$AXP
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp

$axp Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2015 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312517047588 Filed on February 17, 2017

Income Statement

Concept	2015 Q4	2015 Q3	2015 Q2
Revenue	$8.529B	$1.904B	$1.837B
YoY Change	-7.07%	4.9%	4.43%
Cost Of Revenue	$2.171B	$2.153B	$2.146B
YoY Change	-0.46%	8.14%	4.48%
Gross Profit	$6.358B	$6.165B	$6.247B
YoY Change	-9.13%	-3.72%	-6.31%
Gross Profit Margin	74.55%	323.79%	340.07%
Selling, General & Admin	$3.455B	$3.353B	$3.166B
YoY Change	-9.22%	0.78%	-20.89%
% of Gross Profit	54.34%	54.39%	50.68%
Research & Development		$84.00M	$83.00M
YoY Change		-7.69%	-17.82%
% of Gross Profit		1.36%	1.33%
Depreciation & Amortization	$263.0M	$266.0M	$263.0M
YoY Change	6.05%	6.83%	-1.13%
% of Gross Profit	4.14%	4.31%	4.21%
Operating Expenses	$4.452B	$84.00M	$83.00M
YoY Change	-4.75%	-7.69%	-17.82%
Operating Profit	$1.906B	$6.081B	$6.164B
YoY Change	-17.95%	-3.66%	-6.14%
Interest Expense	-$7.000M	$399.0M	$414.0M
YoY Change		-5.0%	-6.55%
% of Operating Profit	-0.37%	6.56%	6.72%
Other Income/Expense, Net
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$1.454B	$1.938B	$2.230B
YoY Change	-34.65%	-13.71%	-3.55%
Income Tax	$555.0M	$672.0M	$757.0M
% Of Pretax Income	38.17%	34.67%	33.95%
Net Earnings	$899.0M	$1.266B	$1.473B
YoY Change	-37.87%	-14.29%	-3.66%
Net Earnings / Revenue	10.54%	66.49%	80.19%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.89	$1.24	$1.43
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.89	$1.24	$1.42
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	984.2M shares	994.0M shares	1.009B shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		997.0M shares	1.013B shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2015 Q4	2015 Q3	2015 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$22.50B	$19.33B	$20.93B
YoY Change	3.14%	-8.27%	16.02%
Cash & Equivalents	$23.24B	$16.72B	$18.49B
Short-Term Investments
Other Short-Term Assets
YoY Change
Inventory
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$58.66B	$43.89B	$44.46B
Other Receivables	$3.024B	$2.517B	$2.805B
Total Short-Term Assets	$84.19B	$65.74B	$68.20B
YoY Change	22.34%	-3.88%	2.26%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$4.108B	$4.032B	$4.016B
YoY Change	4.32%	2.83%	3.77%
Goodwill	$2.749B
YoY Change	-9.09%
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$4.017B	$4.556B	$4.723B
YoY Change	-18.04%	-7.81%	-9.92%
Other Assets	$477.0M	$748.0M	$1.578B
YoY Change	645.31%	1600.0%	2220.59%
Total Long-Term Assets	$76.81B	$88.26B	$88.96B
YoY Change	-14.83%	3.26%	3.8%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$84.19B	$65.74B	$68.20B
Total Long-Term Assets	$76.81B	$88.26B	$88.96B
Total Assets	$161.0B	$154.0B	$157.2B
YoY Change	1.26%	0.09%	3.13%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$11.82B	$11.34B	$11.06B
YoY Change	4.62%	-1.48%	-5.06%
Accrued Expenses
YoY Change
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$4.812B	$52.46B	$4.486B
YoY Change	38.28%	1451.18%	30.56%
Long-Term Debt Due
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$71.63B	$63.80B	$62.71B
YoY Change	21.51%	10.78%	9.6%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$48.06B	$48.65B	$52.74B
YoY Change	-17.07%	-12.67%	-3.82%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$20.82B	$20.43B	$19.82B
YoY Change	-3.28%	0.43%	-1.49%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$68.88B	$69.08B	$72.56B
YoY Change	-13.34%	-9.17%	-3.2%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$71.63B	$63.80B	$62.71B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$68.88B	$69.08B	$72.56B
Total Liabilities	$140.5B	$132.9B	$135.3B
YoY Change	1.5%	-0.57%	2.34%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$9.665B	$10.03B	$10.20B
YoY Change	1.6%	7.39%	11.75%
Common Stock	$194.0M	$197.0M	$201.0M
YoY Change	-5.37%	-4.83%	-4.29%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares	3.000M shares
Shareholders Equity	$20.67B	$21.00B	$22.00B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$161.2B	$154.2B	$157.2B
YoY Change	1.31%	0.23%	3.13%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2015 Q4	2015 Q3	2015 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$899.0M	$1.266B	$1.473B
YoY Change	-37.87%	-14.29%	-3.66%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$263.0M	$266.0M	$263.0M
YoY Change	6.05%	6.83%	-1.13%
Cash From Operating Activities	$2.632B	$3.773B	$2.175B
YoY Change	9.48%	1.95%	35.94%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$462.0M	-$342.0M	-$281.0M
YoY Change	35.48%	11.04%	-12.19%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$5.024B	$565.0M	-$5.470B
YoY Change	8.14%	-151.55%	94.45%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$5.486B	$223.0M	-$5.751B
YoY Change	10.01%	-115.88%	83.56%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	5.712B	-4.986B	1.053B
YoY Change	52.6%	-874.22%	-229.2%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	2.632B	3.773B	2.175B
Cash From Investing Activities	-5.486B	223.0M	-5.751B
Cash From Financing Activities	5.712B	-4.986B	1.053B
Net Change In Cash	2.858B	-990.0M	-2.523B
YoY Change	146.38%	-133.66%	7.45%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$2.632B	$3.773B	$2.175B
Capital Expenditures	-$462.0M	-$342.0M	-$281.0M
Free Cash Flow	$3.094B	$4.115B	$2.456B
YoY Change	12.71%	2.64%	27.92%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
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CY2016	us-gaap	Occupancy Net OccupancyNet	1838000000	USD
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CY2016	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	696000000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	248000000	USD
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CY2015	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	0	USD
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CY2016	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	117000000	USD
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CY2015	axp	Service Fees ServiceFees	361000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure Recurring LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosureRecurring	201000000	USD
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	1044000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	516000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	164000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	9000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.332	pure
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	121000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Card Member Rewards CardMemberRewards	6793000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-20000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Realized Gain Loss Other Than Temporary Impairments Amount MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount	0	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	314000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-83000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5145000000	USD
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CY2016	us-gaap	Noninterest Expense NoninterestExpense	21997000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-27000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure Recurring AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring	3922000000	USD
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CY2014	axp	Marketing And Promotion MarketingAndPromotion	3216000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Five Through Ten Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsAmortizedCost	394000000	USD
CY2016	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2015Q4	axp	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Plans Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPlansTax	223000000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	555000000	USD
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Nonperforming Nonaccrual Of Interest LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest	169000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	462000000	USD
CY2017Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	901270758	shares
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsFairValue	1773000000	USD
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CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	74.67
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CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	4150000000	USD
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CY2014	us-gaap	Interest And Dividend Income Securities InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities	179000000	USD
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CY2014	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-97000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Labor And Related Expense LaborAndRelatedExpense	5259000000	USD
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CY2015	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.028	pure
CY2014	us-gaap	Provision For Loan And Lease Losses ProvisionForLoanAndLeaseLosses	1138000000	USD
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CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Due From Banks CashAndDueFromBanks	2935000000	USD
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CY2016	dei	Amendment Description AmendmentDescription	No
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CY2016	us-gaap	Guarantees Indemnifications And Warranties Policies GuaranteesIndemnificationsAndWarrantiesPolicies	<div><p style='text-align:left;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:9pt;line-height:12pt;' ><font style='font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;margin-left:0pt;' >For the Company, guarantees </font><font style='font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;' >primarily consist of card and travel protection programs</font></p></div><p style='line-height:20pt;' /><div><p style='text-align:left;margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:9pt;line-height:12pt;' ><font style='font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;margin-left:0pt;' >The Company’s initial recognition of these instruments is at fair value. In </font><font style='font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;' >addition, the Company establishes reserves when a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. </font></p></div>
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	0	USD
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CY2016	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2016
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CY2014	us-gaap	Other Noninterest Expense OtherNoninterestExpense	6089000000	USD
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CY2014	axp	Travelcommissionsandfees Travelcommissionsandfees	1118000000	USD
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CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1735000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefits	595000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	8824000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Financing Receivable Modifications Difference Pre And Post Modification Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsDifferencePreAndPostModificationRecordedInvestment	0	USD
CY2016Q3	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	66.71	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Deferred Card And Other Fees Net DeferredCardAndOtherFeesNet	1411000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber	7433000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	161184000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest Income Deposits With Financial Institutions InterestIncomeDepositsWithFinancialInstitutions	79000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	1341000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	4108000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	1003000000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Provision For Other Losses ProvisionForOtherLosses	61000000	USD
CY2014Q4	axp	Provisions For Losses Deductions Charge Card Net Write Offs Principal And Fees ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsPrincipalAndFees	683000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Contractual Obligation Due In Next Twelve Months ContractualObligationDueInNextTwelveMonths	72000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Preferred Stock Liquidation Price Per Share PreferredStockLiquidationPricePerShare	1000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	2920000	shares
CY2015	us-gaap	Noninterest Expense NoninterestExpense	22892000000	USD
CY2016	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2015	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	-60000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	7143000000	USD
CY2016Q2	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	67.34	USD
CY2016	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2015	axp	Global Network Services Partner Revenues GlobalNetworkServicesPartnerRevenues	640000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	-3396000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Certificates Of Deposits InterestBearingDomesticDepositCertificatesOfDeposits	281000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses	21000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2016	axp	Weighted Average Debt Maturities Due After Ten Years Rate WeightedAverageDebtMaturitiesDueAfterTenYearsRate	0.0471	pure
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Units Issued PreferredUnitsIssued	742	shares
CY2015Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.26
CY2015	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Twelve Months Or Longer Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue	32000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations IncomeLossFromContinuingOperations	5163000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Net Income Loss Available To Common Shareholders NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonShareholders	5328000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Deferred Tax Liabilities Asset Securities DeferredTaxLiabilitiesAssetSecurities	0	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Card Member Receivables And Loans Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentCardMemberReceivablesAndLoansExposure	113000000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	6000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions Greater Than Or Equal To One Year AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear	6
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1454000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses	9000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Five Through Ten Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsFairValue	399000000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1142000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Deferred Charge Card And Other Fees DeferredChargeCardAndOtherFees	1767000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Losses Due To Impairments AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesDueToImpairments	451000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Card Member Receivables And Loans Held For Sale CardMemberReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSale	14992000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Marketing And Promotion MarketingAndPromotion	3650000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-545000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Tax Credit Investments TaxCreditInvestments	824000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Other Receivables Reserves OtherReceivablesReserves	43000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Individually Evaluated For Impairment1 FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment1	28000000	USD
CY2015Q2	axp	Common Share Closing Price High During Period CommonShareClosingPriceHighDuringPeriod	81.92	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment CardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	64919000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Net Reported Amount LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount	57545000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions1 AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1	69
CY2015Q1	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	11000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2812000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements	-0.002	pure
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	48061000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax Effect OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTaxEffect	-15000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Separately For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairment	53000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Other Changes During Period Primarily Employee Plans And Other OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther	310000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	1623000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Rebate Accruals RebateAccruals	1382000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	47308000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Liabilities Other LiabilitiesOther	4764000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Fair Value Of Derivative Liabilities FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities	201000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Card Member Receivables And Loans Held For Sale CardMemberReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSale	0	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Three Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears	4000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Federal Funds Sold CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold	25208000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Over Ninety Days Accrual Of Interest LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountOverNinetyDaysAccrualOfInterest	20000000	USD
CY2014	axp	Net Income Attributable To Common Shareholders NetIncomeAttributableToCommonShareholders	5839000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest And Dividend Income Securities InterestAndDividendIncomeSecurities	157000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	58000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Global Network Services Partner Revenues GlobalNetworkServicesPartnerRevenues	654000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Rebate Accruals RebateAccruals	2238000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	899000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	0	USD
CY2015	axp	Total Revenues Net Of Interest Expense TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	32818000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Merchant Discount Fees MerchantDiscountFees	19297000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	20000000	shares
CY2013Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve RestructuringReserve	233000000	USD
CY2014Q4	axp	Allowance For Loan And Lease Loss Recovery Of Bad Debts Bs AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebtsBS	428000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Allowance For Card Member Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Balance Sheet AllowanceForCardMemberReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsBalanceSheet	391000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	1232000000	USD
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.11
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	193000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	35000000	shares
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Allowance For Credit Losses Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	430000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	-0.018	pure
CY2014Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Separately For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairment	67000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash And Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents	-276000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	796000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.88
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	17572000000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.2
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.2
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Availableforsale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeAvailableforsaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-38000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	256000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Individually Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableIndividuallyEvaluatedForImpairment	33000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	5.05
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Capital Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Five Years CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears	1000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-7532000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Noninterest Expense OtherNoninterestExpense	5162000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-5000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Interest And Dividend Income Operating InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating	7179000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Margin On Interest Rate Swap Not Netted MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted	169000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	43000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Contractual Obligation Due In Third Year ContractualObligationDueInThirdYear	46000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	1.01
CY2016Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Reserves For Losses Other CardMemberLoansReservesForLossesOther	8000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	63.89
CY2015	us-gaap	Noninterest Income NoninterestIncome	26896000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Due From Banks CashAndDueFromBanks	3278000000	USD
CY2014	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	-15000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	252000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	158893000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Aggregate Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses	2000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Reserves On Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment ReservesOnCardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	975000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	67000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest Expense Long Term Debt InterestExpenseLongTermDebt	1148000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestment	230000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	1600	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	19000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	62000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	44133000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Card Member Loans Evaluated Collectively For Impairment CardMemberLoansEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairment	58294000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Preferred Stock And Preference Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPreferredStockAndPreferenceStock	742000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-55000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	465000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	1201000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	0	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	189000000	USD
CY2015	axp	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax Effect OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTaxEffect	-124000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest And Dividend Income Operating InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating	7545000000	USD
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CY2016	axp	Original Maturities Of Cash And Cash Equivalents OriginalMaturitiesOfCashAndCashEquivalents	90 days or less
CY2016	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-8000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Thereafter OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter	788000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	68000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Noninterest Expense OtherNoninterestExpense	6793000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	13348000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Allowance For Card Member Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Balance Sheet AllowanceForCardMemberReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsBalanceSheet	401000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest And Fee Income Loans And Leases InterestAndFeeIncomeLoansAndLeases	7309000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	135000000	shares
CY2015	axp	Net Reduction To Interest Expense Long Term Debt And Other Related To Net Settlements On Fair Value Hedges NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges	284000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Merchant Discount Fees MerchantDiscountFees	18680000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements	-0.006	pure
CY2016	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Maximum Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure	147000000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due In Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears	108000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	181000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	888000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	19246000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTax	196000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	520000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Reserves For Membership Cancellations ReservesForMembershipCancellations	-136000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current And Noncurrent PrepaidExpenseCurrentAndNoncurrent	851000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Commissions Paid CommissionsPaid	1200000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Rate Domestic Deposit Certificates Of Deposit WeightedAverageRateDomesticDepositCertificatesOfDeposit	0.0194	pure
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	3400000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Accumulated Earnings To Be Permanently Reinvested Outside United States AccumulatedEarningsToBePermanentlyReinvestedOutsideUnitedStates	10400000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Professional Services ProfessionalServices	2583000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Interest Income Deposits With Financial Institutions InterestIncomeDepositsWithFinancialInstitutions	71000000	USD
CY2015Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.48
CY2016	axp	Weighted Average Debt Maturities Due Within One Year Rate WeightedAverageDebtMaturitiesDueWithinOneYearRate	0.029	pure
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities In Unrealized Loss Positions Qualitative Disclosure Number Of Positions Less Than One Year AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear	52
CY2016	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	1137000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	6000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	48000000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.35	pure
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber	6963000	shares
CY2014	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	16020000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	55.55
CY2015	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Exempt Income EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxExemptIncome	-0.017	pure
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents	477000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	100000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	38000000	USD
CY2014Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Federal Funds Sold CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold	22288000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	904000000	shares
CY2014	axp	Issuance Repurchases Of Common Shares IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares	-49000000	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	969000000	shares
CY2016	axp	Weighted Average Debt Maturities Due After One Year But Within Five Years Rate WeightedAverageDebtMaturitiesDueAfterOneYearButWithinFiveYearsRate	0.0204	pure
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	592000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	1707000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	3144000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Loss AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss	9000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	2136000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits100000 Or More TimeDeposits100000OrMore	124000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve RestructuringReserve	261000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Weighted Average Useful Life AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife	P7Y0M00D
