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Significant Credit Concentrations | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure Text Block Abstract |
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] | NOTE 24 Significant Credit Concentrations Concentrations of credit risk exist when changes in economic, industry or geographic factors similarly affect groups of counterparties whose aggregate credit exposure is material in relation to American Express’ total credit exposure. The Company’s customers operate in diverse industries, economic sectors and geographic regions. The following table details the Company’s maximum credit exposure of the on-balance sheet assets by category as of December 31:
(Billions) |  | 2017 |  | 2016
On-balance sheet: |  |  |  |  |  |
Individuals(a) |  | $ | 112 |  | $ | 98
Institutions(b) |  |  | 20 |  |  | 18
Financial Services(c) |  |  | 35 |  |  | 28
U.S. Government and agencies(d) |  |  | 3 |  |  | 3
Total on-balance sheet |  |  | 170 |  |  | 147
P rimarily reflects loans and receivables from global consumer and small business Card Members, which are governed by individual credit risk management. Primarily reflects loans and receivables from global corporate Card Members, which are governed by institutional credit risk management. Represents banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies and savings and loan associations. R epresent debt obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies, states and municipalities and governm ent-sponsored entities. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company’s most significant concentration of credit risk was with individuals, including Card Member loans and receivables. These amounts are generally advanced on an unsecured basis. However, the Company reviews each potential customer’s credit application and evaluates the applicant’s financial history and ability and willingness to repay. The Company also considers credit performance by customer tenure, industry and geographic locati on in managing credit exposure. The following table details the Company’s Card Member loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit available to Card Members as part of established lending product agreements) in the United States and out side the United States as of December 31:
(Billions) |  | 2017 |  | 2016
On-balance sheet: |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. |  | $ | 102 |  | $ | 93
Non-U.S. |  |  | 25 |  |  | 20
On-balance sheet |  |  | 127 |  |  | 113
Unused lines-of-credit:(a) |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. |  |  | 224 |  |  | 203
Non-U.S. |  |  | 49 |  |  | 39
Total unused lines-of-credit |  | $ | 273 |  | $ | 242
Total unused credit available to Card Members does not represent potential future cash requirements, as a significant portion of this unused credit will likely not be drawn. Because the Company’s charge card products generally have no preset spending limit, the associated credit limit on charge products is not quantifiable, and therefore is not reflected in unused credit available to Card Members.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for any concentrations existing at the date of the financial statements that make an entity vulnerable to a reasonably possible, near-term, severe impact. This disclosure informs financial statement users about the general nature of the risk associated with the concentration, and may indicate the percentage of concentration risk as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479 + Details
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