XML 84 R72.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Fair Values (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 26,520 | $ 22,762 | $ 19,938 | $ 22,288
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 14,992 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 13,179 |  |  |
Long-term debt | 44,894 | 48,061 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 44,821 | 43,671 |  |
Card Member loans, net | 59,504 | 57,545 |  |
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 4,966 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 14,759 | 13,602 |  |
Carrying Value [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 27,000 | 23,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 48,000 | 47,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 61,000 | 59,000 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 15,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 63,000 | 67,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 13,000 | 14,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 45,000 | 48,000 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 27,000 | 23,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 48,000 | 47,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 61,000 | 60,000 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 15,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 63,000 | 67,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 13,000 | 14,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 46,000 | 49,000 |  |
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 14,800 | 13,600 |  |
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Accounts receivable, less reserves | 5,500 | 6,700 |  |
Card Member loans, net | 24,700 | 23,500 |  |
Level 1 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 25,000 | 22,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term debt | 0 | 0 |  |
Level 2 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 2,000 | 1,000 |  |
Other financial assets | 48,000 | 47,000 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 0 | 0 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 63,000 | 67,000 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 13,000 | 14,000 |  |
Long-term debt | 46,000 | 49,000 |  |
Level 3 [Member] |  |  |  |
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | 0 | 0 |  |
Other financial assets | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial assets carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Loans, net | 61,000 | 60,000 |  |
Card Member loans and receivables HFS | 0 | 15,000 |  |
Financial Liabilities: |  |  |  |
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value | 0 | 0 |  |
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value |  |  |  |
Certificates of deposit | 0 | 0 |  |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |

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

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

X
- Definition Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include cash and cash equivalents, cardmember receivables, accrued interest, and certain other assets. For these assets, the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short-term in duration or variable rate in nature. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_FinancialInstrumentsAssetsWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValueAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include accrued interest, customer deposits (excluding certificates of deposit), Travelers Cheques outstanding, short-term borrowings, and certain other liabilities for which the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short-term in duration, variable rate in nature, or have no defined maturity. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Represents cardmember and other loans, less reserves. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_LoansNet
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection. + 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 210.9-03.9) -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 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.5) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The sum of cash and cash equivalents plus Federal Funds Sold. Cash and cash equivalents consist of short term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and are so near their maturity that they present negligible risk of changes in value due to changes in interest rates -- usually with an original maturity less than 90 days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Cash Equivalents -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6507016 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.1,2,3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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

X
- Definition Amount after allowance and deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans held for sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28367877&loc=d3e4428-111522 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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 Fair value portion of other assets. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The face amount of all receivables that will be sold to other entities, including trade and loan receivables. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28367877&loc=d3e4428-111522 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReceivablesHeldForSaleAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of deposits that cannot be withdrawn before a set date without penalty or for which notice of withdrawal is required. Time deposits include, but are not limited to, certificates of deposits, individual retirement accounts and open accounts. + 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 210.9-03.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TimeDeposits
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis=us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |