Regulatory Matters and Capital Adequacy (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

The following table presents the regulatory capital ratios for the Company and the Banks:

			CET1		Tier 1		Total	CET1			Tier 1		Total		Tier 1
								capital			capital		capital		leverage
(Millions, except percentages)			capital		capital		capital	ratio			ratio		ratio		ratio
December 31, 2015:^(a)
	American Express Company	$	16,747	$	18,265	$	20,551	12.4	%		13.5	%	15.2	%	11.7	%
	American Express Centurion Bank		6,013		6,013		6,460	16.9			16.9		18.2		17.7
	American Express Bank, FSB		6,927		6,927		7,601	13.7			13.7		15.1		13.2
December 31, 2014:^(a)
	American Express Company	$	17,525	$	18,176	$	20,801	13.1	%		13.6	%	15.6	%	11.8	%
	American Express Centurion Bank		6,174		6,174		6,584	18.8			18.8		20.1		18.7
	American Express Bank, FSB		6,722		6,722		7,604	14.2			14.2		16.0		15.1

Well-capitalized ratios^(b)								6.5	%	^(c)	8.0	%	10.0	%	5.0	% ^(d)
Minimum capital ratios^(b)								4.5	%		6.0	%	8.0	%	4.0	%

Beginning in 2015, as a Basel III Advanced Approaches institution, capital ratios are reported using Basel III capital definitions, inclusive of transition provisions, and risk-weighted assets using the Basel III Standardized Approaches. As of December 31, 2014, capital ratios were reported using Basel III capital definitions, inclusive of transition provisions and Basel I risk-weighted assets.
As defined by the regulations issued by the Federal Reserve, OCC and FDIC for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Beginning January 1, 2015, Basel III CET1 well-capitalized ratios became relevant capital measures under the prompt and corrective action requirements defined by the regulations for Advanced Approaches institutions.
Represents requirements for banking subsidiaries to be considered “well-capitalized” pursuant to regulations issued under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act. There is no “well-capitalized” definition for the Tier 1 leverage ratio for a bank holding company.