Discontinued Operations Discontinued Operations-Operating Results of Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
(Loss) income fromn discontinued operations before income tax	$ 2,521		$ 1,380		$ 1,070
Insurance business
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues	167	[1],[2]	362	[1],[2]	373	[1],[2]
(Loss) income fromn discontinued operations before income tax	(162)	[2]	17	[2]	15	[2]
Commercial Business
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues	23	[1]	10	[1]	85	[1]
(Loss) income fromn discontinued operations before income tax	20		6		84
Card and Retail Services
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues	3,342	[1],[3]	3,729	[1],[3]	3,852	[1],[3]
(Loss) income fromn discontinued operations before income tax	2,649	[3]	0	[3]	997	[3]
Taxpayer Finanacial Services
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues	0	[4]	2	[4]	68	[4]
(Loss) income fromn discontinued operations before income tax	0		(4)		20
Auto Finance
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net interest income and other revenues	14		0		219
(Loss) income fromn discontinued operations before income tax	$ 14		$ (3)		$ (46)

[1] Interest expense, which is included as a component of net interest income, was allocated to discontinued operations in accordance with our existing internal transfer pricing policy. This policy uses match funding based on the expected lives of the assets and liabilities of the business at the time of origination, subject to periodic review, as demonstrated by the expected cash flows and re-pricing characteristics of the underlying assets.

[2] For the year ended December 31, 2012 amounts include the lower of amortized cost or fair value adjustment of $119 million as discussed above which was reported as a component of other revenues as well as the impact of ceasing the issuance of new term life insurance in the United States effective January 2012.

[3] For the year ended December 31, 2012, amounts include the gain on sale to Capital One of $2.2 billion.

[4] Interest expense, which is included as a component of net interest income, has been allocated to discontinued operations in accordance with our existing internal transfer pricing policy. This policy uses match funding based on the expected lives of the assets and liabilities of the business at the time of origination, subject to periodic review, as demonstrated by the expected cash flows and re-pricing characteristics of the underlying assets.