XML 160 R139.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Reportable Operating Segements and Geographic Operations (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Revenues And Pretax Income Loss By Geographic Location [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues net of interest expense | $ 8,391 | $ 8,193 | $ 8,284 | $ 7,950 | $ 9,081 | $ 8,303 | $ 8,631 | $ 8,173 | $ 32,818 | $ 34,188 | $ 32,870
Pretax income | $ 1,454 | $ 1,938 | $ 2,230 | $ 2,316 | $ 2,225 | $ 2,246 | $ 2,312 | $ 2,208 | 7,938 | 8,991 | 7,888
United States Geographic Region [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Revenues And Pretax Income Loss By Geographic Location [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24,791 | 24,751 | 23,641
Pretax income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,010 | 8,869 | 7,679
EMEA Geographic Region [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Revenues And Pretax Income Loss By Geographic Location [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,161 | 3,767 | 3,700
Pretax income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 534 | 525 | 524
JAPA Geographic Region [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Revenues And Pretax Income Loss By Geographic Location [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,649 | 2,934 | 2,952
Pretax income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 456 | 463 | 488
LACC Geographic Region [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Revenues And Pretax Income Loss By Geographic Location [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,384 | 2,888 | 2,900
Pretax income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 658 | 683 | 701
Other Unallocated [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Segment Revenues And Pretax Income Loss By Geographic Location [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total revenues net of interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (167) | (152) | (323)
Pretax income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ (1,720) | $ (1,549) | $ (1,504)

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_SegmentRevenuesAndPretaxIncomeLossByGeographicLocationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Revenues from discount revenue, net card fees, travel commissions and fees, other commissions and fees, securitization income, net, other related income, and net interest income during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_UnitedStatesGeographicRegionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_EmeaGeographicRegionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_JapaGeographicRegionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_LaccGeographicRegionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_OtherUnallocatedMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |