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Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) | Total | Common Shares | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011 | $ 18,794,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity | $ 232,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | $ 12,217,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember | $ (876,000,000)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember | $ 7,221,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Net income | 4,482,000,000 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  |  |  | 4,482,000,000 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Other comprehensive (loss) income | (51,000,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |  |  | (51,000,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
Preferred shares issued | 0 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPreferredStockAndPreferenceStock |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common shares | (4,000,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod | (14,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | (765,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  | (3,221,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Other changes, primarily employee plans | 570,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther | 3,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 615,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  | (48,000,000)axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Cash dividends declared |  |  |  |  |
Cash dividends declared common, per share | (909,000,000)us-gaap_DividendsCommonStock |  |  |  | (909,000,000)us-gaap_DividendsCommonStock / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012 | 18,886,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity | 221,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 12,067,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember | (927,000,000)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember | 7,525,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Net income | 5,359,000,000 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  |  |  | 5,359,000,000 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Other comprehensive (loss) income | (499,000,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |  |  | (499,000,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
Preferred shares issued | 0 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPreferredStockAndPreferenceStock |  |  |  |
Repurchase of common shares | (4,000,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod | (11,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | (648,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  | (3,341,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Other changes, primarily employee plans | 717,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther | 3,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 783,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  | (69,000,000)axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Cash dividends declared |  |  |  |  |
Cash dividends declared common, per share | (967,000,000)us-gaap_DividendsCommonStock |  |  |  | (967,000,000)us-gaap_DividendsCommonStock / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013 | 19,496,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity | 213,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 12,202,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember | (1,426,000,000)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember | 8,507,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Net income | 5,885,000,000 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss |  |  |  | 5,885,000,000 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Other comprehensive (loss) income | (493,000,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |  |  | (493,000,000)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
Preferred shares issued | 742,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPreferredStockAndPreferenceStock |  | 742,000,000 us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfPreferredStockAndPreferenceStock / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  |
Repurchase of common shares | (4,378,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod | (10,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | (604,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  | (3,764,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Other changes, primarily employee plans | 476,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther | 2,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | 534,000,000 axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember |  | (60,000,000)axp_OtherChangesDuringPeriodPrimarilyEmployeePlansAndOther / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Cash dividends declared |  |  |  |  |
Cash dividends declared common, per share | (1,055,000,000)us-gaap_DividendsCommonStock |  |  |  | (1,055,000,000)us-gaap_DividendsCommonStock / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014 | $ 20,673,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity | $ 205,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_CommonStockMember | $ 12,874,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember | $ (1,919,000,000)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember | $ 9,513,000,000 us-gaap_StockholdersEquity / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember

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