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Significant Credit Concentrations (Details) (USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category |  |
On-balance sheet | $ 147 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure | $ 141 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
Individuals [Member] |  |
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category |  |
On-balance sheet | 101 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_IndividualsMember | 98 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_IndividualsMember
Unused lines-of-credit | 278 us-gaap_UnusedCommitmentsToExtendCredit / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_IndividualsMember | 265 us-gaap_UnusedCommitmentsToExtendCredit / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_IndividualsMember
Financial Institutions [Member] |  |
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category |  |
On-balance sheet | 25 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_FinancialInstitutionsMember | 22 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_FinancialInstitutionsMember
United States Government And Agencies [Member] |  |
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category |  |
On-balance sheet | 4 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_UnitedStatesGovernmentAndAgenciesMember | 4 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_UnitedStatesGovernmentAndAgenciesMember
Other Concentration [Member] |  |
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category |  |
On-balance sheet | $ 17 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_OtherConcentrationMember | $ 17 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure / us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis = axp_OtherConcentrationMember

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- Details
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Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- 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=35750535&loc=d3e13537-108611 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Unused amount of commitments to extend credit to customers. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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Balance Type: |
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Balance Type: |
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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=axp_OtherConcentrationMember
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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=axp_UnitedStatesGovernmentAndAgenciesMember
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Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |