Parent Company (Details 2) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 899,000,000	$ 1,266,000,000	$ 1,473,000,000	$ 1,525,000,000	$ 1,447,000,000	$ 1,477,000,000	$ 1,529,000,000	$ 1,432,000,000	$ 5,163,000,000	$ 5,885,000,000	$ 5,359,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of securities									(1,000,000)	(100,000,000)	(136,000,000)
Premium paid on debt exchange									0	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities									10,972,000,000	10,990,000,000	8,547,000,000
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Purchase of investments									(1,713,000,000)	(886,000,000)	(1,348,000,000)
Purchase of premises and equipment									(1,341,000,000)	(1,195,000,000)	(1,006,000,000)
Net cash used in investing activities									(8,193,000,000)	(7,967,000,000)	(7,269,000,000)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
(Principal payments on) / issuance of long term debt									(19,610,000,000)	(12,768,000,000)	(14,763,000,000)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares									841,000,000	742,000,000	0
Issuance of American Express common shares and other									193,000,000	362,000,000	721,000,000
Repurchase of American Express common shares									(4,480,000,000)	(4,389,000,000)	(3,943,000,000)
Dividends paid									(1,172,000,000)	(1,041,000,000)	(939,000,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(2,029,000,000)	11,000,000	(3,891,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									474,000,000	2,802,000,000	(2,764,000,000)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				22,288,000,000				19,486,000,000	22,288,000,000	19,486,000,000	22,250,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	22,762,000,000				22,288,000,000				22,762,000,000	22,288,000,000	19,486,000,000
Parent Company [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income									5,163,000,000	5,885,000,000	5,359,000,000
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net income of subsidiaries and affiliates									(5,633,000,000)	(6,301,000,000)	(5,838,000,000)
Dividends received from subsidiaries and affiliates									5,331,000,000	5,455,000,000	4,768,000,000
Gain on sale of securities									0	(99,000,000)	(135,000,000)
Other operating activities, primarily with subsidiaries and affiliates									332,000,000	173,000,000	324,000,000
Premium paid on debt exchange									0	0	0
Net cash provided by operating activities									5,193,000,000	5,113,000,000	4,478,000,000
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Sales of available-for-sale investment securities									0	111,000,000	157,000,000
Purchase of investments									(3,000,000)	0	0
Purchase of premises and equipment									(29,000,000)	(39,000,000)	(39,000,000)
Loans to subsidiaries and affiliates									(3,952,000,000)	(2,574,000,000)	1,498,000,000
Investments in subsidiaries and affiliates									0	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities									(3,984,000,000)	(2,502,000,000)	1,616,000,000
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
(Principal payments on) / issuance of long term debt									0	(655,000,000)	843,000,000
Short-term debt of subsidiaries and affiliates									986,000,000	5,118,000,000	(1,497,000,000)
Issuance of American Express preferred shares									841,000,000	742,000,000	0
Issuance of American Express common shares and other									192,000,000	362,000,000	721,000,000
Repurchase of American Express common shares									(4,480,000,000)	(4,389,000,000)	(3,943,000,000)
Dividends paid									(1,172,000,000)	(1,041,000,000)	(939,000,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(3,633,000,000)	137,000,000	(4,815,000,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(2,424,000,000)	2,748,000,000	1,279,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				$ 8,824,000,000				$ 6,076,000,000	8,824,000,000	6,076,000,000	4,797,000,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 6,400,000,000				$ 8,824,000,000				$ 6,400,000,000	$ 8,824,000,000	$ 6,076,000,000