global Network & Merchant Services(c) |  |  | 193 |  |  | 194
Cardmember receivables(d) |  |  | 42,766 |  |  | 40,890
Less: Reserve for losses |  |  | 428 |  |  | 438
Cardmember receivables, net |  | $ | 42,338 |  | $ | 40,452
Other receivables, net(e) |  | $ | 3,576 |  | $ | 3,657
Includes $7.5 billion of gross cardmember receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of both December 31, 2012 and 2011. Includes $476 m illion and $459 m illion of gross cardmember receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Also i ncludes $913 m illion and $563 m illion due from airlines, of which Delta Air Lines (Delta) comprises $676 m illion and $340 m illion as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Includes receivables primarily related to the Company's International Currency Card portfolios. Includes approximately $12.9 billion and $12.8 billion of cardmember receivables outside the United States as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Other receivables primarily represent amounts related to (i) purchased joint venture receivables, (ii) certain merchants for billed discount revenue, (iii) the Company's travel customers and suppliers, and (iv) other receivables due to the Company in the ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2011, o ther receivables also include d investments that matured on December 31, 2011, but which did not settle until January 3, 2012. Other receivables are presented ne t of reserves for losses of $86 m illion and $102 m illion as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Cardmember loans segment detail | Loans as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted of:
(Millions) |  |  | 2012 |  |  | 2011
U.S. Card Services(a) |  | $ | 55,953 |  | $ | 53,686
International Card Services |  |  | 9,236 |  |  | 8,901
Global Commercial Services |  |  | 40 |  |  | 34
Cardmember loans |  |  | 65,229 |  |  | 62,621
Less: Reserve for losses |  |  | 1,471 |  |  | 1,874
Cardmember loans, net |  | $ | 63,758 |  | $ | 60,747
Other loans, net(b) |  | $ | 551 |  | $ | 419
Includes approximately $32.7 billion and $33.8 billion of gross cardmember loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Other loans primarily represent loans to merchants and a store card loan portfolio whose billed business is not processed on the Company's network. Other loans are presented net of reserves for losses of $20 million and $18 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Aging of cardmember loans and receivables | T he following table represents the aging of cardmember loans and receivables as of December 31, 2012 and 2011:
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 30-59 |  |  | 60-89 |  |  | 90+ |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Days |  |  | Days |  |  | Days |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Past |  |  | Past |  |  | Past |  |  |
2012 (Millions) |  |  | Current |  |  | Due |  |  | Due |  |  | Due |  |  | Total
Cardmember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Loans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | $ | 55,281 |  | $ | 200 |  | $ | 147 |  | $ | 325 |  | $ | 55,953
International Card |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Services |  |  | 9,099 |  |  | 47 |  |  | 30 |  |  | 60 |  |  | 9,236
Cardmember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Receivables: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | $ | 20,748 |  | $ | 116 |  | $ | 76 |  | $ | 184 |  | $ | 21,124
International Card |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Services(a) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (b) |  |  | 74 |  |  | 7,778
Global Commercial |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Services(a) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (b) |  |  | 112 |  |  | 13,671
|  |  |  |  |  |  | 30-59 |  |  | 60-89 |  |  | 90+ |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Days |  |  | Days |  |  | Days |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  | Past |  |  | Past |  |  | Past |  |  |
2011 (Millions) |  |  | Current |  |  | Due |  |  | Due |  |  | Due |  |  | Total
Cardmember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Loans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | $ | 52,930 |  | $ | 218 |  | $ | 165 |  | $ | 373 |  | $ | 53,686
International Card |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Services |  |  | 8,748 |  |  | 52 |  |  | 32 |  |  | 69 |  |  | 8,901
Cardmember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Receivables: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | $ | 20,246 |  | $ | 122 |  | $ | 81 |  | $ | 196 |  | $ | 20,645
International Card |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Services(a) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (b) |  |  | 63 |  |  | 7,222
Global Commercial |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Services(a) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (b) |  |  | (b) |  |  | 109 |  |  | 12,829
For c ardmember receivables in International Card Services (ICS) and Global Commercial Services (GCS), delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A cardmember account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the cardmember's billing statement date. In addition, if the Company initiates collection procedures on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing the associated cardmember receivable balance is considered as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes. Historically, data for periods prior to 90 days past billing are not available due to financial reporting system constraints. Therefore, it has not been relied upon for risk management purposes. The balances that are current to 89 days past due can be derived as the difference between the T otal and the 90+ Days Past Due balances.
Credit quality indicators for loans and receivables | The following table s present the key credit quality indicators as of or for the years ended December 31:
|  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
|  | Net Write-Off Rate |  |  |  | Net Write-Off Rate |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  | 30 Days |  |  |  |  |  | 30 Days |
|  |  |  | Principal, |  | Past Due |  |  |  | Principal, |  | Past Due |
|  | Principal |  | Interest, & |  | as a % of |  | Principal |  | Interest, & |  | as a % of |
|  | Only | (a) | Fees | (a) | Total |  | Only | (a) | Fees | (a) | Total |
Cardmember Loans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | 2.1 | % | 2.3 | % | 1.2 | % | 2.9 | % | 3.2 | % | 1.4 | %
International Card Services |  | 1.9 | % | 2.4 | % | 1.5 | % | 2.7 | % | 3.3 | % | 1.7 | %
Cardmember Receivables: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | 1.9 | % | 2.1 | % | 1.8 | % | 1.7 | % | 1.9 | % | 1.9 | %
|  |  |  |  |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
|  |  |  |  |  | Net Loss |  |  |  | Net Loss |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  | Ratio as |  | 90 Days |  | Ratio as |  | 90 Days |
|  |  |  |  |  | a % of |  | Past Billing |  | a % of |  | Past Billing |
|  |  |  |  |  | Charge |  | as a % of |  | Charge |  | as a % of |
|  |  |  |  |  | Volume |  | Receivables |  | Volume |  | Receivables |
Cardmember Receivables: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
International Card Services |  |  |  |  |  | 0.16 | % | 0.9 | % | 0.15 | % | 0.9 | %
Global Commercial Services |  |  |  |  |  | 0.06 | % | 0.8 | % | 0.06 | % | 0.8 | %
The Company presents a net write-off rate based on principal losses only (i.e., excluding interest and/or fees) to be consistent with industry convention. In addition, b ecause the Company's practice is to include uncollectible interest and/or fees as part of its total provision for losses, a net write-off rate including principal, interest and/or fees is also presented.
Impaired cardmember loans and receivables | The following table provide s additional information with respect to th e Company's impaired cardmember loans and receivables, which are not significant for ICS and GCS, as of December 31:
|  |  | Loans over |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | 90 Days |  |  |  |  |  | Loans & |  |  | Total |  |  |
|  |  | Past Due |  |  | Non- |  |  | Receivables |  |  | Impaired |  |  | Unpaid |  |  |  |
|  | & Accruing |  |  | Accrual |  |  | Modified |  |  | Loans & |  |  | Principal |  |  | Allowance |
2012 (Millions) |  |  | Interest | (a) |  | Loans | (b) |  | as a TDR | (c) |  | Receivables |  |  | Balance | (d) |  | for TDRs | (e)
Cardmember Loans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | $ | 73 |  | $ | 426 |  | $ | 627 |  | $ | 1,126 |  | $ | 1,073 |  | $ | 152 |
International Card Services |  |  | 59 |  |  | 5 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 70 |  |  | 69 |  |  | 1 |
Cardmember Receivables: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  |  | ― |  |  | ― |  |  | 117 |  |  | 117 |  |  | 111 |  |  | 91 |
Total |  | $ | 132 |  | $ | 431 |  | $ | 750 |  | $ | 1,313 |  | $ | 1,253 |  | $ | 244 |
|  |  | Loans over |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  | 90 Days |  |  |  |  |  | Loans & |  |  | Total |  |  |
|  |  | Past Due |  |  | Non- |  |  | Receivables |  |  | Impaired |  |  | Unpaid |  |  |  |
|  | & Accruing |  |  | Accrual |  |  | Modified |  |  | Loans & |  |  | Principal |  |  | Allowance |
2011 (Millions) |  |  | Interest | (a) |  | Loans | (b) |  | as a TDR | (c) |  | Receivables |  |  | Balance | (d) | for TDRs | (e)
Cardmember Loans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | $ | 64 |  | $ | 529 |  | $ | 736 |  | $ | 1,329 |  | $ | 1,268 |  | $ | 174 |
International Card Services |  |  | 67 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 8 |  |  | 81 |  |  | 80 |  |  | 2 |
Cardmember Receivables: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  |  | ― |  |  | ― |  |  | 174 |  |  | 174 |  |  | 165 |  |  | 118 |
Total |  | $ | 131 |  | $ | 535 |  | $ | 918 |  | $ | 1,584 |  | $ | 1,513 |  | $ | 294 |
The Company's policy is generally to accrue inte rest through the date of write-off (at 180 days past due). The Company establishes reserves for interest that the Company believes will not be collected. Excludes loans modified as a TDR. Non-accrual loans not in modification programs include certain cardmember loans placed with outside collection agencies for which the Company has ceased accruing interest. The Company's policy is generally not to resume the accrual of interest on these loans. Payments received are applied against the recorded loan balance. Interest income is recognized on a cash basis for any payments received after the loan balance has been paid in full. Excludes loans modified as a TDR. T otal loans and receivable s modified as a TDR include s $320 million and $410 mil lion that are non-accrual and $6 million and $4 million that are past due 90 days and still accruing interest as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Unpaid principal balance consists of cardmember charges billed and excludes other amounts charged directly by the Company such as int erest and fees. R epresents the reserve for losses for TDRs, which are evaluated separately for impairment. The Company records a reserve for losses for all impaired loans. Refer to Cardmember Loans Evaluated Separately and Collectively for Impairment in Note 5 for further discussion of the reserve for losses on loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest and non-accrual loans, which are evaluated collectively for impairment.
