American Express Credit 10-K 27 Feb 20 2019 FY Annual report Financial data

Cover Page

Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 27, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-6908
Entity Registrant Name	AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000004969
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	11-1988350
Entity Address, Address Line One	200 Vesey Street
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10285
City Area Code	212
Local Phone Number	640-2000
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 0
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,504,938
Medium-Term Senior Notes Series [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	2.375 percent Medium-Term Senior Notes Series F, due May 26, 2020
Trading Symbol	AXP/20
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Senior Notes, due 2021 [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	0.625 percent Senior Notes, due November 22, 2021
Trading Symbol	AXP/21
Security Exchange Name	NYSE

Consolidated Statements of Inco

Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues
Discount revenue earned from purchased Card Member receivables and Card Member loans	$ 1,204	$ 1,017	$ 760
Interest income from affiliates and other	332	383	279
Finance revenue	79	61	48
Total revenues	1,615	1,461	1,087
Expenses
Provisions for losses	230	249	244
Interest expense	521	626	495
Interest expense to affiliates	433	225	58
Other, net	(81)	(55)	15
Total expenses	1,103	1,045	812
Pretax income	512	416	275
Income tax provision	94	29	878
Net income (loss)	$ 418	$ 387	$ (603)

Consolidated Statement of Compr

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 418	$ 387	$ (603)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(27)	(62)	265
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(27)	(62)	265
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 391	$ 325	$ (338)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 33	$ 102
Card Member receivables, less reserves	25,395	24,429
Card Member loans, less reserves	687	636
Loans to affiliates and other	10,345	14,136
Due from affiliates	652	210
Other assets	245	529
Total assets	37,357	40,042
Liabilities
Short-term debt	3,216	826
Short-term debt to affiliates	6,225	5,899
Long-term debt	13,469	20,447
Long-term debt to affiliates	9,292	7,523
Total debt	32,202	34,695
Due to affiliates	2,133	2,869
Accrued interest and other liabilities	435	282
Total liabilities	34,770	37,846
Shareholder's Equity
Common stock	0	0
Additional paid-in-capital	161	161
Retained earnings	3,513	3,095
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(1,087)	(1,060)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,087)	(1,060)
Total shareholder's equity	2,587	2,196
Total liabilities and shareholder's equity	$ 37,357	$ 40,042

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Card Member receivables, reserves	$ 162	$ 167
Card Member loans, reserves	$ 10	$ 5
Shareholder's Equity
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10
Common stock, authorized (in shares)	3,000,000	3,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares)	1,500,000	1,500,000
Common stock, outstanding (in shares)	1,500,000	1,500,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax	$ 25	$ 34

Consolidated Statements of Cash

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income (loss)		$ 418	$ 387	$ (603)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provisions for losses		230	249	244
Amortization of underwriting expense		19	25	28
Deferred taxes		13	(35)	55
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Interest, taxes and other amounts due to/from affiliates		(247)	(90)	1,088
Other operating assets and liabilities		344	405	(378)
Net cash provided by operating activities		777	941	434
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net increase in Card Member receivables and Card Member loans		(1,226)	(4,984)	(1,998)
Net increase in loans to affiliates and other	[1]	(1,128)	(67)	(1,245)
Net (decrease) increase in due to/from affiliates		(924)	978	(1,718)
Net cash used in investing activities		(3,278)	(4,073)	(4,961)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt		2,390	(482)	(1,685)
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt to affiliates	[2]	327	(97)	1,414
Proceeds from long-term debt		0	0	8,438
Principal payments of long-term debt	[3]	(7,152)	(3,647)	(4,900)
Proceeds from long-term debt to affiliates	[2]	33,559	11,812	270
Principal payments of long-term debt to affiliates	[1],[2]	(26,674)	(4,546)	0
Net cash provided by financing activities		2,450	3,040	3,537
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		5	(9)	75
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		(46)	(101)	(915)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		195	296	1,211
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$ 149	$ 195	$ 296
[1]	As a result of funding structure changes in the ordinary course of business, Credco terminated the intercompany loan agreement with American Express Limited and American Express International, Inc. and settled the related borrowings from American Express Company during the second quarter of 2019.
[2]	Pursuant to the revision of the master note arrangement with American Express Company during the fourth quarter of 2018, Credco has changed the classification of the net borrowings from short-term debt to affiliates to long-term debt to affiliates.
[3]	Includes $2 million paid during the fourth quarter of 2019 towards the renewal of Credco's existing U.S. dollar-denominated committed bank credit facility.

Consolidated Statements of Ca_2

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Non-cash Investing activity
Replacement of due from affiliate balance with new loan arrangement with affiliates	[1]	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,129
Termination of intercompany loan agreement with American Express Limited and American Express International, Inc.	[2]	5,109	0	0
Non-cash Financing activity
Settlement of borrowings with American Express Company	[2]	(5,109)	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reconciliation
Cash and cash equivalents		33	102	196
Restricted cash included in Other assets per Consolidated Balance Sheets	[3]	116	93	100
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		$ 149	$ 195	$ 296
[1]	To more effectively manage inter-affiliate funding, Credco entered into new loan agreements in July 2017 with American Express Limited and American Express International, Inc. The new loans were funded by the assignment of its existing loan to American Express Company and its outstanding due from affiliate balance with TRS.
[2]	As a result of funding structure changes in the ordinary course of business, Credco terminated the intercompany loan agreement with American Express Limited and American Express International, Inc. and settled the related borrowings from American Express Company during the second quarter of 2019.
[3]	Represents cash deposited with Amex Bank of Canada relating to the purchase of Card Member receivables and the collateralized loan arrangement for transfer of Card Member loans.

Consolidated Statement of Share

Consolidated Statement of Shareholder's Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 2,209	$ 0	$ 161	$ (1,263)	$ 3,311
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(603)				(603)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	265			265
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	1,871	0	161	(998)	2,708
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	387				387
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(62)			(62)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	2,196	0	161	(1,060)	3,095
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	418				418
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(27)			(27)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 2,587	$ 0	$ 161	$ (1,087)	$ 3,513

Summary of Significant Accounti

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies The Company Credco is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (TRS), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Express Company (American Express). Credco is engaged in the business of financing certain non-interest-earning Card Member receivables arising from the use of the American Express charge cards issued in the United States and in certain countries outside the United States. Credco also finances certain interest-earning revolving loans generated by Card Member spending on American Express credit cards issued in non-U.S. markets. Credco executes material transactions with its affiliates. The agreements between Credco and its affiliates provide that the parties intend that the transactions thereunder be conducted on an arm’s-length basis; however, there can be no assurance that the terms of these arrangements are the same as would be negotiated between independent, unrelated parties. Credco is required to maintain its fixed charge coverage ratio at a minimum of 1.25, which is achieved by charging appropriate discount rates on the purchase of receivables Credco makes from, and the interest rates on the loans Credco provides to, TRS and other American Express subsidiaries. Each monthly period, the discount and interest rates are determined to generate income for Credco that is sufficient to maintain its minimum fixed charge coverage ratio, whilst maintaining the intention for these transactions to occur on an arm's-length basis. Should it be required, American Express would provide Credco with financial support with respect to maintenance of its minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The revenue earned by Credco from purchasing Card Member receivables and Card Member loans at a discount is reported as Discount revenue earned from purchased Card Member receivables and Card Member loans on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Principles of Consolidation The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Significant intercompany transactions are eliminated. Credco consolidates entities in which Credco holds a "controlling financial interest." For voting interest entities, Credco is considered to hold a controlling financial interest when it is able to exercise control over the investees’ operating and financial decisions. Foreign Currency Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon exchange rates prevailing at the end of the reporting period; non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the historic exchange rate at the date of the transaction; revenues and expenses are translated at the average month-end exchange rates during the year. Resulting translation adjustments, along with any related qualifying hedge and tax effects, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI), a component of shareholder’s equity. Translation adjustments, including qualifying hedge and tax effects, are reclassified to earnings upon the sale or substantial liquidation of investments in foreign operations. Gains and losses related to transactions in a currency other than the functional currency are reported net in Other, net expenses, in Credco’s Consolidated Statements of Income. Amounts Based on Estimates and Assumptions Accounting estimates are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements. These estimates are based, in part, on management’s assumptions concerning future events. Among the more significant assumptions are those that relate to reserves for Card Member losses on receivables and loans and income taxes. These accounting estimates reflect the best judgment of management, but actual results could differ. Discount Revenue Earned from Purchased Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans Credco earns discount revenue from purchasing Card Member receivables and Card Member loans at a discount to par value. The discount is deferred and recognized as revenue over the period that the receivables and loans are estimated to be outstanding or funded. Estimates are based on the historical average life of Card Member receivables and Card Member loans. Interest Income from Affiliates Interest income from affiliates is earned on interest-bearing loans made by Credco to affiliates. Interest income is accrued primarily using the average daily balance method on loans and is recognized based on the outstanding loan principal amount and interest rates specified in the agreements until the outstanding loan balance is paid. Finance Revenue Finance revenue is assessed using the average daily balance method for Card Member loans and is recognized based upon the loan principal amount outstanding in accordance with the terms of the applicable account agreement until the outstanding balance is paid or written off. Interest Expense Interest expense includes interest incurred primarily to fund Card Member receivables and Card Member loans, general corporate purposes and liquidity needs, and is recognized as incurred. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash and amounts due from banks, interest-bearing bank balances, and other highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less. Other Significant Accounting Policies The following table identifies Credco’s other significant accounting policies, along with the related Note and page number where the Note can be found. Significant Accounting Policy Note Note Title Page Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans Note 2 Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans 34 Reserves for Losses Note 3 Reserves for Losses 36 Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities Note 6 Derivatives and Hedging Activities 39 Fair Value Measurements Note 7 Fair Values 42 Income Taxes Note 10 Income Taxes 48 RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS Recently Issued Accounting Standards In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting guidance for the recognition of credit losses on certain financial instruments. The guidance, as amended and effective January 1, 2020, introduces a new credit reserving methodology known as the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) approach, which differs significantly from the incurred loss approach used through December 31, 2019 and alters the estimation process, inputs and assumptions used in estimating credit losses. The CECL methodology requires measurement of expected credit losses for the estimated life of the financial instrument, not only based on historical experience and current conditions, but also by including reasonable and supportable forecasts incorporating forward-looking information. Credco's approach incorporates separate reasonable and supportable periods for Card Member receivables and Card Member loans and uses a weighted average of multiple future economic scenarios. Additionally, the guidance requires a modified retrospective transition, which records the difference between the reserves measured using the CECL methodology and the reserves using the incurred loss approach, tax effected, as a cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption through retained earnings. As a result, Credco's financial position and results of operations for periods prior to January 1, 2020 will not be restated.

Card Member Receivables and Car

Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts Receivable And Loans Tables [Abstract]
Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans	Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans American Express’ charge and lending payment card products result in the generation of Card Member receivables and Card Member loans. Card Member Receivables Card Member receivables represent amounts due on American Express charge card products. For American Express, the Card Member receivables are recorded at the time a Card Member enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant. Each charge card transaction is authorized based on its likely economics, a Card Member’s most recent credit information and spend patterns. Charge Card Members generally must pay the full amount billed each month. Credco records these Card Member receivables at the time they are purchased from TRS and certain of its subsidiaries that issue the card (card issuers). Card Member receivable balances are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, net of reserves for losses (refer to Note 3). Card Member receivables also include participation interests purchased from an affiliate. Participation interests in Card Member receivables represent undivided interests in the cash flows of the non-interest-earning Card Member receivables. In conjunction with TRS’ securitization program, Credco, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Credco Receivables Corporation (CRC), purchases participation interests from American Express Receivables Financing Corporation VIII LLC (RFC VIII), a wholly owned subsidiary of TRS that receives undivided, pro rata interests in Card Member receivables transferred to the American Express Issuance Trust (the Charge Trust), by TRS. The Charge Trust is a special purpose entity that is consolidated by TRS. Card Member receivables as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 consisted of: (Millions) 2019 2018 Global Consumer Services Group (a) $ 9,847 $ 8,485 Global Commercial Services (b) 15,710 16,111 Card Member receivables (c) 25,557 24,596 Less: Reserve for losses 162 167 Card Member receivables, net (d) $ 25,395 $ 24,429 (a) Comprised of U.S. and International Consumer Services. (b) Comprised of Corporate and Small Business Services. (c) Net of deferred discount revenue totaling $75 million and $68 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. (d) Card Member receivables modified in a troubled debt restructuring (TDR) program were immaterial. Card Member Loans Card Member loans represent revolving amounts due on American Express cards. For American Express lending card products, these Card Member loans are recorded at the time a Card Member enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant, as well as amounts due from charge Card Members who utilize the Pay Over Time features on their account and elect to revolve a portion of the outstanding balance by entering into a revolving payment arrangement with American Express. These loans have a range of terms such as credit limits, interest rates, fees and payment structures, which can be revised over time based on new information about Card Members and in accordance with applicable regulations and the respective product’s terms and conditions. Card Members holding revolving loans are typically required to make monthly payments based on pre-established amounts and the amounts that Card Members choose to revolve are subject to finance charges. Credco records these Card Member loans at the time they are purchased from TRS and certain of its subsidiaries that issue the card (card issuers). Card Member loans are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, net of reserves for losses (refer to Note 3), and include principal and any related accrued interest and fees. American Express’ policy generally is to cease accruing interest on a Card Member loan at the time the account is written off, and establish reserves for interest that will not be collected. Card Member loans as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 consisted of: (Millions) 2019 2018 Global Consumer Services Group (a) $ 697 $ 641 Less: Reserve for losses 10 5 Card Member loans, net (b) $ 687 $ 636 (a) Comprised of International Consumer Services. (b) Card Member loans modified in a TDR program were immaterial. Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans Aging Generally, a Card Member account is considered past due if payment is not received within 30 days after the billing statement date. The following table presents the aging of Card Member receivables and Card Member loans as of December 31, 2019 and 2018: 2019 (Millions) Current 30-59 60-89 90+ Days Total Card Member Receivables: Global Consumer Services Group $ 9,766 $ 29 $ 16 $ 36 $ 9,847 Global Commercial Services Global Small Business Services 1,996 10 5 9 2,020 Global Corporate Payments (a) (b) (b) (b) 105 13,690 Card Member Loans: Global Consumer Services Group $ 689 $ 3 $ 2 $ 3 $ 697 2018 (Millions) Current 30-59 60-89 90+ Days Total Card Member Receivables: Global Consumer Services Group $ 8,432 $ 17 $ 12 $ 24 $ 8,485 Global Commercial Services Global Small Business Services 1,787 7 4 7 1,805 Global Corporate Payments (a) (b) (b) (b) 103 14,306 Card Member Loans: Global Consumer Services Group $ 636 $ 2 $ 1 $ 2 $ 641 (a) Delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A Card Member account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the Card Member’s billing statement date. In addition, if collection procedures are initiated on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing, the associated Card Member receivable balance is classified as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes. See also (b). (b) Delinquency data for periods other than 90 days past billing is not available due to system constraints. Therefore, such data has not been utilized for risk management purposes. The balances that are current to 89 days past due can be derived as the difference between the Total and the 90+ Days Past Due balances. Credit Quality Indicators for Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans The following tables present the key credit quality indicators as of or for the years ended December 31: 2019 2018 Net (a) 30+ Days Net (a) 30+ Days Card Member Receivables: Global Consumer Services Group 1.10 % 0.82 % 1.14 % 0.62 % Global Small Business Services 1.39 % 1.19 % 1.34 % 1.00 % Card Member Loans: Global Consumer Services Group 1.53 % 1.15 % 1.03 % 0.78 % 2019 2018 Net Loss 90+ Days Net Loss 90+ Days (b) (b) Card Member Receivables: Global Corporate Payments 0.06 % 0.77 % 0.08 % 0.72 % (a) Represents the amount of Card Member receivables or Card Member loans owned by Credco that are written off, net of recoveries, expressed as a percentage of the average Card Member receivables or Card Member loans balances in each of the periods indicated. (b) Represents the amount of Card Member receivables owned by Credco that are written off, net of recoveries, expressed as a percentage of the volume of Card Member receivables purchased by Credco in each of the periods indicated. Refer to Note 3 for additional indicators, including external environmental qualitative factors, management considers in its monthly evaluation process for reserves for losses.

Reserves for Losses

Reserves for Losses	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Reserves for Losses [Abstract]
Reserves for Losses	Reserves for Losses Reserves for losses relating to Card Member receivables and Card Member loans represent management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in Credco’s outstanding portfolio of receivables and loans, as of the balance sheet date. Management’s evaluation process requires certain estimates and judgments. Reserves for losses are primarily based upon statistical and analytical models that analyze portfolio performance and reflect management’s judgments regarding the quantitative components of the reserve. The models take into account several factors, including delinquency-based loss migration rates, loss emergence periods and average losses and recoveries over an appropriate historical period. Management considers whether to adjust the quantitative reserves for certain external and internal qualitative factors, which may increase or decrease the reserves for losses on Card Member receivables and loans. These external factors include employment, spend, sentiment, housing and credit, and changes in the legal and regulatory environment, while the internal factors include increased risk in certain portfolios, impact of risk management initiatives, changes in underwriting requirements and overall process stability. As part of this evaluation process, management also considers various reserve coverage metrics, such as reserves as a percentage of past due amounts, reserves as a percentage of Card Member receivables or loans and net write-off coverage ratios. Card Member receivables and Card Member loans balances are written off when management considers amounts to be uncollectible, which is generally determined by the number of days past due and is typically no later than 180 days past due. Card Member receivables and Card Member loans in bankruptcy or owed by deceased individuals are generally written off upon notification. Changes in Card Member Receivables Reserve for Losses The following table presents changes in the Card Member receivables reserve for losses for the years ended December 31: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Balance, January 1 $ 167 $ 145 $ 110 Provisions 216 243 238 Other credits (a) 13 53 58 Net write-offs (b) (229) (238) (198) Other debits (c) (5) (36) (63) Balance, December 31 $ 162 $ 167 $ 145 (a) Primarily reserve balances related to new groups of, and participation interests in, Card Member receivables purchased from affiliates, totaling $2.7 billion, $9.8 billion and $9.4 billion for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. (b) Net of recoveries of $125 million, $119 million and $95 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. (c) Primarily reserve balances related to participation interests in Card Member receivables sold to an affiliate. Participation interests in Card Member receivables sold totaled $1.1 billion, $6.2 billion and $9.4 billion for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Changes in Card Member Loans Reserve for Losses The following table presents changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses for the years ended December 31: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Balance, January 1 $ 5 $ 5 $ 5 Provisions 14 6 6 Net write-offs (a) (9) (6) (6) Balance, December 31 $ 10 $ 5 $ 5 (a) Net of recoveries of $1.6 million, $1.8 million and $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt Short-Term Debt Credco’s short-term debt outstanding (excluding short-term debt to affiliates), defined as borrowings with original contractual maturity dates of less than one year, as of December 31 was as follows: 2019 2018 (Millions, except percentages) Outstanding Year-End Stated Interest Rate on Debt (a) Outstanding Year-End Stated Interest Rate on Debt (a) Commercial paper (b) $ 3,001 1.94 % $ 752 2.71 % Other short-term borrowings (c) 215 1.58 74 2.39 Total $ 3,216 1.91 % $ 826 2.68 % (a) For floating-rate issuances, the stated interest rates are weighted based on the outstanding principal balances and interest rates in effect as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. (b) Average commercial paper outstanding was $299 million and $228 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively. (c) Represents interest-bearing book overdrafts with banks . Long-Term Debt Credco’s long-term debt outstanding (excluding long-term debt to affiliates), defined as debt with original contractual maturity dates of one year or greater, as of December 31 was as follows: 2019 2018 Outstanding Balance (a) Year-End Interest Rate on Debt (b) Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (b)(c) Outstanding Balance (a) Year-End Interest Rate on Debt (b) Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (b)(c) (Millions, except Fixed Rate Senior Notes 2020-2027 $ 11,839 2.40 % 2.56 % $ 16,677 2.28 % 3.06 % Floating Rate Senior Notes 2020-2022 1,650 2.64 — 3,800 3.31 — Unamortized Underwriting Fees (20) (30) Total Long-Term Debt $ 13,469 2.43 % $ 20,447 2.47 % (a) The outstanding balances include (i) unamortized discount, (ii) the impact of movements in exchange rates on foreign currency denominated debt and (iii) the impact of fair value hedge accounting on certain fixed-rate notes that have been swapped to floating rate through the use of interest rate swaps. Refer to Note 6 for more details on Credco’s treatment of fair value hedges. (b) For floating-rate issuances, the stated interest rate on debt is weighted based on outstanding principal balances and interest rates in effect as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. (c) Interest rates with swaps are only presented when swaps are in place to hedge the underlying debt. The interest rates with swaps are weighted based on the outstanding principal balances and the interest rates on the floating leg of the swaps in effect as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. Aggregate annual maturities on long-term debt obligations (based on contractual maturity or anticipated redemption dates) as of December 31, 2019 were as follows: (Millions) 2020 $ 6,600 2021 2,864 2022 2,050 2023 — 2024 — Thereafter 2,000 Total 13,514 Unamortized Underwriting Fees (20) Unamortized Discount (23) Impacts due to Fair Value Hedge Accounting (2) Total Long-Term Debt $ 13,469 Credco maintained a bank line of credit of $3.5 billion as of both December 31, 2019 and 2018, all of which was undrawn as of the respective dates. Credco paid $4.9 million and $2.5 million in fees to maintain these lines for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The availability of the credit line is subject to compliance with certain financial covenants, including the maintenance of a 1.25 minimum required fixed charge coverage ratio. The fixed charge coverage ratio for Credco was 1.54 for the year ended December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, Credco was not in violation of any of its debt covenants. The committed facility does not contain material adverse change clauses that would preclude borrowing under the credit facility. Additionally, the facility may not be terminated should there be a change in Credco’s credit ratings.

Restrictions as to Dividends an

Restrictions as to Dividends and Limitations on Indebtedness	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Disclosure of Restrictions on Dividends, Loans and Advances Disclosure [Abstract]
Restrictions as to Dividends and Limitations on Indebtedness	Restrictions as to Dividends and Limitations on IndebtednessThe debt instruments issued by Credco impose the requirement that Credco maintain a minimum consolidated net worth of $50 million, which limits the amount of dividends Credco can pay to its parent. There are no limitations on the amount of debt that can be issued by Credco, provided it maintains the minimum required fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25.

Derivatives and Hedging Activit

Derivatives and Hedging Activities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivatives and Hedging Activities	Derivatives and Hedging Activities Credco uses derivative financial instruments to manage exposures to various market risks. These instruments derive their value from an underlying variable or multiple variables, including interest rates and foreign exchange rates, and are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These instruments enable end users to increase, reduce or alter exposure to various market risks and, for that reason, are an integral component of Credco’s market risk management. Credco does not transact in derivatives for trading purposes. Market risk is the risk to earnings or asset and liability values resulting from movements in market prices. Credco’s market risk exposures include: • Interest rate risk in its funding activities; and • Foreign exchange risk arising from earnings, funding, transactions and investments in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. American Express centrally monitors market risks using market risk limits and escalation triggers as defined in its Asset/Liability Management Policy. Interest rate risk primarily arises through the funding of Card Member receivables and fixed-rate loans with variable-rate borrowings, as well as through the risk to net interest margin from changes in the relationship between benchmark rates such as Prime, LIBOR and the overnight indexed swap rate. Interest rate exposure within charge card and fixed-rate lending products is managed by varying the proportion of total funding provided by short-term and variable-rate debt compared to fixed-rate debt. In addition, interest rate swaps are used from time to time to economically convert fixed-rate debt obligations to variable-rate obligations or to convert variable-rate debt obligations to fixed-rate obligations. Credco may change the mix between variable-rate and fixed-rate funding based on changes in business volumes and mix, among other factors. Foreign exchange risk is generated by funding foreign currency Card Member receivables and loans with U.S. dollars, foreign currency balance sheet exposures, foreign subsidiary equity and foreign currency earnings in entities outside the United States. Credco’s foreign exchange risk is managed primarily by entering into agreements to buy and sell currencies on a spot basis or by hedging this market exposure to the extent it is economical, through various means, including the use of derivatives such as foreign exchange forwards and cross-currency swap contracts. Exposures from foreign subsidiary equity in Credco’s entities outside the United States are hedged through the use of foreign exchange forwards executed either by Credco or TRS. Derivatives may give rise to counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that a derivative counterparty will default on, or otherwise be unable to perform pursuant to an uncollateralized derivative exposure. This risk is managed by considering the current exposure, which is the replacement cost of contracts on the measurement date, as well as estimating the maximum potential value of the contracts over the next 12 months, considering such factors as the volatility of the underlying or reference index. To mitigate derivative credit risk, counterparties are required to be pre-approved by American Express and rated as investment grade, and counterparty risk exposures are centrally monitored. Additionally, in order to mitigate the bilateral counterparty credit risk associated with derivatives, Credco has in certain instances entered into master netting agreements with its derivative counterparties, which provide a right of offset for certain exposures between the parties. A majority of Credco’s derivative assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 are subject to master netting agreements with its derivative counterparties. Credco has no derivative amounts subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that are not offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. To further mitigate counterparty credit risk, Credco exercises its rights under executed credit support agreements with the respective derivative counterparties for most of its bilateral interest rate swaps. These agreements require that, in the event the fair value change in the net derivatives position between the two parties exceeds certain dollar thresholds, the party in the net liability position posts collateral to its counterparty. All derivative contracts cleared through a central clearinghouse are collateralized to the full amount of the fair value of the contracts. In relation to Credco’s credit risk, certain of Credco’s bilateral derivative agreements include provisions that allow Credco or the counterparty to terminate the agreement and settle the fair value of existing positions in the event of a downgrade of one party ’ s credit rating below investment grade. The aggregate fair value of Credco ’ s derivative instruments in a net liability position that contain credit-risk-related contingent features as of December 31, 2019, is $38 million. Credco has no individually significant third-party derivative counterparties and therefore, no significant risk exposure to any single third-party counterparty. Based on Credco’s assessment of the credit risk of its derivative counterparties and its own credit risk as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, no credit risk adjustment to the derivative portfolio was required. Credco’s derivatives are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for changes in fair value depends on the instruments’ intended use and the resulting hedge designation, if any, as discussed below. Refer to Note 7 for a description of Credco’s methodology for determining the fair value of derivatives. The following table summarizes the total fair value, excluding interest accruals, of derivative assets and liabilities as of December 31: Other Assets Other Liabilities (Millions) 2019 2018 2019 2018 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Fair value hedges - Interest rate contracts (a)(b) $ — $ — $ — $ — Net investment hedges - Foreign exchange contracts 12 57 44 10 Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments 12 57 44 10 Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: Foreign exchange contracts 31 220 182 6 Total derivatives, gross 43 277 226 16 Derivative asset and derivative liability netting (c) (27) (11) (27) (11) Total derivatives, net $ 16 $ 266 $ 199 $ 5 (a) For Credco’s centrally cleared derivatives, variation margin payments are legally characterized as settlement payments as opposed to collateral. (b) Credco posted $20 million and $55 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as initial margin on its centrally cleared interest rate swaps; such amounts are recorded within Other assets on Credco’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and are not netted against the derivative balances. (c) Represents the amount of netting of derivative assets and derivative liabilities executed with the same counterparties under an enforceable master netting arrangement. Derivative Financial Instruments that Qualify for Hedge Accounting Derivatives executed for hedge accounting purposes are documented and designated as such when Credco enters into the contracts. In accordance with its risk management policies, Credco structures its hedges with terms similar to those of the item being hedged. Credco formally assesses, at inception of the hedge accounting relationship and on a quarterly basis, whether derivatives designated as hedges are highly effective in offsetting the fair value or cash flows of the hedged items. These assessments usually are made through the application of a regression analysis method. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, Credco will discontinue the application of hedge accounting. Fair Value Hedges A fair value hedge involves a derivative designated to hedge Credco’s exposure to future changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability, or an identified portion thereof that is attributable to a particular risk. Interest Rate Contracts Credco is exposed to interest rate risk associated with its fixed-rate debt obligations. At the time of issuance, certain fixed-rate long-term debt obligations are designated in fair value hedging relationships using interest rate swaps to economically convert the fixed interest rate to a floating interest rate. Credco has $8.8 billion and $13.8 billion of its fixed-rate debt obligations designated in fair value hedging relationships as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Gains or losses on the fair value hedging instrument principally offset the losses or gains on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. The changes in the fair value of the derivative and the changes in the hedged item may not fully offset due to differences between a debt obligation’s interest rate and the benchmark rate, primarily due to credit spreads at inception of the hedging relationship that are not reflected in the fair value of the interest rate swap. Furthermore, the difference may be caused by changes in 1-month LIBOR, 3-month LIBOR and the overnight indexed swap rate, as spreads between these rates impact the fair value of the interest rate swap without an exact offsetting impact to the fair value of the hedged debt. The following table presents the gains and losses associated with the fair value hedges of Credco’s fixed-rate long-term debt for the years ended December 31: Gains (losses) (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Interest Expense (a) Interest Expense (a) Other, net expenses Fixed-rate long-term debt $ (181) $ 29 $ 100 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments 184 (13) (129) Total $ 3 $ 16 $ (29) (a) Credco adopted a new accounting guidance providing targeted improvements to the accounting for hedging activities effective January 1, 2018. In compliance with the standard, amounts previously recorded in Other expenses have been prospectively recorded in Interest expense. The carrying values of the hedged liabilities, recorded within Long-term debt on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, were $8.7 billion and $13.5 billion as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, including the cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments of $(2) million and $(184) million for the respective periods. Credco recognized net increases of $90 million and $75 million in Interest expense on Long-term debt for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and net reductions of $53 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 primarily related to the net settlements (interest accruals) on Credco’s interest rate derivatives designated as fair value hedges. Net Investment Hedges A net investment hedge is used to hedge future changes in currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation. Credco primarily designates foreign currency derivatives, typically foreign exchange forwards, and on occasion foreign currency denominated debt, as hedges of net investments in certain foreign operations. These instruments reduce exposure to changes in currency exchange rates on Credco’s investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries. Credco had notional amounts of approximately $3.0 billion and $2.9 billion of foreign currency derivatives designated as net investment hedges as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The gain or loss on net investment hedges, net of taxes, recorded in AOCI as part of the cumulative translation adjustment were a loss of $44 million, a gain of $127 million and a loss of $174 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges Credco has derivatives that act as economic hedges, but are not designated as such for hedge accounting purposes. Foreign currency transactions from time to time may be partially or fully economically hedged through foreign currency contracts, primarily foreign exchange forwards. These hedges generally mature within one year. Foreign currency contracts involve the purchase and sale of designated currencies at an agreed-upon rate for settlement on a specified date.

Fair Values

Fair Values	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Values	Fair Values Fair value is defined as the price that would be required to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, based on the principal or, in the absence of a principal, most advantageous market for the specific asset or liability. GAAP provides for a three-level hierarchy of inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value, defined as follows: • Level 1 – Inputs that are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity can access. • Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability, including: – Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; – Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; – Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and – Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. • Level 3 – Inputs that are unobservable and reflect Credco’s own estimates about the estimates market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances (e.g., internally derived assumptions surrounding the timing and amount of expected cash flows). Credco did not measure any financial instruments presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, although the disclosed fair value of certain assets that are not carried at fair value, as presented later in this Note, are classified within Level 3. Credco monitors the market conditions and evaluates the fair value hierarchy levels at least quarterly. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no Level 3 transfers. Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value The following table summarizes Credco’s financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized by GAAP’s fair value hierarchy as Level 2 (as described in the preceding paragraphs), as of December 31: (Millions) 2019 2018 Assets: Derivatives, gross (a) $ 43 $ 277 Total assets 43 277 Liabilities: Derivatives, gross (a) 226 16 Total liabilities $ 226 $ 16 (a) Refer to Note 6 for the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities, on a further disaggregated basis. Valuation Techniques Used in the Fair Value Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value For the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (categorized in the valuation hierarchy table), Credco applies the following valuation techniques: Derivative Financial Instruments The fair value of Credco’s derivative financial instruments is estimated internally by using third-party pricing models, where the inputs to those models are readily observable from active markets. The pricing models used are consistently applied and reflect the contractual terms of the derivatives as described below. Credco reaffirms its understanding of the valuation techniques at least annually and validates the valuation output on a quarterly basis. Credco’s derivative instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of Credco’s interest rate swaps is determined based on a discounted cash flow method using the following significant inputs: the contractual terms of the swap such as the notional amount, fixed coupon rate, floating coupon rate and tenor, as well as discount rates consistent with the underlying economic factors of the currency in which the cash flows are denominated. The fair value of foreign exchange forward contracts is determined based on a discounted cash flow method using the following significant inputs: the contractual terms of the forward contracts such as the notional amount, maturity dates and contract rate, as well as relevant foreign currency forward curves, and discount rates consistent with the underlying economic factors of the currency in which the cash flows are denominated. Credit valuation adjustments are necessary when the market parameters, such as a benchmark curve, used to value derivatives are not indicative of Credco’s credit quality or that of its counterparties. Credco considers the counterparty credit risk by applying an observable forecasted default rate to the current exposure. Refer to Note 6 for additional fair value information. Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of Credco’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at amortized cost, and not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis, as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. The fair values of these financial instruments are estimates based upon the market conditions and perceived risks as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and require management's judgment. These figures may not be indicative of future fair values, nor can the fair value of Credco be estimated by aggregating the amounts presented. Carrying Corresponding Fair Value Amount 2019 (Billions) Value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Financial Assets: Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — Other financial assets (a) 26.3 26.3 0.1 26.2 — Financial assets carried at other than fair value Card Member loans, net 0.7 0.7 — — 0.7 Loans to affiliates and other 10.3 10.4 — 2.8 7.6 Financial Liabilities: Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 11.2 11.2 — 11.2 — Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value Long-term debt 13.5 13.7 — 13.7 — Long-term debt to affiliates $ 9.3 $ 9.4 $ — $ 9.4 $ — Carrying Corresponding Fair Value Amount 2018 (Billions) Value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Financial Assets: Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value Cash and cash equivalents (b) $ 0.1 $ 0.1 $ 0.1 $ — $ — Other financial assets (a) 24.9 24.9 0.1 24.8 — Financial assets carried at other than fair value Card Member loans, net 0.6 0.6 — — 0.6 Loans to affiliates and other 14.1 14.1 — 7.4 6.7 Financial Liabilities: Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 9.0 9.0 — 9.0 — Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value Long-term debt 20.4 20.5 — 20.5 — Long-term debt to affiliates $ 7.5 $ 7.3 $ — $ 7.3 $ — (a) Level 1 amounts reflect interest-bearing restricted cash and Level 2 amounts primarily reflect Card Member receivables. (b) Amounts reflect interest-bearing deposits. Valuation Techniques Used in the Fair Value Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value For the financial assets and liabilities that are not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis (categorized in the valuation hierarchy table), Credco applies the following valuation techniques to measure fair value: Financial Assets For Which Carrying Values Equal Or Approximate Fair Value Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include cash and cash equivalents, Card Member receivables, due from affiliates, accrued interest and certain other assets. For these assets, the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short term in duration, have no defined maturity or have a market-based interest rate. Financial Assets Carried At Other Than Fair Value Card Member loans Card Member loans are recorded at historical cost, less reserves, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In estimating the fair value for Credco’s Card Member loans, Credco uses a discounted cash flow model. Due to the lack of a comparable whole loan sales market for similar loans and the lack of observable pricing inputs thereof, Credco uses various inputs to estimate fair value. Such inputs include projected income, discount rates and relevant credit losses. Loans to affiliates and other Loans to affiliates and other are recorded at historical cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In estimating the fair value for Credco’s loans to affiliates and other, Credco uses discounted cash flow models. For loans to affiliates collateralized by Card Member loans, Credco derives the value of the loans based on the fair value of the underlying collateral used to finance the loans using a discounted cash flow model with inputs as detailed above (Card Member loans), and as such is classified as Level 3. For the remaining loans to affiliates and other, the models use market observable interest rates and adjust those rates for necessary risks. Financial Liabilities For Which Carrying Values Equal Or Approximate Fair Value Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include short-term debt, short-term debt to affiliates, due to affiliates, accrued interest and certain other liabilities for which the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short term in duration, have no defined maturity or have a market-based interest rate. Financial Liabilities Carried At Other Than Fair Value Long-term debt Long-term debt, including with affiliates, is recorded at historical issuance cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets adjusted for (i) unamortized discount and unamortized fees, (ii) the impact of movements in exchange rates on foreign currency denominated debt and (iii) the impact of fair value hedge accounting on certain fixed-rate notes that have been swapped to floating rate through the use of interest rate swaps. The fair value of Credco’s long-term debt is measured using quoted offer prices when quoted market prices are available. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value is determined by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at rates currently observed in publicly-traded debt markets for debt of similar terms and credit risk. For long-term debt, where there are no rates currently observable in publicly-traded debt markets of similar terms and comparable credit risk, Credco uses market interest rates and adjusts those rates for necessary risks, including Credco’s own credit risk. In determining an appropriate spread to reflect Credco’s credit standing, Credco considers credit default swap spreads, bond yields of other long-term debt offered by Credco, and interest rates currently offered to Credco for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities. Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, Credco did not have any assets that were measured at fair value due to impairment on a nonrecurring basis.

