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Significant Credit Concentrations (Details) (USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	$ 141	$ 141
Individuals [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	98	95
Unused lines-of-credit	265	253
Financial Institutions [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	22	25
United States Government And Agencies [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	4	5
Other Concentration [Member]
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category
On-balance sheet	$ 17	$ 16

X

- Details

Name:	axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the approximate credit line available on Card Member loans (including both for on-balance sheet loans and loans previously securitized).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument, the entity would incur if parties to the financial instruments that make up the concentration failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts and the collateral or other security, if any, for the amount due proved to be of no value to the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13537-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration