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Reserves For Losses (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Card Member receivables - other	$ (11)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther	$ (17)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther
Card Member loans reserves for losses - other	(4)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther	2axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther
Allowance for Card Member Receivables and Reserves, Recoveries of Bad Debts	99us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesRecoveries	92us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesRecoveries
Allowance for Card Member Loans, Recoveries of Bad Debts	103us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts	107us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts
Allowance for Card Member Receivables, Recoveries of Bad Debts - TDR	31axp_AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	2axp_AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR
Allowance for Card Member Loans, Recoveries of Bad Debts - TDR	16axp_AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	(2)axp_AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR
Unauthorized Transactions [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Card Member receivables - other		(7)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_UnauthorizedtransactionsmemberMember
Card Member loans reserves for losses - other		(6)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_UnauthorizedtransactionsmemberMember
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Card Member receivables - other	(7)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_ForeigncurrencytranslationadjustmentsmemberMember	0axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_ForeigncurrencytranslationadjustmentsmemberMember
Card Member loans reserves for losses - other	(7)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_ForeigncurrencytranslationadjustmentsmemberMember	(1)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_ForeigncurrencytranslationadjustmentsmemberMember
Other Items [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Card Member receivables - other	(4)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_OtheritemsmemberMember	(10)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_OtheritemsmemberMember
Card Member loans reserves for losses - other	$ 3axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_OtheritemsmemberMember	$ 9axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_OtheritemsmemberMember

X

- Definition

Amount of recovery of Card Member loans related to troubled debt restructurings, which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of recovery of Card Member receivables related to troubled debt restructurings, which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents adjustments to cardmember loans reserve including foreign currency translation adjustments and net write-offs related to unauthorized transactions for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents adjustments to cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments for the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of recovery of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 11B

-Subparagraph (c)(4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=SL6953423-111524

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Total of recoveries of amounts due the Entity that had previously been written off as uncollectible using allowances (the valuation accounts that are netted against the cost of an asset to value it at its carrying value) and total of reestablishments of reserves (liabilities established to represent expected future costs) that had previously been utilized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 09

-Article 12

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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