XML 138 R85.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Other Assets (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | $ 3,198 us-gaap_Goodwill | $ 3,181 us-gaap_Goodwill
Acquisitions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Dispositions | (102)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Other, including foreign currency translation | (72)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments | 17 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 3,024 us-gaap_Goodwill | 3,198 us-gaap_Goodwill
U S Card Services [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 174 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember | 175 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
Acquisitions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
Dispositions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
Other, including foreign currency translation | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember | (1)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 174 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember | 174 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
International Card Services [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 1,052 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember | 1,031 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Acquisitions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Dispositions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Other, including foreign currency translation | (70)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember | 21 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 982 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember | 1,052 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Global Commercial Services [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 1,543 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember | 1,544 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Acquisitions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Dispositions | (102)us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Other, including foreign currency translation | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember | (1)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 1,441 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember | 1,543 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 160 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember | 160 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Acquisitions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Dispositions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Other, including foreign currency translation | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance | 160 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember | 160 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Corporate and Other [Member] |  |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] |  |
Goodwill, Beginning Balance | 269 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | 271 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Acquisitions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Dispositions | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | 0 us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Other, including foreign currency translation | (2)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | (2)us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Goodwill, Ending Balance | $ 267 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember | $ 269 us-gaap_Goodwill / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments and purchase accounting adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of divestiture of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=axp_USCardServicesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |