|
Investment Securities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified
|
3 Months Ended |
12 Months Ended |
|
Mar. 31, 2015
|
Dec. 31, 2014
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
$ 4,267us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost |
$ 4,280us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
152us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains |
154us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
(2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss |
(3)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss |
| Estimated Fair Value |
4,417us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities |
4,431us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities |
| U.S. States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] |
|
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
3,196us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
3,366us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
126us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
129us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
(1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
(2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
| Estimated Fair Value |
3,321us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
3,493us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USStatesAndPoliticalSubdivisionsMember |
| U.S. Government agency obligations [Member] |
|
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Estimated Fair Value |
2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USGovernmentAgenciesDebtSecuritiesMember |
| U.S. Government treasury obligations [Member] |
|
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
346us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
346us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
6us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
| Estimated Fair Value |
352us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
350us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember |
| Corporate debt securities [Member] |
|
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
35us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
37us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Estimated Fair Value |
37us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
40us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Mortgage-backed securities [Member] |
|
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
120us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
128us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
6us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
8us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
| Estimated Fair Value |
126us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
136us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember |
| Equity securities [Member] |
|
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
| Estimated Fair Value |
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember |
| Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member] |
|
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
518us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
350us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
11us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
9us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Estimated Fair Value |
529us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
359us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember |
| Availabe For Sale Securities Other [Member] |
|
|
| Schedule of Available for Sale Securities by Type |
|
|
| Cost |
50us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
50us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
| Gross Unrealized Gains |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses |
(1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
(1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
| Estimated Fair Value |
$ 49us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |
$ 49us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = axp_AvailabeForSaleSecuritiesOtherMember |