Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	$ 55,516	$ 54,047
Card Member loans total aging	77,603	73,399
Global Consumer Services Group [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	18,916	20,946
Card Member loans total aging	65,400	62,319
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	64,490	61,491
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	18,681	20,696
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 30 to 59 [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	271	238
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 30 to 59 [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	79	82
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 60 to 89 [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	197	190
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 60 to 89 [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	48	54
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	442	400
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	108	114
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	36,600	33,101
Card Member loans total aging	12,203	11,080
Global Small Business Services [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	16,913	16,119
Card Member loans total aging	12,157	11,025
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	12,018	10,892
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	16,671	15,868
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 30 to 59 [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	46	43
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 30 to 59 [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	90	91
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 60 to 89 [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	30	31
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 60 to 89 [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	49	54
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	63	59
Global Small Business Services [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	103	106
Global Corporate Payments [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Card Member receivables Total Aging	19,687	16,982
Card Member loans total aging	46	55
Global Corporate Payments [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	0	0
Global Corporate Payments [Member] \| 90+ days past due [Member] \| Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	$ 153	$ 148

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- Definition

Financing receivables that are current.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=SL6953401-111524

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- Definition

Recorded Investment in financing receivables that are past due at the balance sheet date.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount before allowance of credit card loans issued to individuals. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a)(4),(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82891408&loc=d3e4428-111522

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Amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. Excludes amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

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