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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative assets | $ 991 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets | $ 701 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
Total fair value of derivative liabilities | 164 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities | 213 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities
Total derivatives assets, net | 711 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets | 329 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
Other Assets [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative assets | 991 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember | 701 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Cash collateral netting | (158)axp_CashCollateralNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember | (336)axp_CashCollateralNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Derivative asset and liability netting | (122)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember | (36)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Total derivatives assets, net | 711 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember | 329 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Other Assets [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative assets | 806 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 637 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative assets | 185 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 64 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Other Assets [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative assets | 314 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 455 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative assets | 0 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 8 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative assets | 492 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 174 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative liabilities | 164 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | 213 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Cash collateral netting | (4)axp_CashCollateralNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | 0 axp_CashCollateralNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Derivative asset and liability netting | (122)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | (36)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Total derivatives liabilities, net | 38 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | 177 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative liabilities | 50 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 118 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative liabilities | 114 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 95 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative liabilities | 4 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 2 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Total Return Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative liabilities | 0 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 0 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_TotalReturnSwapMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivative liabilities | $ 46 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | $ 116 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember

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- Definition Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement. + References No definition available. + Details
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