Net income (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates

No definition available.

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- Definition

Revenues from discount revenue, net card fees, travel commissions and fees, other commissions and fees, securitization income, net, other related income, and net interest income during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563

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- Definition

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

-Article 5

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.12)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 7

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- Definition

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Article 4

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Income Tax Expense (or Benefit)

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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a),(b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the total of interest and dividend income, including any amortization and accretion (as applicable) of discounts and premiums, earned from (1) loans and leases whether held-for-sale or held-in-portfolio; (2) investment securities; (3) federal funds sold; (4) securities purchased under agreements to resell; (5) investments in banker's acceptances, commercial paper, or certificates of deposit; (6) dividend income; or (7) other investments not otherwise specified herein.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.1-5)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5

-Article 9

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

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-Paragraph 1

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 9

-Article 9

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of expenditures for salaries, wages, profit sharing and incentive compensation, and other employee benefits, including equity-based compensation, and pension and other postretirement benefit expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

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-Topic 260

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-Paragraph 1

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Other Comprehensive Income

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519514

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Net Income

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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.19)

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.18)

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.22)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 20

-Article 9

+ Details

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- Definition

Total aggregate amount of all noninterest expense.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 14

-Article 9

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- Definition

The total amount of noninterest income which may be derived from: (1) fees and commissions; (2) premiums earned; (3) insurance policy charges; (4) the sale or disposal of assets; and (5) other sources not otherwise specified.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.13)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 13

-Article 9

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- Definition

Represents other forms of revenue earned, excluding interest, which is not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 13

-Article 9

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

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- Definition

Other noninterest expenses that are not separately presented in any other noninterest expense category.

+ References

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Parent Company (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Non-interest revenues
Gain on sale of securities									$ 100	$ 136	$ 126
Other									2,989	2,274	2,425
Total non-interest revenues									(28,820)us-gaap_NoninterestIncome	(27,927)us-gaap_NoninterestIncome	(26,927)us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
Interest income									7,179	7,005	6,854
Interest expense									(1,707)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(1,958)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(2,226)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Total revenues net of interest expense	(9,107)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(8,329)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(8,657)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(8,199)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(8,547)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(8,301)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(8,245)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(7,881)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(34,292)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(32,974)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	(31,555)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
Expenses
Salaries and employee benefits									6,095us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	6,191us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense	6,597us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense
Other									6,089us-gaap_OtherNoninterestExpense	6,796us-gaap_OtherNoninterestExpense	6,851us-gaap_OtherNoninterestExpense
Total									(23,257)us-gaap_NoninterestExpense	(23,254)us-gaap_NoninterestExpense	(23,392)us-gaap_NoninterestExpense
Pretax loss	2,225	2,246	2,312	2,208	1,980	2,004	1,995	1,909	8,991	7,888	6,451
Income tax provision (benefit)									(3,106)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(2,529)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(1,969)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Net income	1,447us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	1,477us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	1,529us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	1,432us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	1,308us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	1,366us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	1,405us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	1,280us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	5,885us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	5,359us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	4,482us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Parent Company [Member]
Non-interest revenues
Gain on sale of securities									99	135	121
Other									270	5	(12)
Total non-interest revenues									369	140	109
Interest income									141	134	137
Interest expense									(543)	(583)	(609)
Total revenues net of interest expense									(33)	(309)	(363)
Expenses
Salaries and employee benefits									275	206	165
Other									357	261	214
Total									632	467	379
Pretax loss									(665)	(776)	(742)
Income tax provision (benefit)									(249)	(297)	(258)
Net loss before equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates									(416)	(479)	(484)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates									6,301	5,838	4,966
Net income									$ 5,885	$ 5,359	$ 4,482