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Debt (Details Textuals) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 M | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2012
Short-term Debt [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Short-term borrowings | $ 3,424,000,000 | $ 3,414,000,000 |  |  |  |
Debt (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Principal outstanding of Subordinated Debentures | 750,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate of convertible subordinated debt over LIBOR | 2.23% |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate of convertible subordinated debt LIBOR rate plus an annual percentage after year five following the balance sheet date | LIBOR + 2.23% |  |  |  |  |
Convertible Subordinated Debentures Redeemable Percentage Of Principal | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of Tangible Common Equity To Total Adjusted Assets | less than 4 percent |  |  |  |  |
Number of months prior to trigger determination date decline in tangible common equity | 18 |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of Decline in Tangible Common Equity | 10.00% |  |  |  |  |
Total bank lines of credit of the company | 7,500,000,000 | 10,600,000,000 |  |  |  |
Unutilized total credit lines | 2,900,000,000 | 6,500,000,000 |  |  |  |
Fees to maintain credit lines | 22,200,000,000 | 7,700,000,000 |  |  |  |
Lines of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity supporting commercial paper borrowings | 2,900,000,000 | 5,700,000,000 |  |  |  |
Line of Credit Facility financial covenants consolidated tangible net worth required | 4,100,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility financial covenants combined earnings and fixed charges to fixed charges ratio required | 0.0125 |  |  |  |  |
Total Interest Paid | 2,400,000,000 | 2,400,000,000 | 2,300,000,000 |  |  |
Line of credit facility expiration amount |  |  |  | 2,600,000,000 | 2,000,000,000 | 2,900,000,000
Face amount of eligible notes issued from the Charge Trust |  |  | 3,000,000,000 |  |  |
Face amount of eligible notes draw downs | $ 3,000,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt | 6.80% |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Ratio of combined earnings and fixed earnings to fixed charges American Express Credit Corporation (Credco) is subject to in order to maintain the availability of its credit lines. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the percentage of the principal amount the Company's Subordinated Debentures are redeemable for cash, plus any accrued but unpaid interest. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR, plus a stated interest rate. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount of consolidated tangible net worth the Company is subject to in order to maintain the availability of its credit lines. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, the carrying value of convertible subordinated debt, as of the balance sheet date, initially scheduled to be repaid after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle if longer. This form of debt can be exchanged for a specified amount of another security, typically the entity's common stock, at the option of the issuer or the holder, and places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 5 -Section 02 -Subsection 20, 22 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX210.5-02.22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),16(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Article 9 -Subparagraph 2, 3 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 7 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(1) + Details
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