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Fair Values (Details 2) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 22,286,000,000 | $ 22,250,000,000 | $ 25,143,000,000 | $ 24,893,000,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 9,541,000,000 |  |  |
Long-term debt | 52,529,000,000 | 58,973,000,000 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 43,068,000,000 | 42,338,000,000 |  |
Card Member loans, net | 61,689,000,000 | 63,758,000,000 |  |
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 15,711,000,000 | 19,277,000,000 |  |
Carrying Value [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Other financial assets | 47,000,000,000 | 47,000,000,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 62,000,000,000 | 64,000,000,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 58,000,000,000 | 55,000,000,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit |  | 10,000,000,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 52,000,000,000 | 59,000,000,000 |  |
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 | 22,000,000,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 47,000,000,000 | 47,000,000,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 63,000,000,000 | 65,000,000,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 58,000,000,000 | 55,000,000,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 10,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 55,000,000,000 | 62,000,000,000 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 15,800,000,000 | 19,500,000,000 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 6,400,000,000 | 8,000,000,000 |  |
Card Member loans, net | 29,200,000,000 | 32,400,000,000 |  |
Level 1 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 21,000,000,000 | 21,000,000,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term debt | 0 | 0 |  |
Level 2 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 1,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 47,000,000,000 | 47,000,000,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 58,000,000,000 | 55,000,000,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 10,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 55,000,000,000 | 62,000,000,000 |  |
Level 3 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0 |  |
Other financial assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 63,000,000,000 | 65,000,000,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | $ 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 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 and loans held for sale. + 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=28367877&loc=d3e4428-111522 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 210.9-03.7) -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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: 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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 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 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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