Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Card Member receivables, gross	$ 47,645	$ 47,308
Card Member loans, gross	63,568	65,265
Other assets	10,104	10,561
Cash and cash equivalents
Securities purchased under resale agreements	74	115
Accounts receivable
Card Member receivables, reserves	491	467
Other receivables, reserves	40	45
Loans
Card Member loans, reserves	1,248	1,223
Other loans, reserves	51	42
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	5,405	5,145
Restricted cash	55	38
Short Term Borrowings	3,600	5,581
Long-term Debt	$ 51,647	$ 46,990
Common shares, par value	$ 0.2	$ 0.2
Common shares, authorized	3,600,000,000	3,600,000,000
Common shares, issued	895,000,000	904,000,000
Common shares, outstanding	895,000,000	904,000,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred Stock Shares Issued	1,600	1,600
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	1,600	1,600
Preferred shares, par value	$ 1.667	$ 1.667
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
Net unrealized securities gains, tax	$ 8	$ 5
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	(307)	24
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit losses, tax	(195)	(186)
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Card Member receivables, gross	7,810	8,874
Card Member loans, gross	24,438	26,129
Loans
Restricted cash	55	38
Short Term Borrowings	0	0
Long-term Debt	$ 16,757	$ 15,113