XML 82 R13.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.1.9

Reserves for Losses | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015
Reserves For Losses Card Member Receivables And Loans Disclosure [Abstract] |
Reserve for Losses | 4. Reserves for Losses Reserves for losses relating to Card Member loans and receivables represent management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in the Company’s outstanding portfolio of loans and receivables, as of the balance sheet date. Management’s evaluation process requires certain estimates and judgments. Changes in Card Member Receivables Reserve for Losses The following table presents changes in the Card Member receivables reserve for losses for the three months ended March 31:
(Millions) |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Balance, January 1 |  | $ | 465 |  | $ | 386
| Provisions(a) |  |  | 174 |  |  | 215
| Net write-offs(b) |  |  | (199) |  |  | (170)
| Other(c) |  |  | (11) |  |  | (17)
Balance, March 31 |  | $ | 429 |  | $ | 414
P rovisions for principal and fee reserve components. Consists of principal and fee components, less recoveries of $99 million and $92 million, including net write-offs from TDRs of $31 million and $2 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Beginning in the first quarter 2014, reserves for card-related fraud losses of $(7) million are included in Other liabilities. Also includes foreign currency tra nslation adjustments of $(7) million and nil for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and other items of $(4) million and $(10) million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Card Member Receivables Evaluated Individually and Collectively for Impairment The following table presents Card Member receivables evaluated individually and collectively for impair ment and related reserves as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
(Millions) |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Card Member receivables evaluated individually for impairment(a) |  | $ | 28 |  | $ | 48
Related reserves (a) |  | $ | 17 |  | $ | 35
Card Member receivables evaluated collectively for impairment |  | $ | 43,675 |  | $ | 44,803
Related reserves (b) |  | $ | 412 |  | $ | 430
Represents receivables modified as a TDR and related reserves. The reserves include the quantitative results of analytical models that are specific to individual pools of receivables, and reserves for internal and external qualitative risk factors that apply to receivables that are collectively evaluated for impairment. Changes in Card Member Loans Reserve for Losses The following table presents changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses for the three months ended March 31:
(Millions) |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Balance, January 1 |  | $ | 1,201 |  | $ | 1,261
| Provisions(a) |  |  | 235 |  |  | 250
| Net write-offs |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Principal(b) |  |  | (259) |  |  | (280)
|  | Interest and fees(b) |  |  | (43) |  |  | (42)
| Other(c) |  |  | (4) |  |  | 2
Balance, March 31 |  | $ | 1,130 |  | $ | 1,191
Provisions for principal, interest and fee reserve components. Consists of principal write-offs, less recoveries of $103 million and $107 million, including net write-offs/(recoveries) from TDRs of $16 million and $(2) million, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Recoveries of interest and fees were de minimis. Beginning in the first quarter 2014, reserves for card related fraud losses of $(6) million are included in Other liabilities. Also includes foreign currency translation adjustments of $(7) million and $(1) million for t he three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and other items of $3 million and $9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectivel y. Card Member Loans Evaluated Individually and Collect ively for Impairment The following table presents Card Member loans evaluated individually and collectively for impairment and related reserves as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014:
(Millions) |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Card Member loans evaluated individually for impairment(a) |  | $ | 305 |  | $ | 286
Related reserves (a) |  | $ | 65 |  | $ | 67
Card Member loans evaluated collectively for impairment(b) |  | $ | 66,530 |  | $ | 70,099
Related reserves (b) |  | $ | 1,065 |  | $ | 1,134
Represents loans modified as a TDR and related reserves. Represents current loans and loans less than 90 days past due, loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest, and non-accrual loans. The reserves include the quantitative results of analytical models that are specific to individual pools of loans, and reserves for internal and external qualitative risk factors that apply to loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment.

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

X
- Definition The entire disclosure for allowance for credit losses. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AllowanceForCreditLossesTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration