Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (expense)	$ 3,414	$ 3,140
Non-interest income (expense)	1,521	942
Total revenue	4,935	4,082
Provision for credit losses	573	534
Core deposit intangible amortization	46	46
Other non-interest expense	2,458	2,116
Total non-interest expense	2,504	2,162
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,858	1,386
Income tax provision (benefit)	353	354
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	1,505	1,032
Loans held for investment	173,822		135,892
Total deposits	216,528		128,226
Number of reportable business segments	3
Credit Card [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (expense)	1,992	1,941
Non-interest income (expense)	598	674
Total revenue	2,590	2,615
Provision for credit losses	458	450
Core deposit intangible amortization	0	0
Other non-interest expense	1,268	1,178
Total non-interest expense	1,268	1,178
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	864	987
Income tax provision (benefit)	298	344
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	566	643
Loans held for investment	61,476		65,075
Total deposits	0		0
Consumer Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (expense)	1,288	983
Non-interest income (expense)	176	186
Total revenue	1,464	1,169
Provision for credit losses	174	95
Core deposit intangible amortization	37	35
Other non-interest expense	906	705
Total non-interest expense	943	740
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	347	334
Income tax provision (benefit)	123	119
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	224	215
Loans held for investment	77,300		36,315
Total deposits	176,007		88,540
Commercial Banking [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (expense)	431	376
Non-interest income (expense)	85	71
Total revenue	516	447
Provision for credit losses	(69)	(16)
Core deposit intangible amortization	9	11
Other non-interest expense	252	201
Total non-interest expense	261	212
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	324	251
Income tax provision (benefit)	114	89
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	210	162
Loans held for investment	34,906		34,327
Total deposits	28,046		26,683
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net interest income (expense)	(297)	(160)
Non-interest income (expense)	662	11
Total revenue	365	(149)
Provision for credit losses	10	5
Core deposit intangible amortization	0	0
Other non-interest expense	32	32
Total non-interest expense	32	32
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	323	(186)
Income tax provision (benefit)	(182)	(198)
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	505	12
Loans held for investment	140		175
Total deposits	$ 12,475		$ 13,003