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Restructuring Charges (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | $ (4) | $ 403 | $ 119
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 622 |  |
Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | (7) | 366 | 96
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 529 |  |
Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 3 | 37 | 23
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 93 |  |
U S Card Services [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | (7) |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 77 |  |
U S Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 71 |  |
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 | (8) |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 111 |  |
International Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 110 |  |
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 | (4) |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 222 |  |
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 204 |  |
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 18 |  |
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 7 |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 55 |  |
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 | 55 |  |
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 | 8 |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 157 |  |
Severance and other charges | 147 |  |
Corporate and Other [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | 89 |  |
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |  |  |
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs | $ 68 |  |

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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 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 2: 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=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 + 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 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 2: 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=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 + Details
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