Debt (Details Textuals) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average commercial paper outstanding	$ 299,000,000	$ 228,000,000
Total bank lines of credit of the company	$ 3,500,000,000	3,500,000,000
Ratio of combined earnings and fixed earnings to fixed charges required to maintain availability of credit line	1.25
Fees to maintain credit lines	$ 16,500,000	14,200,000
Total interest paid	3,400,000,000	2,700,000,000	$ 2,000,000,000.0
Short-term Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fees to maintain the secured financing facility	$ 7,700,000	7,800,000
American Express Charge Trust II [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Specified date face amount of eligible notes issued	Jul. 15, 2022
Face amount of eligible notes from Charge Trust	$ 3,000,000,000.0
Face amount of eligible notes draw downs	0	$ 1,500,000,000
American Express Lending Trust [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount of eligible notes issued	$ 2,000,000,000.0
Specified date face amount of eligible notes issued	Sep. 15, 2022