Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 Days past due and accruing interest	$ 134	$ 185
Non-accrual loans	477	636
Loans and receivables modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring	1,045	1,201
Total impaired loans	1,656	2,022
Unpaid principal balance	1,583	1,925
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	302	342
Accounts Receivable and Loans (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, non-accrual	559	655
Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR, past due 90 days and still accruing	8.0	7.0
U S Card Services [Member] \| Cardmember Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 Days past due and accruing interest	53	90
Non-accrual loans	471	628
Loans and receivables modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring	898	1,076
Total impaired loans	1,422	1,794
Unpaid principal balance	1,359	1,704
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	215	274
U S Card Services [Member] \| Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 Days past due and accruing interest	0	0
Non-accrual loans	0	0
Loans and receivables modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring	138	114
Total impaired loans	138	114
Unpaid principal balance	131	109
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	83	63
International Card Services [Member] \| Cardmember Loans [Member]
Impaired loans and receivables
Loans over 90 Days past due and accruing interest	81	95
Non-accrual loans	6	8
Loans and receivables modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring	9	11
Total impaired loans	96	114
Unpaid principal balance	93	112
Related allowance for Troubled Debt Restructurings	$ 4	$ 5

Accounts Receivable and Loans.

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- Definition

The unpaid principal balance related to impaired financing receivables.

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- Definition

Recorded investment in financing receivables that have been modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring and are on nonaccrual status as of the balance sheet date.

+ Details

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- Definition

Recorded investment in financing receivables that have been modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring and are 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest.

+ Details

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- Definition

Reflects amount of allowance for credit losses pertaining to impaired loans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 114
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph a

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher OTS
-Name Federal Regulation (FR)
-Number Title 12
-Chapter V
-Section 563c.102
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph j(ii)
-Subsection I

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- Definition

Reflects the adjusted carrying amount of loans for which it is probable, based on current facts and circumstances, that a creditor will not initially be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, or will not recover the previously reported carrying amount of the loan.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Reflects the carrying amount of loans deemed to be questionable as to collection on which no interest is continuing to be recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 01-6
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph g

+ Details

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- Definition

Reflects the carrying amount of loans past due ninety days or more on which interest is continuing to be earned or accrued.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 01-6
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph g

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- Definition

Reflects the carrying amount of loans with terms that have been modified because of the inability of the borrower, for financial reasons, to comply with the terms of the original loan agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 114
-Paragraph 20

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher OTS
-Name Federal Regulation (FR)
-Number Title 12
-Chapter V
-Section 563c.102
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph j(ii)
-Subsection I

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 15
-Paragraph 40

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