Transactions with Affiliates

Transactions with Affiliates	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Transactions with Affiliates	Transactions with Affiliates As described below, Credco executes material transactions with its affiliates. The agreements between Credco and its affiliates provide that the parties intend that the transactions thereunder be conducted on an arm’s-length basis. However, there can be no assurance that the terms of these arrangements are the same as would be negotiated between independent parties. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, Credco purchased Card Member receivables and loans without recourse from TRS and certain of its subsidiaries totaling approximately $316 billion, $299 billion and $262 billion, respectively. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, Credco sold Card Member receivables and participating interests to affiliates totaling $1.1 billion, $6.2 billion and $9.4 billion, respectively. The discount revenue on purchased Card Member receivables and loans totaled $1.2 billion, $1.0 billion and $0.8 billion for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The receivables agreements require TRS and its subsidiaries to perform servicing, clerical and other services necessary to bill and collect all Card Member receivables and loans owned by Credco. Since settlements under the agreements occur monthly, an amount due from, or payable to, such affiliates may arise at the end of each month. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, CRC owned approximately $8.1 billion and $6.7 billion, respectively, of participation interests purchased from RFC VIII. Transactions with affiliates as of or for the years ended December 31, were as follows: (Millions, except percentages) 2019 2018 2017 Loans to affiliates and other $ 10,345 $ 14,136 $ 14,527 Average interest rate on loans to affiliates and other 2.89 % 2.79 % 2.19 % Due from affiliates $ 652 $ 210 $ 189 Restricted cash with affiliates 116 93 100 Short-term debt to affiliates 6,225 5,899 5,997 Average interest rate on short-term debt to affiliates 2.33 % 2.09 % 1.04 % Maximum month-end level of short-term debt during the year $ 7,087 $ 14,216 $ 8,377 Long-term debt to affiliates 9,292 7,523 270 Average interest rate on long-term debt to affiliates 3.17 % 2.69 % 0.23 % Maximum month-end level of long-term debt during the year $ 13,391 $ 8,725 270 Due to affiliates 2,133 2,869 1,988 Maximum month-end level of loans to affiliates during the year 14,264 14,136 14,527 Interest income from affiliates and other 332 383 279 Interest expense to affiliates 433 225 58 Other, net expense 2 2 2 Interest paid on short-term and long-term debt $ 421 $ 198 $ 54 Credco’s loans to affiliates and other represent floating-rate interest-bearing borrowings by wholly owned subsidiaries of TRS and the joint ventures that issue American Express cards in certain countries. Revenue earned from loans to affiliates and other is recorded as interest income from affiliates and other in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, no amount of loss reserves has been recorded and no loans are 30 days or more past due. The components of loans to affiliates and other as of December 31 were as follows: (Millions) 2019 2018 American Express Services Europe Limited $ 4,206 $ 3,552 American Express Australia Limited 2,052 1,839 Amex Bank of Canada 1,587 1,334 Amex Global Holdings C.V. 888 888 American Express Company (Mexico) S.A. de C.V. 534 463 American Express International, Inc., Singapore Branch 413 383 American Express Bank (Mexico) S.A. 404 348 Alpha Card S.C.R.L./C.V.B.A. 120 114 American Express Saudi Arabia (C) JSC 71 53 American Express International (NZ), Inc. 70 72 American Express Limited (a) — 3,847 American Express International, Inc. (a) — 1,243 Total (b) $ 10,345 $ 14,136 (a) As a result of funding structure changes in the ordinary course of business, Credco terminated the intercompany loan agreement with American Express Limited and American Express International, Inc. and settled the related borrowings from American Express Company during the second quarter of 2019. (b) As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, approximately $8.2 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively, were collateralized by the underlying Card Member receivables and loans transferred with recourse. Due from/to affiliates relate primarily to timing differences from the purchase of Card Member receivables, net of remittances from TRS and its subsidiaries, as well as from operating activities. As of December 31, 2019, due to affiliates also includes an amount pertaining to tax liability on account of the Tax Act. Refer to Note 10 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements.” As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the amount of interest-bearing restricted cash was $116 million and $93 million, respectively, which represents cash deposited with Amex Bank of Canada relating to the purchase of Card Member receivables and the collateralized loan arrangement for transfer of Card Member loans. It is included under “Other assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Short-term debt to affiliates consists primarily of interest-bearing master notes payable on demand. Credco does not expect any changes to its short-term funding strategies with affiliates. Components of short-term debt to affiliates as of December 31 were as follows: (Millions) 2019 2018 AE Exposure Management Limited $ 5,731 $ 5,122 American Express Europe LLC 219 517 American Express Holdings Netherlands CV 192 192 Accertify Inc. 82 68 American Express Swiss Holdings GmbH 1 — Total $ 6,225 $ 5,899 Long-term debt to affiliates consists primarily of master note agreements with original contractual maturity dates of one year or greater and are not payable on demand. Components of long-term debt to affiliates as of December 31 were as follows: 2019 2018 Year-End Stated Year-End Stated (Millions, except percentages) American Express Company (a) $ 8,959 2.85 % $ 7,240 3.32 % Amex Funding Management (Europe) Limited (b) 333 0.28 283 0.28 Total $ 9,292 2.76 % $ 7,523 3.20 % (a) Amounts payable by November 2023. (b) Amounts payable by September 2021. Service Fees to Affiliates Credco’s affiliates do not explicitly charge Credco a servicing fee for the servicing of receivables purchased. Instead Credco receives a lower discount rate on the receivables purchased than would be the case if servicing fees were charged. If a servicing fee had been charged by these affiliates from which Credco purchases receivables, fees to affiliates for servicing receivables would have been approximately $328 million, $305 million and $234 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Correspondingly, discount revenue would have increased by approximately the same amounts in these periods.

Changes in Accumulated Other Co

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income AOCI is a balance sheet item in the Shareholder’s Equity section on Credco’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. It is comprised of items that have not been recognized in earnings but may be recognized in earnings in the future when certain events occur. Changes in Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments for the three years ended December 31 were as follows: (Millions), net of tax Foreign Balances as of December 31, 2016 $ (1,263) Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations (a) 439 Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations (174) Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss 265 Balances as of December 31, 2017 (998) Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations (189) Net gains related to hedges of investments in foreign operations 127 Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss (62) Balances as of December 31, 2018 (1,060) Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations 17 Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations (44) Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss (27) Balances as of December 31, 2019 $ (1,087) (a) Includes $289 million of tax benefit recognized in the year ended December 31, 2017 (refer to Note 10). The following table shows the tax impact for the three years ended December 31 for the changes in Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments presented above: Tax expense (benefit) (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Net translation on investments in foreign operations (a) $ 5 $ (23) $ (209) Net hedges of investments in foreign operations (14) 40 (103) Total tax impact $ (9) $ 17 $ (312) (a) Includes $289 million of tax benefit recognized in the year ended December 31, 2017 (refer to Note 10). No amounts were reclassified out of AOCI into the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the Tax Act), enacted on December 22, 2017, made broad and complex changes to the U.S. federal corporate income tax rules. Most notably, effective January 1, 2018, the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, introduced a territorial tax system in which future dividends paid from earnings outside the United States to a U.S. corporation are not subject to U.S. federal taxation and imposed new U.S. federal corporate income taxes on certain foreign operations. The results of operations of Credco are included in the consolidated U.S. federal income tax return of American Express. Under an agreement with American Express, provision for income taxes is recognized on a separate company basis. If benefits for net operating losses, future tax deductions and foreign tax credits cannot be recognized on a separate company basis, such benefits are then recognized based upon a share, derived by formula, of those deductions and credits that are recognizable on an American Express consolidated reporting basis. The components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31 included in Credco’s Consolidated Statements of Income were as follows: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Current income tax expense (benefit): U.S. federal $ 45 $ (14) $ 785 U.S. state and local 13 (6) 15 Non-U.S. 23 84 24 Total current income tax expense 81 64 824 Deferred income tax expense (benefit): U.S. federal 11 (28) 58 U.S. state and local — 1 1 Non-U.S. 2 (8) (5) Total deferred income tax expense (benefit) 13 (35) 54 Total income tax expense $ 94 $ 29 $ 878 A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21 percent as of both December 31, 2019, and 2018, and 35 percent as of December 31, 2017, to Credco’s actual income tax rate on continuing operations was as follows: 2019 2018 2017 U.S. statutory federal income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 35.0 % Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from: State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit 0.8 (0.4) (0.3) Non-U.S. subsidiaries earnings (a) (3.7) (8.7) (25.7) Tax settlements (b) — — (1.1) U.S. Tax Act (c) — (5.6) 311.6 Other (d) 0.3 0.7 (0.2) Actual tax rate 18.4 % 7.0 % 319.3 % (a) 2017 primarily included tax benefits associated with the undistributed earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries that were deemed to be reinvested indefinitely. (b) Related to the resolution of tax matters in various jurisdictions. (c) 2017 included the $858 million provisional charge for the impacts of the Tax Act and the adjustments thereto are included in 2018. (d) Results for all years include the impact of prior year tax returns filed in the current year. Credco records a deferred income tax (benefit) provision when there are differences between assets and liabilities measured for financial reporting and for income tax return purposes. These temporary differences result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years and are measured using the tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences are expected to reverse. The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 are reflected in the following table: (Millions) 2019 2018 Deferred tax assets: Reserves not yet deducted for tax purposes $ 29 $ 36 State income taxes 9 7 Foreign exchange loss 32 42 Other 25 29 Gross deferred tax assets 95 114 Deferred tax liabilities: Investment in foreign subsidiaries (a) 74 77 Gross deferred tax liabilities 74 77 Net deferred tax assets $ 21 $ 37 (a) Deferred state income and foreign withholding tax consequences of future cash distributions from non-U.S. subsidiaries . Credco is subject to the income tax laws of the United States, its states and municipalities and those of the foreign jurisdictions in which American Express operates. These tax laws are complex, and the manner in which they apply to the taxpayer’s facts is sometimes open to interpretation. Given these inherent complexities, Credco must make judgments in assessing the likelihood that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the tax position. A tax position is recognized only when, based on management’s judgment regarding the application of income tax laws, it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination. The amount of benefit recognized for financial reporting purposes is based on management’s best judgment of the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized on ultimate settlement with the taxing authority given the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. Credco adjusts the level of unrecognized tax benefits when there is new information available to assess the likelihood of the outcome. Credco is under continuous examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax authorities in other countries and states in which it has significant business operations. The tax years under examination and open for examination vary by jurisdiction. Tax years from 2016 onwards are open for examination by the IRS. The following table presents changes in unrecognized tax benefits: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Balance, January 1 $ 73 $ 24 $ 308 Increases: Current year tax positions 5 4 8 Tax positions related to prior years 4 46 — Decreases: Tax positions related to prior years (a) — — (289) Lapse of statute of limitations (2) (1) (3) Balance, December 31 $ 80 $ 73 $ 24 (a) Decrease due to the resolution with the IRS of an uncertain tax position in January 2017, which resulted in the recognition of $289 million in shareholder’s equity, specifically within AOCI. Included in the unrecognized tax benefits of $80 million, $73 million and $24 million for December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, are approximately $57 million, $52 million and $19 million, respectively, that if recognized, would favorably affect the effective tax rate in a future period. Credco believes it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease within the next 12 months by as much as $4 million principally as a result of potential resolutions of prior years’ tax items with various taxing authorities. The prior years’ tax items include unrecognized tax benefits relating to the deductibility of certain expenses or losses and the attribution of taxable income to a particular jurisdiction or jurisdictions. Of the $4 million of unrecognized tax benefits, approximately $3 million relates to amounts that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate in a future period. Interest and penalties relating to unrecognized tax benefits are reported in the income tax provision. For the year ended December 31, 2019 Credco recognized a tax charge of $3 million for interest and penalties. For the year ended December 31, 2018, Credco recognized an immaterial amount for interest and penalties. For the year ended December 31, 2017, Credco recognized tax benefits of approximately $1 million for interest and penalties. Credco had approximately $8 million and $5 million accrued for the payment of interest and penalties as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Current taxes due to American Express or affiliates as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $431 million and $727 million, respectively. The amount due to American Express for 2019 includes a $441 million payable related to the one time transition tax on the repatriated earnings and profits of certain foreign subsidiaries under the Tax Act. Payments due by year (Millions) 2020 2021 - 2022 2023 – 2024 2025 and thereafter Total Deemed repatriation tax (a) $ — $ — $ 115 $ 326 $ 441 (a) In 2019, the IRS applied the prior year U.S. federal income tax return overpayment against a portion of the remaining obligation.

