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Retirement Plans (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Defined benefit pension plan cost [Member]
Retirement Plans (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest rate of Defined benefit pension plans, Minimum	5.00%
Interest rate of defined benefit pension plans, maximum	10.00%
Net funded status related to the defined benefit pension plans	$ 443	$ (383)	$ (406)
Estimated portion of the net actuarial loss that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic pension benefit cost in 2012	65
Net prior service cost that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic pension benefit cost	0
Expected contribution in next year	26
Weighted-average discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit cost	5.00%	5.30%	5.90%
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic pension benefit costs	5 to 15 years
Defined contribution plan cost [Member]
Retirement Plans (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of shares held of company stock for employees by RSP	11	12
Maximum percentage of total pay that the employee can contribute to the retirement plan	5.00%
Additional annual conversion contributions of total pay that are provided into the RSP	8.00%
Total expense for all defined contribution retirement plans	252	217	118
Other postretirement benefit plan cost [Member]
Retirement Plans (Textuals) [Abstract]
Estimated portion of the net actuarial loss that is expected to be recognized as a component of net periodic pension benefit cost in 2012	0
Expected contribution in next year	$ 22
Weighted-average discount rate used to determine net periodic benefit cost	4.90%	5.40%	6.00%

X

- Definition

Represents the percentage of additional annual conversion contributions to total pay that are provided into the Company's Retirement Savings Plan for eligible employees who were hired before April 1, 2007.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the maximum fixed-rate interest rate employees' balances are credited with daily.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the minimum fixed-rate interest rate employees' balances are credited with daily.

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

Represents the maximum percentage of total pay the Company matches employee contributions to the plan of total pay for the Company's Retirement Savings Plan, subject to the Internal Revenue Code.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the total number of shares the Retirement Savings Plan has in American Express' Common Stock for employees as of the end of the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income related to gains and losses that are not recognized immediately and are expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph s

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 158

-Paragraph 7

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Paragraph 1

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- Definition

The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income related to prior service cost or credit expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year that follows the most recent annual statement of financial position presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph s

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 158

-Paragraph 7

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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- Definition

The interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph j

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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- Definition

The employer's best estimate, as soon as it can be reasonably determined, of contributions expected to be paid to the plan during the next fiscal year beginning after the date of the latest statement of financial position. Estimated contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph g

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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- Definition

The funded status is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation. Will normally be the same as the net Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet, Total.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

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- Definition

A narrative description of the basis used to determine the overall expected long-term rate-of-return on assets assumption, such as the general approach used, the extent to which the overall rate-of-return on assets assumption was based on historical returns, the extent to which adjustments were made to those historical returns to reflect expectations of future returns, and how those adjustments were determined. The description would generally consider the major categories of assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph d(iii)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 132R

-Paragraph 11

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



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