Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
		Jan. 07, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Non-cash Investing activities
Sales of U.S Corporate Card Member receivables to TRS	[1]		$ 5,493	$ 0	$ 0
Lending to American Express Company	[1]		(416)	0	0
Termination of intercompany loan agreement with American Express Limited and American Express International, Inc.	[2]		0	5,109	0
Non-cash Financing activities
Settlement of borrowings with American Express Company			822	9,292	7,523
Cash and cash equivalents per Consolidated Balance Sheets			601	149	195
Restricted cash included in Cash and cash equivalents	[3]		120	116	93
Total Cash and cash equivalents excluding restricted cash	[4]		481	33	102
Global Corporate Payments [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Non-cash Investing activities
Sales of U.S Corporate Card Member receivables to TRS		$ 5,200
Settlement of Borrowings with American Express Company [Member]
Non-cash Financing activities
Settlement of borrowings with American Express Company	[1],[2]		$ (5,077)	$ (5,109)	$ 0

[1] Primarily driven by removal of U.S. Consumer and Small Business Card Member receivables from the American Express Issuance Trust II (the Charge Trust) and replacement of the same with U.S. Corporate Card Member receivables by American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (TRS) during the three months ended March 31, 2020. To effect this change, on January 7, 2020, Credco sold $5.2 billion of U.S. Corporate Card Member receivables to TRS. Settlement of this transaction was undertaken through borrowings from American Express Company.

[2] As a result of funding structure changes in the ordinary course of business, Credco terminated the intercompany loan agreement with American Express Limited and American Express International, Inc. and settled the related borrowings from American Express Company during the second quarter of 2019.

[3] Represents cash deposited with Amex Bank of Canada relating to the purchase of Card Member receivables and the collateralized loan arrangement for transfer of Card Member loans.

[4] Primarily represents deposits with American Express National Bank (AENB). Refer to Note 1 for additional information.