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Reserves for Losses (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses
Balance, January 1	$ 1,471	$ 1,874	$ 3,646
Additions:
Card Member loans provisions	1,114	1,031	145
Card Member loans provisions - other	115	118	108
Total provision	1,229	1,149	253
Deductions:
Card Member loans net write-offs - principal	(1,141)	(1,280)	(1,720)
Card Member loans net write-offs - interest and fees	(150)	(157)	(201)
Card Member loans - other	(148)	(115)	(104)
Balance, December 31	$ 1,261	$ 1,471	$ 1,874

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- Definition

Reflects the interest and fees amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities for the period.

+ References

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- Definition

Represents adjustments to Card Member loans reserve including foreign currency translation adjustments and net write-offs related to unauthorized transactions for the period.

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Reflects the principal amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, net of recoveries, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Primarily represents adjustments to Card Member loans resulting from unauthorized transactions for the period.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents loss provisions for Card Member loans consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), interest and fee reserves components for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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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



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-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

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Amount of expense related to estimated loss from loan and lease transactions.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 9



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.11)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

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