XML 31 R17.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT ﻿
v2.3.0.11

Guarantees | 6 Months Ended
--- | ---
Jun. 30, 2011
Schedule Of Guarantee Obligations [Abstract] |
Guarantees | 10. G uarantees The Company provides cardmember protection plans that cover losses associated with purchased products, as well as certain other guarantees in the ordinary course of business which are within the scope of GAAP governing the accounting for guarantees. In relation to its maximum amount of undiscounted future payments as seen in the table that follows, to date the Company has not experienced any significant losses related to guarantees. The Company's initial recognition of guarantees is at fair value, which has been determined in accordance with GAAP governing fair value measurement. In addition, the Company establishes reserves when an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The following table provides information related to such guarantees as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
|  | Maximum amount of |  |
| undiscounted future | Amount of related
|  | payments(a) | liability(b)
| (Billions) | (Millions)
Type of Guarantee |  | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
Card and travel operations(c) |  | $ | 69 |  | $ | 67 |  | $ | 114 |  | $ | 114
Other(d) |  |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 104 |  |  | 99
Total |  | $ | 70 |  | $ | 68 |  | $ | 218 |  | $ | 213
(a) Represents the notional amounts that could be lost under the guarantees and indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed parties. The Merchant Protection guarantee is calculated using management's best estimate of maximum exposure based on all eligible claims as measured against annual billed business volumes. The Company mitigates this risk by withholding settlement from the merchant or obtaining deposits and other guarantees from merchants considered higher risk due to various factors. The amounts being held by the Company are not signif icant when compared to the maxi mum potential amount of undiscounted future payments. (b) Included as part of other liabilities on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets. (c) Includes Credit Card Registry, Return Protection, Account Protection and Merchant Protection, which the Company offers directly to cardmembers. (d) Other primarily includes guarantees related to the Company's business dispositions and real estate, each of which are individually smaller indemnifications.

X
- Definition Schedule Of Guarantee Obligations. + Details
Name: | axp_ScheduleOfGuaranteeObligationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Provides pertinent information about each guarantee obligation, or each group of similar guarantee obligations, including (a) the nature of the guarantee, including its term, how it arose, and the events or circumstances that would require the guarantor to perform under the guarantee; (b) the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee; (c) the current carrying amount of the liability, if any, for the guarantor's obligations under the guarantee; and (d) the nature of any recourse provisions under the guarantee, and any assets held either as collateral or by third parties, and any relevant related party disclosure. Excludes disclosures about product warranties. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 5 -Paragraph 9, 10, 11, 12 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 45 -Paragraph 13, 16 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfGuaranteeObligationsTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | us-types:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration