2.2.0.25truefalse06072 - Disclosure - Asset Securitizations (Details Textuals)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalsefalsefalse9/30/2010
BalanceAsOf_30Sept2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-09-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli03falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2009
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0axp_SecuritizedTrustsLineItemsaxpfalsenadurationSecuritizedTrustsLineItemsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringSecuritizedTrustsLineItemsfalsefalse3false0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse41720000004172000000[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse21920000002192000000[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-BRD
-Chapter 4
-Paragraph 80
-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 3
-IssueDate 2006-05-01
falsefalse4false0axp_RetainedSubordinatedSecuritiesaxpfalsedebitinstantRepresents subordinated interests in the securitized cardmember loans, including rated and unrated investments in tranches of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse00[2],[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse35990000003599000000[2],[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents subordinated interests in the securitized cardmember loans, including rated and unrated investments in tranches of the securitization (subordinated securities).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0axp_InterestOnlyStripaxpfalsedebitinstantRepresents the present value of estimated future positive excess spread expected to be generated by the securitized loans...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse00[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2000000020000000[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the present value of estimated future positive excess spread expected to be generated by the securitized loans over the the estimated remaining life of the loans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0axp_DesignatedPercentageOfNewPrincipalReceivablesaxpfalsenainstantRepresents the designated percentage of new principal receivables arising from accounts in the Lending Trust as "Discount...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents the designated percentage of new principal receivables arising from accounts in the Lending Trust as "Discount Option Receivables".No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/disclosureassetsecuritizationsdetailstextuals1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : American Express Travel Related Services Company Inc [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_American_Express_Travel_Related_Services_Company_Inc_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Travel Related Services Company Inc [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_AmericanExpressTravelRelatedServicesCompanyIncMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8true0axp_SecuritizedTrustsLineItemsaxpfalsenadurationSecuritizedTrustsLineItemsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringSecuritizedTrustsLineItemsfalsefalse9false0axp_SubordinatedSecuritiesOwnedaxpfalsedebitinstantRepresents subordinated interests in the securitized cardmember loans, including rated and unrated investments in tranches of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse14000000001400000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents subordinated interests in the securitized cardmember loans, including rated and unrated investments in tranches of the securitization (subordinated securities).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/disclosureassetsecuritizationsdetailstextuals1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : American Express Charge Trust [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_American_Express_Charge_Trust_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Charge Trust [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_AmericanExpressChargeTrustMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : American Express Charge Trust [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_American_Express_Charge_Trust_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Charge Trust [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_AmericanExpressChargeTrustMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11true0axp_SecuritizedTrustsLineItemsaxpfalsenadurationSecuritizedTrustsLineItemsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringSecuritizedTrustsLineItemsfalsefalse12false0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse90000009000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse18000000001800000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-BRD
-Chapter 4
-Paragraph 80
-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 3
-IssueDate 2006-05-01
falsefalse13false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/disclosureassetsecuritizationsdetailstextuals1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : American Express Lending Trust [Member]
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_American_Express_Lending_Trust_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Lending Trust [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_AmericanExpressLendingTrustMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : American Express Lending Trust [Member]
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_American_Express_Lending_Trust_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Lending Trust [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiaxp_AmericanExpressLendingTrustMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse14true0axp_SecuritizedTrustsLineItemsaxpfalsenadurationSecuritizedTrustsLineItemsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringSecuritizedTrustsLineItemsfalsefalse15false0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse37000000003700000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse19000000001900000000falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 1
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-BRD
-Chapter 4
-Paragraph 80
-Subparagraph Exhibit 4-8, 3
-IssueDate 2006-05-01
falsefalse1Includes restricted cash of $3.7 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, which is primarily held for certain asset-backed securitization maturities.2 As a result of new GAAP effective January 1, 2010, the Company no longer presents the retained subordinated securities and interest-only strip within its Consolidated
Financial Statements in periods subsequent to December 31, 2009. Refer to Note 7 for further details.securities and interest-only strip within its Consolidated Financial Statements in periods subsequent to December 31, 2009. Refer to Note 7 for further details.3Refer to Note 6 for the fair values of investment securities on a further disaggregated basis. 314Asset Securitizations (Details Textuals) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
