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Fair Values (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Jun. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 33,767 | $ 22,762 | $ 21,071 | $ 22,288
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 14,992 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 13,757 |  |  |
Long-term debt | 50,649 | 48,061 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 44,800 | 43,671 |  |
Card Member loans, net | 58,796 | 57,545 |  |
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 4,966 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 14,609 | 13,602 |  |
Carrying Value [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 34,000 | 23,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 48,000 | 47,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 60,000 | 59,000 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 15,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 63,000 | 67,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 14,000 | 14,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 51,000 | 48,000 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 34,000 | 23,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 48,000 | 47,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 61,000 | 60,000 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 15,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 63,000 | 67,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 14,000 | 14,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 52,000 | 49,000 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 14,700 | 13,600 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 5,800 | 6,700 |  |
Card Member loans, net | 25,300 | 23,500 |  |
Level 1 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 33,000 | 22,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term debt | 0 | 0 |  |
Level 2 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 1,000 | 1,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 48,000 | 47,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 63,000 | 67,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 14,000 | 14,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 52,000 | 49,000 |  |
Level 3 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0 |  |
Other financial assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 61,000 | 60,000 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 15,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |

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- Definition Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans held for sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28367877&loc=d3e4428-111522 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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