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Significant Credit Concentrations (Details) (USD $)
In Billions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category    
On-balance sheet $ 147us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure $ 141us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
Individuals [Member]    
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category    
On-balance sheet 101us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_IndividualsMember
98us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_IndividualsMember
Unused lines-of-credit 278us-gaap_UnusedCommitmentsToExtendCredit
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_IndividualsMember
265us-gaap_UnusedCommitmentsToExtendCredit
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_IndividualsMember
Financial Institutions [Member]    
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category    
On-balance sheet 25us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_FinancialInstitutionsMember
22us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_FinancialInstitutionsMember
United States Government And Agencies [Member]    
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category    
On-balance sheet 4us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_UnitedStatesGovernmentAndAgenciesMember
4us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_UnitedStatesGovernmentAndAgenciesMember
Other Concentration [Member]    
Maximum Credit Exposure by Category    
On-balance sheet $ 17us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_OtherConcentrationMember
$ 17us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis
= axp_OtherConcentrationMember