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Investment Securities (Details 2) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 securities | Dec. 31, 2013 securities
Available-for-sale, Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions, Qualitative Disclosure, Number of Positions [Abstract] |  |
Number of securities, less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear | 241 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear
Number of securities, 12 months or more | 15 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear | 11 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear
Number of securities, total | 15 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 | 252 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value [Abstract] |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | $ 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue | $ 1,759,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 105,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue | 123,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue
Estimated Fair Value, Total | 105,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue | 1,882,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses | (67,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | (3,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses | (17,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total | (3,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses | (84,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses
Ratio Of Fair Value To Amortized Cost Between Ninety And One Hundred Percent [Member] |  |
Available-for-sale, Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions, Qualitative Disclosure, Number of Positions [Abstract] |  |
Number of securities, less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | 228 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Number of securities, 12 months or more | 15 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | 6 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Number of securities, total | 15 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | 234 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value [Abstract] |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | 1,665,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 105,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | 24,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Estimated Fair Value, Total | 105,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | 1,689,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | (53,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | (3,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | (2,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total | (3,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember | (55,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember
Ratio Of Fair Value To Amortized Cost Less Than Ninety Percent [Member] |  |
Available-for-sale, Securities in Unrealized Loss Positions, Qualitative Disclosure, Number of Positions [Abstract] |  |
Number of securities, less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | 13 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember
Number of securities, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | 5 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember
Number of securities, total | 0 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | 18 us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value [Abstract] |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | 94,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | 99,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember
Estimated Fair Value, Total | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | 193,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | (14,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | (15,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, Total | $ 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember | $ (29,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostLessThanNinetyPercentMember

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- Definition Amount of unrealized loss on securities classified as available-for-sale that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
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- Definition Amount of unrealized loss on securities classified as available-for-sale. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
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- Definition This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities in an unrealized loss position which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
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- Definition Amount of unrealized loss on investments in available-for-sale securities that have been in a loss position for less than twelve months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27337-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
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- Definition This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27337-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
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- Definition This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27337-111563 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
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- Definition Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (b)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27290-111563 + Details
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- Definition Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than or equal to a year for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than one year or normal operating cycle, if longer, for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement. + References No definition available. + Details
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