Regulatory Matters and Capital Adequacy (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Schedule Of Compliance With Regulatory Capital Requirements Under Banking Regulations [Abstract]

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

			Tier 1		Total	Tier 1		Total		Tier 1
(Millions, except percentages)			capital		capital	capital ratio		capital ratio		leverage ratio
December 31, 2013:
	American Express Company	$	16,174	$	18,585	12.5	%	14.4	%	10.9	%
	American Express Centurion Bank		6,366		6,765	19.9		21.2		19.0
	American Express Bank, FSB		6,744		7,662	15.6		17.7		17.5	^(a)
December 31, 2012:
	American Express Company	$	14,920	$	17,349	11.9	%	13.8	%	10.2	%
	American Express Centurion Bank		5,814		6,227	17.6		18.9		17.0
	American Express Bank, FSB		6,649		7,556	16.5		18.7		17.5	^(a)

Well-capitalized ratios^(c)						6.0	%	10.0	%	5.0	% ^(b)
Minimum capital ratios^(c)						4.0	%	8.0	%	4.0	%

FSB leverage ratio is calculated using ending total assets as prescribed by OCC regulations applicable to federal savings banks.
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.
As defined by the regulations issued by the Federal Reserve, OCC and FDIC.

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the capital amounts and ratios as of the balance sheet date, indicating whether the entity or entities are in compliance with regulatory capital requirements, by entity.

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