Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Non-interest revenues
Discount revenue		$ 4,519	$ 4,643
Net card fees		748	699
Other fees and commissions		713	680
Other		409	486
Total non-interest revenues		6,389	6,508
Interest income
Interest on loans		1,860	1,938
Interest and dividends on investment securities		23	36
Deposits with banks and other		60	31
Total interest income		1,943	2,005
Interest expense
Deposits		149	150
Long-term debt and other		294	275
Total interest expense		443	425
Net interest income		1,500	1,580
Total revenues net of interest expense		7,889	8,088
Provisions for losses
Charge card		213	169
Card Member loans		337	227
Other		23	38
Total provisions for losses		573	434
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses		7,316	7,654
Expenses
Marketing and promotion		700	727
Card Member Rewards		1,807	1,703
Card Member services and other		321	282
Salaries and employee benefits		1,264	1,338
Other, net		1,407	1,420
Total expenses		5,499	5,470
Pretax income		1,817	2,184
Income tax provision		580	758
Income from continuing operations		1,237	1,426
Net income		$ 1,237	$ 1,426
Earnings Per Common Share, Basic (Note 15) [Abstract]
Net income attributable to common shareholders	[1]	$ 1.34	$ 1.45
Earnings Per Common Share, Diluted (Note 15) [Abstract]
Net income attributable to common shareholders	[2]	$ 1.34	$ 1.45
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:
Basic		899	961
Diluted		903	963
Cash dividends declared per common share		$ 0.32	$ 0.29

[1] Represents net income less (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $ 10 million and $ 11 million for the three months ended March 31 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively, and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $ 21 million for both the three months ended March 31 , 2017 and 2016 .

[2] Represents net income less (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $ 10 million and $ 11 million for the three months ended March 31 , 2017 and 2016 , respectively, and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $ 21 million for both the three months ended March 31 , 2017 and 2016 .