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Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details Textuals) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]        
Net reduction in interest expense on long term debt and other $ 70,000,000axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges $ 69,000,000axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges $ 0axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges  
Derivative asset not offset 0axp_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetNotOffsetAgainstCollateral     0axp_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAssetNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
Derivative liabilities not offset 0axp_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityNotOffsetAgainstCollateral     0axp_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiabilityNotOffsetAgainstCollateral
Shares held in equity investment sold 0axp_SharesHeldInEquityInvestmentSold      
Margin On Interest Rate Swap Not Netted 111,000,000axp_MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted     114,000,000axp_MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted
Derivative [Line Items]        
Equity investment 1,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities     1,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
Net hedge ineffectiveness 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossRecognizedInIncomeIneffectivePortionAndAmountExcludedFromEffectivenessTestingNet    
Not Sold Or Repledged [Member]        
Derivative [Line Items]        
Securities received as collateral 43,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralThatCanBeResoldOrRepledged
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= axp_NotSoldOrRepledgedMember
    91,000,000us-gaap_FairValueOfSecuritiesReceivedAsCollateralThatCanBeResoldOrRepledged
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= axp_NotSoldOrRepledgedMember
ICBC [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]        
Derivative [Line Items]        
Equity investment 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= axp_IcbcMember
     
Fair Value Hedges [Member]        
Derivative [Line Items]        
Notional amount of long-term debt 17,600,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
    17,600,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueHedgingMember
Net Investment Hedges [Member]        
Derivative [Line Items]        
Effective portion of gain (loss) on hedges 195,000,000axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
(17,000,000)axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
0axp_EffectiveTranslationAdjustmentForHedgeIncreasedDecreasedNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
 
Net Investment Hedges [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Other Expense [Member]        
Derivative [Line Items]        
Amount reclassified from AOCI into income 0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember
17,000,000us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossReclassifiedFromAccumulatedOCIIntoIncomeEffectivePortionNet
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis
= us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgingMember
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember
   
Credit Valuation Adjustment [Member]        
Derivative [Line Items]        
Notional amount of long-term debt $ 0us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= axp_CreditValuationAdjustmentMember
    $ 0us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem
/ us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis
= axp_CreditValuationAdjustmentMember