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Accounts Receivable and Loans (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2013 Account | Mar. 31, 2012 Account
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 31,000 | 43,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | $ 276 | $ 357
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | 272 | 348
Cardmember Loans [Member] | U S Card Services [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 23,000 | 32,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | 172 | 229
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | 170 | 223
Cardmember Receivables [Member] | U S Card Services [Member] |  |
Troubled Debt Restructuring, Debtor, Current Period [Line Items] |  |
Number of Accounts | 8,000 | 11,000
Pre-Modification Outstanding Balance | 104 | 128
Post-Modification Outstanding Balance | $ 102 | $ 125

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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_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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