Exhibits

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2.2.0.25truefalse0610 - Disclosure - Debt (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 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$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2009 USD ($) $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$2true0us-gaap_ShortTermDebtLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowingsus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse34140000003414[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse23440000002344[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph 2, 3 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(1) -Article 7 falsefalse4false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.01030.0103[1],[2],[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.00570.0057[1],[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureInterest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 falsefalse5false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://americanexpress.com/role/debtdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis} : Commercial Paper [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Commercial_Paper_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCommercial Paper [Member]us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CommercialPaperMemberus-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis} : Commercial Paper [Member] 12/31/2009 USD ($) $BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Commercial_Paper_Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCommercial Paper [Member]us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CommercialPaperMemberus-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberPureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6true0us-gaap_ShortTermDebtLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. 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These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse17false0us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowingsus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse966000000966falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse277000000277falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph 2, 3 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(1) -Article 7 falsefalse1The Company did not have any federal funds purchased as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.2Effective interest rates are only presented if swaps are in place to hedge the underlying debt. There were no swaps in place as of December 31, 20103For floating rate debt issuances, the stated and effective interest rates are based on the floating rates in effect as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These rates may not be indicative of future interest rates. 4 Effective interest rates are only presented when swaps are in place to hedge the underlying debt.5Includes interest-bearing overdrafts with banks of $966 million and $277 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. In addition, balances include certain book overdrafts (i.e., primarily timing differences arising in the ordinary course of business), short-term borrowings from banks, as well as interest bearing amounts due to merchants in accordance with merchant service agreements.216Debt (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue