Parent Company

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]

Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Text Block]

NOTE 26

Parent Company

Parent Company – Condensed Statements of Income

Years Ended December 31 (Millions)			2012		2011		2010
Revenues
	Non-interest revenues
		Gain on sale of securities	$	121	$	15	$	―
		Other		(12)		3		8
Total non-interest revenues				109		18		8
Interest income				137		142		136
Interest expense				(609)		(633)		(638)
Total revenues net of interest expense				(363)		(473)		(494)
Expenses
	Salaries and employee benefits			165		173		153
	Other			214		186		117
Total				379		359		270
Pretax loss				(742)		(832)		(764)
Income tax benefit				(258)		(346)		(292)
Net loss before equity in net income of
	subsidiaries and affiliates			(484)		(486)		(472)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries and
	affiliates			4,966		5,385		4,529
Income from continuing operations				4,482		4,899		4,057
Income from discontinued operations,
	net of tax			―		36		―
Net income			$	4,482	$	4,935	$	4,057

Parent Company – Condensed Balance Sheets

As of December 31 (Millions)		2012		2011
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	4,797	$	6,914
Investment securities			296		360
Equity in net assets of subsidiaries and
	affiliates of continuing operations		19,087		17,374
Accounts receivable, less reserves			655		53
Premises and equipment, less accumulated
	depreciation: 2012, $59; 2011, $44		117		96
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates			6,733		5,132
Due from subsidiaries and affiliates			1,189		1,363
Other assets			441		769
Total assets		$	33,315	$	32,061
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Accounts payable and other liabilities		$	1,474	$	1,466
Due to subsidiaries and affiliates			1,069		823
Short-term debt of subsidiaries and affiliates			2,316		895
Long-term debt			9,570		10,083
	Total liabilities		14,429		13,267
Shareholders’ equity
Common shares			221		232
Additional paid-in capital			12,067		12,217
Retained earnings			7,525		7,221
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(927)		(876)
	Total shareholders’ equity		18,886		18,794
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity		$	33,315	$	32,061

Supplemental Disclosure

The Parent Company guarantees up to $40 million of indebtedness under a line of credit that its subsidiary has with a bank. As of December 31, 2012, there were nodraw downs against this line.

Parent Company – Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31 (Millions)			2012		2011		2010
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income		$	4,482	$	4,935	$	4,057
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
	Equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates:
	— Continuing operations		(4,966)		(5,385)		(4,530)
	— Discontinued operations		―		(36)		―
	Dividends received from subsidiaries and affiliates		3,355		3,773		1,999
	Gain on sale of securities		(121)		(15)		―
	Other operating activities, primarily with subsidiaries and affiliates		196		671		(39)
	Premium paid on debt exchange		(541)		―		―
Net cash provided by operating activities			2,405		3,943		1,487
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Sale/redemption of investments			118		20		9
Premises and equipment			(38)		(35)		(32)
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates			(1,601)		(189)		(1,064)
Purchase of investments			―		(2)		(3)
Investments in subsidiaries and affiliates			(11)		(18)		―
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,532)		(224)		(1,090)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Principal payment of debt			―		(400)		―
Short-term debt of subsidiaries and affiliates			1,421		895		―
Long-term debt of subsidiaries and affiliates			―		―		(15)
Issuance of American Express common shares and other			443		594		663
Repurchase of American Express common shares			(3,952)		(2,300)		(590)
Dividends paid			(902)		(861)		(867)
Net cash used in financing activities			(2,990)		(2,072)		(809)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents			(2,117)		1,647		(412)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			6,914		5,267		5,679
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		$	4,797	$	6,914	$	5,267
Supplemental cash flow information
Non-cash financing activities
	Impact of the debt exchange on long-term debt	$	439	$	―	$	―