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v2.4.1.9

Restructuring Charges (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Beginning Balance |  |  | $ 233,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve | $ 470,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve | $ 200,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Restructuring charges, net of revisions | 313,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost | 133,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost | 411,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost | (4,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost | 403,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
Payments |  |  | (115,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring | (229,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring | (133,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
Other non-cash |  |  | (59,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringReserveTranslationAndOtherAdjustment | (4,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringReserveTranslationAndOtherAdjustment |
Ending Balance | 470,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve |  | 470,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve | 233,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve | 470,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
U S Card Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | 38,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember |  |
International Card Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | 139,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember |  |
Global Commercial Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | 54,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember |  |
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | 25,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember |  |
Corporate and Other [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | 155,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |  |
Employee Severance [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Beginning Balance |  |  | 196,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | 412,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | 170,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | 383,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | (7,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | 366,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Payments |  |  | (93,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | (206,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | (124,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Other non-cash |  |  | (51,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringReserveTranslationAndOtherAdjustment / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | (3,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringReserveTranslationAndOtherAdjustment / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember |
Ending Balance | 435,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember |  | 435,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | 196,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember | 412,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Other Terminations [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Beginning Balance |  |  | 37,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | 58,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | 30,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | 28,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | 3,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | 37,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember
Payments |  |  | (22,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | (23,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | (9,000,000)us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember
Other non-cash |  |  | (8,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringReserveTranslationAndOtherAdjustment / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | (1,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringReserveTranslationAndOtherAdjustment / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember |
Ending Balance | 35,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember |  | 35,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | 37,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember | 58,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringReserve / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember
GBT JV [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | 42,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_GbtJvMember |  |
Foreign exchange and other non-cash charges |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Charges |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charges, net of revisions |  |  | $ 17,000,000 us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_OtherRestructuringMember |  |

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- Definition Amount of cash payments made as the result of exit or disposal activities. Excludes payments associated with a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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- Definition Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 + Details
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- Definition The amount of change in the restructuring reserve related to foreign currency translation adjustments and any other adjustments not separately disclosed or provided for elsewhere in the Taxonomy. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 + Details
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