Fair Values (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

Fair value assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis

The following table summarizes our financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized by GAAP’s fair value hierarchy (as described in the preceding paragraphs), as of December 31, 2025 and 2024:

TABLE 14.1: FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE


	2025								2024
(Millions)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Investment securities: (a)
Equity securities	$	46	$	46	$	—	$	—	$	48	$	48	$	—	$	—
Debt securities	997		—		916		81		1,192		—		1,115		77
Derivatives, gross (a)(b)	174		—		164		10		1,006		—		975		31
Total Assets	1,216		46		1,080		91		2,246		48		2,090		108
Liabilities:
Derivatives, gross (a)	1,120		—		1,120		—		131		—		131		—
Total Liabilities	$	1,120	$	—	$	1,120	$	—	$	131	$	—	$	131	$	—

(a)Refer to Note 4 for the fair values of investment securities and to Note 13 for the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities, on a further disaggregated basis.

(b)Level 3 fair value reflects an embedded derivative. Management reviews and applies judgment to the valuation of the embedded derivative that is performed by an independent third party using a Monte Carlo simulation that models a range of probable future stock prices based on implied volatility in a risk neutral framework. Refer to Note 13 for additional information about this embedded derivative.

Estimated fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities

The following tables summarize the estimated fair values of our financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at amortized cost, and not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis, as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. The fair values of these financial instruments are estimates based upon the market conditions and perceived risks as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and require management’s judgment. These figures may not be indicative of future fair values, nor can the fair value of American Express be estimated by aggregating the amounts presented.

TABLE 14.2: FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND FINANCIAL LIABILITIES MEASURED AT AMORTIZED COST


2025 (Billions)	Carrying Value		Corresponding Fair Value Amount
			Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Financial Assets:
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents(a)	$	48	$	48	$	46	$	2	$	—
Other financial assets(b)	66		66		—		66		—
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member and Other loans, less reserves(c)	157		162		—		—		162
Card Member loans HFS	2		2		—		—		2

Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	166		166		—		166		—
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Certificates of deposit(d)	16		16		—		16		—
Long-term debt(c)	$	56	$	57	$	—	$	57	$	—


2024 (Billions)	Carrying Value		Corresponding Fair Value Amount
			Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Financial Assets:
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents(a)	$	41	$	41	$	39	$	2	$	—
Other financial assets(b)	63		63		—		63		—
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member and Other loans, less reserves(c)	143		149		—		—		149
Card Member loans HFS	1		1		—		—		1

Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	155		155		—		155		—
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Certificates of deposit(d)	12		12		—		12		—
Long-term debt(c)	$	50	$	50	$	—	$	50	$	—

(a)Level 2 fair value amounts reflect time deposits and short-term investments.

(b)Balances include Card Member receivables (including fair values of Card Member receivables of $5.6 billion and $3.9 billion held by a consolidated VIE as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively), other receivables and other miscellaneous assets.

(c)Balances include amounts held by a consolidated VIE for which the fair values of Card Member loans were $27.6 billion and $28.3 billion as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, and the fair values of Long-term debt were $13.3 billion and $14.0 billion as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.

(d)Presented as a component of Customer deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.