2.2.0.25truefalse06043 - Disclosure - Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 3)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : U.S. Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Loans [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_U_S_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Loans_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_USCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Loans [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberLoansMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso421702falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : U.S. Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Loans [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_U_S_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Loans_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_USCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Loans [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberLoansMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli01false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/accountsreceivableandloansdetails31falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : U.S. Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Loans [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_U_S_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Loans_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_USCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Loans [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberLoansMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso421702falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : U.S. Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Loans [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_U_S_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Loans_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_USCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Loans [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberLoansMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse2true0axp_CreditQualityIndicatorForLoansAndReceivablesAbstractaxpfalsenadurationCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalse3false0axp_NetWriteOffRateaxpfalsenadurationRepresents the amount of cardmember loans or U.S. Card Services cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.0580.058falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0910.091falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents the amount of cardmember loans or U.S. Card Services cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), less recoveries, as a percentage of the average loan balance or U.S. Card Services average receivables during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0axp_ThirtyDaysPastDueAsPercentageOfTotalaxpfalsenadurationRepresents metric calculated as accounts receivable or loans that are 30 days past due expressed as a percentage of total...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.0210.021falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0370.037[1]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents metric calculated as accounts receivable or loans that are 30 days past due expressed as a percentage of total accounts receivables or loans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/accountsreceivableandloansdetails31falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : U.S. Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Receivables [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_U_S_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Receivables_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_USCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Receivables [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberReceivablesMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli04falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : U.S. Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Receivables [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_U_S_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Receivables_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_USCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Receivables [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberReceivablesMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7true0axp_CreditQualityIndicatorForLoansAndReceivablesAbstractaxpfalsenadurationCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalse8false0axp_NetWriteOffRateaxpfalsenadurationRepresents the amount of cardmember loans or U.S. Card Services cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.0160.016falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0380.038falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents the amount of cardmember loans or U.S. Card Services cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), less recoveries, as a percentage of the average loan balance or U.S. Card Services average receivables during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0axp_ThirtyDaysPastDueAsPercentageOfTotalaxpfalsenadurationRepresents metric calculated as accounts receivable or loans that are 30 days past due expressed as a percentage of total...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.0150.015falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0180.018falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents metric calculated as accounts receivable or loans that are 30 days past due expressed as a percentage of total accounts receivables or loans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/accountsreceivableandloansdetails31falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : International Card Services [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_International_Card_Services_Member_2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13true0axp_AccountsReceivableAndLoansTextualsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationAccounts Receivable and Loans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringAccounts Receivable and Loans.falsefalse14false0axp_CardmemberReceivablesNetWriteOffsDueToMethodologyChangeaxpfalsedebitdurationRepresents write-offs of cardmember receivables during period, net of recoveries, as a result of a change in write-off...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse6000000060falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents write-offs of cardmember receivables during period, net of recoveries, as a result of a change in write-off methodology.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse15false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/accountsreceivableandloansdetails31falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : International Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Loans [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_International_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Loans_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Loans [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberLoansMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli07falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : International Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Loans [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_International_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Loans_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Loans [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberLoansMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse16true0axp_CreditQualityIndicatorForLoansAndReceivablesAbstractaxpfalsenadurationCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalse17false0axp_NetWriteOffRateaxpfalsenadurationRepresents the amount of cardmember loans or U.S. Card Services cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.0460.046falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0680.068falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents the amount of cardmember loans or U.S. Card Services cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), less recoveries, as a percentage of the average loan balance or U.S. Card Services average receivables during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse18false0axp_ThirtyDaysPastDueAsPercentageOfTotalaxpfalsenadurationRepresents metric calculated as accounts receivable or loans that are 30 days past due expressed as a percentage of total...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.0230.023falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0330.033falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents metric calculated as accounts receivable or loans that are 30 days past due expressed as a percentage of total accounts receivables or loans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse20false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/accountsreceivableandloansdetails31falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : International Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Receivables [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_International_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Receivables_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Receivables [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberReceivablesMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli09falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : International Card Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Receivables [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_International_Card_Services_Member_Cardmember_Receivables_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Card Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalCardServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Receivables [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberReceivablesMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse21true0axp_CreditQualityIndicatorForLoansAndReceivablesAbstractaxpfalsenadurationCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalse22false0axp_NetLossRatioAsPercentageOfChargeVolumeaxpfalsenadurationRepresents the ratio of charge card write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized and unauthorized...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.00240.0024[2],[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.00360.0036falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents the ratio of charge card write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized and unauthorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries, on cardmember receivables expressed as a percentage of gross amounts billed to cardmembers.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse23false0axp_PastBillingAsPercentageOfReceivablesaxpfalsenadurationRepresents metric calculated as cardmember receivables or loans that are 90 days past billing expressed as a percentage of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.0100.010[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0210.021falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents metric calculated as cardmember receivables or loans that are 90 days past billing expressed as a percentage of total cardmember receivables or loans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse25false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/accountsreceivableandloansdetails31falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : Global Commercial Services [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Global_Commercial_Services_Member_2http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseGlobal Commercial Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_GlobalCommercialServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse27true0axp_AccountsReceivableAndLoansTextualsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationAccounts Receivable and Loans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringAccounts Receivable and Loans.falsefalse28false0axp_CardmemberReceivablesNetWriteOffsDueToMethodologyChangeaxpfalsedebitdurationRepresents write-offs of cardmember receivables during period, net of recoveries, as a result of a change in write-off...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4800000048falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents write-offs of cardmember receivables during period, net of recoveries, as a result of a change in write-off methodology.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse29false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/accountsreceivableandloansdetails31falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse11falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : Global Commercial Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Receivables [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Global_Commercial_Services_Member_Cardmember_Receivables_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseGlobal Commercial Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_GlobalCommercialServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Receivables [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberReceivablesMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli012falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxis} : Global Commercial Services [Member]
{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Cardmember Receivables [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Global_Commercial_Services_Member_Cardmember_Receivables_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseGlobal Commercial Services [Member]us-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_GlobalCommercialServicesMemberus-gaap_ReceivablesByBusinessSegmentOfEntityTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseCardmember Receivables [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_CardmemberReceivablesMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse30true0axp_CreditQualityIndicatorForLoansAndReceivablesAbstractaxpfalsenadurationCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCredit Quality Indicator for Loans and Receivables.falsefalse31false0axp_NetLossRatioAsPercentageOfChargeVolumeaxpfalsenadurationRepresents the ratio of charge card write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized and unauthorized...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.00110.0011[2],[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.00190.0019falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents the ratio of charge card write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized and unauthorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries, on cardmember receivables expressed as a percentage of gross amounts billed to cardmembers.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse32false0axp_PastBillingAsPercentageOfReceivablesaxpfalsenadurationRepresents metric calculated as cardmember receivables or loans that are 90 days past billing expressed as a percentage of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.0080.008[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.0140.014falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents metric calculated as cardmember receivables or loans that are 90 days past billing expressed as a percentage of total cardmember receivables or loans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse1 Upon adoption of new GAAP effective January 1, 2010, the Lending Trust was consolidated. The December 31, 2009 non-consolidated outstanding balance was $25.0 billion and the year-end stated rate was 0.87 percent.2Beginning with the first quarter of 2010, the Company has revised the net loss ratio to exclude net write-offs related to unauthorized transactions, consistent with the methodology for calculation of the net write-off rate for U.S. Card Services. The metrics for prior periods have not been revised for this change as it was deemed immaterial.3Effective January 1, 2010, the Company revised the time period in which past due cardmember receivables in International Card Services and Global Commercial Services are written off to when they are 180 days past due or earlier, consistent with applicable bank regulatory guidance and the write -off methodology adopted for U.S. Card Services in the fourth quarter of 2008. Previously, receivables were written off when they were 360 days past billing or earlier. The net write -offs for the first quarter of 2010 include net write -offs of approximately $60 million for International Card Services and $48 million for Global Commercial Services resulting from this write -off methodology change.226Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 3) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
