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Restructuring Charges (Details Textuals) (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 (Textuals) [Abstract] |
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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 |
| Restructuring charges, revision adjustments |
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35,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment |
4,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment |
16,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment |
| Employee Severance [Member] |
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| Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract] |
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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 |
| U S Card Services [Member] |
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| Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract] |
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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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| International Card Services [Member] |
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| Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract] |
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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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| Global Commercial Services [Member] |
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| Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract] |
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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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| Global Network And Merchant Services [Member] |
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| Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract] |
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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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| Corporate and Other [Member] |
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| Restructuring Charges (Textuals) [Abstract] |
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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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