$AXP
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp

$axp Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2013 Q3 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312514066777 Filed on February 25, 2014

Income Statement

Concept	2013 Q3	2013	2012 Q4
Revenue	$1.767B	$7.005B	$8.685B
YoY Change	1.61%	2.2%	4.42%
Cost Of Revenue	$1.927B	$7.666B	$2.054B
YoY Change	13.55%	1.75%	23.88%
Gross Profit	$6.485B	$25.75B	$6.631B
YoY Change	-3.54%	5.1%	-0.42%
Gross Profit Margin	367.01%	367.59%	76.35%
Selling, General & Admin	$3.720B	$14.62B	$4.088B
YoY Change	5.8%	-0.25%	10.79%
% of Gross Profit	57.36%	56.77%	61.65%
Research & Development		$379.0M
YoY Change		-1.04%
% of Gross Profit		1.47%
Depreciation & Amortization	$266.0M	$1.020B	$240.0M
YoY Change	9.02%	2.93%	29.73%
% of Gross Profit	4.1%	3.96%	3.62%
Operating Expenses	$4.414B	$379.0M	$5.158B
YoY Change	2.77%	-1.04%	18.82%
Operating Profit	$2.071B	$25.37B	$1.473B
YoY Change	-14.7%	5.2%	-36.45%
Interest Expense	$6.000M	$1.958B	-$544.0M
YoY Change	-98.92%	-12.04%	-4.56%
% of Operating Profit	0.29%	7.72%	-36.93%
Other Income/Expense, Net
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$2.004B	$7.888B	$929.0M
YoY Change	7.17%	22.28%	-46.85%
Income Tax	$638.0M	$2.529B	$292.0M
% Of Pretax Income	31.84%	32.06%	31.43%
Net Earnings	$1.366B	$5.359B	$637.0M
YoY Change	9.28%	19.57%	-46.56%
Net Earnings / Revenue	77.31%	76.5%	7.33%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$1.26	$4.91	$0.57
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$1.25	$4.88	$0.56
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding		1.082B shares	1.119B shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	1.081B shares	1.089B shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2013 Q3	2013	2012 Q4
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$22.06B	$18.99B	$2.020B
YoY Change	477.86%	840.0%	-42.52%
Cash & Equivalents	$19.87B	$16.78B
Short-Term Investments
Other Short-Term Assets		$1.998B
YoY Change		1.94%
Inventory
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$43.07B	$43.78B	$42.34B
Other Receivables	$3.429B	$3.408B	$3.576B
Total Short-Term Assets	$68.55B	$68.17B	$47.93B
YoY Change	39.91%	36.63%	0.65%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$3.746B	$3.875B	$3.635B
YoY Change	5.43%	6.6%	7.96%
Goodwill			$3.181B
YoY Change			0.28%
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$5.366B	$5.514B	$25.84B
YoY Change	-80.41%	-78.66%	-9.4%
Other Assets	$162.0M	$2.929B	$76.00M
YoY Change	-87.51%	-3.21%	-63.29%
Total Long-Term Assets	$81.55B	$85.20B	$105.2B
YoY Change	-21.49%	-17.47%	-0.48%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$68.55B	$68.17B	$47.93B
Total Long-Term Assets	$81.55B	$85.20B	$105.2B
Total Assets	$150.1B	$153.4B	$153.1B
YoY Change	-1.81%	0.15%	-0.13%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$11.36B	$10.62B	$10.01B
YoY Change	-13.23%	6.09%	-4.32%
Accrued Expenses
YoY Change
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$3.247B	$47.23B	$3.314B
YoY Change	-19.37%	8.19%	-23.59%
Long-Term Debt Due
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$57.10B	$57.84B	$53.12B
YoY Change	5.12%	7.8%	0.82%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$52.53B	$55.33B	$58.97B
YoY Change	-6.65%	-6.18%	-1.0%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$21.26B	$20.71B	$22.16B
YoY Change	-6.78%	-4.24%	-0.55%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$73.79B	$76.04B	$81.13B
YoY Change	-6.69%	-5.66%	-0.88%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$57.10B	$57.84B	$53.12B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$73.79B	$76.04B	$81.13B
Total Liabilities	$130.9B	$133.9B	$134.3B
YoY Change	-1.88%	-0.28%	-0.21%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$8.147B		$7.525B
YoY Change	2.83%		4.21%
Common Stock	$215.0M		$221.0M
YoY Change	-4.02%		-4.74%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$19.22B	$19.50B	$18.89B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$150.1B	$153.4B	$153.1B
YoY Change	-1.81%	0.15%	-0.13%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2013 Q3	2013	2012 Q4
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$1.366B	$5.359B	$637.0M
YoY Change	9.28%	19.57%	-46.56%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$266.0M	$1.020B	$240.0M
YoY Change	9.02%	2.93%	29.73%
Cash From Operating Activities	-$2.026B	$8.547B	-$3.532B
YoY Change	-152.32%	20.69%	-204.07%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$160.0M	$1.006B	-$288.0M
YoY Change	-40.52%	-4.46%	-5.26%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$623.0M	-$6.263B	-$3.271B
YoY Change	-165.86%	14.04%	-36.28%
Cash From Investing Activities	$463.0M	-$7.269B	-$3.559B
YoY Change	-138.11%	11.06%	-34.54%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid		$939.0M
YoY Change		4.1%
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net		$3.222B
YoY Change		-8.18%
Debt Paid & Issued, Net		$14.76B
YoY Change		4.88%
Cash From Financing Activities	682.0M	-3.891B	4.215B
YoY Change	125.08%	19.06%	108.56%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	-2.026B	8.547B	-3.532B
Cash From Investing Activities	463.0M	-7.269B	-3.559B
Cash From Financing Activities	682.0M	-3.891B	4.215B
Net Change In Cash	-881.0M	-2.613B	-2.876B
YoY Change	-129.76%	-4.32%	12972.73%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	-$2.026B	$8.547B	-$3.532B
Capital Expenditures	-$160.0M	$1.006B	-$288.0M
Free Cash Flow	-$1.866B	$7.541B	-$3.244B
YoY Change	-145.06%	25.08%	-187.72%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	428000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5429000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-390000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-2643000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	594000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	9768000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Labor And Related Expense LaborAndRelatedExpense	6597000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Labor And Related Expense LaborAndRelatedExpense	6191000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Labor And Related Expense LaborAndRelatedExpense	6252000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Other Noninterest Expense OtherNoninterestExpense	5712000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Other Noninterest Expense OtherNoninterestExpense	6518000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Other Noninterest Expense OtherNoninterestExpense	6573000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Noninterest Expense NoninterestExpense	23114000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Noninterest Expense NoninterestExpense	22976000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Noninterest Expense NoninterestExpense	21894000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	6956000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	7888000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	6451000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1969000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2529000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2057000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	4899000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	5359000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	4482000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax	36000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	4935000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	5359000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	4482000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	4.91
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	3.91
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	4.11
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.03
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0
CY2012	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	3.91
CY2013	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	4.91
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	4.14
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	4.09
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	4.88
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	3.89
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0
CY2013	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.03
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	4.12
CY2013	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	4.88
CY2012	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	3.89
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	1135000000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	1082000000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	1178000000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	1184000000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	1089000000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	1141000000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Fees And Commissions Credit Cards FeesAndCommissionsCreditCards	2631000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Fees And Commissions Credit Cards FeesAndCommissionsCreditCards	2506000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Fees And Commissions Credit Cards FeesAndCommissionsCreditCards	2448000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense Long Term Debt InterestExpenseLongTermDebt	1792000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Expense Long Term Debt InterestExpenseLongTermDebt	1746000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Interest Expense Long Term Debt InterestExpenseLongTermDebt	1516000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Marketing Promotion Rewards And Card Member Services MarketingPromotionRewardsAndCardMemberServices	10267000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Marketing Promotion Rewards And Card Member Services MarketingPromotionRewardsAndCardMemberServices	9944000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Marketing Promotion Rewards And Card Member Services MarketingPromotionRewardsAndCardMemberServices	9930000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	721000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-1090000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-754000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	488000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	399000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-1426000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-927000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	18886000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	19496000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	153375000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	153140000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Due From Banks CashAndDueFromBanks	2212000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Due From Banks CashAndDueFromBanks	2020000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Securities Purchased Under Agreements To Resell SecuritiesPurchasedUnderAgreementsToResell	58000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Other Receivables Reserves OtherReceivablesReserves	86000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	1471000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Other Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableOtherAllowance	20000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.20
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	1105000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	1105000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	1261000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Other Receivables Reserves OtherReceivablesReserves	71000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	386000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	1064000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.20
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	1064000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5978000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Other Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableOtherAllowance	13000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Securities Purchased Under Agreements To Resell SecuritiesPurchasedUnderAgreementsToResell	143000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	33000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax	-526000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Plans Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPlansTax	-177000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	175000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax	-611000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	55330000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	58973000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	72000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	3000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	16000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Deferred Taxes And Other DeferredTaxesAndOther	-283000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	350000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	297000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Deferred Taxes And Other DeferredTaxesAndOther	218000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	991000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Deferred Taxes And Other DeferredTaxesAndOther	818000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	918000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	301000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits	1195000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	1843000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	11995000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	14763000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Loans And Leases PaymentsForProceedsFromLoansAndLeases	8358000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	705000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	21029000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Increase Decrease In Travelers Cheques Outstanding IncreaseDecreaseInTravelersChequesOutstanding	-540000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Loans And Leases PaymentsForProceedsFromLoansAndLeases	6671000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Federal Funds Sold CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold	24893000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	8537000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	3943000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	939000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-3891000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	-151000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	-2764000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	217000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1292000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	1348000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash	-72000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-7269000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Loans And Leases PaymentsForProceedsFromLoansAndLeases	6301000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	1006000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables	73000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-335000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	88000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Increase Decrease In Travelers Cheques Outstanding IncreaseDecreaseInTravelersChequesOutstanding	-359000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Increase Decrease In Debt Exchange IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchange	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	473000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1562000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables	-153000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	14076000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Increase Decrease In Debt Exchange IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchange	541000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Businesses And Interest In Affiliates PaymentsForProceedsFromBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates	466000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-6545000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	88000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits	2300000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	-358000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	902000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Restricted Cash IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash	-31000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	443000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	3952000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	525000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-3268000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	-1015000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	13934000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-491000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	6074000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-677000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Receivables IncreaseDecreaseInOtherReceivables	-663000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	2186000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	1189000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	2300000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits	8232000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Increase Decrease In Debt Exchange IncreaseDecreaseInDebtExchange	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Businesses And Interest In Affiliates PaymentsForProceedsFromBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates	610000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	-63000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1176000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	13982000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Increase Decrease In Travelers Cheques Outstanding IncreaseDecreaseInTravelersChequesOutstanding	-494000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	635000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	861000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	1158000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Federal Funds Sold CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold	16356000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	8547000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	7082000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.72
CY2012	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.80
CY2011	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	-2300000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	856000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	18794000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	-4000000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	909000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	16230000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Other Changes During Period Primarily Employee Plans And Other OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther	744000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Other Changes During Period Primarily Employee Plans And Other OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther	570000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	-4000000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Other Changes During Period Primarily Employee Plans And Other OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther	717000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	967000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	108000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	120000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	145000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Original Maturities Of Cash And Cash Equivalents OriginalMaturitiesOfCashAndCashEquivalents	90 days or less
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Equity Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities	124000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities And Other AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther	4892000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure Recurring AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring	5717000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Equity Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities	296000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities And Other AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther	5318000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure Recurring AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring	6556000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	701000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	942000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure Recurring LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureRecurring	213000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure Recurring LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureRecurring	329000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	213000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	329000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Non Accrual Status LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNonAccrualStatus	410000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Over Ninety Days Accrual Of Interest LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountOverNinetyDaysAccrualOfInterest	4000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Non Accrual Status LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNonAccrualStatus	92000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Over Ninety Days Accrual Of Interest LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountOverNinetyDaysAccrualOfInterest	26000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Non Accrual Status LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNonAccrualStatus	320000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Over Ninety Days Accrual Of Interest LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountOverNinetyDaysAccrualOfInterest	6000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Financing Receivable Modifications Difference Pre And Post Modification Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsDifferencePreAndPostModificationRecordedInvestment	4000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Financing Receivable Modifications Difference Pre And Post Modification Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsDifferencePreAndPostModificationRecordedInvestment	24000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Financing Receivable Modifications Difference Pre And Post Modification Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsDifferencePreAndPostModificationRecordedInvestment	59000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Average Interest Rate Reduction By Class Of Card Member Loan AverageInterestRateReductionByClassOfCardMemberLoan	1000
CY2012	axp	Average Interest Rate Reduction By Class Of Card Member Loan AverageInterestRateReductionByClassOfCardMemberLoan	1200
CY2011	axp	Average Interest Rate Reduction By Class Of Card Member Loan AverageInterestRateReductionByClassOfCardMemberLoan	1100
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	44163000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	42766000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment	1584000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Unpaid Principal Balance LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedUnpaidPrincipalBalance	1513000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Unpaid Principal Balance LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedUnpaidPrincipalBalance	842000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Unpaid Principal Balance LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedUnpaidPrincipalBalance	1253000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Related Allowance ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance	244000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestment	428000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Nonperforming Nonaccrual Of Interest LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest	248000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing	224000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Related Allowance ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance	122000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment	900000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	63000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Average Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment	1431000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	62000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Average Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment	1091000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Related Allowance ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance	294000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestment	918000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Consumer Revolving Credit Card LoansAndLeasesReceivableConsumerRevolvingCreditCard	67238000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Consumer Revolving Credit Card LoansAndLeasesReceivableConsumerRevolvingCreditCard	65229000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing	132000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Nonperforming Nonaccrual Of Interest LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest	431000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestment	750000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment	1313000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing	131000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Nonperforming Nonaccrual Of Interest LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest	535000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	78000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Number Of Contracts2 FinancingReceivableModificationsNumberOfContracts2	143000	Account
CY2013	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Number Of Contracts2 FinancingReceivableModificationsNumberOfContracts2	80000	Account
CY2011	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Post Modification Recorded Investment2 FinancingReceivableModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment2	1512000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Number Of Contracts2 FinancingReceivableModificationsNumberOfContracts2	197000	Account
CY2012	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Post Modification Recorded Investment2 FinancingReceivableModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment2	1204000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Post Modification Recorded Investment2 FinancingReceivableModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment2	695000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Recorded Investment1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultRecordedInvestment1	197000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Number Of Contracts1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultNumberOfContracts1	21000	Account
CY2012	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Recorded Investment1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultRecordedInvestment1	219000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Number Of Contracts1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultNumberOfContracts1	24000	Account
CY2011	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Recorded Investment1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultRecordedInvestment1	388000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Individually Evaluated For Impairment1 FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1	38000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Individually Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment	50000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Individually Evaluated For Impairment1 FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1	91000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsAmortizedCost	489000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Provisions For Losses Charge Card Additions Other ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardAdditionsOther	167000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Provisions For Losses Deductions Charge Card Net Write Offs Principal And Fees ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsPrincipalAndFees	-669000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Provisions For Losses Deductions Charge Card Net Write Offs Principal And Fees ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsPrincipalAndFees	-640000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Provisions For Losses Deductions Charge Card Net Write Offs Principal And Fees ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsPrincipalAndFees	-560000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Provisions For Losses Deductions Charge Card Net Write Offs Other ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther	-158000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Number Of Contracts1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultNumberOfContracts1	52000	Account
CY2013	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Recoveries ValuationAllowancesAndReservesRecoveries	402000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Recoveries ValuationAllowancesAndReservesRecoveries	383000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Recoveries ValuationAllowancesAndReservesRecoveries	349000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Loss Recovery Of Bad Debts AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts	493000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Loss Recovery Of Bad Debts AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts	452000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Loss Recovery Of Bad Debts AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts	578000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	12000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	87000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	82000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Allowance For Loans Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	29000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Allowance For Loans Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	-1000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Allowance For Loans Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	25000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	438000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	386000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Provisions For Losses Charge Card Reserves Additions Principal And Fees ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardReservesAdditionsPrincipalAndFees	603000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Provisions For Losses Charge Card Reserves Additions Principal And Fees ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardReservesAdditionsPrincipalAndFees	647000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Provisions For Losses Charge Card Reserves Additions Principal And Fees ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardReservesAdditionsPrincipalAndFees	601000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Provisions For Losses Charge Card Additions Other ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardAdditionsOther	141000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Provisions For Losses Charge Card Additions Other ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardAdditionsOther	142000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Provisions For Losses Deductions Charge Card Net Write Offs Other ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther	-112000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Provisions For Losses Deductions Charge Card Net Write Offs Other ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther	-162000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	348000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	44113000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	505000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current And Noncurrent PrepaidExpenseCurrentAndNoncurrent	1960000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Principal ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsPrincipal	-1720000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Principal ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsPrincipal	-1141000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Principal ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsPrincipal	-1280000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsInterestAndFees	-157000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsInterestAndFees	-150000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsInterestAndFees	-201000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Other ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther	-104000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Other ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther	-148000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Other ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther	-115000000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	3646000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	1874000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	337000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	42649000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Individually Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment	117000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	320000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Individually Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment	174000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	40716000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Individually Evaluated For Impairment1 FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1	118000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Principal Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees	1031000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Principal Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees	145000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Principal Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees	1114000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Other ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsOther	115000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Other ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsOther	118000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Other ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsOther	108000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Separately For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairment	84000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment CardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	66860000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Evaluated Separately For Impairment CardMemberLoansEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairment	378000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	1177000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Separately For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairment	153000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment CardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	64596000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Evaluated Separately For Impairment CardMemberLoansEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairment	633000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	1318000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment CardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	61877000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	1698000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Separately For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairment	176000000	USD
CY2011Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Evaluated Separately For Impairment CardMemberLoansEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairment	744000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Other Than Temporary Impairments Amount MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Other Than Temporary Impairments Amount MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount	0	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Domestic And Foreign Card Member Credit Balances DomesticAndForeignCardMemberCreditBalances	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses	-84000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	4935000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	5145000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains	165000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains	474000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss	5000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss	84000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Twelve Months Or Longer Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue	123000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than Twelve Months Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue	1759000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than Twelve Months Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue	100000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Twelve Months Or Longer Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue	73000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue	1882000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue	173000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions Less Than One Year AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear	46	securities
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses	-1000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses	-4000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions1 AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1	50	securities
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions Greater Than Or Equal To One Year AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear	4	securities
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses	-5000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions Greater Than Or Equal To One Year AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear	11	securities
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions1 AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1	252	securities
CY2013	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses	-67000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses	-17000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions Less Than One Year AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear	241	securities
CY2013	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	136000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	127000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	16000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	1000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	0	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Five Through Ten Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsAmortizedCost	215000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsAmortizedCost	3647000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAmortizedCost	4856000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	505000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	496000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Five Through Ten Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsFairValue	224000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsFairValue	3619000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	4844000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Affordable Housing Partnership Interests AffordableHousingPartnershipInterests	541000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Affordable Housing Partnership Interests AffordableHousingPartnershipInterests	427000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	193000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	198000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	189000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2012	axp	Goodwill Impairment Accumulated Loss GoodwillImpairmentAccumulatedLoss	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2013	axp	Goodwill Impairment Accumulated Loss GoodwillImpairmentAccumulatedLoss	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Weighted Average Useful Life AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife	P6Y0M00D
CY2012	us-gaap	Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Weighted Average Useful Life AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife	P6Y0M00D
CY2012	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Amount LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeeAmount	46700000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents	486000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3198000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	329000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Remaining Other Assets RemainingOtherAssets	1957000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Remaining Other Assets RemainingOtherAssets	1665000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	593000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3181000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents	568000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current And Noncurrent PrepaidExpenseCurrentAndNoncurrent	1998000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Domestic InterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic	40831000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Noninterest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Domestic NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic	360000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Line Of Credit Facility Expiring Amount LineOfCreditFacilityExpiringAmount	2200000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3172000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	1000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	-3000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	11000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	0	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	17000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	1566000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	749000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	1666000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	673000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	993000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	817000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	184000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	164000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	123000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	72000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	61000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Domestic InterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic	39649000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Noninterest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Domestic NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic	10000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Foreign InterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesForeign	121000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Noninterest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Foreign NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesForeign	451000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Foreign InterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesForeign	135000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Noninterest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Foreign NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesForeign	9000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Convertible Subordinated Debentures Redeemable Percentage Of Principal ConvertibleSubordinatedDebenturesRedeemablePercentageOfPrincipal	1.00	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	7000000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Savings InterestBearingDomesticDepositSavings	24550000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Certificates Of Deposits InterestBearingDomesticDepositCertificatesOfDeposits	489000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Third Party Certificates Of Deposit ThirdPartyCertificatesOfDeposit	6929000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Third Party Sweep Accounts ThirdPartySweepAccounts	8863000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Other Time Deposit InterestBearingDomesticDepositOtherTimeDeposit	155000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Domestic And Foreign Card Member Credit Balances DomesticAndForeignCardMemberCreditBalances	777000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Third Party Certificates Of Deposit ThirdPartyCertificatesOfDeposit	8851000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Certificates Of Deposits InterestBearingDomesticDepositCertificatesOfDeposits	725000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Savings InterestBearingDomesticDepositSavings	18713000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Third Party Sweep Accounts ThirdPartySweepAccounts	11360000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Other Time Deposit InterestBearingDomesticDepositOtherTimeDeposit	154000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits100000 Or More TimeDeposits100000OrMore	476000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Remaining Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity	3000000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Amount LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeeAmount	44900000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year One TimeDepositMaturitiesYearOne	2738000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year Two TimeDepositMaturitiesYearTwo	1223000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year Three TimeDepositMaturitiesYearThree	1658000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year Four TimeDepositMaturitiesYearFour	571000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year Five TimeDepositMaturitiesYearFive	1040000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities After Year Five TimeDepositMaturitiesAfterYearFive	191000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits TimeDeposits	7421000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits100000 Or More Domestic TimeDeposits100000OrMoreDomestic	324000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits100000 Or More Foreign TimeDeposits100000OrMoreForeign	2000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits100000 Or More TimeDeposits100000OrMore	326000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits100000 Or More Domestic TimeDeposits100000OrMoreDomestic	475000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits100000 Or More Foreign TimeDeposits100000OrMoreForeign	1000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	2000000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	2200000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	2400000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Number Of Months Prior To Trigger Determination Date Decline In Tangible Common Equity NumberOfMonthsPriorToTriggerDeterminationDateDeclineInTangibleCommonEquity	18
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	7700000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Remaining Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity	3000000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Percentage Decline In Tangible Common Equity PercentageDeclineInTangibleCommonEquity	less than 4 percent
CY2013Q4	axp	Percentage Of Decline In Tangible Common Equity PercentageOfDeclineInTangibleCommonEquity	0.10	pure
CY2013	axp	Debt Instrument Description Of Variable Rate DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRate	3-month LIBOR + 2.23%
CY2015Q4	axp	Line Of Credit Facility Expiring Amount LineOfCreditFacilityExpiringAmount	4800000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Date Interest Rate Automatically Extended Convertible Subordinated Debt DateInterestRateAutomaticallyExtendedConvertibleSubordinatedDebt	2066-09-01
CY2013Q4	axp	Combined Earnings And Fixed Charges To Fixed Charges Ratio Required CombinedEarningsAndFixedChargesToFixedChargesRatioRequired	0.0125	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense	112000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense	105000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Long Term Debt Gross LongTermDebtGross	55967000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	960000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-120000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Deferred Charge Card Fees Net DeferredChargeCardFeesNet	1286000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Long Term Impact Debt Due To Fair Value Hedge Accounting LongTermImpactDebtDueToFairValueHedgeAccounting	428000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	9849000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	13881000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	11554000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	7223000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	9488000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	3972000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Membership Rewards Liabilities MembershipRewardsLiabilities	6151000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Employees Related Liabilities EmployeesRelatedLiabilities	2227000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Rebate Accruals RebateAccruals	2210000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Deferred Charge Card Fees Net DeferredChargeCardFeesNet	1314000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Liabilities Other LiabilitiesOther	4566000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Membership Rewards Liabilities MembershipRewardsLiabilities	5832000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Employees Related Liabilities EmployeesRelatedLiabilities	2224000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Rebate Accruals RebateAccruals	2079000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Liabilities Other LiabilitiesOther	5604000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Bank Overdrafts BankOverdrafts	442000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Bank Overdrafts BankOverdrafts	532000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Deferred Charge Card And Other Fees DeferredChargeCardAndOtherFees	1609000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Deferred Direct Acquisition Costs DeferredDirectAcquisitionCosts	-164000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Reserves For Membership Cancellations ReservesForMembershipCancellations	-131000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Derivative Gain Loss On Derivative Net DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet	-58000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Deferred Charge Card And Other Fees DeferredChargeCardAndOtherFees	1566000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Deferred Direct Acquisition Costs DeferredDirectAcquisitionCosts	-154000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Reserves For Membership Cancellations ReservesForMembershipCancellations	-126000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss To Be Reclassified Within Twelve Months CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths	0	USD
CY2013	axp	Net Reduction To Interest Expense Long Term Debt And Other Related To Net Settlements On Fair Value Hedges NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges	346000000	USD
CY2012	axp	Net Reduction To Interest Expense Long Term Debt And Other Related To Net Settlements On Fair Value Hedges NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges	491000000	USD
CY2011	axp	Net Reduction To Interest Expense Long Term Debt And Other Related To Net Settlements On Fair Value Hedges NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges	503000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Margin On Interest Rate Swap Not Netted MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted	26000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Margin On Interest Rate Swap Not Netted MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted	0	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Shares Held In Equity Investment SharesHeldInEquityInvestment	180700000	shares
CY2012Q4	axp	Shares Held In Equity Investment SharesHeldInEquityInvestment	415900000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Derivative Gain Loss On Derivative Net DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet	196000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Derivative Gain Loss On Derivative Net DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet	73000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Guarantees Indemnifications And Warranties Policies GuaranteesIndemnificationsAndWarrantiesPolicies	<p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:6pt'><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:0px;">The Company provides </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Card Member</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"> protection plans that cover losses associated with purchased products, as well as certain other guarantees in the ordinary course of business which are within the scope of GAAP governing the account</font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">ing for guarantees. </font><font style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">For the Company, guarantees primarily consist of card and travel protection programs, including:</font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'></p><ul><li><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">Return Protection — refunds the price of </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">qualifying</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> purchases made with the </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">eligible </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">card</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">s</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> where the merchant will not accept the return for up to 90 days from the date of purchase;</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> and</font><p> </p></li><li><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">Merchant Protection — protects </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">Card Members</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> primarily against non-delivery of goods and services, usually in the event of bankruptcy or liquidation of a merchant. </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">When this occurs,</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> the</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> Card Member may</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> dispute the </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">transaction for which</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> the Company will generally credit the </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">Card Member</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">'s</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> account. If the Company is unable to collect the amount from the merchant, it wi</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">ll bear the loss for the amount </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">credited to the </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">Card Member</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">.</font></li></ul><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;margin-left:12.25px;"> </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">In relation to its maximum </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">potential</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> undiscounted future payments as </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">shown</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> in the table that follows, to date</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">,</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> the Company has not experienced any significant losses related to guarantees. The Company's initial recognition of guarantees is at fair value, which has been determined in accordance with GAAP governing fair value measurement. In addition, the Company establishes reserves when </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">a </font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;">loss</font><font style="font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;"> is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. </font></p><p style='margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt'> </p>
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	45000000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	45000000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue	161000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue	186000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Capital Shares Reserved For Future Issuance CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance	63000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Number Of Shares Held TreasuryStockNumberOfSharesHeld	3900000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Number Of Shares Held TreasuryStockNumberOfSharesHeld	4200000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	55000000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	69000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Carrying Basis TreasuryStockCarryingBasis	236000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Carrying Basis TreasuryStockCarryingBasis	217000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	20000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2013Q4	axp	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share Authorized PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShareAuthorized	1.66
CY2013Q1	axp	Common Share Repurchases Authorized CommonShareRepurchasesAuthorized	150000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	108000000	shares
CY2013	axp	Commissions Paid CommissionsPaid	1100000	USD
CY2012	axp	Commissions Paid CommissionsPaid	1000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Number Of Shares Held TreasuryStockNumberOfSharesHeld	3500000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Carrying Basis TreasuryStockCarryingBasis	260000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2013	axp	Issuance Repurchases Of Common Shares IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares	-55000000	shares
CY2012	axp	Issuance Repurchases Of Common Shares IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares	-69000000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	359000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve Translation Adjustment RestructuringReserveTranslationAdjustment	-4000000	USD
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CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	509000000	USD
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CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	353000000	USD
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CY2013	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	3000000000	USD
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CY2011	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	700000000	USD
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CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	427000000	USD
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CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	40.31
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Vested In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	33.24
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	51.88
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	31861000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	463000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	-13672000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	-22000	shares
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod	-15000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	43.62
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	61.76
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	42.39
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	39.25
CY2013	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	45.61
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	44.98
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	44.98
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	44.51
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	18600000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	852000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	778000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	851000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P4Y5M0D
CY2013	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P4Y0M0D
CY2013	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P4Y5M0D
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Amount Of Restricted Net Assets For Consolidated And Unconsolidated Subsidiaries AmountOfRestrictedNetAssetsForConsolidatedAndUnconsolidatedSubsidiaries	9900000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	350000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	297000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	301000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Co Brand Portfolio Account Percentage Of Worldwide Billed Business CoBrandPortfolioAccountPercentageOfWorldwideBilledBusiness	0.05	pure
CY2013	axp	Co Brand Portfolio Account Percentage Of Worldwide Card Member Lending Receivables CoBrandPortfolioAccountPercentageOfWorldwideCardMemberLendingReceivables	0.15	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	4000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	4000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	4000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	4000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Tier One Leverage Capital Required For Capital Adequacy To Average Assets TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToAverageAssets	0.040	pure
CY2013	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Maximum Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure	141000000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Maximum Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure	141000000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Card Member Receivables And Loans Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentCardMemberReceivablesAndLoansExposure	111000000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Card Member Receivables And Loans Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentCardMemberReceivablesAndLoansExposure	108000000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Tier One Risk Based Capital Required To Be Well Capitalized To Risk Weighted Assets TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets	0.060	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Tier One Risk Based Capital Required For Capital Adequacy To Risk Weighted Assets TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets	0.040	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Capital Required To Be Well Capitalized To Risk Weighted Assets CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets	0.100	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Capital Required For Capital Adequacy To Risk Weighted Assets CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets	0.080	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Tier One Leverage Capital Required To Be Well Capitalized To Average Assets TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToAverageAssets	0.050	pure
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Tier One Leverage Capital Required For Capital Adequacy To Average Assets TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToAverageAssets	0.040	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Tier One Risk Based Capital Required To Be Well Capitalized To Risk Weighted Assets TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets	0.060	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Tier One Risk Based Capital Required For Capital Adequacy To Risk Weighted Assets TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets	0.040	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capital Required To Be Well Capitalized To Risk Weighted Assets CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets	0.100	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Capital Required For Capital Adequacy To Risk Weighted Assets CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets	0.080	pure
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Tier One Leverage Capital Required To Be Well Capitalized To Average Assets TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToAverageAssets	0.050	pure
CY2012Q4	axp	Retained Earnings Available For Payment Of Dividends RetainedEarningsAvailableForPaymentOfDividends	4700000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Retained Earnings Available For Payment Of Dividends RetainedEarningsAvailableForPaymentOfDividends	4600000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Description Of Other Regulatory Limitations DescriptionOfOtherRegulatoryLimitations	Restricted Net Assets of Subsidiaries Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on the transfer of net assets under debt agreements and regulatory requirements. These restrictions have not had any effect on the Company’s shareholder dividend policy and management does not anticipate any impact in the future. Procedures exist to transfer net assets between the Company and its subsidiaries, while ensuring compliance with the various contractual and regulatory constraints. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate amount of net assets of subsidiaries that are restricted to be transferred to the Company was approximately $9.9 billion. Bank Holding Company Dividend Restrictions The Company is limited in its ability to pay dividends by the Federal Reserve, which could prohibit a dividend that would be considered an unsafe or unsound banking practice. It is the policy of the Federal Reserve that bank holding companies generally should pay dividends on common stock only out of net income available to common shareholders generated over the past year, and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s current and expected future capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. Moreover, bank holding companies are required by statute to be a source of strength to their insured depository institution subsidiaries and should not maintain dividend levels that undermine their ability to do so. On an annual basis, the Company is required to develop and maintain a capital plan, which includes planned dividends over a two-year horizon, and to submit the capital plan to the Federal Reserve. Banks’ Dividend Restrictions In the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, Centurion Bank paid dividends from retained earnings to its parent of $1.4 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, and FSB paid dividends from retained earnings to its parent of $1.8 billion and $1.5 billion, respectively. The Banks are subject to statutory and regulatory limitations on their ability to pay dividends. The total amount of dividends that may be paid at any date, subject to supervisory considerations of the Banks’ regulators, is generally limited to the retained earnings of the respective bank. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Banks’ retained earnings, in the aggregate, available for the payment of dividends were $4.6 billion and $4.7 billion, respectively. In determining the dividends to pay its parent, the Banks must also consider the effects on applicable risk-based capital and leverage ratio requirements, as well as policy statements of the federal regulatory agencies. In addition, the Banks’ banking regulators have authority to limit or prohibit the payment of a dividend by the Banks under a number of circumstances, including if, in the banking regulator’s opinion, payment of a dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice in light of the financial condition of the banking organization.
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Range Of Possible Loss Minimum LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMinimum	0	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Range Of Possible Loss Maximum LossContingencyRangeOfPossibleLossMaximum	440000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Contingent Obligations Co Brand Partners ContingentObligationsCoBrandPartners	2800000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	305000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	280000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	11000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	14000000	USD
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	12000000	USD
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	13000000	USD
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	11000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	7000000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	14000000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	14000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	14000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Restructuring And Related Cost Incurred Gross RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredGross	400000000	USD
CY2013	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	281000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Litigation Settlement Amount LitigationSettlementAmount	4050000000	USD
CY2013	axp	Off Balance Sheet Rent Expense Sublease Rentals OffBalanceSheetRentExpenseSubleaseRentals	23000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	237000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	196000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	157000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears	132000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	114000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	922000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	1758000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	11000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Restructuring Charges IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseRestructuringCharges	287000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Membership Rewards Expense MembershipRewardsExpense	342000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Membership Rewards Expense After Tax MembershipRewardsExpenseAfterTax	212000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Card Member Reimbursements CardMemberReimbursements	153000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Card Member Reimbursements After Tax CardMemberReimbursementsAfterTax	95000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	8547000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1980000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1308000000	USD
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1366000000	USD
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2004000000	USD
CY2013Q3	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	8301000000	USD
CY2013Q2	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	8245000000	USD
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1995000000	USD
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1405000000	USD
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1280000000	USD
CY2013Q4	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	90.79	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	53.02	USD
CY2012Q3	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	54.35	USD
CY2013Q1	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	7881000000	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	8141000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	929000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	637000000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1250000000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1870000000	USD
CY2012Q3	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	7862000000	USD
CY2012Q2	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	7965000000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1879000000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1339000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1256000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1773000000	USD
CY2012Q1	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	7587000000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.07
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.07
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.20
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.20
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.15
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.16
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.10
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.09
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.20
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.20
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.56
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.57
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.15
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.15
CY2013Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.20
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.23
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.27
CY2013Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.28
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.26
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.25
CY2013Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.23
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.23
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	1.21
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	1.22
CY2013Q4	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	72.08	USD
CY2013Q3	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	71.47	USD
CY2013Q3	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	78.63	USD
CY2013Q2	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	78.61	USD
CY2013Q2	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	63.43	USD
CY2013Q1	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	58.31	USD
CY2013Q1	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	67.48	USD
CY2012Q4	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	59.40	USD
CY2012Q3	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	59.73	USD
CY2012Q2	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	61.42	USD
CY2012Q2	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	53.18	USD
CY2012Q1	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	47.40	USD
CY2012Q1	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	59.26	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
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$AXP
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp

2013 Q3 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312514066777 Filed on February 25, 2014

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$AXP AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp

2013 Q3 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312514066777 Filed on February 25, 2014

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$AXP
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp