Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 3)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate Principal	2.30%	3.70%
Net Write Off Rate Principal Interest Fees	2.60%	4.10%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.30%	1.80%
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate Principal	2.30%	1.70%
Net Write Off Rate Principal Interest Fees	2.50%	1.80%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.90%	1.80%
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate Principal	2.10%	3.20%
Net Write Off Rate Principal Interest Fees	2.70%	3.90%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.80%	2.40%
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume	0.15%	0.15%
90 days past billing as a percentage of receivables	1.00%	1.00%
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume	0.08%	0.06%
90 days past billing as a percentage of receivables	0.60%	0.70%