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Common and Preferred Shares and Warrants (Details) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Authorized shares and a reconciliation of common shares issued and outstanding |  |  |
Common shares, authorized | 3,600,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized | 3,600,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized | 3,600,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Shares issued and outstanding at beginning of year | 1,064,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued | 1,105,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued | 1,164,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Repurchases of common shares | (49,000,000)axp_IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares | (55,000,000)axp_IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares | (69,000,000)axp_IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares
Other, primarily stock option exercises and RSAs granted | 8,000,000 axp_CommonStockSharesOther | 14,000,000 axp_CommonStockSharesOther | 10,000,000 axp_CommonStockSharesOther
Shares issued and outstanding as of December 31 | 1,023,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued | 1,064,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued | 1,105,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Stockholders' Equity Note (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |
Shares reserved for issuance under employee stock and employee benefit plans | 56,000,000 us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance |  |

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- Definition Represents the issuance of common shares during the period due to stock option exercises and restricted stock awards granted. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the issuance or (repurchases) of common shares during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Total number of common shares of an entity that have been sold or granted to shareholders (includes common shares that were issued, repurchased and remain in the treasury). These shares represent capital invested by the firm's shareholders and owners, and may be all or only a portion of the number of shares authorized. Shares issued include shares outstanding and shares held in the treasury. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 30 -Article 5 + Details
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