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Customer Deposits (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deposits By Type
Other deposits	$ 627	$ 674
Total customer deposits	37,898	29,727
United States [Member]
Deposits By Type
Savings accounts - Direct	14,649	7,725
Certificates of deposit - Direct	893	1,052
Certificates of deposit - Third party	10,781	11,411
Sweep accounts - Third party	$ 10,948	$ 8,865

X

- Definition

Represents other types of deposits not previously classified.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DepositsOther
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents direct personal savings accounts, primarily high yield savings accounts, offered directly by the Company's Banks.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DepositsSavingsAccountsDirect
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents direct certificates of deposit accounts offered directly by the Company's Banks.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DirectCertificatesOfDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents third party certificate of deposit accounts offered by the Company's Banks.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ThirdPartyCertificatesOfDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents third party sweep accounts offered by the Company's Banks.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ThirdPartySweepAccounts
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The aggregate of all deposit liabilities held by the entity, including foreign and domestic, interest and noninterest bearing; may include demand deposits, saving deposits, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) and time deposits among others.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 12

-Article 9



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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)

-Number AAG-DEP

-Chapter 13

-Paragraph 37, 38, 39

-IssueDate 2006-05-01

-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

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Deposits
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepositsByTypeAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration