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Restructuring Charges (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions	$ 313,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost	$ 133,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost	$ 411,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost	$ (4,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost	$ 403,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	919,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1		919,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			383,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember	(7,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember	366,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	798,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember		798,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			28,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember	3,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember	37,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	121,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember		121,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember
U S Card Services [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			38,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	72,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember		72,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
U S Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	66,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember		66,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
U S Card Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	6,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember		6,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
International Card Services [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			139,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	221,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember		221,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
International Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	220,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember		220,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
International Card Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	1,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember		1,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			54,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	267,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember		267,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	249,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember		249,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Global Commercial Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	18,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember		18,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			25,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	68,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember		68,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	68,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember		68,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember		0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Corporate and Other [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			155,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	291,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember		291,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Severance and other charges			222,000,000axp_SeveranceAndOtherCharges / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Corporate and Other [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	195,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember		195,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other Terminations [Member]
Restructuring charges, by reportable segment
Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs	$ 96,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember		$ 96,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = axp_OtherTerminationsMember / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember

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Represents certain severance and other charges related to Company-wide support functions which were not allocated to the Company's operating segments, as these were corporate initiatives and are consistent with how such charges were reported internally.

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Amount of costs incurred to date for the specified restructuring cost.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Discloses the amount charged against the accrued restructuring reserves, or earnings if not previously accrued, during the period for the specified type of restructuring cost.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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