CY2016	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	201000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	1988000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	1045000000	shares
CY2016Q4	axp	Deferred Direct Acquisition Costs DeferredDirectAcquisitionCosts	-204000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	-16000000	USD
CY2016	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	AXP
CY2016Q4	axp	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities And Other AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther	3108000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Weighted Average Yields WeightedAverageYields	0.0416	pure
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	3108000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	14899000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	234000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	81000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	0	shares
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	4939000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	7938000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	9923000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Deferred Taxes And Other DeferredTaxesAndOther	-1132000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	2594000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Bank Overdrafts BankOverdrafts	2255000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Fees And Commissions Other FeesAndCommissionsOther	3626000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	54000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Unpaid Principal Balance LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedUnpaidPrincipalBalance	632000000	USD
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CY2014	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-7967000000	USD
CY2016Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	56100000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Goodwill And Intangible Asset Impairment GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetImpairment	384000000	USD
CY2015	axp	Foreign Currency Gain Loss ForeignCurrencyGainLoss	852000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Estimate Of Possible Loss LossContingencyEstimateOfPossibleLoss	440000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Tax Benefit Recognized In Subsequent Period TaxBenefitRecognizedInSubsequentPeriod	289000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	51.4
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-2262000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	974000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	844000000	USD
CY2015	axp	Provisions For Loans And Lease Losses Deductions Net Write Offs Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsInterestAndFees	162000000	USD
CY2015	axp	Transfer Of Card Member Receivables And Loans From Held For Investments To Held For Sale TransferOfCardMemberReceivablesAndLoansFromHeldForInvestmentsToHeldForSale	14524000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Payments For Restructuring PaymentsForRestructuring	115000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Severance Costs1 SeveranceCosts1	758000000	USD
CY2015	axp	Card Member Receivables And Loans Held For Sale Reserves CardMemberReceivablesAndLoansHeldForSaleReserves	224000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Modified As Troubled Debt Restructuring Out Of Program LoansAndReceivablesModifiedAsTroubledDebtRestructuringOutOfProgram	113000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	2044000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Fair Value Of Derivative Assets FairValueOfDerivativeAssets	544000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Delinquency Fees DelinquencyFees	762000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Restructuring And Related Cost Incurred Cost RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost	-26000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	3000000000	USD
CY2014	axp	Professional Services ProfessionalServices	3008000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	46990000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	2927000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	12768000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure Recurring AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring	4303000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments For Restructuring PaymentsForRestructuring	192000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	870000000	USD
CY2015Q4	axp	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Losses Due To Impairments AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossesDueToImpairments	450000000	USD
CY2014	axp	Other Commissions And Fees OtherCommissionsAndFees	160000000	USD
CY2016	axp	Deconsolidation Gain Or Loss Amount Before Tax DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax	0	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustment	361000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-218000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Payments For Restructuring PaymentsForRestructuring	155000000	USD
CY2015	us-gaap	Interest Expense Deposits InterestExpenseDeposits	475000000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Collectively Evaluated For Impairment FinancingReceivableCollectivelyEvaluatedForImpairment	44100000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Securities Purchased Under Agreements To Resell SecuritiesPurchasedUnderAgreementsToResell	115000000	USD
CY2015Q2	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	20000000	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Foreign Currency Translation UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation	1000000	USD
CY2016Q4	axp	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Equity SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEquity	309000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents	286000000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	5.65
CY2016	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	1095000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	0	shares
CY2016Q2	axp	Common Share Closing Price Low During Period CommonShareClosingPriceLowDuringPeriod	57.15	USD
CY2014	us-gaap	Labor And Related Expense LaborAndRelatedExpense	6095000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	5022000000	USD

Files In Submission

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2015 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312517047588 Filed on February 17, 2017

Income Statement

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Facts In Submission

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$AXP AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp

2015 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000119312517047588 Filed on February 17, 2017

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$AXP
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp