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Reserves For Losses (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
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Card Member Loans And Related Reserves Evaluated Separately And Collectively For Impairment [Abstract] |  |
Card Member loans evaluated individually for impairment | $ 401 | $ 633
Reserves on Card Member loans evaluated individually for impairment | 86 | 153
Card Member loans evaluated collectively for impairment | 62,569 | 64,596
Reserves on Card Member loans evaluated collectively for impairment | $ 1,195 | $ 1,318

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- Details
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Balance Type: | na
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- Definition Represents cardmember loans evaluated collectively for impairment. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition Represents cardmember loans that are evaluated separately for impairment. + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition Represents reserves on cardmember loans evaluated collectively for impairment. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
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- Definition Represents reserves on cardmember loans that are evaluated separately for impairment. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant