Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Non-interest revenues
Discount revenue		$ 4,643	$ 4,660
Net card fees		699	667
Other fees and commissions		680	708
Other		486	468
Total non-interest revenues		6,508	6,503
Interest income
Interest on loans		1,938	1,795
Interest and dividends on investment securities		36	41
Deposits with banks and other		31	21
Total interest income		2,005	1,857
Interest expense
Deposits		150	103
Long-term debt and other		275	307
Total interest expense		425	410
Net interest income		1,580	1,447
Total revenues net of interest expense		8,088	7,950
Provisions for losses
Charge card		169	174
Card Member loans		227	235
Other		38	11
Total provisions for losses		434	420
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses		7,654	7,530
Expenses
Marketing and promotion		727	609
Card Member Rewards		1,703	1,640
Card Member services and other		282	261
Salaries and employee benefits		1,338	1,305
Other, net		1,420	1,399
Total expenses		5,470	5,214
Pretax income		2,184	2,316
Income tax provision		758	791
Net income		$ 1,426	$ 1,525
Earnings Per Common Share, Basic (Note 15) [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	[1]	$ 1.45	$ 1.49
Earnings Per Common Share, Diluted (Note 15) [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	[1]	$ 1.45	$ 1.48
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:
Basic		961	1,019
Diluted		963	1,023
Cash dividends declared per common share		$ 0.29	$ 0.26

[1] Represents net income less ( i ) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $11 million for both the three months ended March 31 , 2016 and 2015 , and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $ 21 million and nil for the three months ended March 31 , 2016 and 2015 , respectively.