Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	$ 55,893	$ 54,047
Card Member loans total aging	81,854	73,399
Global Consumer Services Group [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	21,455	20,946
Card Member loans total aging	69,458	62,319
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	68,442	61,491
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	21,207	20,696
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 30 to 59 [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	290	238
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 30 to 59 [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	80	82
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 60 to 89 [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	220	190
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 60 to 89 [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	50	54
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	506	400
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	118	114
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	34,438	33,101
Card Member loans total aging	12,396	11,080
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	12,195	10,892
Card Member receivables Total Aging	12,351	11,025
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	16,460	15,868
Card Member loans total aging	16,728	16,119
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 30 to 59 [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	51	43
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 30 to 59 [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	101	91
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 60 to 89 [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	32	31
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 60 to 89 [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	53	54
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	73	59
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	114	106
Global Corporate Payments [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	45	55
Global Corporate Payments [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member loans total aging	17,710	16,982
Global Corporate Payments [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	$ 129	$ 148

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Financing receivables that are current.

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Recorded Investment in financing receivables that are past due at the balance sheet date.

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Amount before allowance of credit card loans issued to individuals. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

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Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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Amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. Excludes amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

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