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Regulatory Matters and Capital Adequacy (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule Of Compliance With Regulatory Capital Requirements Under Banking Regulations [Abstract]  
Regulatory capital ratios

The following table presents the regulatory capital ratios for the Company and the Banks:

    Tier 1  Total Tier 1 capital Total capital  Tier 1 
(Millions, except percentages)  Capital  capital ratio ratio leverage ratio 
December 31, 2011:             
 American Express Company $ 14,881 $ 17,271 12.3% 14.3% 10.2% 
 American Express Centurion Bank $ 6,029 $ 6,431 18.8% 20.1% 19.1% 
 American Express Bank, FSB $ 6,493 $ 7,363 17.4% 19.8% 18.4% (a)
December 31, 2010:             
 American Express Company $13,100 $15,528 11.1% 13.1% 9.3% 
 American Express Centurion Bank $5,771 $6,170 18.3% 19.5% 19.4% 
 American Express Bank, FSB $5,586 $6,424 16.3% 18.8% 16.1% (a)
               
Well-capitalized ratios(b)       6.0% 10.0% 5.0% (c)
Minimum capital ratios(b)       4.0% 8.0% 4.0% 

FSB leverage ratio represents Tier 1 core capital ratio (as defined by OCC regulations applicable to federal savings banks), calculated similarly to Tier 1 leverage ratio.

(b)       As defined by the regulations issued by the Federal Reserve, OCC and FDIC.

(c)       Represents requirements for banking subsidiaries to be considered “well capitalized” pursuant to regulations issued under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act. There is no “well capitalized” definition for the Tier 1 leverage ratio for a bank holding company.