2.2.0.25truefalse0605 - Disclosure - Reserves for Losses (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 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$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : International Card Services And Global Commercial Services [Member]
1/1/2009 - 3/31/2009
USD ($)
$ThreeMonthsEnded_31Mar2009_International_Card_Services_And_Global_Commercial_Services_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Card Services And Global Commercial Services [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalCardServicesAndGlobalCommercialServicesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : International Card Services And Global Commercial Services [Member]
10/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$ThreeMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_International_Card_Services_And_Global_Commercial_Services_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2008-10-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Card Services And Global Commercial Services [Member]us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_InternationalCardServicesAndGlobalCommercialServicesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0axp_AccountsReceivableRollForwardAbstractaxpfalsenadurationAccountsReceivableRollForward.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringAccountsReceivableRollForward.falsefalse3false0axp_CardmemberReceivablesReservesaxpfalsecreditinstantReserves for losses relating to cardmember receivables represent management's best estimate of the losses inherent in the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalseperiodstartlabel1truefalsefalse546000000546falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse810000000810falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse11490000001149falsetruefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReserves for losses relating to cardmember receivables represent management's best estimate of the losses inherent in the Company's outstanding portfolio of receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4true0axp_ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardAdditionsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationProvisionsForLossesChargeCardAdditionsAbstract.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringProvisionsForLossesChargeCardAdditionsAbstract.falsefalse5false0axp_ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardReservesAdditionsPrincipalAndFeesaxpfalsedebitdurationRepresents loss provisions for cardmember receivables consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse439000000439[1]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse773000000773[1]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse11860000001186falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents loss provisions for cardmember receivables consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee reserve components for the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0axp_ProvisionsForLossesChargeCardReserveAdditionsOtheraxpfalsedebitdurationRepresents adjustments to cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions for the period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse156000000156[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse8400000084[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse177000000177falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents adjustments to cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions for the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0axp_ProvisionsForCardmemberReceivablesaxpfalsedebitdurationThe sum of the periodic provision charged to operations, based on an assessment of the uncollectibility of the cardmember...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse595000000595falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse857000000857falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse13630000001363falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe sum of the periodic provision charged to operations, based on an assessment of the uncollectibility of the cardmember receivable portfolio, the offset to which is either added to or deducted from the allowance account for the purpose of reducing receivables to an amount that approximates their net realizable value (the amount expected to be collected).No authoritative reference available.truefalse8true0axp_ChargeCardReserveDeductionsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationCharge card reserve deductions.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCharge card reserve deductions.falsefalse9false0axp_ChargeCardReserveDeductionsNetWriteOffsPrincipalAndFeeComponentsaxpfalsedebitinstantRepresents net write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee components, less...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-598000000-598[3],[4],[5]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-1131000000-1131[3],[4],[5]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-1552000000-1552[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents net write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries, for the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0axp_ChargeCardReserveDeductionsOtheraxpfalsecreditdurationRepresents adjustments to cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-157000000-157[6]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1000000010[6]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-150000000-150falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents adjustments to cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments for the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0axp_CardmemberReceivablesReservesaxpfalsecreditinstantReserves for losses relating to cardmember receivables represent management's best estimate of the losses inherent in the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodendlabel1truefalsefalse386000000386[7]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse546000000546falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse810000000810falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReserves for losses relating to cardmember receivables represent management's best estimate of the losses inherent in the Company's outstanding portfolio of receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0axp_CardmemberReceivablesEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairmentaxpfalsenainstantRepresents cardmember receivables evaluated separately for impairment that are modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse114000000114[8]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse9400000094[8]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse141000000141[8]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents cardmember receivables evaluated separately for impairment that are modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0axp_ReservesOnCardmemberReceivablesEvaluatedSeparatelyForImpairmentaxpfalsenainstantRepresents reserves on cardmember receivables evaluated separately for impairment that are modified in a Troubled Debt...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse6300000063falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6400000064falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents reserves on cardmember receivables evaluated separately for impairment that are modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse14false0axp_CardmemberReceivablesEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairmentaxpfalsedebitinstantRepresents cardmember receivables evaluated collectively for impairment that are modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse3715200000037152falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3364900000033649falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3284700000032847falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents cardmember receivables evaluated collectively for impairment that are modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse15false0axp_ReservesOnCardmemberReceivablesEvaluatedCollectivelyForImpairmentaxpfalsecreditinstantRepresents reserves on cardmember receivables evaluated collectively for impairment that are modified in a Troubled Debt...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse323000000323falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse482000000482falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents reserves on cardmember receivables evaluated collectively for impairment that are modified in a Troubled Debt Restructuring.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse16false0us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesRecoveriesus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse357000000357[9]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse349000000349falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse187000000187falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal of recoveries of amounts due the Entity that had previously been written off as uncollectible using allowances (the valuation accounts that are netted against the cost of an asset to value it at its carrying value) and total of reestablishments of reserves (liabilities established to represent expected future costs) that had previously been utilized.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 09
-Article 12
falsefalse17true0axp_ChangeInCardmemberReceivablesReserveForLossesLineItemsaxpfalsenadurationChange In Cardmember Receivables Reserve For Losses [Line Items]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringChange In Cardmember Receivables Reserve For Losses [Line Items]falsefalse18false0axp_CardmemberReceivablesNetWriteOffsDueToMethodologyChangeaxpfalsedebitdurationRepresents write-offs of cardmember receivables during period, net of recoveries, as a result of a change in write-off...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse108000000108falsetruefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse341000000341falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli: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.falsefalse1Represents loss provisions for cardmember receivables consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee reserve components. 2Primarily represents loss provisions for cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions.3In the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company revised the time period in which past due cardmember receivables in U.S. Card Services are written off to when 180 days past due, consistent with applicable regulatory guidance. Previously, receivables were written off when 360 days past due. The net write-offs for 2008 include approximately $341 million resulting from this write-off methodology change.4Represents write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries of $357 million, $349 million and $187 million for the years ended 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. For the year ended 2010, these amounts also include net write-offs for to cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions.5Through December 31, 2009, cardmember receivables in the International Card Services (ICS) and Global Commercial Services (GCS) segments were written off when 360 days past billing or earlier. During the first quarter of 2010, consistent with applicable bank regulatory guidance, the Company modified its methodology to write off cardmember receivables in the ICS and GCS segments when 180 days past due or earlier. Therefore, net write-offs for cardmember receivables for the first quarter of 2010 included approximately $108 million resulting from this change in write-off methodology. The impact of this change to the provision for charge card losses was not material.6For the year ended December 31, 2010, these amounts include net write-offs of cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions. For all periods these amounts include foreign currency translation adjustments.7 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.8Represents receivables modified in a TDR and related reserves. Refer to the Impaired Loans and Receivables discussion in Note 4 for further information.9Includes in 2009, (i) a $135 million benefit representing the correction of an error related to the accounting for cumulative translation adjustments associated with a net investment in foreign subsidiaries, (ii) a $45 million benefit resulting from the change in the fair value of certain forward exchange contracts, (iii) a $59 million benefit related to the completion of certain account reconciliations and (iv) lower travel and entertainment and other expenses due to the Company's reengineering activities.517Reserves for Losses (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
