XML 160 R106.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative assets $ 991axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets $ 701axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
Total fair value of derivative liabilities 164axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities 213axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
Total derivatives assets, net 711us-gaap_DerivativeAssets 329us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
Other Assets [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative assets 991axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
701axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Cash collateral netting (158)axp_CashCollateralNetting
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
(336)axp_CashCollateralNetting
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Derivative asset and liability netting (122)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
(36)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Total derivatives assets, net 711us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
329us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Other Assets [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative assets 806axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
637axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative assets 185axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
64axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Other Assets [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative assets 314axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
455axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative assets 0axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
8axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative assets 492axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
174axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative liabilities 164axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
213axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Cash collateral netting (4)axp_CashCollateralNetting
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
0axp_CashCollateralNetting
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Derivative asset and liability netting (122)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
(36)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Total derivatives liabilities, net 38us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
177us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative liabilities 50axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
118axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative liabilities 114axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
95axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative liabilities 4axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
2axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative liabilities 0axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
0axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]    
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]    
Total fair value of derivative liabilities $ 46axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
$ 116axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis
= us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember