Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	$ 225	$ 218
Non-accrual loans	220	241
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	288	334
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	45
Total impaired loans and receivables	778	793
Unpaid principal balance	730	750
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	82	102
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, non-accrual	31	34
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, past due 90 days and still accruing	18	26
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program - success, Recorded Investment	34
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program - not compliant, Recorded Investment	11
U S Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	171	161
Non-accrual loans	220	241
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	261	286
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	44
Total impaired loans and receivables	696	688
Unpaid principal balance	650	646
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	65	67
U S Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	0	0
Non-accrual loans	0	0
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	27	48
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	1
Total impaired loans and receivables	28	48
Unpaid principal balance	26	48
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	17	35
International Card Services [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	54	57
Non-accrual loans	0	0
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	0	0
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	0
Total impaired loans and receivables	54	57
Unpaid principal balance	54	56
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	$ 0	$ 0

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The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by a troubled debt restructuring program and are currently enrolled in a modification program

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that were previously modified by a troubled debt restructuring program and were not in compliance with the terms of the modification program

+ References

No definition available.

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The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that were previously modified by a troubled debt restructuring program and are not currently enrolled in a modification program

+ References

No definition available.

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The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that were previously modified by a troubled debt restructuring program and successfully completed the modification program

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The unpaid principal balance related to impaired financing receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

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Recorded investment in financing receivables that have been modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring and are on nonaccrual status as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

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Recorded investment in financing receivables that have been modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring and are 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest.

+ References

No definition available.

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Recorded investment in financing receivables that are 90 days or more past due and still accruing.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Amount of investment of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 14A

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Amount of allowance for credit losses related to recorded investment.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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Reflects the carrying amount of loans deemed to be questionable as to collection on which no interest is continuing to be recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph (a)

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