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Common and Preferred Shares and Warrants (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Authorized shares and a reconciliation of common shares issued and outstanding      
Common shares, authorized 3,600,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized 3,600,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized 3,600,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Shares issued and outstanding at beginning of year 1,064,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 1,105,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 1,164,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Repurchases of common shares (49,000,000)axp_IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares (55,000,000)axp_IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares (69,000,000)axp_IssuanceRepurchasesOfCommonShares
Other, primarily stock option exercises and RSAs granted 8,000,000axp_CommonStockSharesOther 14,000,000axp_CommonStockSharesOther 10,000,000axp_CommonStockSharesOther
Shares issued and outstanding as of December 31 1,023,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 1,064,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued 1,105,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued
Stockholders' Equity Note (Textuals) [Abstract]      
Shares reserved for issuance under employee stock and employee benefit plans 56,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance