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Investment Securities (Details) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | $ 4,280,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost | $ 4,935,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 154,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains | 165,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains |
Gross Unrealized Losses | (3,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss | (84,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss |
Estimated Fair Value | 4,431,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities | 5,016,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities | 5,614,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
State and municipal obligations [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | 3,366,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 4,060,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 129,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 54,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
Gross Unrealized Losses | (2,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | (79,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
Estimated Fair Value | 3,493,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 4,035,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 4,474,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
U.S. Government agency obligations [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
Estimated Fair Value | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
U.S. Government treasury obligations [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | 346,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 318,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 4,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
Estimated Fair Value | 350,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 320,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 338,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Corporate debt securities [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | 37,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 43,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 3,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
Estimated Fair Value | 40,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 46,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 79,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Mortgage-backed securities [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | 128,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 160,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 8,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 5,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
Estimated Fair Value | 136,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 164,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 224,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Equity securities [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 29,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 1,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 95,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
Estimated Fair Value | 1,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 124,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 296,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | 350,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 272,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 9,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 5,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
Estimated Fair Value | 359,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 276,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 149,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Other [Member] |  |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |  |
Cost | 50,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | 50,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
Gross Unrealized Gains | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
Gross Unrealized Losses | (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | (2,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
Estimated Fair Value | $ 49,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | $ 48,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | $ 51,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember

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