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

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Amount of investment in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

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Amount of unrealized gain before deducting unrealized loss on investments in debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

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Amount of unrealized loss before deducting unrealized gain on investments in available-for-sale securities.

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