XML 45 R58.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT ﻿
v2.3.0.11

Investment Securities (Details Textuals) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2010 | Jun. 30, 2011 | Jun. 30, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010
Investment Securities (Details) [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Other-than-temporary impairments recognized during the period |  |  | $ 0 |  | $ 0
Corporate debt obligations issued under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program | 900,000,000 |  | 900,000,000 |  | 1,300,000,000
Gain on sale of securities | 0 | 1,000,000 | 0 | 2,000,000 |
Losses on sale of securities | $ 0 | $ 6,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 6,000,000 |

X
- Definition Represents amounts of corporate debt obligations, on a cost basis, issued under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program that are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). + Details
Name: | axp_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesCorporateDebtObligationsTemporaryLiquidityGuaranteeProgram
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Investment Securities Details. + Details
Name: | axp_InvestmentSecuritiesDetailsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph a + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the gross loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph a + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the amount of loss recognized for other than temporary impairments of investments in debt and equity securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 16 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration