Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 3)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal Only	2.00%	2.30%
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal, Interest, and Fees	2.20%	2.50%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.10%	1.20%
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal Only	2.00%	2.20%
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal, Interest, and Fees	2.10%	2.30%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.60%	1.70%
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal Only	1.90%	2.10%
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal, Interest, and Fees	2.30%	2.60%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.60%	1.70%
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume	0.19%	0.16%
90 days past billing as a percentage of receivables	1.10%	1.00%
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume	0.08%	0.07%
90 days past billing as a percentage of receivables	0.70%	0.60%