Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 1) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	$ 66,057,000,000	$ 67,238,000,000
Less: Reserve for losses	1,146,000,000	1,261,000,000	1,281,000,000	1,471,000,000
Card Member loans, net	64,911,000,000	65,977,000,000
Other loans, net	855,000,000	608,000,000
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Other loans, reserves	11,000,000	13,000,000
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	28,310,000,000	31,245,000,000
U S Card Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	58,012,000,000	58,395,000,000
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	28,300,000,000	31,200,000,000
International Card Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	7,999,000,000	8,790,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	$ 46,000,000	$ 53,000,000