Regulatory Matters and Capital Adequacy (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

The following table presents the regulatory capital ratios:


(Millions, except percentages)	CET 1 capital		Tier 1 capital		Total capital		CET 1 Capital ratio		Tier 1 capital ratio		Total capital ratio		Tier 1 leverage ratio		Supplementary Leverage Ratio
December 31, 2019:^(a)
American Express Company	$	18,056	$	19,628	$	22,213	10.7	%	11.6	%	13.2	%	10.2	%	8.8	%
American Express National Bank	$	13,600	$	13,600	$	15,688	13.4	%	13.4	%	15.4	%	11.1	%	9.3	%
December 31, 2018:^(a)
American Express Company	$	17,498	$	19,070	$	21,653	11.0	%	12.0	%	13.6	%	10.4	%	8.9	%
American Express National Bank	$	11,564	$	11,564	$	13,574	12.1	%	12.1	%	14.2	%	9.9	%	8.2	%
Well-capitalized ratios^(b)							6.5	%	8.0	%	10.0	%	5.0	%	N/A
Basel III Standards 2019^(c)							7.0	%	8.5	%	10.5	%	4.0	%	3.0	%
Minimum capital ratios^(d)							4.5	%	6.0	%	8.0	%	4.0	%	3.0	%

(a)Capital ratios are reported using Basel III capital definitions, inclusive of transition provisions for the capital ratios and risk-weighted assets using the Basel III standardized approach.

(b)Represents requirements for banking subsidiaries to be considered “well capitalized” pursuant to regulations issued under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act. There is no CET1 capital ratio, Tier 1 leverage ratio or supplementary leverage ratio (SLR) requirement for a bank holding company to be considered “well capitalized.”

(c)Basel III minimum capital requirement and additional capital conservation buffer as defined by the Federal Reserve and OCC for calendar year 2019. The additional capital conservation buffer does not apply to Tier 1 leverage ratio or SLR.

(d)As defined by the regulations issued by the Federal Reserve and OCC.