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Reserves for Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2017
Changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses [Line Items] |  |
Balance, January 1 | $ 1,706 | $ 1,223
Card Member loans provisions | 1,027 | 741
Balance, June 30 | 1,840 | 1,320
Other | 2 | 19
Provisions for loans and lease losses deductions net write offs principal |  |
Changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses [Line Items] |  |
Net Write-Offs Principal, Interest and Fees | (747) | (557)
Provisions for loans and lease losses deductions net write offs interest and fees |  |
Changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses [Line Items] |  |
Net Write-Offs Principal, Interest and Fees | $ (148) | $ (106)

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- Definition Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses Line items + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents loss provisions for Card Member loans consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), interest and fee reserves components for the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of other addition (reduction) in allowance reserve for credit loss. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5212-111524 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(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after recoveries, of loans and leases that have been written-off. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of allowance to cover probable credit losses on loans and leases. Includes carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations. Excludes allowance for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953423-111524 Reference 3: 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(d)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 6.L.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27010918&loc=d3e74567-122707 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b)(1)(ii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82894903&loc=d3e15032-111544 + Details
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