Rendering

Component: (Network and Table)
Network
041600 - Disclosure - Restructuring Charges (Details)
(http://americanexpress.com/role/DisclosureRestructuringChargesDetails)
TableSchedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table]
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
Reporting Entity [Axis]0000004962 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)
Restructuring Reserve Disclosures [Line Items]Period [Axis]
2013-01-01 - 2013-12-31
2012-01-01 - 2012-12-31
2011-01-01 - 2011-12-31
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Axis]Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Axis]Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Axis]
Employee Severance [Member]Other Terminations [Member]Type of Restructuring [Domain]Employee Severance [Member]Other Terminations [Member]Type of Restructuring [Domain]Employee Severance [Member]Other Terminations [Member]Type of Restructuring [Domain]
Segments [Axis]Segments [Axis]Segments [Axis]Segments [Axis]Segments [Axis]Segments [Axis]Segments [Axis]Segments [Axis]Segments [Axis]
Segment, Business [Domain]Segment, Business [Domain]U S Card Services [Member]International Card Services [Member]Global Commercial Services [Member]Global Network And Merchant Services [Member]Corporate and Other [Member]Segment, Business [Domain]Segment, Business [Domain]Segment, Business [Domain]Segment, Business [Domain]Segment, Business [Domain]Segment, Business [Domain]Segment, Business [Domain]
Restructuring Charges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beginning Balance
412,000,000  
58,000,000  
 
 
 
 
 
470,000,000  
170,000,000  
30,000,000  
200,000,000  
199,000,000  
16,000,000  
215,000,000  
Restructuring charges, net of revisions
(7,000,000) 
3,000,000  
(7,000,000) 
(8,000,000) 
(4,000,000) 
7,000,000  
8,000,000  
(4,000,000) 
366,000,000  
37,000,000  
403,000,000  
96,000,000  
23,000,000  
119,000,000  
Payments
(206,000,000) 
(23,000,000) 
 
 
 
 
 
(229,000,000) 
(124,000,000) 
(9,000,000) 
(133,000,000) 
(121,000,000) 
(8,000,000) 
(129,000,000) 
Other non-cash
(3,000,000) 
(1,000,000) 
 
 
 
 
 
(4,000,000) 
 
 
 
(4,000,000) 
(1,000,000) 
(5,000,000) 
Ending Balance
196,000,000  
 
37,000,000  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
233,000,000  
 
412,000,000  
 
58,000,000  
 
470,000,000  
 
170,000,000  
 
30,000,000  
 
200,000,000