XML 93 R49.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.3.0.15

Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010
Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans And Receivables [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest income recognized | $ 21 | $ 30 | $ 73 | $ 110
Average balance of impaired loans | 1,631 | 2,333 | 1,781 | 2,628
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans And Receivables [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest income recognized | 16 | 23 | 51 | 78
Average balance of impaired loans | 1,390 | 2,090 | 1,541 | 2,370
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member] |  |  |  |
Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans And Receivables [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest income recognized | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Average balance of impaired loans | 149 | 109 | 138 | 109
International Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member] |  |  |  |
Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans And Receivables [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Interest income recognized | 5 | 7 | 22 | 32
Average balance of impaired loans | $ 92 | $ 134 | $ 102 | $ 149

X
- Definition Interest Income Recognized And Average Balances Of Impaired Cardmember Loans and Receivables + Details
Name: | axp_InterestIncomeRecognizedAndAverageBalancesOfImpairedCardmemberLoansAndReceivablesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The average recorded investment related to impaired financing receivables. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524 -Subparagraph (c)(1) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5258-111524 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The interest income recognized during the time within that period that the financing receivables were impaired. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524 -Subparagraph (c)(2) + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration