Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	$ 62,970,000,000	$ 65,229,000,000
Less: Reserve for losses	1,281,000,000	1,471,000,000	1,459,000,000	1,874,000,000
Card Member loans, net	61,689,000,000	63,758,000,000
Other loans, net	526,000,000	551,000,000
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Other loans, reserves	16,000,000	20,000,000
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	29,491,000,000	32,731,000,000
U S Card Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	54,481,000,000	55,953,000,000
U S Card Services [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Gross Card Member loans available to settle the obligations of a variable interest entity	29,500,000,000	32,700,000,000
International Card Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	8,445,000,000	9,236,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	$ 44,000,000	$ 40,000,000