Parent Company (Details 2) - USD ($) |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Sep. 30, 2015 |
Jun. 30, 2015 |
Mar. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Sep. 30, 2014 |
Jun. 30, 2014 |
Mar. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
|
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ 899,000,000 | $ 1,266,000,000 | $ 1,473,000,000 | $ 1,525,000,000 | $ 1,447,000,000 | $ 1,477,000,000 | $ 1,529,000,000 | $ 1,432,000,000 | $ 5,163,000,000 | $ 5,885,000,000 | $ 5,359,000,000 |
| Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Gain on sale of securities | (1,000,000) | (100,000,000) | (136,000,000) | ||||||||
| Premium paid on debt exchange | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 10,972,000,000 | 10,990,000,000 | 8,547,000,000 | ||||||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities | |||||||||||
| Purchase of investments | (1,713,000,000) | (886,000,000) | (1,348,000,000) | ||||||||
| Purchase of premises and equipment | (1,341,000,000) | (1,195,000,000) | (1,006,000,000) | ||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (8,193,000,000) | (7,967,000,000) | (7,269,000,000) | ||||||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities | |||||||||||
| (Principal payments on) / issuance of long term debt | (19,610,000,000) | (12,768,000,000) | (14,763,000,000) | ||||||||
| Issuance of American Express preferred shares | 841,000,000 | 742,000,000 | 0 | ||||||||
| Issuance of American Express common shares and other | 193,000,000 | 362,000,000 | 721,000,000 | ||||||||
| Repurchase of American Express common shares | (4,480,000,000) | (4,389,000,000) | (3,943,000,000) | ||||||||
| Dividends paid | (1,172,000,000) | (1,041,000,000) | (939,000,000) | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (2,029,000,000) | 11,000,000 | (3,891,000,000) | ||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 474,000,000 | 2,802,000,000 | (2,764,000,000) | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 22,288,000,000 | 19,486,000,000 | 22,288,000,000 | 19,486,000,000 | 22,250,000,000 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | 22,762,000,000 | 22,288,000,000 | 22,762,000,000 | 22,288,000,000 | 19,486,000,000 | ||||||
| Parent Company [Member] | |||||||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities | |||||||||||
| Net income | 5,163,000,000 | 5,885,000,000 | 5,359,000,000 | ||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates | (5,633,000,000) | (6,301,000,000) | (5,838,000,000) | ||||||||
| Dividends received from subsidiaries and affiliates | 5,331,000,000 | 5,455,000,000 | 4,768,000,000 | ||||||||
| Gain on sale of securities | 0 | (99,000,000) | (135,000,000) | ||||||||
| Other operating activities, primarily with subsidiaries and affiliates | 332,000,000 | 173,000,000 | 324,000,000 | ||||||||
| Premium paid on debt exchange | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 5,193,000,000 | 5,113,000,000 | 4,478,000,000 | ||||||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities | |||||||||||
| Sales of available-for-sale investment securities | 0 | 111,000,000 | 157,000,000 | ||||||||
| Purchase of investments | (3,000,000) | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Purchase of premises and equipment | (29,000,000) | (39,000,000) | (39,000,000) | ||||||||
| Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates | (3,952,000,000) | (2,574,000,000) | 1,498,000,000 | ||||||||
| Investments in subsidiaries and affiliates | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (3,984,000,000) | (2,502,000,000) | 1,616,000,000 | ||||||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities | |||||||||||
| (Principal payments on) / issuance of long term debt | 0 | (655,000,000) | 843,000,000 | ||||||||
| Short-term debt of subsidiaries and affiliates | 986,000,000 | 5,118,000,000 | (1,497,000,000) | ||||||||
| Issuance of American Express preferred shares | 841,000,000 | 742,000,000 | 0 | ||||||||
| Issuance of American Express common shares and other | 192,000,000 | 362,000,000 | 721,000,000 | ||||||||
| Repurchase of American Express common shares | (4,480,000,000) | (4,389,000,000) | (3,943,000,000) | ||||||||
| Dividends paid | (1,172,000,000) | (1,041,000,000) | (939,000,000) | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (3,633,000,000) | 137,000,000 | (4,815,000,000) | ||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (2,424,000,000) | 2,748,000,000 | 1,279,000,000 | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | $ 8,824,000,000 | $ 6,076,000,000 | 8,824,000,000 | 6,076,000,000 | 4,797,000,000 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | $ 6,400,000,000 | $ 8,824,000,000 | $ 6,400,000,000 | $ 8,824,000,000 | $ 6,076,000,000 | ||||||