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Non-Interest Revenue and Expense Detail (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Details Of Certain Statements Of Income Lines Details [Abstract]
Global Network Services partner revenues	$ 145	$ 164
Net realized gains on investment securities	4	0
Other	337	304
Total other revenues	$ 486	$ 468

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- Definition

Details of Certain Statements of Income Lines Details.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents revenues received from Global Network Service partners on use of the American Express brand name.

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- Definition

Represents revenues from miscellaneous items within other revenues not previously classified.

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- Definition

This item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563

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- Definition

Represents other forms of revenue earned, excluding interest, which is not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 13
-Article 9

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