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Parent Company (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Parent Company (Tables) [Abstract] |
Condensed Statements of Income | Parent C ompany – C ondensed S tatements of I ncome
Years Ended December 31 (Millions) |  | 2011 |  | 2010 |  | 2009
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Non-interest revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Gain on sale of securities |  | $ | 15 |  | $ | ― |  | $ | 211
|  | Other |  |  | 3 |  |  | 8 |  |  | 4
Total non-interest revenues |  |  | 18 |  |  | 8 |  |  | 215
Interest income |  |  | 142 |  |  | 136 |  |  | 142
Interest expense |  |  | (633) |  |  | (638) |  |  | (562)
Total revenues net of interest expense |  |  | (473) |  |  | (494) |  |  | (205)
Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Salaries and employee benefits |  |  | 173 |  |  | 153 |  |  | 111
| Other |  |  | 186 |  |  | 117 |  |  | 161
Total |  |  | 359 |  |  | 270 |  |  | 272
Pretax loss |  |  | (832) |  |  | (764) |  |  | (477)
Income tax benefit |  |  | (346) |  |  | (292) |  |  | (164)
Net loss before equity in net income of |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| subsidiaries and affiliates |  |  | (486) |  |  | (472) |  |  | (313)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries and |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| affiliates |  |  | 5,385 |  |  | 4,529 |  |  | 2,450
Income from continuing operations |  |  | 4,899 |  |  | 4,057 |  |  | 2,137
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| net of tax |  |  | 36 |  |  | ― |  |  | (7)
Net income |  | $ | 4,935 |  | $ | 4,057 |  | $ | 2,130
Condensed Balance Sheets | p arent c ompany – c ondensed b alance s heets
As of December 31 (Millions) |  | 2011 |  | 2010
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 6,914 |  | $ | 5,267
Investment securities |  |  | 360 |  |  | 475
Equity in net assets of subsidiaries and |  |  |  |  |  |
| affiliates of continuing operations |  |  | 17,374 |  |  | 15,603
Accounts receivable, less reserves |  |  | 53 |  |  | 831
Premises and equipment — at cost, |  |  |  |  |  |
| less accumulated depreciation: 2011, $44; |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | 2010, $41 |  |  | 96 |  |  | 73
Loans to affiliates |  |  | 5,132 |  |  | 4,942
Due from subsidiaries |  |  | 1,363 |  |  | 1,196
Other assets |  |  | 769 |  |  | 458
Total assets |  | $ | 32,061 |  | $ | 28,845
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounts payable and other liabilities |  | $ | 1,466 |  | $ | 1,366
Due to affiliates |  |  | 823 |  |  | 911
Short-term affiliate debt |  |  | 895 |  |  | ―
Long-term debt |  |  | 10,083 |  |  | 10,338
| Total liabilities |  |  | 13,267 |  |  | 12,615
Shareholders’ equity |  |  |  |  |  |
Common shares |  |  | 232 |  |  | 238
Additional paid-in capital |  |  | 12,217 |  |  | 11,937
Retained earnings |  |  | 7,221 |  |  | 4,972
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |  |  | (876) |  |  | (917)
| Total shareholders’ equity |  |  | 18,794 |  |  | 16,230
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity |  | $ | 32,061 |  | $ | 28,845
Condensed Cash Flows | Parent Company – Con densed Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31 (Millions) |  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |  |  | 2009
Cash Flows from Operating Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 4,935 |  | $ | 4,057 |  | $ | 2,130
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries and affiliates: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| — Continuing operations |  |  | (5,385) |  |  | (4,530) |  |  | (2,450)
| — Discontinued operations |  |  | (36) |  |  | ― |  |  | 7
| Dividends received from subsidiaries and affiliates |  |  | 3,773 |  |  | 1,999 |  |  | 1,103
| Gain on sale of securities |  |  | (15) |  |  | ― |  |  | (211)
| Other operating activities, primarily with subsidiaries |  |  | 671 |  |  | (39) |  |  | 246
Net cash provided by operating activities |  |  | 3,943 |  |  | 1,487 |  |  | 825
Cash Flows from Investing Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sale/redemption of investments |  |  | 20 |  |  | 9 |  |  | 361
Premises and equipment |  |  | (35) |  |  | (32) |  |  | (20)
Loans to affiliates |  |  | (189) |  |  | (1,064) |  |  | 2,665
Purchase of investments |  |  | (2) |  |  | (3) |  |  | ―
Investments in affiliates |  |  | (18) |  |  | ― |  |  | ―
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |  |  | (224) |  |  | (1,090) |  |  | 3,006
Cash Flows from Financing Activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of debt |  |  | ― |  |  | ― |  |  | 3,000
Principal payment of debt |  |  | (400) |  |  | ― |  |  | (505)
Short-term affiliate debt |  |  | 895 |  |  | ― |  |  | ―
Long-term affiliate debt |  |  | ― |  |  | (15) |  |  | ―
Issuance of American Express Series A preferred shares and warrants |  |  | ― |  |  | ― |  |  | 3,389
Issuance of American Express common shares and other |  |  | 594 |  |  | 663 |  |  | 614
Repurchase of American Express Series A preferred shares |  |  | ― |  |  | ― |  |  | (3,389)
Repurchase of American Express stock warrants |  |  | ― |  |  | ― |  |  | (340)
Repurchase of American Express common shares |  |  | (2,300) |  |  | (590) |  |  | ―
Dividends paid |  |  | (861) |  |  | (867) |  |  | (924)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |  |  | (2,072) |  |  | (809) |  |  | 1,845
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |  |  | 1,647 |  |  | (412) |  |  | 5,676
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  |  | 5,267 |  |  | 5,679 |  |  | 3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |  | $ | 6,914 |  | $ | 5,267 |  | $ | 5,679

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