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Fair Values (Details 2) (USD $)
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 22,288,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold $ 19,486,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold $ 22,250,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold $ 24,893,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value        
Certificates of deposit 8,192,000,000us-gaap_TimeDeposits      
Long-term debt 57,955,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt 55,330,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt    
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract]        
Accounts receivable, less reserves 44,386,000,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet 43,777,000,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet    
Card Member loans, net 69,184,000,000us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount 65,977,000,000us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount    
Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]        
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value        
Long-term debt 19,516,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
18,690,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
   
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract]        
Accounts receivable, less reserves 7,000,000,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
7,300,000,000us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNet
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
   
Carrying Value [Member]        
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value        
Cash and cash equivalents   19,000,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Other financial assets 48,000,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
48,000,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Financial assets carried at other than fair value        
Loans, net 70,000,000,000axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
67,000,000,000axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Financial Liabilities:        
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 61,000,000,000axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
60,000,000,000axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value        
Certificates of deposit   7,000,000,000us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Long-term debt 58,000,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
55,000,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]        
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value        
Cash and cash equivalents 22,000,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
19,000,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Other financial assets 48,000,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
48,000,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Financial assets carried at other than fair value        
Loans, net 71,000,000,000axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
67,000,000,000axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Financial Liabilities:        
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 61,000,000,000axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
60,000,000,000axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value        
Certificates of deposit 8,000,000,000us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
8,000,000,000us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Long-term debt 60,000,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
58,000,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
   
Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] | Variable Interest Enterprise [Member]        
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value        
Long-term debt 19,500,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
18,800,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
   
Fair Values (Textuals) [Abstract]        
Card Member loans, net 29,900,000,000us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
31,000,000,000us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_VariableInterestEntitiesByClassificationOfEntityAxis
= us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember
   
Level 1 [Member]        
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value        
Cash and cash equivalents 21,000,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
17,000,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
   
Other financial assets 0us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
   
Financial assets carried at other than fair value        
Loans, net 0axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
   
Financial Liabilities:        
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 0axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
   
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value        
Certificates of deposit 0us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
   
Long-term debt 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
   
Level 2 [Member]        
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value        
Cash and cash equivalents 1,000,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
2,000,000,000us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
   
Other financial assets 48,000,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
48,000,000,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
   
Financial assets carried at other than fair value        
Loans, net 0axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
0axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
   
Financial Liabilities:        
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 61,000,000,000axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
60,000,000,000axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
   
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value        
Certificates of deposit 8,000,000,000us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
8,000,000,000us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
   
Long-term debt 60,000,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
58,000,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
   
Level 3 [Member]        
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value        
Cash and cash equivalents 0us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
   
Other financial assets 0us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
   
Financial assets carried at other than fair value        
Loans, net 71,000,000,000axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
67,000,000,000axp_LoansNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
   
Financial Liabilities:        
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value 0axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0axp_FinancialInstrumentsLiabilitiesWhichCarryingValuesEqualOrApproximateFairValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
   
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value        
Certificates of deposit 0us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
0us-gaap_TimeDeposits
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
   
Long-term debt $ 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
$ 0us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member