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Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Sep. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Sep. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
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Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals |  |  |  |
Card member loans | $ 83,655 | $ 81,854 |  |
Loans segment information |  |  |  |
Less: Reserve for losses | 2,232 | 2,134 | $ 1,937 | $ 1,706
Card Member loans, net | 81,423 | 79,720 |  |
Other loans, net | 4,340 | 3,676 |  |
Other loans, reserves | 140 | 124 |  |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals |  |  |  |
Card member loans | 31,144 | 33,194 |  |
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals |  |  |  |
Card member loans | 69,810 | 69,458 |  |
Global Commercial Services [Member] |  |  |  |
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals |  |  |  |
Card member loans | $ 13,845 | $ 12,396 |  |

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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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -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 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118936363&loc=SL6953423-111524 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -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=118939070&loc=d3e15032-111544 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118936363&loc=SL6953423-111524 Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -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 + Details
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- Definition Amount before allowance and after 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. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118952595&loc=d3e4428-111522 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118936363&loc=d3e5074-111524 + Details
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