Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
U S Card Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	$ 22,896	$ 22,096
Total aging	23,255	22,468
U S Card Services [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	50,929	61,995
Total aging	51,446	62,592
U S Card Services [Member] | 30 to 59 [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	118	129
U S Card Services [Member] | 30 to 59 [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	154	179
U S Card Services [Member] | 60 to 89 [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	73	72
U S Card Services [Member] | 60 to 89 [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	112	128
U S Card Services [Member] | 90+ days past due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	168	171
U S Card Services [Member] | 90+ days past due [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	251	290
International Card Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	6,875	7,557
Total aging	6,975	7,653
International Card Services [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Current	6,961	7,621
Total aging	7,072	7,744
International Card Services [Member] | 30 to 59 [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	28	29
International Card Services [Member] | 30 to 59 [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	34	39
International Card Services [Member] | 60 to 89 [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	21	20
International Card Services [Member] | 60 to 89 [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	25	27
International Card Services [Member] | 90+ days past due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	51	47
International Card Services [Member] | 90+ days past due [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	52	57
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Total aging	13,777	14,583
Global Commercial Services [Member] | 90+ days past due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing receivable recorded investment aging
Period past due	$ 124	$ 120