Significant Credit Concentratio

Significant Credit Concentrations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Abstract]
Significant Credit Concentrations	Significant Credit Concentrations Concentrations of credit risk exist when changes in economic, industry or geographic factors similarly affect groups of counterparties whose aggregate credit exposure is material in relation to Credco’s total credit exposure. Credco’s primary credit exposure, Card Member receivables, Card Member loans and loans to affiliates and other, is diversified among its affiliated companies with Card Members that operate in diverse industries, economic sectors and geographic regions. The following table details Credco’s maximum credit exposure of the on-balance sheet assets by category, as of December 31: (Billions) 2019 2018 On-balance sheet: Loans to affiliates and other $ 10 $ 14 Institutions (a) 13 14 Individuals (b) 12 11 Financial Services (c) 1 1 Due from affiliates 1 — Total on-balance sheet $ 37 $ 40 (a) Primarily reflects Card Member receivables from other corporate institutions, which are governed by institutional credit risk management. (b) Primarily reflects Card Member receivables and loans, which are governed by individual credit risk management. (c) Represents banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies and savings and loan associations. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, Credco’s most significant concentration of credit risk was with Loans to affiliates and Corporate institutions, including Card Member receivables. Credco purchased Card Member receivables and loans from TRS and certain of its subsidiaries. TRS and its subsidiaries generally advance these amounts on an unsecured basis. However, they review each potential customer’s credit application and evaluates the applicant’s financial history and ability and willingness to repay. TRS and its subsidiaries also consider credit performance by customer tenure, industry and geographic location in managing credit exposure. The following table details Credco’s Card Member receivables and loans exposure in the United States and outside the United States as of December 31: (Billions) 2019 2018 United States $ 19 $ 18 Outside the United States 7 7 Total $ 26 $ 25

Geographic Regions

Geographic Regions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Geographic Regions Disclosure [Abstract]
Geographic Regions	Geographic Regions Credco is principally engaged in the business of financing the Card Member receivables and loans of its affiliates. Management makes operating decisions and assesses performance based on an ongoing review of these financing activities, which constitute Credco’s only operating segment for financial reporting purposes. The following table presents Credco’s revenues and pretax income in different geographic regions based, in part, upon internal allocations, which necessarily involve management’s judgment: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Revenues United States $ 1,133 $ 1,033 $ 779 Outside the United States 482 428 308 Consolidated $ 1,615 $ 1,461 $ 1,087 Pretax income United States $ 61 $ 28 $ 9 Outside the United States 451 388 266 Consolidated $ 512 $ 416 $ 275

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaud

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)	Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) Quarterly financial information for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are summarized as follows: (Millions) 2019 2018 Quarters ended 12/31 9/30 6/30 3/31 12/31 9/30 6/30 3/31 Revenues $ 377 $ 388 $ 418 $ 432 $ 406 $ 386 $ 351 $ 318 Pretax income 132 131 130 119 108 107 93 108 Net income $ 93 $ 110 $ 112 $ 103 $ 61 $ 109 $ 88 $ 129

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events Subsequent to year end, American Express removed U.S. consumer and small business Card Member receivables from the Charge Trust and substantially replaced them with U.S. corporate Card Member receivables. To effect this change, on January 7, 2020, Credco sold $5.2 billion of U.S. corporate Card Member receivables to TRS. Then on February 1, 2020, TRS transferred $5.2 billion of U.S. corporate Card Member receivables to the Charge Trust and removed $7.2 billion of U.S. consumer and small business Card Member receivables from the Charge Trust. Since Credco maintains participation interests in the Charge Trust, these transactions resulted in Credco (i) no longer having an interest in the $7.2 billion in U.S. consumer and small business Card Member receivables and (ii) having an interest in the U.S. corporate Card Member receivables in the Charge Trust. Settlement of these transactions was undertaken through borrowings from American Express Company and thus Long-term debt to affiliates has also decreased by $7.2 billion.

Summary of Significant Accoun_2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles Of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Significant intercompany transactions are eliminated.
Foreign Currency	Foreign Currency Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon exchange rates prevailing at the end of the reporting period; non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the historic exchange rate at the date of the transaction; revenues and expenses are translated at the average month-end exchange rates during the year. Resulting translation adjustments, along with any related qualifying hedge and tax effects, are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI), a component of shareholder’s equity. Translation adjustments, including qualifying hedge and tax effects, are reclassified to earnings upon the sale or substantial liquidation of investments in foreign operations. Gains and losses related to transactions in a currency other than the functional currency are reported net in Other, net expenses, in Credco’s Consolidated Statements of Income.
Amounts Based on Estimates and Assumptions	Amounts Based on Estimates and Assumptions Accounting estimates are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements. These estimates are based, in part, on management’s assumptions concerning future events. Among the more significant assumptions are those that relate to reserves for Card Member losses on receivables and loans and income taxes. These accounting estimates reflect the best judgment of management, but actual results could differ.
Revenues and Expenses	Discount Revenue Earned from Purchased Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans Credco earns discount revenue from purchasing Card Member receivables and Card Member loans at a discount to par value. The discount is deferred and recognized as revenue over the period that the receivables and loans are estimated to be outstanding or funded. Estimates are based on the historical average life of Card Member receivables and Card Member loans. Interest Income from Affiliates Interest income from affiliates is earned on interest-bearing loans made by Credco to affiliates. Interest income is accrued primarily using the average daily balance method on loans and is recognized based on the outstanding loan principal amount and interest rates specified in the agreements until the outstanding loan balance is paid. Finance Revenue Finance revenue is assessed using the average daily balance method for Card Member loans and is recognized based upon the loan principal amount outstanding in accordance with the terms of the applicable account agreement until the outstanding balance is paid or written off. Interest Expense Interest expense includes interest incurred primarily to fund Card Member receivables and Card Member loans, general corporate purposes and liquidity needs, and is recognized as incurred.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash and amounts due from banks, interest-bearing bank balances, and other highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards	Recently Issued Accounting Standards In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting guidance for the recognition of credit losses on certain financial instruments. The guidance, as amended and effective January 1, 2020, introduces a new credit reserving methodology known as the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) approach, which differs significantly from the incurred loss approach used through December 31, 2019 and alters the estimation process, inputs and assumptions used in estimating credit losses. The CECL methodology requires measurement of expected credit losses for the estimated life of the financial instrument, not only based on historical experience and current conditions, but also by including reasonable and supportable forecasts incorporating forward-looking information. Credco's approach incorporates separate reasonable and supportable periods for Card Member receivables and Card Member loans and uses a weighted average of multiple future economic scenarios. Additionally, the guidance requires a modified retrospective transition, which records the difference between the reserves measured using the CECL methodology and the reserves using the incurred loss approach, tax effected, as a cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption through retained earnings. As a result, Credco's financial position and results of operations for periods prior to January 1, 2020 will not be restated.
Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans	Card Member Receivables Card Member receivables represent amounts due on American Express charge card products. For American Express, the Card Member receivables are recorded at the time a Card Member enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant. Each charge card transaction is authorized based on its likely economics, a Card Member’s most recent credit information and spend patterns. Charge Card Members generally must pay the full amount billed each month. Card Member Loans Card Member loans represent revolving amounts due on American Express cards. For American Express lending card products, these Card Member loans are recorded at the time a Card Member enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant, as well as amounts due from charge Card Members who utilize the Pay Over Time features on their account and elect to revolve a portion of the outstanding balance by entering into a revolving payment arrangement with American Express. These loans have a range of terms such as credit limits, interest rates, fees and payment structures, which can be revised over time based on new information about Card Members and in accordance with applicable regulations and the respective product’s terms and conditions. Card Members holding revolving loans are typically required to make monthly payments based on pre-established amounts and the amounts that Card Members choose to revolve are subject to finance charges.
Reserves for Losses	Reserves for losses relating to Card Member receivables and Card Member loans represent management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in Credco’s outstanding portfolio of receivables and loans, as of the balance sheet date. Management’s evaluation process requires certain estimates and judgments. Reserves for losses are primarily based upon statistical and analytical models that analyze portfolio performance and reflect management’s judgments regarding the quantitative components of the reserve. The models take into account several factors, including delinquency-based loss migration rates, loss emergence periods and average losses and recoveries over an appropriate historical period. Management considers whether to adjust the quantitative reserves for certain external and internal qualitative factors, which may increase or decrease the reserves for losses on Card Member receivables and loans. These external factors include employment, spend, sentiment, housing and credit, and changes in the legal and regulatory environment, while the internal factors include increased risk in certain portfolios, impact of risk management initiatives, changes in underwriting requirements and overall process stability. As part of this evaluation process, management also considers various reserve coverage metrics, such as reserves as a percentage of past due amounts, reserves as a percentage of Card Member receivables or loans and net write-off coverage ratios. Card Member receivables and Card Member loans balances are written off when management considers amounts to be uncollectible, which is generally determined by the number of days past due and is typically no later than 180 days past due. Card Member receivables and Card Member loans in bankruptcy or owed by deceased individuals are generally written off upon notification.
Derivatives Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities	A majority of Credco’s derivative assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 are subject to master netting agreements with its derivative counterparties. Credco has no derivative amounts subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that are not offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.Credco’s derivatives are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for changes in fair value depends on the instruments’ intended use and the resulting hedge designation, if anyCredco formally assesses, at inception of the hedge accounting relationship and on a quarterly basis, whether derivatives designated as hedges are highly effective in offsetting the fair value or cash flows of the hedged items. These assessments usually are made through the application of a regression analysis method. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, Credco will discontinue the application of hedge accounting.Gains or losses on the fair value hedging instrument principally offset the losses or gains on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk.Credco has derivatives that act as economic hedges, but are not designated as such for hedge accounting purposes. Foreign currency transactions from time to time may be partially or fully economically hedged through foreign currency contracts, primarily foreign exchange forwards. These hedges generally mature within one year. Foreign currency contracts involve the purchase and sale of designated currencies at an agreed-upon rate for settlement on a specified date.The changes in the fair value of derivatives that are not designated as hedges are intended to offset the related foreign exchange gains or losses of the underlying foreign currency exposures.
Fair Value	Credco monitors the market conditions and evaluates the fair value hierarchy levels at least quarterly.
Income Taxes	The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the Tax Act), enacted on December 22, 2017, made broad and complex changes to the U.S. federal corporate income tax rules. Most notably, effective January 1, 2018, the Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal statutory corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, introduced a territorial tax system in which future dividends paid from earnings outside the United States to a U.S. corporation are not subject to U.S. federal taxation and imposed new U.S. federal corporate income taxes on certain foreign operations. The results of operations of Credco are included in the consolidated U.S. federal income tax return of American Express. Under an agreement with American Express, provision for income taxes is recognized on a separate company basis. If benefits for net operating losses, future tax deductions and foreign tax credits cannot be recognized on a separate company basis, such benefits
Income Tax Uncertainties	The amount of benefit recognized for financial reporting purposes is based on management’s best judgment of the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized on ultimate settlement with the taxing authority given the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. Credco adjusts the level of unrecognized tax benefits when there is new information available to assess the likelihood of the outcome.

Card Member Receivables and C_2

Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Accounts Receivable And Loans Tables [Abstract]
Card Member receivables detail	Card Member receivables as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 consisted of: (Millions) 2019 2018 Global Consumer Services Group (a) $ 9,847 $ 8,485 Global Commercial Services (b) 15,710 16,111 Card Member receivables (c) 25,557 24,596 Less: Reserve for losses 162 167 Card Member receivables, net (d) $ 25,395 $ 24,429 (a) Comprised of U.S. and International Consumer Services. (b) Comprised of Corporate and Small Business Services. (c) Net of deferred discount revenue totaling $75 million and $68 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. (d) Card Member receivables modified in a troubled debt restructuring (TDR) program were immaterial.
Card Member loans detail	Card Member loans as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 consisted of: (Millions) 2019 2018 Global Consumer Services Group (a) $ 697 $ 641 Less: Reserve for losses 10 5 Card Member loans, net (b) $ 687 $ 636 (a) Comprised of International Consumer Services. (b) Card Member loans modified in a TDR program were immaterial.
Aging of Card Member receivables and loans	The following table presents the aging of Card Member receivables and Card Member loans as of December 31, 2019 and 2018: 2019 (Millions) Current 30-59 60-89 90+ Days Total Card Member Receivables: Global Consumer Services Group $ 9,766 $ 29 $ 16 $ 36 $ 9,847 Global Commercial Services Global Small Business Services 1,996 10 5 9 2,020 Global Corporate Payments (a) (b) (b) (b) 105 13,690 Card Member Loans: Global Consumer Services Group $ 689 $ 3 $ 2 $ 3 $ 697 2018 (Millions) Current 30-59 60-89 90+ Days Total Card Member Receivables: Global Consumer Services Group $ 8,432 $ 17 $ 12 $ 24 $ 8,485 Global Commercial Services Global Small Business Services 1,787 7 4 7 1,805 Global Corporate Payments (a) (b) (b) (b) 103 14,306 Card Member Loans: Global Consumer Services Group $ 636 $ 2 $ 1 $ 2 $ 641 (a) Delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A Card Member account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the Card Member’s billing statement date. In addition, if collection procedures are initiated on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing, the associated Card Member receivable balance is classified as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes. See also (b). (b) Delinquency data for periods other than 90 days past billing is not available due to system constraints. Therefore, such data has not been utilized for risk management purposes. The balances that are current to 89 days past due can be derived as the difference between the Total and the 90+ Days Past Due balances.
Credit quality indicators for receivables and loans	The following tables present the key credit quality indicators as of or for the years ended December 31: 2019 2018 Net (a) 30+ Days Net (a) 30+ Days Card Member Receivables: Global Consumer Services Group 1.10 % 0.82 % 1.14 % 0.62 % Global Small Business Services 1.39 % 1.19 % 1.34 % 1.00 % Card Member Loans: Global Consumer Services Group 1.53 % 1.15 % 1.03 % 0.78 % 2019 2018 Net Loss 90+ Days Net Loss 90+ Days (b) (b) Card Member Receivables: Global Corporate Payments 0.06 % 0.77 % 0.08 % 0.72 % (a) Represents the amount of Card Member receivables or Card Member loans owned by Credco that are written off, net of recoveries, expressed as a percentage of the average Card Member receivables or Card Member loans balances in each of the periods indicated. (b) Represents the amount of Card Member receivables owned by Credco that are written off, net of recoveries, expressed as a percentage of the volume of Card Member receivables purchased by Credco in each of the periods indicated.

