Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 1,525us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 1,432us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provisions for losses	420	485
Depreciation and amortization	251	249
Deferred taxes and other	219axp_DeferredTaxesAndOther	44axp_DeferredTaxesAndOther
Stock-based compensation	71us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	88us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Other receivables	175	297
Other assets	957	478
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(1,230)	607
Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products	(262)	(395)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,126	3,285
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Sales of available-for-sale investment securities	0	44
Maturities and redemptions of available-for-sale investment securities	439	354
Purchase of investments	(447)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	(71)us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments
Net increase (decrease) in Card Member receivables/loans	3,129	2,072
Purchase of premises and equipment, net of sales	(256)	(226)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(59)	(6)
Net increase (decrease) in restricted cash	15	(610)
Net cash provided by investing activities	2,821	1,557
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net increase in customer deposits	784us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits	918us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits
Net decrease in short-term borrowings	(1,062)	(2,245)
Issuance of long-term debt	0	2,240
Principal payments on long-term debt	(3,100)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(3,500)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Issuance of American Express preferred shares	841	0
Issuance of American Express common shares	54	233
Repurchase of American Express common shares	(791)	(961)
Dividends paid	(268)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(246)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,542)	(3,561)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(121)	(27)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,284	1,254
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	22,288	19,486
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 23,572	$ 20,740

Includes the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities pertaining to continuing operations, mark to market adjustments on the Company's long-term debt due to fair value hedges, amortization of premium/discount on the available for sale securities; and other.

No definition available.