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Regulatory Matters and Capital Adequacy (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Regulatory Matters And Capital Adequacy [Abstract] |  |
Well-capitalized ratios | 10.00%us-gaap_CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets | 10.00%us-gaap_CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Minimum capital ratios | 8.00%us-gaap_CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets | 8.00%us-gaap_CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets
Leverage capital required, Well-capitalized ratios | 5.00%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToAverageAssets | 5.00%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToAverageAssets
Leverage capital required, Minimum capital ratios | 4.00%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToAverageAssets | 4.00%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToAverageAssets
Risk-based capital required, Well-capitalized ratios | 6.00%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets | 6.00%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Risk-based capital required, Minimum capital ratios | 5.50%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets | 5.50%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets
Common Equity Tier 1 required, Minimum capital ratio | 4.00%axp_CommonEquityTier1MinimumCapitalRequired |
Parent Company [Member] |  |
Regulatory capital ratios |  |
Tier 1 capital | 18,176 us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember | 16,174 us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Total capital | 20,801 us-gaap_Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember | 18,585 us-gaap_Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Tier 1 capital ratio | 13.60%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember | 12.50%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Total capital ratio | 15.60%us-gaap_CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember | 14.40%us-gaap_CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Tier 1 leverage ratio | 11.80%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalToAverageAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember | 10.90%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalToAverageAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
CET1 capital | 17,525 axp_CommonEquityTier1Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember |
CET1 capital ratio | 13.10%axp_CommonEquityTier1CapitalRatio / dei_LegalEntityAxis = us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember |
American Express Centurion Bank [Member] |  |
Regulatory capital ratios |  |
Tier 1 capital | 6,174 us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember | 6,366 us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember
Total capital | 6,584 us-gaap_Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember | 6,765 us-gaap_Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember
Tier 1 capital ratio | 18.80%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember | 19.90%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember
Total capital ratio | 20.10%us-gaap_CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember | 21.20%us-gaap_CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember
Tier 1 leverage ratio | 18.70%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalToAverageAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember | 19.00%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalToAverageAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember
CET1 capital | 6,174 axp_CommonEquityTier1Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember |
CET1 capital ratio | 18.80%axp_CommonEquityTier1CapitalRatio / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember |
American Express Bank, FSB [Member] |  |
Regulatory capital ratios |  |
Tier 1 capital | 6,722 us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember | 6,744 us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember
Total capital | 7,604 us-gaap_Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember | 7,662 us-gaap_Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember
Tier 1 capital ratio | 14.20%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember | 15.60%us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember
Total capital ratio | 16.00%us-gaap_CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember | 17.70%us-gaap_CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember
Tier 1 leverage ratio | 15.10%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalToAverageAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember | 17.50%us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalToAverageAssets / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember
CET1 capital | 6,722 axp_CommonEquityTier1Capital / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember |
CET1 capital ratio | 14.20%axp_CommonEquityTier1CapitalRatio / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember |

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- Definition The amount of total capital as defined in the regulations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 948 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47304-110998 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1H -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=d3e65071-112826 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1H -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=d3e65071-112826 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 948 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6490092&loc=d3e47080-110998 + Details
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- Definition The minimum Total risk based capital ratio (total capital divided by risk weighted assets) required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1H -Subparagraph (c)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=d3e65071-112826 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=SL5958568-112826 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=SL5958570-112826 + Details
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