Finance Receivables (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	$ 11,427,466	$ 11,696,727
Personal Loans
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	2,648,161	2,649,732
Retail Sales Finance
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	170,921	208,357
Real Estate Loans
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	8,608,384	8,838,638
Performing
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	10,845,622	11,080,508
Performing | Personal Loans
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	2,609,490	2,596,424
Performing | Retail Sales Finance
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	168,415	204,696
Performing | Real Estate Loans
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	8,067,717	8,279,388
Nonperforming
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	581,844	616,219
Nonperforming | Personal Loans
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	38,671	53,308
Nonperforming | Retail Sales Finance
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	2,506	3,661
Nonperforming | Real Estate Loans
Performing and nonperforming net finance receivables by type
Net finance receivables	$ 540,667	$ 559,250