Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 3)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal Only	2.20%	3.20%
Net Write Off Rate - Principal, Interest and Fees	2.40%	3.50%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.30%	1.50%
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal Only	2.00%	1.70%
Net Write Off Rate - Principal, Interest and Fees	2.10%	1.80%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.80%	2.00%
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Write-Off Rate - Principal Only	1.90%	2.90%
Net Write Off Rate - Principal, Interest and Fees	2.50%	3.50%
30 Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.60%	1.90%
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume	0.16%	0.15%
90 days past billing as a percentage of receivables	0.90%	0.90%
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables
Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume	0.07%	0.06%
90 days past billing as a percentage of receivables	0.70%	0.70%