Guarantees (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Type of Guarantee
Maximum amount of undiscounted future payments	$ 52,000,000,000	$ 68,000,000,000
Amount of related liability	196,000,000	213,000,000
Card and Travel Operations [Member]
Type of Guarantee
Maximum amount of undiscounted future payments	51,000,000,000	67,000,000,000
Amount of related liability	97,000,000	114,000,000
Other Guarantees [Member]
Type of Guarantee
Maximum amount of undiscounted future payments	1,000,000,000	1,000,000,000
Amount of related liability	$ 99,000,000	$ 99,000,000

The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)

-Number 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant