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v2.4.1.9

Debt (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Short-term Debt [Line Items] |  |
Outstanding Balance | $ 3,480,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings | $ 5,021,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
Face amount of eligible notes issued | 2,000,000,000 axp_FaceAmountOfEligibleNotesIssued |
Short-term Debt [Member] |  |
Short-term Debt [Line Items] |  |
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt | 0.69%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / axp_TypeOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember | 1.04%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / axp_TypeOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
Fees to maintain the secured financing facility | 7,000,000 axp_DebtPaidRelatedCommitmentFeesAndDebtIssuanceCosts / axp_TypeOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember | 7,200,000 axp_DebtPaidRelatedCommitmentFeesAndDebtIssuanceCosts / axp_TypeOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
Commercial Paper [Member] |  |
Short-term Debt [Line Items] |  |
Outstanding Balance | 769,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember | 200,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Commercial Paper [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member] |  |
Short-term Debt [Line Items] |  |
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt | 0.29%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember / axp_TypeOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember | 0.19%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember / axp_TypeOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
Other Short Term Borrowings [Member] |  |
Short-term Debt [Line Items] |  |
Outstanding Balance | 2,711,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = axp_OtherShortTermBorrowingsMember | 4,821,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = axp_OtherShortTermBorrowingsMember
Other Short Term Borrowings [Member] | Bank Overdrafts [Member] |  |
Short-term Debt [Line Items] |  |
Outstanding Balance | $ 470,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / axp_ShortTermDebtOtherTypeAxis = us-gaap_BankOverdraftsMember / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = axp_OtherShortTermBorrowingsMember | $ 489,000,000 us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings / axp_ShortTermDebtOtherTypeAxis = us-gaap_BankOverdraftsMember / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = axp_OtherShortTermBorrowingsMember
Other Short Term Borrowings [Member] | Short-term Debt [Member] |  |
Short-term Debt [Line Items] |  |
Year-End Stated Rate on Debt | 0.81%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = axp_OtherShortTermBorrowingsMember / axp_TypeOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember | 1.08%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis = axp_OtherShortTermBorrowingsMember / axp_TypeOfDebtAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember

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- Definition Represents the fees paid to maintain the Company's short-term secured financing facilities. + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | debit
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- Definition Represents the face amount of eligible notes, which are secured through a financing facility, and can be issued through a specified date. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | axp_
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a),16(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph a(1) -Article 7 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph 2, 3 -Article 9 + Details
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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