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Restructuring Charges (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract]
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
Restructuring charges, revision adjustments			35,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment	4,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment	16,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract]
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
U S Card Services [Member]
Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			38,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_USCardServicesMember
International Card Services [Member]
Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			139,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Global Commercial Services [Member]
Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			54,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member]
Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			25,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Corporate and Other [Member]
Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract]
Restructuring charges, net of revisions			$ 155,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost / us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis = us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember

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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.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4

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Amount of any reversal and other adjustment made during the period to the amount of a previously accrued liability for a specified type of restructuring cost, excluding adjustments for costs incurred during the period, costs settled during the period, and foreign currency translation adjustments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

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-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747



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-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 5

-Section P

-Subsection 3, 4



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 420

-SubTopic 10

-Section 40

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394291&loc=d3e17658-110867

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