Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income		$ 1,634	$ 1,251
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provisions for losses		775	573
Depreciation and amortization		348	296
Deferred taxes and other		(254)	18
Stock-based compensation		84	89
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Other receivables		122	786
Other assets		(85)	351
Accounts payable and other liabilities		(431)	(2,072)
Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products		(130)	(132)
Net cash provided by operating activities		2,063	1,160
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Sales of available-for-sale investment securities		0	0
Maturities and redemptions of available-for-sale investment securities		886	860
Purchase of investments		(1,215)	(1,294)
Net (increase) decrease in Card Member receivables and loans, including held for sale	[1]	348	1,450
Purchase of premises and equipment, net of sales		(237)	(277)
Acquisitions/Dispositions, net of cash acquired		(475)	(28)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(693)	711
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net increase (decrease) in customer deposits		2,206	735
Net decrease in short-term borrowings		(1,489)	(1,941)
Issuance of long-term debt		3,984	8,420
Principal payments on long-term debt		(7,203)	(3,801)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares		0	0
Issuance of American Express common shares		11	31
Repurchase of American Express common shares		(134)	(926)
Dividends paid		(324)	(313)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(2,949)	2,205
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		(178)	107
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		(1,757)	4,183
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		33,264	25,494
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$ 31,507	$ 29,677

[1] (a) Refer to Note 2 for additional information.