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Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	$ 47,308	$ 44,133
Less: Reserve for losses	467	462	$ 465	$ 386
Card Member receivables, net	46,841	43,671
Other receivables, net	3,232	3,024
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Other receivables, reserves	45	43
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	8,874	6,649
Card Member receivables, net	8,800	6,700
Non United States [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	12,900	11,900
U S Consumer Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	12,302	11,807
U S Consumer Services [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Card Member receivables available to settle obligations of consolidated variable interest entity	8,900	6,600
International Consumer and Network Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	5,966	5,599
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	29,040	$ 26,727
Global Merchant Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	$ 0

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Accounts Receivable and Loans.

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Accounts Receivable Segment.

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Represents the amount of gross receivables available to settle the obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity.

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Reserves for losses relating to other receivables represent management's best estimate of the losses inherent in the Company's outstanding portfolio of other receivables.

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For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
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For an unclassified balance sheet, a valuation allowance for receivables due a company that are expected to be uncollectible.

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Amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. Excludes amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

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Amount due from parties in nontrade transactions, classified as other.

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