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Other Assets (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Components of other intangible assets |  |
Gross Carrying Amount | $ 1,710 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross | $ 1,566 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Accumulated Amortization | (856)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization | (749)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Net Carrying Amount | 854 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet | 817 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Other Contracts [Member] |  |
Components of other intangible assets |  |
Gross Carrying Amount | 255 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = axp_OtherContractsMember | 269 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = axp_OtherContractsMember
Accumulated Amortization | (102)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = axp_OtherContractsMember | (89)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = axp_OtherContractsMember
Net Carrying Amount | 153 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = axp_OtherContractsMember | 180 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = axp_OtherContractsMember
Customer Relationships [Member] |  |
Components of other intangible assets |  |
Gross Carrying Amount | 1,455 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember | 1,297 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Accumulated Amortization | (754)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember | (660)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Net Carrying Amount | $ 701 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember | $ 637 us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet / us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis = us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember

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- Definition Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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- Definition Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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