Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions |
12 Months Ended | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2025 |
Dec. 31, 2024 |
Dec. 31, 2023 |
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| Cash Flows from Operating Activities | |||||||||
| Net income | $ 10,833 | $ 10,129 | $ 8,374 | ||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||
| Provisions for credit losses | 5,256 | 5,185 | 4,923 | ||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,777 | 1,676 | 1,651 | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 551 | 504 | 450 | ||||||
| Deferred taxes | (542) | (990) | (1,329) | ||||||
| Other items | [1] | (237) | (564) | 664 | |||||
| Originations of loans held for sale | (74) | 0 | (54) | ||||||
| Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale | 0 | 0 | 59 | ||||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions: | |||||||||
| Other assets | (2,781) | 1,007 | (1,244) | ||||||
| Accounts payable & other liabilities | 3,645 | (2,897) | 5,065 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 18,428 | 14,050 | 18,559 | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities | |||||||||
| Sale of investments | 47 | 42 | 2 | ||||||
| Maturities and redemptions of investments | 1,453 | 2,179 | 3,888 | ||||||
| Purchase of investments | (1,760) | (1,593) | (1,572) | ||||||
| Net increase in loans and Card Member receivables, including Card Member loans held for sale | [2],[3] | (19,573) | (23,259) | (25,124) | |||||
| Purchase of premises and equipment, net of sales: 2025, $1; 2024, $6; 2023, $2 | (2,425) | (1,911) | (1,563) | ||||||
| Acquisitions, net of cash acquired | (633) | (454) | (64) | ||||||
| Dispositions, net of cash disposed | 0 | 594 | 0 | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (22,891) | (24,402) | (24,433) | ||||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities | |||||||||
| Net increase in customer deposits | 13,045 | 10,305 | 18,915 | ||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in short-term borrowings | [3] | (27) | 207 | (105) | |||||
| Proceeds from long-term debt | 24,377 | 12,602 | 15,674 | ||||||
| Payments of long-term debt | (18,157) | (10,759) | (10,703) | ||||||
| Issuance of American Express common shares | 57 | 100 | 28 | ||||||
| Repurchase of American Express common shares and other | (5,814) | (6,020) | (3,650) | ||||||
| Dividends paid | (2,271) | (1,999) | (1,780) | ||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 11,210 | 4,436 | 18,379 | ||||||
| Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents | 405 | (40) | 177 | ||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 7,152 | (5,956) | 12,682 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 40,640 | 46,596 | 33,914 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $ 47,792 | $ 40,640 | $ 46,596 | ||||||
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash and cash equivalent, and cash and cash equivalent restricted to withdrawal or usage; attributable to continuing operation. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposit with financial institution, and account with general characteristic of demand deposit. Cash equivalent includes, but is not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amount of cash and so near maturity that it presents insignificant risk of change in value because of change in interest rate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalent, and cash and cash equivalent restricted to withdrawal or usage; including effect from exchange rate change and including, but not limited to, discontinued operation. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposit with financial institution, and account with general characteristic of demand deposit. Cash equivalent includes, but is not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amount of cash and so near maturity that it presents insignificant risk of change in value because of change in interest rate. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The aggregate net amount of depreciation, amortization, and accretion recognized during an accounting period. As a noncash item, the net amount is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalent, and cash and cash equivalent restricted to withdrawal or usage; held in foreign currency; attributable to continuing operation. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposit with financial institution, and account with general characteristic of demand deposit. Cash equivalent includes, but is not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amount of cash and so near maturity that it presents insignificant risk of change in value because of change in interest rate. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in obligations incurred but not paid, and operating obligations classified as other. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The net cash inflow or outflow for the increase (decrease) in the beginning and end of period deposits balances. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in operating assets classified as other. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activity, including, but not limited to, discontinued operation. Financing activity includes, but is not limited to, obtaining resource from owner and providing return on, and return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amount borrowed, or settling obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resource obtained from creditor on long-term credit. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from investing activity, including, but not limited to, discontinued operation. Investing activity includes, but is not limited to, making and collecting loan, acquiring and disposing of debt and equity instruments, property, plant, and equipment, and other productive assets. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from operating activity, including, but not limited to, discontinued operation. Operating activity includes, but is not limited to, transaction, adjustment, and change in value not defined as investing or financing activity. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- References No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of income (expense) included in net income that results in no cash inflow (outflow), classified as other. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The aggregate amount of cash outflow for loans purchased and created with the intention to resell them in the near future. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The net amount paid or received by the reporting entity associated with purchase (sale or collection) of loans receivable arising from the financing of goods and services. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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- Definition The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of a business, net of the cash acquired from the purchase. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash outflow associated with the purchase of all investments (debt, security, other) during the period. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale; includes cash outflows to pay for construction of self-constructed assets. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition This element represents the cash inflow during the period from the sale of a component of the entity. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash inflow from a debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash inflow from maturity, prepayment and call of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The net cash inflow or outflow for borrowing having initial term of repayment within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. No definition available.
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of cash inflow from sale of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale). Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash inflow resulting from the sale of loans (other than mortgage loans) that are held with the intention to resell in the near future. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of credit loss expense (reversal of expense) for financing receivable. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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| X | ||||||||||
- Definition Amount of noncash expense for share-based payment arrangement. Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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