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Investment Securities (Details 2) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2015
securities
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Dec. 31, 2014
securities
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| Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Qualitative Disclosure [Abstract] | ||
| Number of securities, less than 12 months | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear |
| Number of securities, 12 months or more | 11us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear | 15us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear |
| Number of securities, total | 11us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 | 15us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 |
| Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value [Abstract] | ||
| Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | $ 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue | $ 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue |
| Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 73us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue | 105us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue |
| Estimated Fair Value, Total | 73us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue | 105us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue |
| Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] | ||
| Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses |
| Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | (2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses | (3)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses |
| Gross Unrealized Losses, Total | (2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses | (3)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses |
| Ratio Of Fair Value To Amortized Cost Between Ninety And One Hundred Percent [Member] | ||
| Available For Sale Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Qualitative Disclosure [Abstract] | ||
| Number of securities, less than 12 months | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsLessThanOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
| Number of securities, 12 months or more | 11us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
15us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositionsGreaterThanOrEqualToOneYear / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
| Number of securities, total | 11us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
15us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesInUnrealizedLossPositionsQualitativeDisclosureNumberOfPositions1 / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
| Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value [Abstract] | ||
| Estimated Fair Value, Less than 12 months | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThanTwelveMonthsFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
| Estimated Fair Value, 12 months or more | 73us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
105us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
| Estimated Fair Value, Total | 73us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
105us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionFairValue / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
| Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses [Abstract] | ||
| Gross Unrealized Losses, Less than 12 months | 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses, 12 months or more | (2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
(3)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
| Gross Unrealized Losses, Total | $ (2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
$ (3)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAggregateLosses / axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostAxis = axp_RatioOfFairValueToAmortizedCostBetweenNinetyAndOneHundredPercentMember |
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- Definition
Amount of unrealized loss on securities classified as available-for-sale that have been in a loss position for twelve months or longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount of unrealized loss on securities classified as available-for-sale. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Details
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- Definition
This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities in an unrealized loss position which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Details
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- Definition
Amount of unrealized loss on investments in available-for-sale securities that have been in a loss position for less than twelve months. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than twelve months. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Details
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| X | ||||||||||
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- Definition
This item represents the aggregate fair value of investments in debt and equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or longer. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than or equal to a year for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement. No definition available.
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- Definition
Number of investment positions in available-for-sale investments in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than one year or normal operating cycle, if longer, for which an other-than-temporary impairment (OTTI) has not been recognized in the income statement. No definition available.
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- Details
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