Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2008 Visa Inc [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Visa Inc [Member]
Number of non-cancelable operating leases	136		136
Option to purchase number of leased facilities			1
Rent expense	$ 4,000,000	$ 3,800,000	$ 8,200,000	$ 7,300,000
Rent income	200,000	327,000	472,000	475,000
Standby letters of credit that expire within one year	32,300,000		32,300,000
Standby letters of credit that expire thereafter	27,200,000		27,200,000
Fair value of guarantee with standby letters of credit	256,000		256,000
Reserve for unfunded commitments	988,000	734,000	988,000	734,000	818,000	911,000	765,000	731,000
Other company stock owned shares	468,659		468,659
Conversion ratio from Class B shares into Class A shares									0.48810
Value of the Class A shares	84.26		84.26
Unredeemed Class A equivalent shares owned										$ 19,300,000
Concentration Risk, Other Risk			80		82