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Investment Securities (Details Textuals) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Investment Securities (Details) [Abstract] |  |
Other-than-temporary impairments recognized during the period | $ 0 | $ 0

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- Definition Investment Securities Details. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | axp_InvestmentSecuritiesDetailsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | axp_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition This element represents the amount of loss recognized for other than temporary impairments (OTTI) of 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 S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.M) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011274&loc=d3e87990-122713 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLossOtherThanTemporaryImpairmentsAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration