Cardmember loans reserve deductions.

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- Definition

Reflects the interest and fees amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities for the period.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsInterestAndFees
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- Definition

Represents adjustments to cardmember loans reserve including foreign currency translation adjustments and net write-offs related to unauthorized transactions for the period.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther
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- Definition

Reflects the principal amount of loans that have been removed, or charged off, from both loan receivables and the reserve for credit losses, net of recoveries, typically because they are considered to be not salvageable or have been purchased by unconsolidated collection entities for the period.

+ Details

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- Definition

Provisions For Losses Cardmember Loans Additions

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLossesCardmemberLoansAdditionsAbstract
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- Definition

Primarily represents adjustments to cardmember loans resulting from unauthorized transactions for the period.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsOther
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Represents loss provisions for cardmember loans consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), interest and fee reserves components for the period.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees
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- Definition

Represents the reserve for losses for the securitized loans portfolio.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Reserves for Losses.

+ Details

Name:	axp_ReservesForLossesTextualsAbstract
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- Definition

Reflects a reduction in bad debt expense attributable to collections of loans and lease receivables which had previously been fully or partially charged off as bad debts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 114
-Paragraph 20

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph d
-Article 9

+ Details

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- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ Details

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- Definition

The allowance for loan and lease losses represents the reserve to cover probable credit losses related to specifically identified loans and leases, as well as probable credit losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. For banks, include currently required allocated transfer risk reserves. Include carryover of or adjustments to the allowance for loan losses in connection with business combinations determined to be appropriate.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher OTS
-Name Federal Regulation (FR)
-Number Title 12
-Chapter V
-Section 563c.102
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph a(ii)
-Subsection I

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 6
-Section L
-Subsection 1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 114
-Paragraph 20

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph d
-Article 9

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 8, 9

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The sum of the periodic provision charged to operations, based on an assessment of the uncollectibility of the loan and lease portfolio, the offset to which is either added to or deducted from the allowance account for the purpose of reducing loan receivable and leases to an amount that approximates their net realizable value (the amount expected to be collected).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG)
-Number AAG-DEP
-Chapter 5
-Paragraph 168, 169, 170
-IssueDate 2006-05-01

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 11
-Article 9

+ Details

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Reserves for Losses (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Reserves for Losses (Details 2) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009 Variable Interest Enterprise [Member] Scenario Adjustment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Scenario Previously Reported [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Scenario Previously Reported [Member]
Changes in the cardmember loans reserve for losses
Balance, January 1			$ 3,646,000,000	$ 5,799,000,000	$ 5,799,000,000	$ 2,531,000,000	$ 3,646,000,000	$ 3,268,000,000
Additions:
Cardmember loans provisions			7,000,000	1,190,000,000
Cardmember loans provisions - other			49,000,000	38,000,000
Total provision	176,000,000	540,000,000	56,000,000	1,228,000,000
Deductions:
Cardmember loans net write-offs - principal			(992,000,000)	(1,902,000,000)
Cardmember loans net write-offs - interest and fees			(115,000,000)	(206,000,000)
Cardmember loans - other			(35,000,000)	(53,000,000)
Balance, June 30	2,560,000,000	4,866,000,000	2,560,000,000	4,866,000,000	3,646,000,000	2,531,000,000	3,646,000,000	3,268,000,000
Reserves for Losses (Textuals) [Abstract]
Allowance for loan and lease losses, recoveries of bad debts			300,000,000	280,000,000
Reserve For Losses Securitized Loans					$ 2,500,000,000