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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 3) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	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

X

- 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

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+ References

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