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Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Changes in Other Comprehensive income    
Balances as of start of period $ (1,919)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax  
Pension and other postretirement benefit gains (23)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent (27)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Balances as of end of period (2,151)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax  
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]    
Changes in Other Comprehensive income    
Balances as of start of period (1,919)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
(1,426)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Net unrealized gains (losses)   68axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetUnrealizedGainsLossesNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
(Decrease) increase due to amounts reclassified into earnings 0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
(28)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax
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= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations (450)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
(18)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease
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= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Net losses gains related to hedges of investment in foreign operations 195axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesRelatedToHedgesOfInvestmentInForeignOperationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
(17)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesRelatedToHedgesOfInvestmentInForeignOperationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Pension and other postretirement benefit gains 23us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
27us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (232)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
32axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Balances as of end of period (2,151)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
(1,394)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities [Member]    
Changes in Other Comprehensive income    
Balances as of start of period 96us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
63us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
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= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
Net unrealized gains (losses)   68axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetUnrealizedGainsLossesNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
(Decrease) increase due to amounts reclassified into earnings 0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
(29)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
39axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax
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= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
Balances as of end of period 96us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
102us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]    
Changes in Other Comprehensive income    
Balances as of start of period (1,499)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
(1,090)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
(Decrease) increase due to amounts reclassified into earnings 0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
1axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations (450)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
(18)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Net losses gains related to hedges of investment in foreign operations 195axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesRelatedToHedgesOfInvestmentInForeignOperationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
(17)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesRelatedToHedgesOfInvestmentInForeignOperationsNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (255)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
(34)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Balances as of end of period (1,754)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
(1,124)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Net Unrealized Pension and Other Postretirement Gains (Losses) [Member]    
Changes in Other Comprehensive income    
Balances as of start of period (516)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
(399)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Pension and other postretirement benefit gains 23us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
27us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 23axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
27axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Balances as of end of period $ (493)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
$ (372)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember