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Regulatory Matters and Capital Adequacy (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Regulatory Matters And Capital Adequacy [Abstract]
Restricted net assets of subsidiaries	$ 11.0us-gaap_AmountOfRestrictedNetAssetsForConsolidatedAndUnconsolidatedSubsidiaries
Retained Earnings Available For Payment Of Dividends	3.6axp_RetainedEarningsAvailableForPaymentOfDividends	4.6axp_RetainedEarningsAvailableForPaymentOfDividends
American Express Centurion Bank [Member]
Regulatory Matters And Capital Adequacy [Abstract]
Dividends paid from retained earnings to its parent company	1.9us-gaap_CashDividendsPaidToParentCompany / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember	1.4us-gaap_CashDividendsPaidToParentCompany / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressCenturionBankMember
American Express Bank, FSB [Member]
Regulatory Matters And Capital Adequacy [Abstract]
Dividends paid from retained earnings to its parent company	$ 2.1us-gaap_CashDividendsPaidToParentCompany / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember	$ 1.8us-gaap_CashDividendsPaidToParentCompany / dei_LegalEntityAxis = axp_AmericanExpressFederalSavingsBankMember

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Represents the portion of the Banks' retained earnings, in the aggregate, available for the payment of dividends to its parent.

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No definition available.

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Amount of restricted net assets of consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(e)(3)(ii))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph e

-Subparagraph 3

-Article 4

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This element represents disclosure of the total aggregate cash dividends paid to the entity by consolidated subsidiaries, by unconsolidated subsidiaries, and by 50% or less owned persons accounted for using the equity method.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24072-122690



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 235

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-06)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6882215&loc=d3e537971-122884



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 06

-Article 9



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph b

-Article 12

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