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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.

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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

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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

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