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Earnings Per Common Share (EPS) (Details 1) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Preferred Shares [Line Items]
Securities issued	1,600us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued
Series B
Preferred Shares [Line Items]
Issuance date	Nov. 10, 2014
Securities issued	750us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
Depositary shares issued	750,000axp_Depositarysharesissued / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
Aggregate liquidation preference	$ 750us-gaap_PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceValue / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
Fixed dividend rate per annum	5.20%us-gaap_PreferredStockDividendRatePercentage / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember
Semi annual fixed dividend, payment dates	Beginning May 15, 2015
Floating dividend rate per annuam	3 month LIBOR+ 3.428%
Quarterly floating dividend, payment dates	Beginning February 15, 2020
Fixed to floating rate, conversion date	Nov. 15, 2019
Series C
Preferred Shares [Line Items]
Issuance date	Mar. 02, 2015
Securities issued	850us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesIssued / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_SeriesCPreferredStockMember
Depositary shares issued	850,000axp_Depositarysharesissued / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_SeriesCPreferredStockMember
Aggregate liquidation preference	$ 850us-gaap_PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceValue / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_SeriesCPreferredStockMember
Fixed dividend rate per annum	4.90%us-gaap_PreferredStockDividendRatePercentage / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_SeriesCPreferredStockMember
Semi annual fixed dividend, payment dates	Beginning September 15, 2015
Floating dividend rate per annuam	3 month LIBOR+ 3.285%
Quarterly floating dividend, payment dates	Beginning June 15, 2020
Fixed to floating rate, conversion date	Mar. 15, 2020

X

- Definition

Total number of depositary shares issued

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

The date on which dividends convert from a fixed rate calculation to a floating rate calculation.

+ References

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X

- Definition

Preferred shares issuance date

+ References

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- Definition

Quarterly floating payment dates of dividends on preferred shares

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- Definition

Semi-annual payment date of dividends on preferred shares

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- Definition

Description of basis of dividend, such as adjustable rate. Excludes percentage rate dividend payments or fixed dollar amounts per share.

+ References

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



-Publisher FASB



-Name Accounting Standards Codification



-Topic 505



-SubTopic 10



-Section 50



-Paragraph 3



-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644







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



-Publisher SEC



-Name Regulation S-X (SX)



-Number 210



-Section 02



-Paragraph 29



-Article 5

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- Definition

The percentage rate used to calculate dividend payments on preferred stock.

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- Definition

Value of the difference between preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the preferred shares.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Total number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) issued to shareholders (includes related preferred shares that were issued, repurchased, and remain in the treasury). May be all or portion of the number of preferred shares authorized. Excludes preferred shares that are classified as debt.

+ References

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



-Publisher FASB



-Name Accounting Standards Codification



-Topic 210



-SubTopic 10



-Section S99



-Paragraph 1



-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28)



-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682







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



-Publisher SEC



-Name Regulation S-X (SX)



-Number 210



-Section 02



-Paragraph 29



-Article 5

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