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Common and Preferred Shares and Warrants (Details Textuals) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Mar. 25, 2013
Common And Preferred Shares And Warrants (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Common share repurchases authorized |  |  |  | 150,000,000 axp_CommonShareRepurchasesAuthorized
Common shares repurchased | 49,000,000 us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired | 55,000,000 us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired |  |
Cost basis of common stock repurchased | $ 4,389,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock | $ 3,943,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock | $ 3,952,000,000 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock |
Commissions paid included in cost basis of common stock repurchased | 1,000,000 axp_CommissionsPaid | 1,100,000 axp_CommissionsPaid |  |
Common shares remaining under share repurchase authorizations | 59,000,000 us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased |  |  |
Shares held as treasury shares | 3,200,000 us-gaap_TreasuryStockNumberOfSharesHeld | 3,500,000 us-gaap_TreasuryStockNumberOfSharesHeld | 3,900,000 us-gaap_TreasuryStockNumberOfSharesHeld |
Cost basis of treasury stock | 280,000,000 us-gaap_TreasuryStockCarryingBasis | 260,000,000 us-gaap_TreasuryStockCarryingBasis | 236,000,000 us-gaap_TreasuryStockCarryingBasis |
Preferred shares, authorized | 20,000,000 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized | 0 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized |  |
Preferred shares, par value | 1.66 | 0 |  |
Preferred stock, shares issued | 750 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued | 0 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued | 0 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued |
Preferred stock, shares outstanding | 750 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding | 0 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding | 0 us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesOutstanding |
Depositary shares, issued | 750,000 axp_DepositarySharesIssued |  |  |
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Value | 750,000,000 us-gaap_PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceValue |  |  |
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage | 5.20%us-gaap_PreferredStockDividendRatePercentage |  |  |
Preferred Stock, Dividend Payment. Rate Variable | 3-month Libor plus 3.428 percent |  |  |
Depositary Shares, Redemption Amount | $ 1,000 axp_DepositarySharesRedemptionAmount |  |  |
Warrants, issued and outstanding | 0 us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding | 0 us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding | 0 us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding |

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- Definition The commission paid on the repurchase of common shares which is included in the cost basis. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Details
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- Definition Represents the amount of shares authorized by an entity's Board of Directors to be repurchased. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Total number of depositary shares issued + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The redemption amount per depositary shares upon certain bank regulatory changes + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the face amount or stated value per share of nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) that is permitted to be authorized by the Board of Directors; generally not indicative of the fair market value per share. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of warrants or rights outstanding. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph i -Article 4 + Details
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- Definition The cash outflow to reacquire common stock during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3291-108585 + Details
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- Definition Description of basis of dividend, such as adjustable rate. Excludes percentage rate dividend payments or fixed dollar amounts per share. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Value of the difference between preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the preferred shares. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) 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 210.5-02.28) -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 29 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Total number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) issued to shareholders (includes related preferred shares that were issued, repurchased, and remain in the treasury). May be all or portion of the number of preferred shares authorized. Excludes preferred shares that are classified as debt. + 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 210.5-02.28) -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 29 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Aggregate share number for all nonredeemable preferred stock (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) held by stockholders. Does not include preferred shares that have been repurchased. + 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 210.5-02.28) -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 29 -Article 5 + Details
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- Definition Cost basis for treasury stock acquired for purposes other than retirement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655 + Details
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