Significant Credit Concentrations (Details Textuals)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Significant Credit Concentrations (Textuals) [Abstract]
Percentage of worldwide billed business	5.00%
Percentage of worldwide cardmember lending receivables	15.00%

Represents the percentage of the Company's worldwide cardmember lending receivables that are attributable to the Company's Delta SkyMiles Credit Card co-brand portfolio accounts.

No definition available.

Name:	axp_CoBrandPortfolioAccountPercentageOfWorldwideCardmemberLendingReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	axp_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration