Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Account	Mar. 31, 2012 Account
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Number of Accounts	31,000	43,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance	$ 276	$ 357
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance	272	348
Cardmember Loans [Member] | U S Card Services [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Number of Accounts	23,000	32,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance	172	229
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance	170	223
Cardmember Receivables [Member] | U S Card Services [Member]
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items]
Number of Accounts	8,000	11,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance	104	128
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance	$ 102	$ 125