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v2.4.1.9

Guarantees (Details) (USD $) | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
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Type of Guarantee |  |
Maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments | $ 46,000,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure | $ 45,000,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Amount of related liability | 102,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue | 111,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
Return And Merchant Protection [Member] |  |
Type of Guarantee |  |
Maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments | 38,000,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = axp_ReturnAndMerchantProtectionMember | 37,000,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = axp_ReturnAndMerchantProtectionMember
Amount of related liability | 45,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = axp_ReturnAndMerchantProtectionMember | 44,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = axp_ReturnAndMerchantProtectionMember
Other Guarantees [Member] |  |
Type of Guarantee |  |
Maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments | 8,000,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = us-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMember | 8,000,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = us-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMember
Amount of related liability | $ 57,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = us-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMember | $ 67,000,000 us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue / us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis = us-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMember

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- Definition The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
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Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 460 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (b)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248 + Details
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