Card Member Receivables and Loans (Details 3)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
U.S. Consumer Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Net Write-off Rate	0.54%	0.78%
30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total	0.48%	0.65%
International Consumer and Network Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Net Write-off Rate	1.86%	1.75%
30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.31%	1.48%
International Consumer and Network Services [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Net Write-off Rate	1.15%	1.02%
30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total	0.84%	0.69%
Global Corporate Payments [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume	0.06%	0.07%
90+ Days Past Billing as a % of Receivables	0.90%	0.82%
Global Small Business Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Net Write-off Rate	1.03%	1.10%
30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total	1.31%	1.00%