Reserves for Losses (Tables)

Reserves for Losses (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Reserves for Losses [Abstract]
Changes in the Card Member Receivable Reserve for Losses	The following table presents changes in the Card Member receivables reserve for losses for the years ended December 31: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Balance, January 1 $ 167 $ 145 $ 110 Provisions 216 243 238 Other credits (a) 13 53 58 Net write-offs (b) (229) (238) (198) Other debits (c) (5) (36) (63) Balance, December 31 $ 162 $ 167 $ 145 (a) Primarily reserve balances related to new groups of, and participation interests in, Card Member receivables purchased from affiliates, totaling $2.7 billion, $9.8 billion and $9.4 billion for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. (b) Net of recoveries of $125 million, $119 million and $95 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. (c) Primarily reserve balances related to participation interests in Card Member receivables sold to an affiliate. Participation interests in Card Member receivables sold totaled $1.1 billion, $6.2 billion and $9.4 billion for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Changes in the Card Member Loans Reserve for Losses	The following table presents changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses for the years ended December 31: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Balance, January 1 $ 5 $ 5 $ 5 Provisions 14 6 6 Net write-offs (a) (9) (6) (6) Balance, December 31 $ 10 $ 5 $ 5 (a) Net of recoveries of $1.6 million, $1.8 million and $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Debt (Tables)

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Short-term debt	Credco’s short-term debt outstanding (excluding short-term debt to affiliates), defined as borrowings with original contractual maturity dates of less than one year, as of December 31 was as follows: 2019 2018 (Millions, except percentages) Outstanding Year-End Stated Interest Rate on Debt (a) Outstanding Year-End Stated Interest Rate on Debt (a) Commercial paper (b) $ 3,001 1.94 % $ 752 2.71 % Other short-term borrowings (c) 215 1.58 74 2.39 Total $ 3,216 1.91 % $ 826 2.68 % (a) For floating-rate issuances, the stated interest rates are weighted based on the outstanding principal balances and interest rates in effect as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. (b) Average commercial paper outstanding was $299 million and $228 million in 2019 and 2018, respectively. (c) Represents interest-bearing book overdrafts with banks .
Long-term debt	Credco’s long-term debt outstanding (excluding long-term debt to affiliates), defined as debt with original contractual maturity dates of one year or greater, as of December 31 was as follows: 2019 2018 Outstanding Balance (a) Year-End Interest Rate on Debt (b) Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (b)(c) Outstanding Balance (a) Year-End Interest Rate on Debt (b) Year-End Interest Rate with Swaps (b)(c) (Millions, except Fixed Rate Senior Notes 2020-2027 $ 11,839 2.40 % 2.56 % $ 16,677 2.28 % 3.06 % Floating Rate Senior Notes 2020-2022 1,650 2.64 — 3,800 3.31 — Unamortized Underwriting Fees (20) (30) Total Long-Term Debt $ 13,469 2.43 % $ 20,447 2.47 % (a) The outstanding balances include (i) unamortized discount, (ii) the impact of movements in exchange rates on foreign currency denominated debt and (iii) the impact of fair value hedge accounting on certain fixed-rate notes that have been swapped to floating rate through the use of interest rate swaps. Refer to Note 6 for more details on Credco’s treatment of fair value hedges. (b) For floating-rate issuances, the stated interest rate on debt is weighted based on outstanding principal balances and interest rates in effect as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. (c) Interest rates with swaps are only presented when swaps are in place to hedge the underlying debt. The interest rates with swaps are weighted based on the outstanding principal balances and the interest rates on the floating leg of the swaps in effect as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Aggregate annual maturities on long-term debt obligations	Aggregate annual maturities on long-term debt obligations (based on contractual maturity or anticipated redemption dates) as of December 31, 2019 were as follows: (Millions) 2020 $ 6,600 2021 2,864 2022 2,050 2023 — 2024 — Thereafter 2,000 Total 13,514 Unamortized Underwriting Fees (20) Unamortized Discount (23) Impacts due to Fair Value Hedge Accounting (2) Total Long-Term Debt $ 13,469

Derivatives and Hedging Activ_2

Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of derivative instruments in statement of financial position, fair value	The following table summarizes the total fair value, excluding interest accruals, of derivative assets and liabilities as of December 31: Other Assets Other Liabilities (Millions) 2019 2018 2019 2018 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: Fair value hedges - Interest rate contracts (a)(b) $ — $ — $ — $ — Net investment hedges - Foreign exchange contracts 12 57 44 10 Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments 12 57 44 10 Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: Foreign exchange contracts 31 220 182 6 Total derivatives, gross 43 277 226 16 Derivative asset and derivative liability netting (c) (27) (11) (27) (11) Total derivatives, net $ 16 $ 266 $ 199 $ 5 (a) For Credco’s centrally cleared derivatives, variation margin payments are legally characterized as settlement payments as opposed to collateral. (b) Credco posted $20 million and $55 million as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as initial margin on its centrally cleared interest rate swaps; such amounts are recorded within Other assets on Credco’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and are not netted against the derivative balances. (c) Represents the amount of netting of derivative assets and derivative liabilities executed with the same counterparties under an enforceable master netting arrangement.
Effect of fair value hedges on results of operations	The following table presents the gains and losses associated with the fair value hedges of Credco’s fixed-rate long-term debt for the years ended December 31: Gains (losses) (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Interest Expense (a) Interest Expense (a) Other, net expenses Fixed-rate long-term debt $ (181) $ 29 $ 100 Derivatives designated as hedging instruments 184 (13) (129) Total $ 3 $ 16 $ (29)

Fair Values (Tables)

Fair Values (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair value assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis	The following table summarizes Credco’s financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized by GAAP’s fair value hierarchy as Level 2 (as described in the preceding paragraphs), as of December 31: (Millions) 2019 2018 Assets: Derivatives, gross (a) $ 43 $ 277 Total assets 43 277 Liabilities: Derivatives, gross (a) 226 16 Total liabilities $ 226 $ 16 (a) Refer to Note 6 for the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities, on a further disaggregated basis.
Summary of Estimated Fair Values of Financial Assets and Liabilities	The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of Credco’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at amortized cost, and not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis, as of December 31, 2019 and 2018. The fair values of these financial instruments are estimates based upon the market conditions and perceived risks as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and require management's judgment. These figures may not be indicative of future fair values, nor can the fair value of Credco be estimated by aggregating the amounts presented. Carrying Corresponding Fair Value Amount 2019 (Billions) Value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Financial Assets: Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value Cash and cash equivalents $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — Other financial assets (a) 26.3 26.3 0.1 26.2 — Financial assets carried at other than fair value Card Member loans, net 0.7 0.7 — — 0.7 Loans to affiliates and other 10.3 10.4 — 2.8 7.6 Financial Liabilities: Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 11.2 11.2 — 11.2 — Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value Long-term debt 13.5 13.7 — 13.7 — Long-term debt to affiliates $ 9.3 $ 9.4 $ — $ 9.4 $ — Carrying Corresponding Fair Value Amount 2018 (Billions) Value Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Financial Assets: Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value Cash and cash equivalents (b) $ 0.1 $ 0.1 $ 0.1 $ — $ — Other financial assets (a) 24.9 24.9 0.1 24.8 — Financial assets carried at other than fair value Card Member loans, net 0.6 0.6 — — 0.6 Loans to affiliates and other 14.1 14.1 — 7.4 6.7 Financial Liabilities: Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 9.0 9.0 — 9.0 — Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value Long-term debt 20.4 20.5 — 20.5 — Long-term debt to affiliates $ 7.5 $ 7.3 $ — $ 7.3 $ — (a) Level 1 amounts reflect interest-bearing restricted cash and Level 2 amounts primarily reflect Card Member receivables. (b) Amounts reflect interest-bearing deposits.

Transactions with Affiliates (T

Transactions with Affiliates (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Certain transactions with affiliates	Transactions with affiliates as of or for the years ended December 31, were as follows: (Millions, except percentages) 2019 2018 2017 Loans to affiliates and other $ 10,345 $ 14,136 $ 14,527 Average interest rate on loans to affiliates and other 2.89 % 2.79 % 2.19 % Due from affiliates $ 652 $ 210 $ 189 Restricted cash with affiliates 116 93 100 Short-term debt to affiliates 6,225 5,899 5,997 Average interest rate on short-term debt to affiliates 2.33 % 2.09 % 1.04 % Maximum month-end level of short-term debt during the year $ 7,087 $ 14,216 $ 8,377 Long-term debt to affiliates 9,292 7,523 270 Average interest rate on long-term debt to affiliates 3.17 % 2.69 % 0.23 % Maximum month-end level of long-term debt during the year $ 13,391 $ 8,725 270 Due to affiliates 2,133 2,869 1,988 Maximum month-end level of loans to affiliates during the year 14,264 14,136 14,527 Interest income from affiliates and other 332 383 279 Interest expense to affiliates 433 225 58 Other, net expense 2 2 2 Interest paid on short-term and long-term debt $ 421 $ 198 $ 54
Components of loans to affiliates	The components of loans to affiliates and other as of December 31 were as follows: (Millions) 2019 2018 American Express Services Europe Limited $ 4,206 $ 3,552 American Express Australia Limited 2,052 1,839 Amex Bank of Canada 1,587 1,334 Amex Global Holdings C.V. 888 888 American Express Company (Mexico) S.A. de C.V. 534 463 American Express International, Inc., Singapore Branch 413 383 American Express Bank (Mexico) S.A. 404 348 Alpha Card S.C.R.L./C.V.B.A. 120 114 American Express Saudi Arabia (C) JSC 71 53 American Express International (NZ), Inc. 70 72 American Express Limited (a) — 3,847 American Express International, Inc. (a) — 1,243 Total (b) $ 10,345 $ 14,136 (a) As a result of funding structure changes in the ordinary course of business, Credco terminated the intercompany loan agreement with American Express Limited and American Express International, Inc. and settled the related borrowings from American Express Company during the second quarter of 2019. (b) As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, approximately $8.2 billion and $7.2 billion, respectively, were collateralized by the underlying Card Member receivables and loans transferred with recourse.
Components of short-term debt to affiliates	Short-term debt to affiliates consists primarily of interest-bearing master notes payable on demand. Credco does not expect any changes to its short-term funding strategies with affiliates. Components of short-term debt to affiliates as of December 31 were as follows: (Millions) 2019 2018 AE Exposure Management Limited $ 5,731 $ 5,122 American Express Europe LLC 219 517 American Express Holdings Netherlands CV 192 192 Accertify Inc. 82 68 American Express Swiss Holdings GmbH 1 — Total $ 6,225 $ 5,899
Components of long-term debt to affiliates	Components of long-term debt to affiliates as of December 31 were as follows: 2019 2018 Year-End Stated Year-End Stated (Millions, except percentages) American Express Company (a) $ 8,959 2.85 % $ 7,240 3.32 % Amex Funding Management (Europe) Limited (b) 333 0.28 283 0.28 Total $ 9,292 2.76 % $ 7,523 3.20 % (a) Amounts payable by November 2023. (b) Amounts payable by September 2021.

