XML 56 R42.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Basis of Presentation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2018 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount revenue | $ 6,194 |  |  | $ 5,743 |  | $ 12,083 | $ 11,130 |  |
Other | 349 |  |  | 379 |  | 726 | 740 |  |
Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Marketing and business development | 1,663 |  |  | 1,456 |  | 3,008 | 2,741 |  |
Card Member rewards | $ 2,433 |  |  | 2,196 |  | $ 4,780 | $ 4,257 |  |
Revenue Recognition Standard Impacts [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount revenue |  | $ 981 | $ 930 | 928 | $ 868 |  |  | $ 3,707 | $ 3,699
Other |  | (78) | (71) | (64) | (65) |  |  | (278) | (253)
Expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Marketing and business development |  | 617 | 591 | 593 | 549 |  |  | 2,350 | 2,420
Card Member rewards |  | $ 286 | $ 268 | $ 271 | $ 254 |  |  | $ 1,079 | $ 1,026

X
- Definition Represents the costs of rewards programs (including Membership Rewards). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_CardMemberRewards
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total expense recognized in the period for promotion, public relations, and brand or product advertising. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of earnings on fees charged to merchants for the cardholder's use of a credit card. Excludes interest income earned on credit card balances, transactions and credit card services including late, over limit, and annual fees. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MerchantDiscountFees
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Amount of revenue earned, classified as other, excluding interest income. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04(13)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(1)(e)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20187-122688 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 225 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(4)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NoninterestIncomeOtherOperatingIncome
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Details
Name: | axp_RevenueRecognitionStandardImpactsAxis=axp_RevenueRecognitionStandardImpactsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |