XML 108 R90.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Other Assets (Details Textuals) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Other Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Amortization period of acquired finite-lived intangible assets | 6 years | 7 years |
Foreign deferred tax liabilities | $ 98 | $ 81 |
Tax Credit Investments - Affordable Housing partnerships | 1,018 | 798 |
Other Assets (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |
Accumulated goodwill impairment losses | 220 | 220 |
Amortization expense | 207 | 194 | $ 183
Community Reinvestment Act Tax Credit Investments | 1,023 | 824 |
Other Expense [Member] |  |  |
Other Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Loss from Affordable Housing Projects Equity Method Investments | 112 | 43 |
Income Tax Provision [Member] |  |  |
Other Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
QAH Tax Credits for equity method losses | 74 | 63 |
Other Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Other Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
QAH Investment Commitment | 373 |  |
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] |  |  |
Other Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Affordable Housing Program Off Balance Sheet Obligation | 66 |  |
Tax Credit Investments - Affordable Housing partnerships | 933 | $ 701 |
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Other Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
QAH Investment Commitment | $ 352 |  |
Earliest Year [Member] |  |  |
Other Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Affordable Housing Tax Credits Commitment Year To Be Paid | 2018 |  |
Latest Year [Member] |  |  |
Other Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Affordable Housing Tax Credits Commitment Year To Be Paid | 2032 |  |

X
- Definition Amount of Foreign deferred tax liabilities reported in Other Liabilities + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_ForeignDeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Other Assets [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_OtherAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Other Assets Textuals. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_OtherAssetsTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16265-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of obligation related to Affordable Housing Program (AHP) assessments required by the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AffordableHousingProgramObligation
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of affordable housing tax credits and other tax benefits recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 740 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64813897&loc=SL49122993-202985 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AffordableHousingTaxCreditsAndOtherTaxBenefitsAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Year in which contingent commitments to qualified affordable housing project investments are expected to be paid, in CCYY format. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AffordableHousingTaxCreditsCommitmentYearToBePaid
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of investment in qualified affordable housing projects. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 740 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64813897&loc=SL49122993-202985 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AmortizationMethodQualifiedAffordableHousingProjectInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of accumulated impairment loss for an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a,h) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of investment income (loss) of qualified affordable housing project investments accounted for using the equity method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 740 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64813897&loc=SL49122993-202985 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromAffordableHousingProjectsEquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount deducted from an entities' taxes, reflecting a percentage of an amount invested in certain assets spread over the useful life of those assets; includes deferred investment tax credits. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentTaxCredit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of commitment or contingent commitments to qualified affordable housing project investments. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 740 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64813897&loc=SL49122993-202985 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_QualifiedAffordableHousingProjectInvestmentsCommitment
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | axp_IncomeLossFromAffordableHousingProjectsEquityMethodInvestmentsByIncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | axp_IncomeLossFromAffordableHousingProjectsEquityMethodInvestmentsByIncomeStatementLocationAxis=axp_IncomeTaxProvisionMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | axp_AffordableHousingTaxCreditCommitmentBalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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

X
- Details
Name: | axp_AffordableHousingTaxCreditCommitmentYearToBePaidAxis=axp_EarliestYearMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | axp_AffordableHousingTaxCreditCommitmentYearToBePaidAxis=axp_LatestYearMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |