Regulatory Matters and Capital Adequacy (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Regulatory Matters And Capital Adequacy [Abstract]

The following table presents the regulatory capital ratios:


(Millions, except percentages)	CET 1 capital		Tier 1 capital		Total capital		CET 1 capital ratio		Tier 1 capital ratio		Total capital ratio		Tier 1 leverage ratio
December 31, 2020: (a)
American Express Company	$	18,693	$	20,277	$	22,385	13.5	%	14.7	%	16.2	%	11.0	%
American Express National Bank	$	14,617	$	14,617	$	16,578	16.2	%	16.2	%	18.3	%	10.9	%
December 31, 2019:(a)
American Express Company	$	18,056	$	19,628	$	22,213	10.7	%	11.6	%	13.2	%	10.2	%
American Express National Bank	$	13,600	$	13,600	$	15,688	13.4	%	13.4	%	15.4	%	11.1	%
Well-capitalized ratios(b)
American Express Company							N/A		6.0	%	10.0	%	N/A
American Express National Bank							6.5	%	8.0	%	10.0	%	5.0	%
Effective Minimum(c)
American Express Company							7.0	%	8.5	%	10.5	%	4.0	%
American Express National Bank							7.0	%	8.5	%	10.5	%	4.0	%
Minimum capital ratios(d)							4.5	%	6.0	%	8.0	%	4.0	%

(a)Capital ratios reported using Basel III capital definitions and risk-weighted assets using the Basel III standardized approach.

(b)Represents requirements for bank holding companies and banking subsidiaries to be considered “well capitalized” pursuant to regulations issued under the Federal Reserve Regulation Y and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act, respectively. There is no CET1 capital ratio or Tier 1 leverage ratio requirement for a bank holding company to be considered “well capitalized.”

(c)Represents Basel III minimum capital requirement and applicable regulatory buffers as defined by the federal banking regulators, which includes the stress capital buffer for American Express Company and the capital conservation buffer for American Express National Bank.

(d)As defined by the regulations issued by the Federal Reserve and OCC.