XML 22 R78.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Non-Interest Revenue and Expense Detail (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Details Of Certain Statements Of Income Lines Details [Abstract]
Professional services	$ 624axp_ProfessionalServices	$ 692axp_ProfessionalServices
Occupancy and equipment	434us-gaap_OccupancyNet	462us-gaap_OccupancyNet
Card and merchant-related fraud losses	100axp_CardRelatedFraudLosses	84axp_CardRelatedFraudLosses
Communications	88us-gaap_CommunicationsAndInformationTechnology	93us-gaap_CommunicationsAndInformationTechnology
Other	153axp_OtherNetExpenses	218axp_OtherNetExpenses
Total other, net	$ 1,399us-gaap_OtherNoninterestExpense	$ 1,549us-gaap_OtherNoninterestExpense

X

- Definition

This represents expenses incurred with respect to card-related fraud losses

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Details

Name:	axp_DetailsOfCertainStatementsOfIncomeLinesDetailsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents other, net expenses from miscellaneous items within other revenues not previously classified.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

The aggregate amount of professional services fees and other processing expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

The amount of expense in the period for communications and data processing expense.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommunicationsAndInformationTechnology
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of net occupancy expense that may include items, such as depreciation of facilities and equipment, lease expenses, property taxes and property and casualty insurance expense.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.6)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6455398&loc=d3e45280-112737



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OccupancyNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Other noninterest expenses that are not separately presented in any other noninterest expense category.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.14)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherNoninterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration