Restructuring Charges (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Type of Restructuring [Domain]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions	$ (313)	$ (133)	$ 26	$ (411)	$ 4
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			630
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			33	(383)	7
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			557
Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			(7)	$ (28)	$ (3)
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			73
U S Card Services [Member] | Type of Restructuring [Domain]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			(7)
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			35
U S Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			35
U S Card Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			0
International Card Services [Member] | Type of Restructuring [Domain]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			(17)
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			198
International Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			198
International Card Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			0
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Type of Restructuring [Domain]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			(16)
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			113
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			113
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			0
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Type of Restructuring [Domain]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			(1)
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			57
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			57
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			0
Corporate and Other [Member] | Type of Restructuring [Domain]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			15
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			227
Severance and other charges			151
Corporate and Other [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			154
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs			$ 73