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Other Assets (Details 2) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Components of other intangible assets    
Gross Carrying Amount $ 1,710us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross $ 1,566us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Accumulated Amortization (856)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization (749)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Net Carrying Amount 854us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 817us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Other Contracts [Member]    
Components of other intangible assets    
Gross Carrying Amount 255us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= axp_OtherContractsMember
269us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= axp_OtherContractsMember
Accumulated Amortization (102)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= axp_OtherContractsMember
(89)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= axp_OtherContractsMember
Net Carrying Amount 153us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= axp_OtherContractsMember
180us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= axp_OtherContractsMember
Customer Relationships [Member]    
Components of other intangible assets    
Gross Carrying Amount 1,455us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
1,297us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Accumulated Amortization (754)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
(660)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Net Carrying Amount $ 701us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
$ 637us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember