Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	$ 266	$ 260
Non-accrual loans	184	169
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	226	230
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	179	171
Total impaired loans and receivables	855	830
Unpaid principal balance	789	767
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	88	88
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, non-accrual	9	11
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, past due 90 days and still accruing	20	20
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program - success, Recorded Investment	139	132
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program - not compliant, Recorded Investment	40	39
U S Consumer Services [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	179	178
Non-accrual loans	150	139
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	160	165
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	132	129
Total impaired loans and receivables	621	611
Unpaid principal balance	565	558
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	50	51
U S Consumer Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	0	0
Non-accrual loans	0	0
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	11	11
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	7	6
Total impaired loans and receivables	18	17
Unpaid principal balance	18	17
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	8	7
International Consumer and Network Services [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	54	52
Non-accrual loans	0	0
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	0	0
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	0	0
Total impaired loans and receivables	54	52
Unpaid principal balance	53	51
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	0	0
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	33	30
Non-accrual loans	34	30
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	26	26
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	27	26
Total impaired loans and receivables	120	112
Unpaid principal balance	111	103
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	10	9
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	0	0
Non-accrual loans	0	0
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	29	28
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	13	10
Total impaired loans and receivables	42	38
Unpaid principal balance	42	38
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	$ 20	$ 21