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 $)
 9 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Jun. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Seller Interest [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Seller Interest [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Discount Receivables [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Discount Receivables [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Sep. 30, 2012
Subordinated Debt Securities [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]                              
Maximum loss exposure                 $ 40,070,000,000 $ 38,282,000,000          
On Balance Sheet Assets [Abstract]                              
Derivative assets 57,865,000,000   73,023,000,000       546,000,000 1,634,000,000 355,000,000 788,000,000          
Loans and leases 893,035,000,000   926,200,000,000       125,043,000,000 140,194,000,000 66,294,000,000 [1] 74,793,000,000 [1] 31,100,000,000 28,700,000,000 240,000,000 1,000,000,000  
Allowance for loan and lease losses (26,233,000,000) (30,288,000,000) (33,783,000,000) (35,082,000,000) (37,312,000,000) (41,885,000,000) (3,811,000,000) (5,066,000,000) (3,616,000,000) (4,742,000,000)          
Loans held-for-sale                 550,000,000 0          
Other Assets 150,698,000,000   145,686,000,000       3,754,000,000 4,769,000,000 927,000,000 [2] 723,000,000 [2]          
Total assets 2,166,162,000,000   2,129,046,000,000 2,219,628,000,000     137,656,000,000 151,761,000,000 64,510,000,000 71,562,000,000          
On Balance Sheet Liabilities [Abstract]                              
Commercial paper and other short-term borrowings 35,291,000,000   35,698,000,000       3,872,000,000 5,777,000,000 232,000,000             
Long-term debt 286,534,000,000   372,265,000,000       38,055,000,000 49,054,000,000 24,125,000,000 33,076,000,000          
Other Liabilities             625,000,000 1,116,000,000 83,000,000 204,000,000          
Total liabilities 1,927,556,000,000   1,898,945,000,000       42,552,000,000 55,947,000,000 24,440,000,000 33,280,000,000          
Trust loans                 66,844,000,000 74,793,000,000          
In Text Details [Abstract]                              
Notional Principal Amount Of Securities Issued By Securitization Trusts To Entity                             10,400,000,000
Stated Interest Rate Of Securities Issued By Securitization Trusts To Entity                             0.00%
Cash Flows Between Transferor and Transferee, Beneficial Interest                 $ 553,000,000            
[1] At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, loans and leases included $31.1 billion and $28.7 billion of seller’s interest and $240 million and $1.0 billion of discount receivables.
[2] At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, all other assets included restricted cash and short-term investment accounts and unbilled accrued interest and fees.