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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 1) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
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Loans segment information |  |  |  |
Card Member loans, gross | $ 62,970,000,000 | $ 65,229,000,000 |  |
Less: Reserve for losses | 1,281,000,000 | 1,471,000,000 | 1,459,000,000 | 1,874,000,000
Card Member loans, net | 61,689,000,000 | 63,758,000,000 |  |
Other loans, net | 526,000,000 | 551,000,000 |  |
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Other loans, reserves | 16,000,000 | 20,000,000 |  |
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Loans segment information |  |  |  |
Card Member loans, gross | 29,491,000,000 | 32,731,000,000 |  |
U S Card Services [Member] |  |  |  |
Loans segment information |  |  |  |
Card Member loans, gross | 54,481,000,000 | 55,953,000,000 |  |
U S Card Services [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Gross Card Member loans available to settle the obligations of a variable interest entity | 29,500,000,000 | 32,700,000,000 |  |
International Card Services [Member] |  |  |  |
Loans segment information |  |  |  |
Card Member loans, gross | 8,445,000,000 | 9,236,000,000 |  |
Global Commercial Services [Member] |  |  |  |
Loans segment information |  |  |  |
Card Member loans, gross | $ 44,000,000 | $ 40,000,000 |  |

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- Definition Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + 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 210.9-03.7(d)) -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 7 -Subparagraph d -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6379141&loc=d3e15032-111544 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section L -Subsection 1 + Details
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- Definition Amount before allowance of credit card loans issued to individuals. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + 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 SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph a, b -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph a -Article 9 Reference 4: 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(a)(4),(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + 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 Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of other loans and leases not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 2: 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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=d3e5066-111524 + Details
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- Definition The allowance for other loan and lease losses represents the reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified other loans and leases, as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of the other loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. For banks, include currently required allocated transfer risk reserves. Include carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for other loan losses in connection with business combinations determined to be appropriate. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=d3e5212-111524 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(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 7 -Subparagraph d -Article 9 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section L -Subsection 1 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25495931&loc=d3e18832-111554 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74567-122707 Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25495931&loc=d3e18805-111554 + Details
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