XML 61 R141.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Retirement Plans (Details 9) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |  | 12 Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2012 Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Equity securities [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Equity securities [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Equity securities [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Equity securities [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed Income Funds [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Income Funds [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed Income Funds [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Income Funds [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Balanced Funds [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Balanced Funds [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Balanced Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Balanced Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Other Funds [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Other Funds [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Balanced Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Balanced Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 1 [Member] Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 1 [Member] Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Balanced Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Balanced Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 2 [Member] Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 2 [Member] Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Equity securities [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] Domestic [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Fixed Income Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] International [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Balanced Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Balanced Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2012 Level 3 [Member] Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2011 Level 3 [Member] Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member] | Dec. 31, 2010 Level 3 [Member] Other Funds [Member] Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Target allocation and categorization of all defined benefit pension plan assets measured at fair value on recurring basis |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Target allocation percentage of assets | 100.00% | 100.00% |  |  |  | 15.00% | 15.00% | 30.00% | 30.00% |  |  |  |  | 30.00% | 30.00% | 15.00% | 15.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total target asset allocations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% | 5.00% |  |  | 0.00% | 0.00% |  |  | 5.00% | 5.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of plan assets |  |  | $ 2,309 | $ 2,069 | $ 2,052 |  |  |  |  | $ 318 | $ 250 | $ 732 | $ 644 |  |  |  |  | $ 639 | $ 582 | $ 447 | $ 406 |  |  | $ 72 | $ 69 |  |  | $ 25 | $ 12 |  |  | $ 76 | $ 106 | $ 1,075 | $ 906 | $ 318 | $ 250 | $ 732 | $ 644 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 25 | $ 12 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 1,158 | $ 1,057 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 639 | $ 582 | $ 447 | $ 406 | $ 72 | $ 69 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 76 | $ 106 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 76 | $ 106 | $ 101

X
- Details
Name: | axp_DefinedBenefitPlansAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Target allocation percentage in equity securities, debt securities, and other to total plan assets presented on a weighted-average basis as of the measurement date of the latest statement of financial position. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_DefinedBenefitPlanWeightedAverageTargetAssetAllocations
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Assets, usually stocks, bonds, and other investments, that have been segregated and restricted (usually in a trust) to provide benefits, at their fair value as of the measurement date. Plan assets include amounts contributed by the employer (and by employees for a contributory plan) and amounts earned from investing the contributions, less benefits paid. If a plan has liabilities other than for benefits, those non-benefit obligations may be considered as reductions of plan assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Section 35 -Paragraph 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6867990&loc=d3e12355-114930 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 87 -Paragraph 49 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph d(iv)(b)(i) -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph b -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Target allocation of investments of this type to total plan assets presented on a weighted average basis. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (c)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915506&loc=d3e2446-114920 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocations
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration