Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	$ 47,645	$ 47,308
Less: Reserve for losses	491	467	$ 446	$ 462
Card Member receivables, net	47,154	46,841
Other receivables, net	2,812	3,232
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Other receivables, reserves	40	45
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	7,810	8,874
Non United States [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	0	0
U S Consumer Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	10,918	12,302
U S Consumer Services [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Gross Card Member receivables available to settle the obligations of a variable interest entity	7,800	8,900
International Consumer and Network Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	5,543	5,966
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	$ 31,184	$ 29,040