XML 74 R80.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Earnings Per Common Share (EPS) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Basic and diluted:      
Net income $ 1,525us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss $ 1,432us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss  
Earnings allocated to participating share awards (11)us-gaap_AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits (12)us-gaap_AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits  
Net income attributable to common shareholders 1,514axp_NetIncomeAttributableToCommonShareholders 1,420axp_NetIncomeAttributableToCommonShareholders  
Denominator:      
Basic 1,019,000,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic [1] 1,060,000,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic [1]  
Add: Weighted-average stock options 4,000,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants 7,000,000us-gaap_IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants  
Diluted 1,023,000,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1] 1,067,000,000us-gaap_WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding [1]  
Earnings Per Common Share, Basic [Abstract]      
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders $ 1.49us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare [1] $ 1.34us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare [1]  
Earnings Per Common Share, Diluted [Abstract]      
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders $ 1.48us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare [1] $ 1.33us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare [1]  
Earnings Per Common Share (Textuals) [Abstract]      
Subordinated debentures $ 750us-gaap_ConvertibleSubordinatedDebt $ 750us-gaap_ConvertibleSubordinatedDebt  
Subordinated debt issuance year 2006 2006  
Subordinated debt maturity year 2036 2036  
Preferred shares, authorized 20,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized   20,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Preferred shares, par value $ 1.66axp_Preferredstockparorstatedvaluepershareauthorized    
Redemption amount $1 million preferred shares (equivalent to $1,000/depository shares)    
Stock options [Member]      
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]      
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per Share, amount 500,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_StockOptionMember		 200,000us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
/ us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareByAntidilutiveSecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_StockOptionMember		  
[1]

Representsnet income less earnings allocated to participating share awards of $11 million and $12 million forthe three months endedMarch 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.