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Reserves for Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2014
Changes in the Card Member receivables reserve for losses |  |  |  |
Balance, January 1 |  |  | $ 465 | $ 386
Provisions | $ 203 | $ 196 | 542 | 594
Cardmember receivables net write-offs |  |  | (544) | (527)
Card Member receivables reserves for losses - other |  |  | (22) | (21)
Balance, September 30 | $ 441 | $ 432 | $ 441 | $ 432

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- Definition Accounts Receivable Roll Forward. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Represents adjustments to cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments for the period. This represents a Debit to Provision instead of a Debit to P&L. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition Represents net write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries, for the period. This represents a Debit to Provision instead of a Debit to P&L. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, a valuation allowance for receivables due a company that are expected to be uncollectible. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5074-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 4 -Article 5 + Details
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: 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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 5 -Article 5 + Details
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