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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 Account | Dec. 31, 2011 Account
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 143,000 | 197,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | $ 1,204 | $ 1,512
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | 1,180 | 1,452
Cardmember Loans [Member] | U S Card Services [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 106,000 | 147,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | 779 | 1,110
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | 762 | 1,064
Cardmember Receivables [Member] | U S Card Services [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 37,000 | 50,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | 425 | 402
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | $ 418 | $ 388

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- 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

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- 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

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- Definition Amount of investment in financing receivables (before modification) modified by troubled debt restructurings. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 33 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953676-111524 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
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Balance Type: | debit
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- Details
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