Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total fair value of derivatives assets	$ 932axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset	$ 991axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Total fair value of derivatives liabilties	263axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability	164axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Risk Exposure Low [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, net	483	620
Total derivative liabilities, net	0	0
Derivative [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, net	483	620
Total derivative liabilities, net	0	0
Individually Significant Counterparties [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, net	0	0
Total derivative liabilities, net	0	0
Derivative [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, net	0	0
Total derivative liabilities, net	0	0
Other Assets [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash collateral netting	(233)	(158)
Derivative asset and liability netting	(173)	(122)
Total derivative assets, net	526	711
Derivative [Line Items]
Total derivative assets, net	526	711
Other Assets [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total fair value of derivatives assets	780	806
Other Assets [Member] \| Interest Rate Contract [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total fair value of derivatives assets	372	314
Other Assets [Member] \| Foreign exchange contracts [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total fair value of derivatives assets	408	492
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	185
Other Liabilities [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Cash collateral netting	0	(4)
Derivative asset and liability netting	(173)	(122)
Total derivative liabilities, net	90	38
Derivative [Line Items]
Total derivative liabilities, net	90	38
Other Liabilities [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Total fair value of derivatives liabilties	115	50
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	114
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	4
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	$ 46

Represents the netting of cash collateral received and posted under credit support agreements.

No definition available.

Name:	axp_CashCollateralNetting
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the netting of derivative assets and liabilities under master netting agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_DerivativeAssetAndLiabilityNetting
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- 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

Name:	axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability 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

Name:	axp_FairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after the 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 not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13433-108611

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 15

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13495-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41271-113958

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226008-175313

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or 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 liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativesFairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=axp_RiskExposureLowMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=axp_SignificantCounterpartiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: