XML 115 R94.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.3.1.900

Debt (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 48,061	$ 57,955
Unamortized Underwriting Fees	$ (96)	$ (116)
Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	2.44%	2.34%
Parent Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 9,719	$ 9,708
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2016-2042
Long-term Debt	$ 7,546	$ 7,535
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	4.25%	4.20%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	5.15%	5.15%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Centurion Bank [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2017
Long-term Debt	$ 1,319	$ 2,089
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	4.75%	3.32%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Centurion Bank [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	5.99%	4.12%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Credit Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2016-2020
Long-term Debt	$ 16,469	$ 16,260
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	1.28%	1.22%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Credit Corporation [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	2.16%	2.26%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Bank, FSB [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2017
Long-term Debt	$ 1,000	$ 999
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Bank, FSB [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	6.00%	6.00%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Lending Trust [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2016-2017
Long-term Debt	$ 4,000	$ 6,100
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Lending Trust [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	1.35%	1.11%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2018
Long-term Debt	$ 850	$ 850
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.97%	0.85%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Centurion Bank [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2018
Long-term Debt	$ 125	$ 675
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Centurion Bank [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.81%	0.68%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Credit Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2016-2020
Long-term Debt	$ 5,300	$ 4,400
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Credit Corporation [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.98%	0.82%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Bank, FSB [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2017
Long-term Debt	$ 300	$ 300
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Bank, FSB [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.62%	0.46%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Charge Trust II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2018
Long-term Debt	$ 2,200	$ 3,700
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Charge Trust II [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.67%	0.41%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Lending Trust [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2017-2019
Long-term Debt	$ 7,025	$ 8,876
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Lending Trust [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.82%	0.72%
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Charge Trust II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2018
Long-term Debt	$ 87	$ 87
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Charge Trust II [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.97%	0.80%
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Lending Trust [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2017-2019
Long-term Debt	$ 316	$ 488
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Lending Trust [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.97%	0.73%
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	6.80%
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2024-2036
Long-term Debt	$ 1,347	$ 1,350
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	4.47%	4.42%
Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	5.39%	5.39%
Borrowings under Bank Credit Facilities [Member] | American Express Credit Corporation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	―
Long-term Debt	$ 0	$ 3,672
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Borrowings under Bank Credit Facilities [Member] | American Express Credit Corporation [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.00%	4.25%
Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Lending Trust [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	―
Long-term Debt	$ 0	$ 300
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Fixed Rate Subordinated Notes Amount [Member] | American Express Lending Trust [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.00%	1.08%
Fixed Rate Instruments [Member] | Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2021-2033
Long-term Debt	$ 29	$ 143
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Fixed Rate Instruments [Member] | Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	5.62%	3.09%
Fixed Rate Instruments [Member] | Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Capitalized lease transactions
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$ 29	$ 31
Floating Rate Borrowings [Member] | Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity Dates	2016-2019
Long-term Debt	$ 244	$ 247
Year-End Effective Interest Rates with Swaps	0.00%	0.00%
Floating Rate Borrowings [Member] | Other Subsidiaries [Member] | Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.66%	0.59%

X

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_LongTermDebtMaturityDates
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Reflects as of the balance-sheet date the effective interest rates on debt outstanding presented if swaps are in place to hedge the underlying debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_YearEndEffectiveInterestRateWithSwaps
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 20, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The remaining balance of debt issuance expenses that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues. This does not include the amounts capitalized as part of the cost of the utility plant or asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	axp_TypeOfDebtAxis=us-gaap_LongTermDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axp_FixedRateSeniorNotesAmountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axp_AmericanExpressCreditCorporationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axp_AmericanExpressLendingTrustMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axp_FloatingRateSeniorNotesAmountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axp_AmericanExpressChargeTrustMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axp_FloatingRateSubordinatedNotesAmountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleSubordinatedDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axp_FixedRateSubordinatedNotesAmountMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axp_FixedRateInstrumentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=axp_OtherSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleLeasebackTransactionDescriptionAxis=axp_SaleLeaseBackTransactionNameMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=axp_FloatingRateBorrowingsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: