XML 102 R78.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.6.0.2

Investment Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	$ 3,144	$ 3,668	$ 4,280
Gross Unrealized Gains	35	100	154
Gross Unrealized Losses	(22)	(9)	(3)
Estimated Fair Value	3,157	3,759	4,431
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	2,019	2,813	3,366
Gross Unrealized Gains	28	85	129
Gross Unrealized Losses	(11)	(5)	(2)
Estimated Fair Value	2,036	2,893	3,493
U.S. Government agency obligations [Member]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	12	2	3
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	12	2	3
U.S. Government treasury obligations [Member]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	465	406	346
Gross Unrealized Gains	3	4	4
Gross Unrealized Losses	(8)	(1)	0
Estimated Fair Value	460	409	350
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	19	29	37
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	1	3
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	19	30	40
Mortgage-backed securities [Member]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	92	117	128
Gross Unrealized Gains	3	4	8
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	95	121	136
Equity securities [Member]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	1	1	0
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0	1
Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	1	1	1
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	486	250	350
Gross Unrealized Gains	1	6	9
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)	(1)	0
Estimated Fair Value	486	255	359
Other [Member]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
Cost	50	50	50
Gross Unrealized Gains	0	0	0
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2)	(2)	(1)
Estimated Fair Value	$ 48	$ 48	$ 49

X

- Definition

Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65884222&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (aa)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27232-111563

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66010992&loc=d3e26610-111562

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ 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 210.5-02.2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

X

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain before deducting unrealized loss on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27161-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of unrealized loss before deducting unrealized gain on investments in available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=d3e27161-111563

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
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=axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: