SECURITIZATIONS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES - Credit Card Securitizations (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) trust	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Securitized credit card receivables
Number of trusts to hold securitized credit card receivables | trust	2
Ownership interests in principal amount of trust credit card receivables
Sold to investors via trust-issued securities	$ 27,300,000,000	$ 28,800,000,000
Retained by Citigroup as trust-issued securities	7,600,000,000	7,600,000,000
Retained by Citigroup via non-certificated interests	11,300,000,000	14,400,000,000
Total ownership interests in principal amount of trust credit card receivables	46,200,000,000	50,800,000,000
Credit card securitizations
Securitized credit card receivables
Gains (losses) recognized on the securitization	0
Cash Flows Between Transferor and Transferee
Proceeds from new securitizations	6,800,000,000	11,100,000,000	$ 3,300,000,000
Pay down of maturing notes	$ (8,300,000,000)	$ (5,000,000,000)	$ (10,300,000,000)