Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Non-interest revenues
Discount revenue	$ 4,915	$ 4,659	$ 14,506	$ 13,826
Net card fees	680	658	2,041	1,958
Travel commissions and fees	104	490	1,027	1,422
Other commissions and fees	642	610	1,884	1,788
Other	593	601	1,679	1,705
Total non-interest revenues	6,934	7,018	21,137	20,699
Interest income
Interest on loans	1,753	1,698	5,160	5,003
Interest and dividends on investment securities	45	48	136	153
Deposits with banks and other	17	21	54	67
Total interest income	1,815	1,767	5,350	5,223
Interest expense
Deposits	91	111	276	332
Long-term debt and other	329	373	1,026	1,163
Total interest expense	420	484	1,302	1,495
Net interest income	1,395	1,283	4,048	3,728
Total revenues net of interest expense	8,329	8,301	25,185	24,427
Provisions for losses
Charge card	196	159	594	474
Card Member loans	265	248	797	825
Other	27	12	71	54
Total provisions for losses	488	419	1,462	1,353
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses	7,841	7,882	23,723	23,074
Expenses
Marketing, promotion, rewards and Card Member services	2,709	2,643	8,076	7,553
Salaries and employee benefits	1,290	1,544	4,488	4,702
Other, net	1,596	1,691	4,393	4,911
Total expenses	5,595	5,878	16,957	17,166
Pretax income	2,246	2,004	6,766	5,908
Income tax provision	769	638	2,328	1,857
Net income	$ 1,477	$ 1,366	$ 4,438	$ 4,051
Earnings Per Common Share, Basic [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 1.41	$ 1.26	$ 4.19	$ 3.69
Earnings Per Common Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	$ 1.4	$ 1.25	$ 4.17	$ 3.67
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:
Basic	1,041,000,000	1,074,000,000	1,051,000,000	1,087,000,000
Diluted	1,047,000,000	1,081,000,000	1,057,000,000	1,094,000,000
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.26	$ 0.23	$ 0.75	$ 0.66