Loans and Accounts Receivable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	$ 60,618	$ 58,573
Less: Reserve for losses	1,114	1,028	$ 1,164	$ 1,201
Card Member loans, net	59,504	57,545
Other loans, net	1,157	1,254
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Other loans, reserves	30	20
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	24,752	23,559
U S Consumer Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	44,857	43,495
U S Consumer Services [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]
Accounts Receivable and Loans Textuals [Abstract]
Gross Card Member loans available to settle the obligations of a variable interest entity	24,800	23,600
International Consumer and Network Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	6,700	7,072
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Loans segment information
Card Member loans, gross	$ 9,061	$ 8,006