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Significant Credit Concentrations | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2020
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract] |
Significant Credit Concentrations | 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. Our customers operate in diverse industries, economic sectors and geographic regions. The following table details our maximum credit exposure of the on-balance sheet assets by category as of December 31:
(Billions) |  | 2020 |  | 2019
Individuals(a) |  | $ | 108 |  |  | $ | 131 |
Financial Services(b) |  | 34 |  |  | 26 |
U.S. Government and agencies(c) |  | 22 |  |  | 8 |
Institutions(d) |  | 13 |  |  | 20 |
Total on-balance sheet |  | $ | 177 |  |  | $ | 185 |
(a)Primarily reflects loans and receivables from global consumer and small business Card Members, which are governed by individual credit risk management. (b)Represents banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies and savings and loan associations. (c)Represent debt obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies, states and municipalities and government-sponsored entities. (d)Primarily reflects loans and receivables from global corporate Card Members, which are governed by institutional credit risk management. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, our 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, we review each potential customer’s credit application and evaluate the applicant’s financial history and ability and willingness to repay. We also consider credit performance by customer tenure, industry and geographic location in managing credit exposure. The following table details our 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 outside the United States as of December 31:
(Billions) |  | 2020 |  | 2019
On-balance sheet: |  |  |  |
U.S. |  | $ | 95 |  |  | $ | 115 |
Non-U.S. |  | 22 |  |  | 30 |
On-balance sheet |  | 117 |  |  | 145 |
Unused lines-of-credit:(a) |  |  |  |
U.S. |  | 251 |  |  | 245 |
Non-U.S. |  | 63 |  |  | 61 |
Total unused lines-of-credit |  | $ | 314 |  |  | $ | 306 |
(a)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. Our charge card products generally have no pre-set spending limit, and therefore are 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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2134479 + Details
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- References No definition available. + Details
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