Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Card Member receivables, gross	$ 44,473	$ 44,133
Card Member loans, gross	57,406	58,573
Other assets	9,866	10,069
Cash and cash equivalents
Securities purchased under resale agreements	33	41
Accounts receivable
Card Member receivables, reserves	446	462
Other receivables, reserves	44	43
Card Member loans and receivables HFS	11,689	14,992
Loans
Card Member loans, reserves	1,012	1,028
Other loans, reserves	35	20
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	6,972	6,801
Restricted cash	37	155
Short Term Borrowings	2,596	4,812
Long-term Debt	$ 47,311	$ 48,061
Common shares, par value	$ 0.2	$ 0.2
Common shares, authorized	3,600,000,000	3,600,000,000
Common shares, issued	951,000,000	969,000,000
Common shares, outstanding	951,000,000	969,000,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred Stock Shares Issued	1,600	1,600
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	1,600	1,600
Preferred shares, par value	$ 1.667	$ 1.667
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
Net unrealized securities gains, tax	$ 32	$ 32
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	(139)	(100)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit losses, tax	(204)	(223)
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Card Member receivables, gross	5,802	6,649
Card Member loans, gross	22,206	23,559
Accounts receivable
Card Member loans and receivables HFS	3,966	4,966
Loans
Restricted cash	37	155
Short Term Borrowings	0	100
Long-term Debt	$ 12,605	$ 13,602