Parent Company (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 8,060	$ 3,135	$ 6,759
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	14,645	5,591	13,632
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Maturities and redemptions of investment securities	20,032	7,159	7,329
Other investing activities	0	135	152
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(10,529)	11,632	(16,707)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from long-term debt	7,788	69	12,706
Payments of long-term debt	(11,662)	(15,593)	(13,850)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares	1,584	0	0
Redemption of American Express preferred shares	(1,600)	0	0
Issuance of American Express common shares	64	44	86
Dividends paid	(1,448)	(1,474)	(1,422)
Net cash used in financing activities	(14,933)	(9,068)	(519)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(10,937)	8,519	(3,362)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	32,965	24,446	27,808
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	22,028	32,965	24,446
Parent Company
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	8,060	3,135	6,759
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates	(8,560)	(3,716)	(7,271)
Dividends received from subsidiaries and affiliates	9,102	2,679	6,370
Other operating activities, primarily with subsidiaries and affiliates	(305)	732	1,315
Net cash provided by operating activities	8,297	2,830	7,173
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Maturities and redemptions of investment securities	0	0	1
(Increase) decrease in loans to subsidiaries and affiliates	(176)	11,434	(4,405)
Investments in subsidiaries and affiliates	(60)	(52)	(15)
Other investing activities	0	74	82
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(236)	11,456	(4,337)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net decrease in short-term debt from subsidiaries and affiliates	(2,636)	(3,289)	(1,500)
Proceeds from long-term debt	3,000	0	6,469
Payments of long-term debt	(5,000)	(2,000)	(641)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares	1,584	0	0
Redemption of American Express preferred shares	(1,600)	0	0
Issuance of American Express common shares	64	44	86
Repurchase of American Express common shares and other	(7,652)	(1,029)	(4,685)
Dividends paid	(1,448)	(1,474)	(1,422)
Net cash used in financing activities	(13,688)	(7,748)	(1,693)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(5,627)	6,538	1,143
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	10,968	4,430	3,287
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	5,341	10,968	4,430
Non-Cash Investing Activities
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates	(1,787)	(4,971)	0
Non-Cash Financing Activities
Short-term debts from subsidiaries and affiliates	0	4,971	0
Proceeds from long-term debt	$ 1,787	$ 0	$ 0