2.2.0.25truefalse06221 - Disclosure - Significant Credit Concentrations (Details 1)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on cardmember loans) in the United States and outside the United States.falsefalse3false0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentCardmemberReceivablesAndLoansExposureaxpfalsedebitdurationReflects the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse9800000000098000000000[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6700000000067000000000[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument relating to cardmember loans and receivables, the entity would incur if parties to the financial instruments that make up the concentration failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts and the collateral or other security, if any, for the amount due proved to be of no value to the entity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/significantcreditconcentrations1details1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : U.S. [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Domestic_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_DomesticMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : U.S. [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Domestic_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_DomesticMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5true0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on cardmember loans) in the United States and outside the United States.falsefalse6false0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentCardmemberReceivablesAndLoansExposureaxpfalsedebitdurationReflects the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse7700000000077000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4700000000047000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument relating to cardmember loans and receivables, the entity would incur if parties to the financial instruments that make up the concentration failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts and the collateral or other security, if any, for the amount due proved to be of no value to the entity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/significantcreditconcentrations1details1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : U.S. [Member]
{us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis} : Individuals [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Domestic_Member_Individuals_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_DomesticMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseIndividuals [Member]us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_IndividualsMemberus-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : U.S. [Member]
{us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis} : Individuals [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Domestic_Member_Individuals_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_DomesticMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseIndividuals [Member]us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_IndividualsMemberus-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8true0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on cardmember loans) in the United States and outside the United States.falsefalse9false0axp_UnusedLinesOfCreditaxpfalsecreditinstantRepresents the approximate credit line available on cardmember loans (including both for on-balance sheet loans and loans...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse184000000000184000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse181000000000181000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the approximate credit line available on cardmember loans (including both for on-balance sheet loans and loans previously securitized).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/significantcreditconcentrations1details1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : Non-U.S. [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_International_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : Non-U.S. [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_International_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11true0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on cardmember loans) in the United States and outside the United States.falsefalse12false0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentCardmemberReceivablesAndLoansExposureaxpfalsedebitdurationReflects the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2100000000021000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2000000000020000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument relating to cardmember loans and receivables, the entity would incur if parties to the financial instruments that make up the concentration failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts and the collateral or other security, if any, for the amount due proved to be of no value to the entity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/significantcreditconcentrations1details1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : Non-U.S. [Member]
{us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis} : Individuals [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Individuals_Member_International_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseIndividuals [Member]us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_IndividualsMemberus-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$10falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis} : Non-U.S. [Member]
{us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis} : Individuals [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Individuals_Member_International_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. [Member]us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalMemberus-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseIndividuals [Member]us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_IndividualsMemberus-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse14true0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on cardmember loans) in the United States and outside the United States.falsefalse15false0axp_UnusedLinesOfCreditaxpfalsecreditinstantRepresents the approximate credit line available on cardmember loans (including both for on-balance sheet loans and loans...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4200000000042000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4100000000041000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the approximate credit line available on cardmember loans (including both for on-balance sheet loans and loans previously securitized).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse16false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/significantcreditconcentrations1details1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis} : Individuals [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Individuals_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseIndividuals [Member]us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_IndividualsMemberus-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$12falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis} : Individuals [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Individuals_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseIndividuals [Member]us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_IndividualsMemberus-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse17true0axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringRepresents table detailing the Company's cardmember loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on cardmember loans) in the United States and outside the United States.falsefalse18false0axp_UnusedLinesOfCreditaxpfalsecreditinstantRepresents the approximate credit line available on cardmember loans (including both for on-balance sheet loans and loans...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse226000000000226000000000[2]falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse222000000000222000000000[2]falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the approximate credit line available on cardmember loans (including both for on-balance sheet loans and loans previously securitized).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse1Represents cardmember loans to individuals as well as receivables from individuals and corporate institutions as discussed in footnotes (a) and (d) from the previous table.2Because charge card products have no preset spending limit, the associated credit limit on cardmember receivables is not quantifiable. Therefore, the quantified unused line-of-credit amounts only include the approximate credit line available on cardmember loans (including both for on-balance sheet loans and loans previously securitized). 217Significant Credit Concentrations (Details 1) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
