Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	$ 44,654,000,000	$ 44,163,000,000
Less: Reserve for losses	414,000,000	386,000,000	410,000,000	428,000,000
Card Member receivables, net	44,240,000,000	43,777,000,000
Other receivables, net	3,134,000,000	3,408,000,000
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Other receivables, reserves	66,000,000	71,000,000
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	6,387,000,000	7,329,000,000
Non United States [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	13,900,000,000	13,800,000,000
U S Card Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	20,726,000,000	21,842,000,000
U S Card 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	6,400,000,000	7,300,000,000
International Card Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	7,153,000,000	7,771,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	16,638,000,000	14,391,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Airline [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	885,000,000	836,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Airline [Member] | Delta [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	653,000,000	628,000,000
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	$ 137,000,000	$ 159,000,000