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Investment Securities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | $ 4,267 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost | $ 4,280 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Gross Unrealized Gains | 152 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains | 154 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains
Gross Unrealized Losses | (2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss | (3)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
Estimated Fair Value | 4,417 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities | 4,431 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
U.S. States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | 3,196 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 3,366 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains | 126 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 129 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses | (1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | (2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
Estimated Fair Value | 3,321 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember | 3,493 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember
U.S. Government agency obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | 2 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 3 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Gains | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
Estimated Fair Value | 2 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember | 3 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember
U.S. Government treasury obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | 346 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 346 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Gains | 6 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 4 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Estimated Fair Value | 352 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember | 350 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Corporate debt securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | 35 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 37 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Gains | 2 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 3 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Estimated Fair Value | 37 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember | 40 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Mortgage-backed securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | 120 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 128 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Gross Unrealized Gains | 6 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 8 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Estimated Fair Value | 126 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember | 136 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Equity securities [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Gains | 1 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 1 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Estimated Fair Value | 1 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember | 1 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | 518 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 350 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Gains | 11 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 9 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Gross Unrealized Losses | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Estimated Fair Value | 529 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember | 359 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
Availabe For Sale Securities Other [Member] |  |
Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |  |
Cost | 50 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | 50 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember
Gross Unrealized Gains | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | 0 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember
Gross Unrealized Losses | (1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | (1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember
Estimated Fair Value | $ 49 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember | $ 49 us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember

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- Definition Amount of unrealized gain before deducting unrealized loss on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27161-111563 + Details
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