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Investment Securities (Details 1) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |
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
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
State and municipal obligations [Member] |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 1,320,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 72,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 106,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | (63,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | (2,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | (16,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member] |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 208,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
U.S. Government treasury obligations [Member] |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 166,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Mortgage-backed securities [Member] |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 35,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Other [Member] |  |
Available-for-sale investment securities with gross unrealized losses and length of time |  |
Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | 30,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember
Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 33,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | 17,000,000 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] |  |
Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember
Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | $ (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | $ (1,000,000)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember

X
- 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 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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