XML 112 R103.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Other Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
--- | --- | ---
Summary of other liabilities |  |
Membership Rewards liability | $ 6,151 | $ 5,832
Employee-related liablities | 2,227 | 2,224
Rebate and reward accruals | 2,210 | 2,079
Deferred card fees, net | 1,314 | 1,286
Book overdraft balances | 442 | 532
Other | 4,566 | 5,604
Total | 16,910 | 17,557
Carrying amount of deferred charge card and other fees |  |
Deferred charge card and other fees | 1,609 | 1,566
Deferred direct acquisition costs | (164) | (154)
Reserves for membership cancellations | (131) | (126)
Total | $ 1,314 | $ 1,286

X
- Definition Represents amounts related to deferred charges and other fees including deferred fees for Membership Reward program participants. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_DeferredChargeCardAndOtherFees
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Represents the carrying amount of deferred charge card and other fees, net of direct acquisition costs and reserves for membership cancellations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_DeferredChargeCardFeesNet
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents amounts related to deferred direct acquisition costs including deferred direct acquisition costs that are associated with acquiring new Card Members. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_DeferredDirectAcquisitionCosts
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents amounts related to employee-related liabilities including benefit plan obligations and incentive compensation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_EmployeesRelatedLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents amounts related to other liabilities including accruals for general operating expenses, advertising and promotion, derivatives, restructuring and reengineering reserves. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_LiabilitiesOther
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents amounts related to the estimated cost of points earned to date that are ultimately expected to be redeemed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_MembershipRewardsLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents amounts related to rebate and reward accruals including payments to third-party card issuing partners and cash-back reward costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_RebateAccruals
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents estimated fees refundable to Card Members if they cancel their card. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_ReservesForMembershipCancellations
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of payments made in excess of existing cash balances, which will be honored by the bank but reflected as a loan to the entity. Overdrafts generally have a very short time frame for correction or repayment and are therefore more similar to short-term bank financing than trade financing. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Current Liabilities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509677 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 470 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361426&loc=d3e1243-112600 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BankOverdrafts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of liabilities not separately disclosed in the balance sheet. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 15 -Article 9 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 210.9-03.15) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesUnclassifiedAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration