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Fair Values (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Investment securities:    
Equity securities $ 1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities $ 124us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
Debt securities and other 4,430axp_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther 4,892axp_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther
Derivative assets 991axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets 701axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
Total assets 5,422us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring 5,717us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
Level 1 [Member]    
Investment securities:    
Equity securities 1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member		 124us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Debt securities and other 350axp_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member		 320axp_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Derivative assets 0axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member		 0axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Total assets 351us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member		 444us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member
Level 2 [Member]    
Investment securities:    
Equity securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member		 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Debt securities and other 4,080axp_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member		 4,572axp_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesAndOther
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Derivative assets 991axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member		 701axp_FairValueOfDerivativeAssets
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Total assets 5,071us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member		 5,273us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Level 3 [Member]    
Investment securities:    
Total assets $ 0us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member		 $ 0us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosureRecurring
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member