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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2012 Accounts | Mar. 31, 2011 Accounts
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 43,000 | 54,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | $ 357 | $ 413
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | 348 | 396
Cardmember Loans [Member] | U S Card Services [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 32,000 | 42,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | 229 | 320
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | 223 | 306
Cardmember Receivables [Member] | U S Card Services [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 11,000 | 12,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | 128 | 93
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | $ 125 | $ 90

X
- Definition The number of financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings. + References No definition available. + Details
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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 had been modified. + References No definition available. + 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 had been modified. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_FinancingReceivablesModificationsPreModificationRecordedInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration