Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	$ 51,514	$ 47,308
Less: Reserve for losses	512	467	$ 437	$ 462
Card Member receivables, net	51,002	46,841
Other receivables, net	2,701	3,232
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Other receivables, reserves	32	45
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	7,825	8,874
Non United States [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	0	0
U S Consumer Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	11,192	12,302
U S Consumer Services [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Gross Card Member receivables available to settle the obligations of a variable interest entity	7,800	8,900
International Consumer and Network Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	6,512	5,966
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Card Member receivables	$ 33,810	$ 29,040