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Reserves for Losses (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Card Member Receivables And Related Reserves Evaluated Separately and Collectively For Impairment [Abstract]
Card Member receivables evaluated separately for impairment	$ 48us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment	$ 50us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment	$ 117us-gaap_FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment
Reserves on Card Member receivables evaluated separately for impairment	35us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1	38us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1	91us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1
Card Member receivables evaluated collectively for impairment	44,803us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	44,113us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	42,649us-gaap_FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment
Reserves on Card Member receivables evaluated collectively for impairment	$ 430us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	$ 348us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	$ 337us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment

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- Definition

The valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were collectively evaluated for impairment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524

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- Definition

Amount of valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were individually evaluated for impairment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524

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- Definition

The balance of financing receivables that were collectively evaluated for impairment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (h)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524

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- Definition

The balance of financing receivables that were individually evaluated for impairment.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (h)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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