Rendering

Component: (Network and Table)
Network
040600 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details)
(http://americanexpress.com/role/InvestmentSecuritiesDetails)
TableSchedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Table]
Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)
Reporting Entity [Axis]0000004962 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]Period [Axis]
2013-01-01 - 2013-12-31
2012-01-01 - 2012-12-31
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities, Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Axis]Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities, Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Axis]
U.S. States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]U.S. Government agency obligations [Member]U.S. Government treasury obligations [Member]Corporate debt securities [Member]Mortgage-backed Securities, Issued by US Government Sponsored Enterprises [Member]Equity securities [Member]Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]Other [Member]Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Domain]U.S. States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]U.S. Government agency obligations [Member]U.S. Government treasury obligations [Member]Corporate debt securities [Member]Mortgage-backed Securities, Issued by US Government Sponsored Enterprises [Member]Equity securities [Member]Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]Other [Member]Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Domain]
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost
4,060,000,000  
3,000,000  
318,000,000  
43,000,000  
160,000,000  
29,000,000  
272,000,000  
50,000,000  
4,935,000,000  
4,280,000,000  
3,000,000  
330,000,000  
73,000,000  
210,000,000  
64,000,000  
134,000,000  
51,000,000  
5,145,000,000  
Gross Unrealized Gains
54,000,000  
0  
3,000,000  
3,000,000  
5,000,000  
95,000,000  
5,000,000  
0  
165,000,000  
199,000,000  
0  
8,000,000  
6,000,000  
14,000,000  
232,000,000  
15,000,000  
0  
474,000,000  
Gross Unrealized Losses
(79,000,000) 
0  
(1,000,000) 
0  
(1,000,000) 
0  
(1,000,000) 
(2,000,000) 
(84,000,000) 
(5,000,000) 
0  
0  
0  
0  
0  
0  
0  
(5,000,000) 
Estimated Fair Value
4,035,000,000  
3,000,000  
320,000,000  
46,000,000  
164,000,000  
124,000,000  
276,000,000  
48,000,000  
5,016,000,000  
4,474,000,000  
3,000,000  
338,000,000  
79,000,000  
224,000,000  
296,000,000  
149,000,000  
51,000,000  
5,614,000,000