Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents
Securities purchased under resale agreements	$ 31	$ 64
Accounts receivable
Card Member receivables, gross	56,625	55,893
Card Member receivables, reserves	615	573
Other receivables, reserves	22	25
Loans
Card Member loans, gross	83,655	81,854
Card Member loans, reserves	2,232	2,134
Other loans, reserves	140	124
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	6,681	6,015
Restricted cash of consolidated variable interests	1,088	363
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt of consolidated variable interest entities	$ 58,474	$ 58,423
Shareholders' Equity
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)	$ 0.20	$ 0.20
Common shares, authorized	3,600,000,000	3,600,000,000
Common shares, issued	821,000,000	847,000,000
Common shares, outstanding	821,000,000	847,000,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Net unrealized securities gains, tax	$ 13	$ (1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	(266)	(300)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, tax	(175)	(170)
Variable Interest Entity
Accounts receivable
Card Member receivables, gross	7,492	8,539
Loans
Card Member loans, gross	31,144	33,194
Restricted cash of consolidated variable interests	708	70
Liabilities [Abstract]
Long-term debt of consolidated variable interest entities	$ 20,235	$ 19,509