Accounts Receivable and Loans.

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- Definition

Accounts Receivable Segment.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the amount of gross receivables available to settle the obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity.

+ Details

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.9)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, a valuation allowance for receivables due a company that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5074-111524

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, an amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Company (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s). 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. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ 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 210.9-03.10(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph 3

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amounts due as of the balance sheet date from parties or arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Accounts receivable segment information
Less: Cardmember reserve for losses	$ 388,000,000	$ 386,000,000	$ 364,000,000	$ 546,000,000
Cardmember receivables, net	39,371,000,000	36,880,000,000
Other receivables, net	3,517,000,000	3,554,000,000
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] \| U S Card Services [Member]
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Gross cardmember receivables available to settle the obligations of a variable interest entity	6,600,000,000	7,700,000,000
U S Card Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Cardmember receivables, gross	18,957,000,000	19,155,000,000
International Card Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Cardmember receivables, gross	6,746,000,000	6,673,000,000
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] \| Global Commercial Services [Member]
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Gross cardmember receivables available to settle the obligations of a variable interest entity	500,000,000	500,000,000
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Cardmember receivables, gross	13,866,000,000	11,259,000,000
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Cardmember receivables, gross	190,000,000	179,000,000
Non United States [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Cardmember receivables, gross	12,600,000,000	11,700,000,000
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts receivable segment information
Cardmember receivables, gross	$ 7,115,000,000	$ 8,192,000,000