Changes in Accumulated Other _2

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	Changes in Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments for the three years ended December 31 were as follows: (Millions), net of tax Foreign Balances as of December 31, 2016 $ (1,263) Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations (a) 439 Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations (174) Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss 265 Balances as of December 31, 2017 (998) Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations (189) Net gains related to hedges of investments in foreign operations 127 Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss (62) Balances as of December 31, 2018 (1,060) Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations 17 Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations (44) Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss (27) Balances as of December 31, 2019 $ (1,087) (a) Includes $289 million of tax benefit recognized in the year ended December 31, 2017 (refer to Note 10).
Foreign currency translation adjustments - tax effect	The following table shows the tax impact for the three years ended December 31 for the changes in Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments presented above: Tax expense (benefit) (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Net translation on investments in foreign operations (a) $ 5 $ (23) $ (209) Net hedges of investments in foreign operations (14) 40 (103) Total tax impact $ (9) $ 17 $ (312) (a) Includes $289 million of tax benefit recognized in the year ended December 31, 2017 (refer to Note 10).

Income Taxes (Tables)

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Components of income tax expense	The components of income tax expense for the years ended December 31 included in Credco’s Consolidated Statements of Income were as follows: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Current income tax expense (benefit): U.S. federal $ 45 $ (14) $ 785 U.S. state and local 13 (6) 15 Non-U.S. 23 84 24 Total current income tax expense 81 64 824 Deferred income tax expense (benefit): U.S. federal 11 (28) 58 U.S. state and local — 1 1 Non-U.S. 2 (8) (5) Total deferred income tax expense (benefit) 13 (35) 54 Total income tax expense $ 94 $ 29 $ 878
Effective income tax rate	A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21 percent as of both December 31, 2019, and 2018, and 35 percent as of December 31, 2017, to Credco’s actual income tax rate on continuing operations was as follows: 2019 2018 2017 U.S. statutory federal income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 35.0 % Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from: State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit 0.8 (0.4) (0.3) Non-U.S. subsidiaries earnings (a) (3.7) (8.7) (25.7) Tax settlements (b) — — (1.1) U.S. Tax Act (c) — (5.6) 311.6 Other (d) 0.3 0.7 (0.2) Actual tax rate 18.4 % 7.0 % 319.3 % (a) 2017 primarily included tax benefits associated with the undistributed earnings of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries that were deemed to be reinvested indefinitely. (b) Related to the resolution of tax matters in various jurisdictions. (c) 2017 included the $858 million provisional charge for the impacts of the Tax Act and the adjustments thereto are included in 2018. (d) Results for all years include the impact of prior year tax returns filed in the current year.
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities	The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31 are reflected in the following table: (Millions) 2019 2018 Deferred tax assets: Reserves not yet deducted for tax purposes $ 29 $ 36 State income taxes 9 7 Foreign exchange loss 32 42 Other 25 29 Gross deferred tax assets 95 114 Deferred tax liabilities: Investment in foreign subsidiaries (a) 74 77 Gross deferred tax liabilities 74 77 Net deferred tax assets $ 21 $ 37 (a) Deferred state income and foreign withholding tax consequences of future cash distributions from non-U.S. subsidiaries .
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits	The following table presents changes in unrecognized tax benefits: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Balance, January 1 $ 73 $ 24 $ 308 Increases: Current year tax positions 5 4 8 Tax positions related to prior years 4 46 — Decreases: Tax positions related to prior years (a) — — (289) Lapse of statute of limitations (2) (1) (3) Balance, December 31 $ 80 $ 73 $ 24 (a) Decrease due to the resolution with the IRS of an uncertain tax position in January 2017, which resulted in the recognition of $289 million in shareholder’s equity, specifically within AOCI.
Deemed repatriation tax payments due by year	Payments due by year (Millions) 2020 2021 - 2022 2023 – 2024 2025 and thereafter Total Deemed repatriation tax (a) $ — $ — $ 115 $ 326 $ 441 (a) In 2019, the IRS applied the prior year U.S. federal income tax return overpayment against a portion of the remaining obligation.

Significant Credit Concentrat_2

Significant Credit Concentrations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Concentration Risk Disclosure [Abstract]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category	The following table details Credco’s maximum credit exposure of the on-balance sheet assets by category, as of December 31: (Billions) 2019 2018 On-balance sheet: Loans to affiliates and other $ 10 $ 14 Institutions (a) 13 14 Individuals (b) 12 11 Financial Services (c) 1 1 Due from affiliates 1 — Total on-balance sheet $ 37 $ 40 (a) Primarily reflects Card Member receivables from other corporate institutions, which are governed by institutional credit risk management. (b) Primarily reflects Card Member receivables and loans, which are governed by individual credit risk management. (c) Represents banks, broker-dealers, insurance companies and savings and loan associations.
Card Member receivables and loans exposure	The following table details Credco’s Card Member receivables and loans exposure in the United States and outside the United States as of December 31: (Billions) 2019 2018 United States $ 19 $ 18 Outside the United States 7 7 Total $ 26 $ 25

Geographic Regions (Tables)

Geographic Regions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Geographic Regions Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue and pretax income in different geographic regions	The following table presents Credco’s revenues and pretax income in different geographic regions based, in part, upon internal allocations, which necessarily involve management’s judgment: (Millions) 2019 2018 2017 Revenues United States $ 1,133 $ 1,033 $ 779 Outside the United States 482 428 308 Consolidated $ 1,615 $ 1,461 $ 1,087 Pretax income United States $ 61 $ 28 $ 9 Outside the United States 451 388 266 Consolidated $ 512 $ 416 $ 275

Quarterly Financial Data (Una_2

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Quarterly financial data	Quarterly financial information for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are summarized as follows: (Millions) 2019 2018 Quarters ended 12/31 9/30 6/30 3/31 12/31 9/30 6/30 3/31 Revenues $ 377 $ 388 $ 418 $ 432 $ 406 $ 386 $ 351 $ 318 Pretax income 132 131 130 119 108 107 93 108 Net income $ 93 $ 110 $ 112 $ 103 $ 61 $ 109 $ 88 $ 129

Summary of Significant Accoun_3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Textuals (Details) $ in Millions	Jan. 01, 2020USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio		1.25
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Decrease in receivable reserves		$ (162)	$ (167)	$ (145)	$ (110)
Current and deferred tax impact		(21)	(37)
Retained earnings, net of tax		$ 3,513	$ 3,095
ASU 2016-13 | Forecast [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Decrease in receivable reserves	$ 147
Increase in loan reserves	7
Current and deferred tax impact	24
Retained earnings, net of tax	$ 116

Card Member Receivables and C_3

Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounts Receivable Segment [Abstract]
Less: Reserve for losses	$ 162	$ 167	$ 145	$ 110
Card Member receivables, net	25,395	24,429
Net of deferred discount revenues	75	68
Card Member Receivables [Member]
Accounts Receivable Segment [Abstract]
Card Member receivables	25,557	24,596
Less: Reserve for losses	162	167
Card Member receivables, net	25,395	24,429
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Accounts Receivable Segment [Abstract]
Card Member receivables	9,847	8,485
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Accounts Receivable Segment [Abstract]
Card Member receivables	$ 15,710	$ 16,111

Card Member Receivables and C_4

Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Less: Reserve for losses	$ 10	$ 5	$ 5	$ 5
Card Member loans, net	687	636
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Card Member loans, gross	697	641
Less: Reserve for losses	10	5
Card Member loans, net	$ 687	$ 636

Card Member Receivables and C_5

Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans 2 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Card Member receivables total aging	$ 25,557	$ 24,596
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Current	9,766	8,432
Card Member receivables total aging	9,847	8,485
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Current	689	636
Card Member loans total aging	697	641
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | 30-59 Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	29	17
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | 30-59 Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	3	2
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | 60-89 Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	16	12
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | 60-89 Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	2	1
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | 90+ Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	36	24
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | 90+ Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	3	2
Global Small Business Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Current	1,996	1,787
Card Member receivables total aging	2,020	1,805
Global Small Business Services [Member] | 30-59 Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	10	7
Global Small Business Services [Member] | 60-89 Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	5	4
Global Small Business Services [Member] | 90+ Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	9	7
Global Corporate Payments [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Card Member receivables total aging	13,690	14,306
Global Corporate Payments [Member] | 90+ Days Past Due [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Aging [Abstract]
Period past due	$ 105	$ 103

Card Member Receivables and C_6

Card Member Receivables and Card Member Loans 3 (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member] | Net Write-Off Rate [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Credit quality indicators	1.10%	1.14%
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member] | 30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Credit quality indicators	0.82%	0.62%
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member] | Net Write-Off Rate [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Credit quality indicators	1.53%	1.03%
Global Consumer Services Group [Member] | Card Member Loans [Member] | 30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Credit quality indicators	1.15%	0.78%
Global Small Business Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member] | Net Write-Off Rate [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Credit quality indicators	1.39%	1.34%
Global Small Business Services [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member] | 30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Credit quality indicators	1.19%	1.00%
Global Corporate Payments [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member] | Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Credit quality indicators	0.06%	0.08%
Global Corporate Payments [Member] | Card Member Receivables [Member] | 90+ days past billing as a percentage of receivables [Member]
Credit Quality Indicator for Receivables and Loans
Credit quality indicators	0.77%	0.72%

Reserves for Losses - Changes i

Reserves for Losses - Changes in Card Member Receivables Reserve for Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Changes in the Card Member receivable reserve for losses
Balance, January 1	$ 167	$ 145	$ 110
Provisions	216	243	238
Other credits	13	53	58
Net write-offs	(229)	(238)	(198)
Other debits	(5)	(36)	(63)
Balance, December 31	162	167	145
Participation interests in Card Member receivables purchased from affiliates	2,700	9,800	9,400
Allowance for card member receivables, recoveries of bad debts	125	119	95
Participation interest in card member receivables sold to affiliates	$ 1,100	$ 6,200	$ 9,400

Reserves for Losses - Changes_2

Reserves for Losses - Changes in Card Member Loans Reserve for Losses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses [Roll Forward]
Balance, January 1	$ 5	$ 5	$ 5
Provisions	14	6	6
Net write-offs	(9)	(6)	(6)
Balance, December 31	10	5	5
Allowance for card member loans, recoveries of bad debts	$ 1.6	$ 1.8	$ 1

Debt (Details)

Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 3,216	$ 826
Average commercial paper outstanding	$ 299	$ 228
Short-term Debt [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	1.91%	2.68%
Commercial Paper [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 3,001	$ 752
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	1.94%	2.71%
Other Short Term Borrowings [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member]
Short-term Debt [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 215	$ 74
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	1.58%	2.39%

Debt 1 (Details)

Debt 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 13,469	$ 20,447
Unamortized Underwriting Fees	$ (20)	$ (30)
Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	2.43%	2.47%
Fixed Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Contractual Maturity Dates, Start	2020
Original Contractual Maturity Dates, End	2027
Outstanding Balance	$ 11,839	$ 16,677
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	2.40%	2.28%
Year End Interest Rate With Swaps	2.56%	3.06%
Floating Rate Senior Notes Amount [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Original Contractual Maturity Dates, Start	2020
Original Contractual Maturity Dates, End	2022
Outstanding Balance	$ 1,650	$ 3,800
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	2.64%	3.31%
Year End Interest Rate With Swaps	0.00%	0.00%

Debt 2 (Details)

Debt 2 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2020	$ 6,600
2021	2,864
2022	2,050
2023	0
2024	0
Thereafter	2,000
Total	13,514
Unamortized Underwriting Fees	(20)	$ (30)
Unamortized Discount	(23)
Impacts due to Fair Value Hedge Accounting	(2)
Total Long-Term Debt	$ 13,469	$ 20,447

Debt Textuals (Details)

Debt Textuals (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fees to maintain credit lines	$ 4,900,000	$ 2,500,000
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio	1.25
Line of credit facility financial covenants combined earnings and fixed charges to fixed charges ratio actual	1.54
Total interest paid on short and long term debt	$ 500,000,000	600,000,000	$ 500,000,000
Long-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total bank lines of credit of the company	3,500,000,000	3,500,000,000
Unutilized total credit lines	$ 3,500,000,000	$ 3,500,000,000

Restrictions as to Dividends _2

Restrictions as to Dividends and Limitations on Indebtness Textual (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Disclosure of Restrictions on Dividends, Loans and Advances Disclosure [Abstract]
Minimum consolidated net worth	$ 50
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio	1.25

Derivatives and Hedging Activ_3

Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, gross	$ 43	$ 277
Total derivative liabilities, gross	226	16
Derivative asset netting	(27)	(11)
Derivative liability netting	(27)	(11)
Total derivatives assets, net	16	266
Total derivatives liabilities, net	199	5
Margin on interest rate swap not netted	20	55
Other Assets [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, gross	12	57
Other Assets [Member] | Interest Rate Contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, gross	0	0
Other Assets [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, gross	12	57
Other Assets [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, gross	31	220
Other Liabilities [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative liabilities, gross	44	10
Other Liabilities [Member] | Interest Rate Contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative liabilities, gross	0	0
Other Liabilities [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative liabilities, gross	44	10
Other Liabilities [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative liabilities, gross	$ 182	$ 6

