Name:	dfs_InterestPayableFairValueDisclosure
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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure and may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. This item represents interest earned but not received as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	dfs_InterestReceivableFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	dfs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Restricted Cash Fair Value Disclosure

No definition available.

Name:	dfs_RestrictedCashFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	dfs_
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Time Deposits, Fair Value Disclosure

No definition available.

Name:	dfs_TimeDepositsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	dfs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Fair value portion of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Fair value of investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479440/944-210-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-5A

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(6))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479853/942-210-S99-1

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-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-5

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Fair value portion of loan receivable, including, but not limited to, mortgage loans held for investment, finance receivables held for investment, policy loans on insurance contracts.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//310-10/tableOfContent

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents the amount of short-term debt existing as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShorttermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

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Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_ConsolidatedEntityExcludingVariableInterestEntitiesVIEMember
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Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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