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Retirement Plans (Details Textuals) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Defined contribution retirement plans [Member] |  |  |
Retirement Plans (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |
Total expense for all defined contribution retirement plans | $ 272,000,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = axp_DefinedContributionPlanCostMember | $ 281,000,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = axp_DefinedContributionPlanCostMember | $ 254,000,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = axp_DefinedContributionPlanCostMember
Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans [Member] |  |  |
Retirement Plans (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |
Net funded status related to the defined benefit pension plans | 767,000,000 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember | 661,000,000 us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember |
Total expense for all defined contribution retirement plans | $ 24,000,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember | $ 59,000,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember | $ 93,000,000 us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized / us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis = us-gaap_OtherPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember

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- Definition The funded status is measured as the difference between the fair value of plan assets and the benefit obligation. Will normally be the same as the net Defined Benefit Plan, Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet, Total. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35743120&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21915240&loc=d3e1703-114919 + Details
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- Definition The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 70 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942 + Details
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