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Restructuring Charges (Details 1) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Jun. 30, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Restructuring charges, net of revisions |
$ 313,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost |
$ 133,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost |
$ 411,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost |
$ (4,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost |
$ 403,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost |
| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
919,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 |
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919,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1 |
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| Employee Severance [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Restructuring charges, net of revisions |
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383,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember |
(7,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember |
366,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember |
| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
798,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember |
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798,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember |
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| Other Terminations [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Restructuring charges, net of revisions |
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28,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember |
3,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember |
37,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember |
| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
121,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember |
|
121,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember |
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| U S Card Services [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Restructuring charges, net of revisions |
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38,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
72,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember |
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72,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember |
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| U S Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
66,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember |
|
66,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember |
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| U S Card Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
6,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember |
|
6,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember |
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| International Card Services [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Restructuring charges, net of revisions |
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139,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
221,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember |
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221,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember |
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| International Card Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
220,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember |
|
220,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember |
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| International Card Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
1,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember |
|
1,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember |
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| Global Commercial Services [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Restructuring charges, net of revisions |
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54,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
267,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember |
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267,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember |
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| Global Commercial Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
249,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember |
|
249,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember |
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| Global Commercial Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
18,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember |
|
18,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember |
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| Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Restructuring charges, net of revisions |
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25,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
68,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember |
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68,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember |
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| Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
68,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember |
|
68,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember |
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| Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember |
|
0us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember |
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| Corporate and Other [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Restructuring charges, net of revisions |
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155,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostIncurredCost
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
291,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
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291,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
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| Severance and other charges |
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222,000,000axp_SeveranceAndOtherCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
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| Corporate and Other [Member] | Employee Severance [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
195,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
|
195,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
|
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| Corporate and Other [Member] | Other Terminations [Member] |
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| Restructuring charges, by reportable segment |
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| Cumulative Restructuring Expense Incurred To Date On In-Progress Restructuring Programs |
$ 96,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
|
$ 96,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostCostIncurredToDate1
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= axp_OtherTerminationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember |
|
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