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Reserves For Losses (Details Textuals) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified
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3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Mar. 31, 2014
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| Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |
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| Card Member receivables - other |
$ (11)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther |
$ (17)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther |
| Card Member loans reserves for losses - other |
(4)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther |
2axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther |
| Allowance for Card Member Receivables and Reserves, Recoveries of Bad Debts |
99us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesRecoveries |
92us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesRecoveries |
| Allowance for Card Member Loans, Recoveries of Bad Debts |
103us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts |
107us-gaap_AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts |
| Allowance for Card Member Receivables, Recoveries of Bad Debts - TDR |
31axp_AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR |
2axp_AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR |
| Allowance for Card Member Loans, Recoveries of Bad Debts - TDR |
16axp_AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR |
(2)axp_AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR |
| Unauthorized Transactions [Member] |
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| Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |
|
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| Card Member receivables - other |
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(7)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_UnauthorizedtransactionsmemberMember |
| Card Member loans reserves for losses - other |
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(6)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_UnauthorizedtransactionsmemberMember |
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] |
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| Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |
|
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| Card Member receivables - other |
(7)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_ForeigncurrencytranslationadjustmentsmemberMember |
0axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_ForeigncurrencytranslationadjustmentsmemberMember |
| Card Member loans reserves for losses - other |
(7)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_ForeigncurrencytranslationadjustmentsmemberMember |
(1)axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_ForeigncurrencytranslationadjustmentsmemberMember |
| Other Items [Member] |
|
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| Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items] |
|
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| Card Member receivables - other |
(4)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_OtheritemsmemberMember |
(10)axp_ProvisionsForLossesDeductionsChargeCardNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_OtheritemsmemberMember |
| Card Member loans reserves for losses - other |
$ 3axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_OtheritemsmemberMember |
$ 9axp_ProvisionsForLoansAndLeaseLossesDeductionsNetWriteOffsOther / us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis = axp_OtheritemsmemberMember |