Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents
Securities purchased under resale agreements	$ 62	$ 64
Accounts receivable
Card Member receivables, gross	58,708	55,893
Card Member receivables, reserves	616	573
Other receivables, reserves	27	25
Loans
Card Member loans, gross	83,230	81,854
Card Member loans, reserves	2,168	2,134
Other loans, reserves	133	124
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	6,581	6,015
Restricted cash included in Other assets per Consolidated Balance Sheets	463	363
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	$ 57,736	$ 58,423
Preferred shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1.667	$ 1.667
Preferred shares, authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred shares, issued	1,600	1,600
Preferred shares, outstanding	1,600	1,600
Common shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.2	$ 0.2
Common shares, authorized	3,600,000,000	3,600,000,000
Common shares, issued	832,000,000	847,000,000
Common shares, outstanding	832,000,000	847,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
Net unrealized securities gains, tax	$ 12	$ (1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	(307)	(300)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, tax	177	170
Variable Interest Entity
Accounts receivable
Card Member receivables, gross	7,836	8,539
Loans
Card Member loans, gross	31,656	33,194
Restricted cash included in Other assets per Consolidated Balance Sheets	75	70
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	$ 18,185	$ 19,509