Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Securitizations and Other Variable Interest Entities - Credit Card (Details)

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Securitizations and Other Variable Interest Entities - Credit Card (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Sep. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2013
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2013
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2013
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2013
Seller Interest [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Seller Interest [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2013
Discount Receivables [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Discount Receivables [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2013
Subordinated Debt Securities [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Subordinated Debt Securities [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]                                    
Maximum loss exposure                     $ 42,487,000,000 $ 44,412,000,000            
On Balance Sheet Assets [Abstract]                                    
Derivative assets 53,161,000,000   53,497,000,000       199,000,000 333,000,000     323,000,000 199,000,000            
Loans and leases 934,392,000,000   907,819,000,000       109,996,000,000 123,227,000,000     66,427,000,000 [1] 60,740,000,000 [1] 36,000,000,000 33,500,000,000 24,000,000 124,000,000    
Allowance for loan and lease losses (19,432,000,000) (21,235,000,000) (24,179,000,000) (26,233,000,000) (30,288,000,000) (33,783,000,000) (2,962,000,000) (3,658,000,000)     (3,445,000,000) (2,865,000,000)            
Other Assets 122,068,000,000   150,112,000,000       4,314,000,000 4,654,000,000     1,567,000,000 [2] 1,971,000,000 [2]            
Total assets 2,126,653,000,000   2,209,974,000,000 2,166,162,000,000     122,165,000,000 134,431,000,000     64,872,000,000 60,045,000,000            
On Balance Sheet Liabilities [Abstract]                                    
Long-term debt 255,331,000,000   275,585,000,000       24,481,000,000 34,256,000,000     22,291,000,000 15,569,000,000            
Other Liabilities             382,000,000 360,000,000     94,000,000 64,000,000            
Total liabilities 1,894,371,000,000   1,973,018,000,000       27,043,000,000 38,347,000,000     22,385,000,000 15,633,000,000            
In Text Details [Abstract]                                    
Notional Principal Amount Of Securities Issued By Securitization Trusts To Entity                                 8,700,000,000 10,100,000,000
Stated Interest Rate Of Securities Issued By Securitization Trusts To Entity                                 0.00%  
Cash Flows Between Transferor and Transferee, Beneficial Interest                     553,000,000              
Senior Interest of Receivable Held                 $ 282,000,000 $ 309,000,000                
[1] At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, loans and leases included $36.0 billion and $33.5 billion of seller's interest and $24 million and $124 million of discount receivables.
[2] At September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all other assets included restricted cash and short-term investment accounts and unbilled accrued interest and fees.