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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2011 Accounts Percent | Sep. 30, 2011 Percent Accounts
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 49,000 | 152,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | $ 377 | $ 1,167
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | 364 | 1,120
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 35,000 | 116,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | 269 | 875
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | 259 | 839
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 14,000 | 36,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | 108 | 292
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | $ 105 | $ 281

X
- Definition The number of financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings. + Details
Name: | axp_FinancingReceivablesModificationsNumberOfContracts
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings after the financing receivable has been modified. + Details
Name: | axp_FinancingReceivablesModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of the outstanding recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings before the financing receivable has been modified. + Details
Name: | axp_FinancingReceivablesModificationsPreModificationRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TroubledDebtRestructuringDebtorCurrentPeriodLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration