Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	$ 302	$ 260
Non-accrual loans	190	169
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	233	230
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	182	171
Total impaired loans and receivables	907	830
Unpaid principal balance	832	767
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	69	88
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, non-accrual	6	11
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, past due 90 days and still accruing	15	20
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program - success, Recorded Investment	139	132
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program - not compliant, Recorded Investment	43	39
U S Consumer Services [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	206	178
Non-accrual loans	158	139
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	162	165
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	131	129
Total impaired loans and receivables	657	611
Unpaid principal balance	593	558
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	48	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	12	11
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	9	6
Total impaired loans and receivables	21	17
Unpaid principal balance	21	17
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	4	7
International Consumer and Network Services [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest	59	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	59	52
Unpaid principal balance	58	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	37	30
Non-accrual loans	32	30
Financing Receivable, Modifications, In-Program, Recorded Investment	28	26
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	26	26
Total impaired loans and receivables	123	112
Unpaid principal balance	113	103
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	9	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	31	28
Financing Receivable, Modifications, Out of Program, Recorded Investment	16	10
Total impaired loans and receivables	47	38
Unpaid principal balance	47	38
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	$ 8	$ 21