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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 7) (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, Subsequent Periods [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 10,000 | 41,000
Outstanding Balance Upon Payment Default | $ 72 | $ 303
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Loans [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Subsequent Periods [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 9,000 | 36,000
Outstanding Balance Upon Payment Default | 65 | 271
U S Card Services [Member] | Cardmember Receivables [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Subsequent Periods [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 1,000 | 5,000
Outstanding Balance Upon Payment Default | $ 7 | $ 32

X
- Definition The amount of the outstanding recorded investment modified as TDRs which subsequently defaulted. + Details
Name: | axp_FinancingReceivablesDefaultedInTdrProgramsPostModificationRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of financing receivables in TDR programs that have defaulted. + Details
Name: | axp_FinancingReceivablesModificationsNumberOfContractsDefaultedInTdrPrograms
Namespace Prefix: | axp
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
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_TroubledDebtRestructuringDebtorSubsequentPeriodsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration