Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Card Member receivables, gross	$ 45,258	$ 44,133
Card Member loans, gross	60,618	58,573
Other assets	10,836	10,069
Cash and cash equivalents
Securities purchased under resale agreements	243	41
Accounts receivable
Card Member receivables, reserves	437	462
Other receivables, reserves	48	43
Card Member loans and receivables HFS	0	14,992
Loans
Card Member loans, reserves	1,114	1,028
Other loans, reserves	30	20
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	4,995	6,801
Restricted cash	612	155
Short Term Borrowings	2,861	4,812
Long-term Debt	$ 44,894	$ 48,061
Common shares, par value	$ 0.2	$ 0.2
Common shares, authorized	3,600,000,000	3,600,000,000
Common shares, issued	917,000,000	969,000,000
Common shares, outstanding	917,000,000	969,000,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred Stock Shares Issued	1,600	1,600
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	1,600	1,600
Preferred shares, par value	$ 1.667	$ 1.667
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
Net unrealized securities gains, tax	$ 25	$ 32
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	(63)	(100)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit losses, tax	(188)	(223)
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Card Member receivables, gross	5,485	6,649
Card Member loans, gross	24,752	23,559
Accounts receivable
Card Member loans and receivables HFS	0	4,966
Loans
Restricted cash	612	155
Short Term Borrowings	0	100
Long-term Debt	$ 14,759	$ 13,602