Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 5,163,000,000	$ 5,885,000,000	$ 5,359,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provisions for losses	1,988,000,000	2,044,000,000	1,832,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,043,000,000	1,012,000,000	1,020,000,000
Deferred taxes and other	506,000,000	(941,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Stock-based compensation	234,000,000	290,000,000	350,000,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Other receivables	(673,000,000)	(56,000,000)	(73,000,000)
Other assets	2,058,000,000	650,000,000	335,000,000
Accounts payable and other liabilities	1,020,000,000	2,594,000,000	88,000,000
Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products	(367,000,000)	(488,000,000)	(359,000,000)
Premium paid on debt exchange	0	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	10,972,000,000	10,990,000,000	8,547,000,000
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Sales of available-for-sale investment securities	12,000,000	242,000,000	217,000,000
Maturities and redemptions of available-for-sale investment securities	2,091,000,000	1,116,000,000	1,292,000,000
Sales of other investments	0	990,000,000	0
Purchase of investments	(1,713,000,000)	(886,000,000)	(1,348,000,000)
Net increase in Card Member receivables and loans, including held for sale	(6,967,000,000)	(8,077,000,000)	(6,301,000,000)
Purchase of premises and equipment	(1,341,000,000)	(1,195,000,000)	(1,006,000,000)
Acquisitions/dispositions, net of cash acquired	(155,000,000)	(229,000,000)	(195,000,000)
Net (increase) decrease in restricted cash	(120,000,000)	72,000,000	72,000,000
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,193,000,000)	(7,967,000,000)	(7,269,000,000)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net increase in customer deposits	10,878,000,000	2,459,000,000	1,195,000,000
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings	1,395,000,000	(1,374,000,000)	1,843,000,000
Issuance of long-term debt	9,926,000,000	16,020,000,000	11,995,000,000
(Principal payments on) / issuance of long term debt	(19,610,000,000)	(12,768,000,000)	(14,763,000,000)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares	841,000,000	742,000,000	0
Issuance of American Express common shares	193,000,000	362,000,000	721,000,000
Repurchase of American Express common shares	(4,480,000,000)	(4,389,000,000)	(3,943,000,000)
Dividends paid	(1,172,000,000)	(1,041,000,000)	(939,000,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(2,029,000,000)	11,000,000	(3,891,000,000)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(276,000,000)	(232,000,000)	(151,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	474,000,000	2,802,000,000	(2,764,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	22,288,000,000	19,486,000,000	22,250,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 22,762,000,000	$ 22,288,000,000	$ 19,486,000,000