Customer Deposits - Scheduled Maturities (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)
Time Deposits By Maturity
2024	$ 1,810
2025	6,575
2026	1,453
2027	1,001
2028	701
After 5 Years	204
Total	11,744
Non-U.S. direct certificates of deposit	$ 11

Time Deposit Maturities, After Year Four

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Amount of interest-bearing certificates of deposit liabilities in foreign banking offices.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(12))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 235
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-05(a))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477314/942-235-S99-1

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of time deposit maturing in remainder of current fiscal year. Time deposit includes, but is not limited to, certificate of deposit.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of time deposit maturing in fourth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Time deposit includes, but is not limited to, certificate of deposit. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 470
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481544/470-10-50-1

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of time deposit maturing in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Time deposit includes, but is not limited to, certificate of deposit. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of time deposit maturing in third fiscal year following current fiscal year. Time deposit includes, but is not limited to, certificate of deposit. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of time deposit maturing in second fiscal year following current fiscal year. Time deposit includes, but is not limited to, certificate of deposit. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of time deposit liabilities, including certificates of deposit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-SubTopic 405
-Topic 942
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478353/942-405-50-1

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(12))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478546/942-210-S99-1

+ Details

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

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TimeDepositsByMaturityAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration