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Significant Credit Concentrations (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Billions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Card Member loans and receivables exposure
On-balance sheet	$ 113	$ 118
Individuals [Member]
Card Member loans and receivables exposure
Unused lines-of-credit	242	297
U.S. [Member]
Card Member loans and receivables exposure
On-balance sheet	93	99
U.S. [Member] | Individuals [Member]
Card Member loans and receivables exposure
Unused lines-of-credit	203	259
Non-U.S. [Member]
Card Member loans and receivables exposure
On-balance sheet	20	19
Non-U.S. [Member] | Individuals [Member]
Card Member loans and receivables exposure
Unused lines-of-credit	$ 39	$ 38

X

- Definition

Reflects the maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument relating to Card Member loans and receivables, the entity would incur if parties to the financial instruments that make up the concentration failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts and the collateral or other security, if any, for the amount due proved to be of no value to the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentCardMemberReceivablesAndLoansExposure
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents table detailing the Company's Card Member loans and receivables exposure (including unused lines-of-credit on Card Member loans) in the United States and outside the United States.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Unused amount of commitments to extend credit to customers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnusedCommitmentsToExtendCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=axp_IndividualsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_DomesticMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=axp_InternationalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: