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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Textuals) [Abstract] |  |  |
Net reduction in interest expense on long term debt and other | $ 283 axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges | $ 346 axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges | $ 491 axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges
Net pretax losses on derivatives reclassified from AOCI into earnings | 0 us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonths |  |
Shares held in equity investment | 0 axp_SharesHeldInEquityInvestment | 180,700,000 axp_SharesHeldInEquityInvestment |
Shares held in equity investment Sold | 34,300,000 axp_SharesHeldInEquityInvestmentSold |  |
Margin on interest rate swap not netted | 114 axp_MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted | 26 axp_MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity investment | 1 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities | 124 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities |
Total derivatives assets, net | 711 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets | 329 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets |
Not Sold Or Repledged [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Securities received as collateral | 91 us-gaap_FairValueOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralThatCanBeResoldOrRepledged / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_NotSoldOrRepledgedMember | 0 us-gaap_FairValueOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralThatCanBeResoldOrRepledged / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_NotSoldOrRepledgedMember |
Risk Exposure Low [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Total derivatives assets, net | 620 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember |  |
Significant Counterparties [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Total derivatives assets, net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember |
Total derivatives liabilities, net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember |
Fair Value Hedges [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount of long-term debt | 17,600 us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember | 14,700 us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember |
Fair Value Hedges [Member] | ICBC [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Equity investment | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = axp_IcbcMember | 122 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = axp_IcbcMember |
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount of long-term debt | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember |
Net Investment Hedges [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Effective portion of gain (loss) on hedges | 455 axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember | 253 axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember | (288)axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
Credit Valuation Adjustment [Member] |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |
Notional amount of long-term debt | $ 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = axp_CreditValuationAdjustmentMember | $ 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = axp_CreditValuationAdjustmentMember |

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- Definition Effective portion of cumulative gains and losses on foreign currency derivatives that are designated as, and are effective as, hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity commencing as of the designation date. Adjustment reported in equity as part of accumulated other comprehensive income. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Amount posted as initial margin for centrally cleared interest rate swaps which is not netted against the derivative balances. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Represents the amount of a net reduction to interest expense on long-term debt and other, primarily related to the net settlements on the Company's fair value hedges. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The estimated net amount of existing gains or losses on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35736893&loc=d3e80748-113994 + Details
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- Definition Amount of the hedged item as of the balance sheet date related to the derivative. For example, the hedged balance on a debt instrument. + References No definition available. + Details
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