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 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Mar. 31, 2013
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
Seller Interest [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Seller Interest [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Mar. 31, 2013
Discount Receivables [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Discount Receivables [Member]
Credit Card Receivable [Member]
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Mar. 31, 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 $ 40,931,000,000            
On Balance Sheet Assets [Abstract]                                
Derivative assets 52,247,000,000 53,497,000,000     187,000,000 333,000,000     323,000,000 187,000,000            
Loans and leases 911,592,000,000 907,819,000,000     116,236,000,000 123,227,000,000     66,427,000,000 [1] 62,365,000,000 [1] 31,800,000,000 33,500,000,000 73,000,000 100,000,000    
Allowance for loan and lease losses (22,441,000,000) (24,179,000,000) (32,211,000,000) (33,783,000,000) (3,310,000,000) (3,658,000,000)     (3,445,000,000) (3,183,000,000)            
Other Assets 137,792,000,000 150,112,000,000     4,728,000,000 4,654,000,000     1,567,000,000 [2] 1,872,000,000 [2]            
Total assets 2,174,819,000,000 2,209,974,000,000 2,181,449,000,000   130,183,000,000 134,431,000,000     64,872,000,000 61,241,000,000            
Derivative Liabilities 47,825,000,000 46,016,000,000             0 20,000,000            
On Balance Sheet Liabilities [Abstract]                                
Commercial paper and other short-term borrowings 42,148,000,000 30,731,000,000     2,539,000,000 3,731,000,000                    
Long-term debt 279,641,000,000 275,585,000,000     31,461,000,000 34,256,000,000     22,291,000,000 20,222,000,000            
Other Liabilities         345,000,000 360,000,000     94,000,000 68,000,000            
Total liabilities 1,937,526,000,000 1,973,018,000,000     34,345,000,000 38,347,000,000     22,385,000,000 20,310,000,000            
In Text Details [Abstract]                                
Notional Principal Amount Of Securities Issued By Securitization Trusts To Entity                             9,800,000,000 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             $ 294,000,000 $ 309,000,000                
[1] At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, loans and leases included $31.8 billion and $33.5 billion of seller's interest and $73 million and $124 million of discount receivables.
[2] At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, all other assets included restricted cash and short-term investment accounts and unbilled accrued interest and fees.