Interest income recognized and average balance of impaired cardmember loans and receivables | The following table provides information with respect to the Company's interest income recognized and average balances of impaired cardmember loans and receivables, which are not significant for ICS and GCS, for the years ended December 31:
|  | 2012
|  |  | Interest |  |  |
|  |  | Income |  |  | Average
(Millions) |  |  | Recognized |  |  | Balance
Cardmember Loans: |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | $ | 60 |  | $ | 1,221
International Card Services |  |  | 16 |  |  | 75
Cardmember Receivables: |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  |  | ― |  |  | 135
Total |  | $ | 76 |  | $ | 1,431
|  | 2011
|  |  | Interest |  |  |
|  |  | Income |  |  | Average
(Millions) |  |  | Recognized |  |  | Balance
Cardmember Loans: |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  | $ | 67 |  | $ | 1,498
International Card Services |  |  | 26 |  |  | 98
Cardmember Receivables: |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services |  |  | ― |  |  | 145
Total |  | $ | 93 |  | $ | 1,741
Troubled debt restructurings | The following table provides additional information with respect to the cardmember loans and receivables modified as TDRs, which are not significant for ICS, for the year s ended December 31:
|  |  |  |  | Aggregated |  |  | Aggregated
|  |  |  |  |  | Pre- |  |  | Post-
2012 |  |  |  | Modification |  | Modification
(Accounts in thousands, |  | Number of |  | Outstanding |  | Outstanding
Dollars in millions) |  | Accounts |  |  | Balances(a) |  |  | Balances(a)
Troubled Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructurings: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services ― |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cardmember Loans |  | 106 |  | $ | 779 |  | $ | 762
U.S. Card Services ― |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cardmember Receivables |  | 37 |  |  | 425 |  |  | 418
Total(b) |  | 143 |  | $ | 1,204 |  | $ | 1,180
|  |  |  |  | Aggregated |  |  | Aggregated
|  |  |  |  |  | Pre- |  |  | Post-
2011 |  |  |  | Modification |  | Modification
(Accounts in thousands, |  | Number of |  | Outstanding |  | Outstanding
Dollars in millions) |  | Accounts |  |  | Balances(a) |  |  | Balances(a)
Troubled Debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructurings: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services ― |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cardmember Loans |  | 147 |  | $ | 1,110 |  | $ | 1,064
U.S. Card Services ― |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cardmember Receivables |  | 50 |  |  | 402 |  |  | 388
Total(b) |  | 197 |  | $ | 1,512 |  | $ | 1,452
I ncludes principal and accrued interest. The difference between the pre- and post-modification outstanding balances is attributable to amounts charged off for cardmember loans and receivables being resolved through the Company's short-term settlement programs.
Troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted | The following table provides information for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, with respect to the cardmember loans and receivables modified as TDRs that subsequently defaulted within 12 months of modification. A cardmember will default from a modification program after one and up to three consecutive missed payments, depending on the terms of the modification program. The defaulted ICS cardmember loan modifications were not significant.
|  |  |  |  |  | Aggregated
2012 |  |  |  |  | Outstanding
(Accounts in thousands, |  |  | Number of |  |  | Balances
Dollars in millions) |  |  | Accounts |  | Upon Default(a)
Troubled Debt Restructurings |  |  |  |  |  |
That Subsequently Defaulted: |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services ― |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cardmember Loans |  |  | 23 |  | $ | 182
U.S. Card Services ― |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cardmember Receivables |  |  | 1 |  |  | 37
Total |  |  | 24 |  | $ | 219
|  |  |  |  |  | Aggregated
2011 |  |  |  |  | Outstanding
(Accounts in thousands, |  |  | Number of |  |  | Balances
Dollars in millions) |  |  | Accounts |  | Upon Default(a)
Troubled Debt Restructurings |  |  |  |  |  |
That Subsequently Defaulted: |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Card Services ― |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cardmember Loans |  |  | 46 |  | $ | 343
U.S. Card Services ― |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cardmember Receivables |  |  | 6 |  |  | 45
Total |  |  | 52 |  | $ | 388
The outstanding balance includes principal and accrued interest.

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of financing receivables by credit quality indicator. The credit quality indicator is a statistic about the credit quality of financing receivables. Examples include, but not limited to, consumer credit risk scores, credit-rating-agency ratings, an entity's internal credit risk grades, loan-to-value ratios, collateral, collection experience and other internal metrics. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 29 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953659-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 55 -Paragraph 19 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7880640&loc=SL6953803-111525 + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of the various types of trade accounts and notes receivable and for each the gross carrying value, allowance, and net carrying value as of the balance sheet date. Presentation is categorized by current, noncurrent and unclassified receivables. + 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 210.5-02.3,4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3, 4 -Article 5 + Details
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