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Reserves For Losses (Details Textuals) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Allowance for Card Member Receivables, Recoveries of Bad Debts | $ 401 | $ 358 | $ 402
Allowance for Card Member Loans, Recoveries of Bad Debts | 418 | 428 | 452
Allowance for Card Member Receivables, Recoveries of Bad Debts - TDR | 60 | 15 | 12
Allowance for Card Member Loans, Recoveries of Bad Debts - TDR | 41 | (10) | (1)
Card Member loans reserves for losses - other | 10 | 12 | (22)
Unauthorized Transactions [Member] |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Card Member receivables reserves for losses - other |  | (7) |
Card Member loans reserves for losses - other |  | (6) |
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Card Member receivables reserves for losses - other | (16) | (15) | (4)
Card Member loans reserves for losses - other | (20) | (17) | (12)
Other Items [Member] |  |  |
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |  |  |
Card Member receivables reserves for losses - other | $ (11) | $ (8) | $ (17)

X
- Definition Recovery of Bad Debts - Receivables (Balance Sheet) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_AllowanceForCardMemberReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsBalanceSheet
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Recovery of Bad Debt - Loans (Balance Sheet) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebtsBS
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of recovery of Card Member loans related to troubled debt restructurings, which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of recovery of Card Member receivables related to troubled debt restructurings, which had previously been fully or partially written-off as bad debts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents adjustments to Card Member loans resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments for the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_CardMemberLoansReservesForLossesOther
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents adjustments to Card Member receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments for the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=axp_ForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
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Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |