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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives assets | $ 932 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset | $ 991 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Total fair value of derivatives liabilties | 263 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability | 164 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Risk Exposure Low [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total derivative assets, net | 483 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember | 620 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember
Total derivative liabilities, net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Total derivative assets, net | 483 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember | 620 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember
Total derivative liabilities, net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_RiskExposureLowMember
Individually Significant Counterparties [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total derivative assets, net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember
Total derivative liabilities, net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Total derivative assets, net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember
Total derivative liabilities, net | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember | 0 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember
Other Assets [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Cash collateral netting | (233)axp_CashCollateralNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember | (158)axp_CashCollateralNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Derivative asset and liability netting | (173)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember | (122)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Total derivative assets, net | 526 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember | 711 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Total derivative assets, net | 526 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember | 711 us-gaap_DerivativeAssets / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Other Assets [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives assets | 780 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 806 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives assets | 372 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 314 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives assets | 408 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 492 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Assets [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives assets | 152 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 185 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Other Liabilities [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Cash collateral netting | 0 axp_CashCollateralNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | (4)axp_CashCollateralNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Derivative asset and liability netting | (173)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | (122)axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Total derivative liabilities, net | 90 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | 38 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Derivative [Line Items] |  |
Total derivative liabilities, net | 90 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | 38 us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives liabilties | 115 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 50 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives liabilties | 148 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember | 114 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives liabilties | 0 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | 4 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Other Liabilities [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] |  |
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items] |  |
Total fair value of derivatives liabilties | $ 115 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember | $ 46 axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis = us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember

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- Definition Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Includes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement. + References No definition available. + Details
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