XML 67 R55.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Investment Securities (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 452
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 33 | 33 | 46
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months |  | 0 | (5)
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more |  | (1) | (4)
U.S. States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 | 0 | 100
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 0 | 0 | 13
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 |  | (3)
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | 0 |  | (2)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member] |  |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 | 0 | 99
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 0 | 0 | 0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 |  | (1)
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | 0 |  | 0
U.S. Government agency obligations [Member] |  |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 | 0 | 253
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 0 | 0 | 0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 |  | (1)
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | 0 |  | 0
Other [Member] |  |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 | 0 | 0
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 33 | $ 33 | 33
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 |  | 0
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | $ (1) |  | $ (2)

X
- Definition Amount of unrealized loss on securities classified as available-for-sale that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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

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

X
- Definition Amount of unrealized loss on investments in available-for-sale securities that have been in a loss position for less than twelve months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27337-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27337-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27337-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=axp_OtherInvestmentSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |