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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 3) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax gains (losses) | $ (34,000,000) | $ 198,000,000 | $ 73,000,000
Interest Expense [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax gains (losses) | 0 | 0 | 0
Other Expense [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax gains (losses) | 0 | 0 | 1,000,000
Other Expense [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax gains (losses) | (39,000,000) | 194,000,000 | 72,000,000
Cost Of Card Member Services [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] |  |  |
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items] |  |  |
Pretax gains (losses) | $ 5,000,000 | $ 4,000,000 | $ 0

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- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the fair value of derivatives recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5618551-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56946850&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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