Derivatives and Hedging Activ_4

Derivatives and Hedging Activities 1 (Details) - Interest Rate Contracts [Member] - Fair Value Hedging [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Interest Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Fixed-rate long-term debt	$ (181)	$ 29
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	184	(13)
Total	$ 3	$ 16
Other Expense [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Fixed-rate long-term debt			$ 100
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments			(129)
Total			$ (29)

Derivatives and Hedging Activ_5

Derivatives and Hedging Activities Textuals (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives, hedged liabilities	$ 8,700	$ 13,500
Cumulative amount of fair value hedging adjustments	(2)	(184)
Net increases (reductions) in interest expense on long-term debt	90	75	$ (53)
Notional amounts of foreign currency derivatives	3,000	2,900
Gain (loss) on net investment hedges	(44)	127	(174)
Net gains on derivatives not designated as hedges	87	59	$ 21
Credit Risk Contract [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of derivative in net liability position	38
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Derivatives, hedged liabilities	$ 8,800	$ 13,800

Fair Value (Details)

Fair Value (Details) - Level 2 [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets [Abstract]
Derivatives, gross	$ 43	$ 277
Total assets	43	277
Liabilities [Abstract]
Derivatives, gross	226	16
Total liabilities	$ 226	$ 16

Fair Value 1 (Details)

Fair Value 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 33	$ 102	$ 196
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, net	687	636
Loans to affiliates and other	10,345	14,136	14,527
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt	13,469	20,447
Long-term debt with affiliates	9,292	7,523	$ 270
Carrying Value [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	0	100
Other financial assets	26,300	24,900
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, net	700	600
Loans to affiliates and other	10,300	14,100
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	11,200	9,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt	13,500	20,400
Long-term debt with affiliates	9,300	7,500
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	0	100
Other financial assets	26,300	24,900
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, net	700	600
Loans to affiliates and other	10,400	14,100
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	11,200	9,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt	13,700	20,500
Long-term debt with affiliates	9,400	7,300
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	0	100
Other financial assets	100	100
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, net	0	0
Loans to affiliates and other	0	0
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	0	0
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt with affiliates	0	0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Other financial assets	26,200	24,800
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, net	0	0
Loans to affiliates and other	2,800	7,400
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	11,200	9,000
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt	13,700	20,500
Long-term debt with affiliates	9,400	7,300
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Other financial assets	0	0
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
Card Member loans, net	700	600
Loans to affiliates and other	7,600	6,700
Financial Liabilities:
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value	0	0
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
Long-term debt	0	0
Long-term debt with affiliates	$ 0	$ 0

Fair Value Textuals (Details)

Fair Value Textuals (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value for impairment	$ 0	$ 0

Transactions with Affiliates (D

Transactions with Affiliates (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Loans to affiliates and other	$ 10,345	$ 14,136	$ 14,527
Average interest rate on loans to affiliates and other	2.89%	2.79%	2.19%
Due from affiliates	$ 652	$ 210	$ 189
Restricted cash with affiliates	116	93	100
Short-term debt to affiliates	$ 6,225	$ 5,899	$ 5,997
Average interest rate on short-term debt to affiliates	2.33%	2.09%	1.04%
Maximum month-end level of short-term borrowings during the year	$ 7,087	$ 14,216	$ 8,377
Long-term debt with affiliates	$ 9,292	$ 7,523	$ 270
Average interest rate long-term debt to affiliates	3.17%	2.69%	0.23%
Maximum month-end level of long-term borrowings during the year	$ 13,391	$ 8,725	$ 270
Due to affiliates	2,133	2,869	1,988
Maximum month-end level of loans to affiliates during the year	14,264	14,136	14,527
Interest income from affiliates and other	332	383	279
Interest expense to affiliates	433	225	58
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Other, net expense	(81)	(55)	15
Interest paid on short-term and long-term debt	421	198	54
Related Party [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Other, net expense	$ 2	$ 2	$ 2

Transactions with Affiliates 1

Transactions with Affiliates 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	$ 10,345	$ 14,136	$ 14,527
American Express Services Europe Limited [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	4,206	3,552
American Express Australia Limited [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	2,052	1,839
Amex Bank of Canada [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	1,587	1,334
Amex Global Holdings CV [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	888	888
American Express Company (Mexico) S.A. de C.V. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	534	463
American Express International, Inc. - Branch - Singapore [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	413	383
American Express Bank (Mexico) S.A. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	404	348
Alpha Card S.C.R.L./C.V.B.A [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	120	114
American Express Saudi Arabia (C) JSC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	71	53
American Express International (NZ), Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	70	72
American Express Limited [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	0	3,847
American Express International, Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	$ 0	$ 1,243

Transactions with Affiliates 2

Transactions with Affiliates 2 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term debt to affiliates	$ 6,225	$ 5,899	$ 5,997
AE Exposure Management Limited [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term debt to affiliates	5,731	5,122
American Express Europe LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term debt to affiliates	219	517
American Express Holdings Netherlands CV [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term debt to affiliates	192	192
Accertify Inc. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term debt to affiliates	82	68
American Express Swiss Holdings Gmbh [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term debt to affiliates	$ 1	$ 0

Transactions with Affiliates 3

Transactions with Affiliates 3 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 13,469	$ 20,447
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 9,292	$ 7,523
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	2.76%	3.20%
American Express Company [Member] | Maturity November 2023 [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 8,959	$ 7,240
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	2.85%	3.32%
Amex Funding Management (Europe) Limited [Member] | Maturity September 2021 [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Outstanding Balance	$ 333	$ 283
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt	0.28%	0.28%

Transactions with Affiliates Te

Transactions with Affiliates Textuals (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Card Member receivables and loans purchased without recourse from TRS	$ 316,000,000,000	$ 299,000,000,000	$ 262,000,000,000
Participation interest and card member receivables sold to affiliates	1,100,000,000	6,200,000,000	9,400,000,000
Discount revenue earned from purchased Card Member receivables and Card Member loans	1,204,000,000	1,017,000,000	760,000,000
Participation Interests In Card Member Receivables Purchased	8,100,000,000	6,700,000,000
Uncharged servicing fees to affiliates	328,000,000	305,000,000	234,000,000
Restricted cash with affiliates	116,000,000	93,000,000	100,000,000
Long-term debt with affiliates	9,292,000,000	7,523,000,000	270,000,000
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loss reserves	10,000,000	5,000,000	5,000,000	$ 5,000,000
Loans to affiliates and other	10,345,000,000	14,136,000,000	$ 14,527,000,000
Affiliated Entity [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loss reserves	0	0
RFC VIII [Member] | Collateralized [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans to affiliates and other	$ 8,200,000,000	$ 7,200,000,000

Changes In Accumulated Other _3

Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Changes in other comprehensive income
Beginning balance	$ 2,196	$ 1,871	$ 2,209
Ending balance	2,587	2,196	1,871
Tax benefit recognized in the period			289
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment [Member]
Changes in other comprehensive income
Beginning balance	(1,060)	(998)	(1,263)
Net translation gain (loss) of investments in foreign operations	17	(189)	439
Net (losses) gains related to hedges of investment in foreign operations			(174)
Net (losses) gains related to hedges of investment in foreign operations	(44)	127
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss	(27)	(62)	265
Ending balance	$ (1,087)	$ (1,060)	$ (998)

Changes in Accumulated Other _4

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Tax Affect Of Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Net translation on investments in foreign operations	$ 5	$ (23)	$ (209)
Net hedges of investments in foreign operations	(14)	40	(103)
Total tax impact	$ (9)	$ 17	(312)
Tax benefit recognized in the period			$ 289

Changes in Accumulated Other _5

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Textuals (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Income (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amount of gain loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to income	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Income Taxes (Details)

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Current income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	$ 45	$ (14)	$ 785
U.S. state and local	13	(6)	15
Non-U.S.	23	84	24
Total current income tax expense	81	64	824
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	11	(28)	58
U.S. state and local	0	1	1
Non-U.S.	2	(8)	(5)
Total deferred income tax (benefit) expense	13	(35)	54
Total income tax expense	$ 94	$ 29	$ 878

Income Taxes 1 (Details)

Income Taxes 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Effective tax rate reconciliation
U.S. statutory federal income tax rate	21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
State and local income taxes, net of federal benefit	0.80%	(0.40%)	(0.30%)
Non-U.S. subsidiaries earnings	(3.70%)	(8.70%)	(25.70%)
Tax settlements	0.00%	0.00%	(1.10%)
U.S. Tax Act	0.00%	(5.60%)	311.60%
Other	0.30%	0.70%	(0.20%)
Actual tax rate	18.40%	7.00%	319.30%
Provisional charge for impacts of the Tax Act			$ 858

Income Taxes 2 (Details)

Income Taxes 2 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Deferred tax assets:
Reserves not yet deducted for tax purposes	$ 29	$ 36
State income taxes	9	7
Foreign exchange loss	32	42
Other	25	29
Gross deferred tax assets	95	114
Deferred tax liabilities:
Investment in foreign subsidiaries	74	77
Gross deferred tax liabilities	74	77
Net deferred tax assets	$ 21	$ 37

Income Taxes 3 (Details)

Income Taxes 3 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Balance, January 1	$ 73	$ 24	$ 308
Increases:
Current year tax positions	5	4	8
Tax positions related to prior years	4	46	0
Decreases:
Tax positions related to prior years	0	0	(289)
Lapse of statute of limitations	(2)	(1)	(3)
Balance, December 31	$ 80	$ 73	$ 24

Income Taxes 4 (Details)

Income Taxes 4 (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
2020	$ 0
2021 - 2022	0
2023 – 2024	115
2025 and thereafter	326
Total	$ 441

Income Taxes Textuals (Details)

Income Taxes Textuals (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
U.S. statutory federal income tax rate	21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
Unrecognized tax benefits	$ 80	$ 73	$ 24	$ 308
Unrecognized tax benefits that effect effective tax rate	57	52	19
Unrecognized tax benefits change as a result of potential resolutions of prior years' tax	4
Unrecognized tax benefits income tax penalties and interest expense	3		$ (1)
Unrecognized tax benefits income tax penalties and interest accrued	8	5
Current federal taxes payable/receivable	431	727
Deemed repatriation tax	441
Income tax paid/refund net	359	$ 144
Twelve Month [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Unrecognized tax benefits that effect effective tax rate	$ 3
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member] | Earliest Year [Member]
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Open tax years by major tax jurisdiction	2016

Significant Credit Concentrat_3

Significant Credit Concentrations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	$ 37	$ 40
Loans to Affiliates and Other [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	10	14
Institutions [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	13	14
Individuals [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	12	11
Financial Services [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	1	1
Due from Affiliates [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	$ 1	$ 0

Significant Credit Concentrat_4

Significant Credit Concentrations 1 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	$ 37	$ 40
Card Members Member Loans And Receivables [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	26	25
United States [Member] | Card Members Member Loans And Receivables [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	19	18
Outside the United States [Member] | Card Members Member Loans And Receivables [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	$ 7	$ 7

Geographic Regions (Details)

Geographic Regions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment Revenues and Pretax Income (Loss) by Geographic Location [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 377	$ 388	$ 418	$ 432	$ 406	$ 386	$ 351	$ 318	$ 1,615	$ 1,461	$ 1,087
Pretax income	$ 132	$ 131	$ 130	$ 119	$ 108	$ 107	$ 93	$ 108	512	416	275
United States [Member]
Segment Revenues and Pretax Income (Loss) by Geographic Location [Line Items]
Revenues									1,133	1,033	779
Pretax income									61	28	9
Outside the United States [Member]
Segment Revenues and Pretax Income (Loss) by Geographic Location [Line Items]
Revenues									482	428	308
Pretax income									$ 451	$ 388	$ 266

Quarterly Financial Data (Una_3

Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of quarterly financial data
Revenues	$ 377	$ 388	$ 418	$ 432	$ 406	$ 386	$ 351	$ 318	$ 1,615	$ 1,461	$ 1,087
Pretax income	132	131	130	119	108	107	93	108	512	416	275
Net income (loss)	$ 93	$ 110	$ 112	$ 103	$ 61	$ 109	$ 88	$ 129	$ 418	$ 387	$ (603)

Subsequent Events (Details)

Subsequent Events (Details) - Subsequent Event [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	Feb. 01, 2020	Jan. 07, 2020
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Reduction in long term debt to affiliate	$ 7,200
Card Member Receivables [Member] | Global Corporate Payments [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Sale of Card Member receivables		$ 5,200
Transfer of Card Member receivables	5,200
Card Member Receivables [Member] | Global Consumer Services Group [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Removal of Card Member receivables	$ 7,200