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Acquisitions and Divestitures Textual ( Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Acquisition Textuals [Abstract] |  |  |
Cash payment due to extinguishing a portion of NCI |  |  | $ 132,000,000 axp_NonControllingInterestCashPayment
Long-term liability incurred as a cause of the extinguishment of a portion of NCI |  |  | 121,000,000 axp_NonControllingInterestLiabilityIncurred
Reduction in equity due to extinguishment of a portion of NCI |  |  | 107,000,000 us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromRedemptions
Ownership percentage by the Company |  | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage |
Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method. |  | 900,000,000 us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure |
Cash invested by third party in joint venture |  | 900,000,000 axp_CashInvestedByThirdPartyInJointVenture |
Ownership percentage by Investor |  | 50.00%axp_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageOfThirdParty |
Deconsolidation gain amount, before tax | 626,000,000 axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax | 630,000,000 axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountBeforeTax |
Deconsolidation gain amount, after tax | $ 409,000,000 axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountAfterTax | $ 412,000,000 axp_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmountAfterTax |

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- Definition The amount of long-term liability incurred as a cause of the extinguishment of non-controlling interest. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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- Definition Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35740979&loc=d3e32014-111567 + Details
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- Definition Decrease in noncontrolling interest (for example, but not limited to, redeeming or purchasing the interests of noncontrolling shareholders, issuance of shares (interests) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to the parent entity for other than cash, and a buyback of shares (interest) by the non-wholly owned subsidiary from the noncontrolling interests). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 23 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569655-111683 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 24 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4616395-111683 + Details
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