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Guarantees | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2013
Guarantees [Abstract] |
Guarantees | 9. G uarantees The Company provides Card M ember protection plans that cover losses associated with purchased products, as well as certain other guarantees in the ordinary course of business which are within the scope of GAAP governing the accounting for guarantees. In relation to its maximum potential undiscounted future payments as shown in the table that follows, to date the Company has not experienced any significant losses related to guarantees. The Company's initial recognition of guarantees is at fair value, which has been determined in accordance with GAAP governing fair value measurement. In addition, the Company establishes reserves when a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The following table provides information related to such guarantees as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012:
|  | Maximum potential |  |
|  | undiscounted future |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | payments(a) |  | Related liability(b)
|  | (Billions) |  | (Millions)
Type of Guarantee |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
Card and travel operations(c) |  | $ | 44 |  | $ | 44 |  | $ | 87 |  | $ | 93
Other(d) |  |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 74 |  |  | 93
Total |  | $ | 45 |  | $ | 45 |  | $ | 161 |  | $ | 186
Represents the notional amounts that could be lost under the guarantees an d indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed parties. The Merchant Protection guarantee is calculated using management's best estimate of maximum exposure based on all eligible claims as measured against annual billed business volumes. The Company mitigates this risk by withholding settlement from the merchant or obtaining deposits and other guarantees from merchants considered higher risk due to various factors. The amounts being held by the Company are not significant when compared to the maximum potential undiscounted future payments. Included as part of other liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Primarily i ncludes Merchant Protection and Return Protection. P rimarily includes guarantees related to the Company's business dispositions an d real estate.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for each guarantee obligation, or each group of similar guarantee obligations, including (a) the nature of the guarantee, including its term, how it arose, and the events or circumstances that would require the guarantor to perform under the guarantee; (b) the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee; (c) the current carrying amount of the liability, if any, for the guarantor's obligations under the guarantee; and (d) the nature of any recourse provisions under the guarantee, and any assets held either as collateral or by third parties, and any relevant related party disclosure. Excludes disclosures about product warranties. + References No definition available. + Details
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