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Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Details) (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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| Changes in Other Comprehensive income |
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| Balances as of start of period |
$ (1,919)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
|
| Pension and other postretirement benefit gains |
(23)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent |
(27)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent |
| Balances as of end of period |
(2,151)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax |
|
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member] |
|
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| Changes in Other Comprehensive income |
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| Balances as of start of period |
(1,919)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
(1,426)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
| Net unrealized gains (losses) |
|
68axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetUnrealizedGainsLossesNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
| (Decrease) increase due to amounts reclassified into earnings |
0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
(28)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
| Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations |
(450)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
(18)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
| Net losses gains related to hedges of investment in foreign operations |
195axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesRelatedToHedgesOfInvestmentInForeignOperationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
(17)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesRelatedToHedgesOfInvestmentInForeignOperationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
| Pension and other postretirement benefit gains |
23us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
27us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
| Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
(232)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
32axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
| Balances as of end of period |
(2,151)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
(1,394)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember |
| Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities [Member] |
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| Changes in Other Comprehensive income |
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| Balances as of start of period |
96us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
63us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
| Net unrealized gains (losses) |
|
68axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetUnrealizedGainsLossesNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
| (Decrease) increase due to amounts reclassified into earnings |
0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
(29)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
| Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
39axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
| Balances as of end of period |
96us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
102us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember |
| Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] |
|
|
| Changes in Other Comprehensive income |
|
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| Balances as of start of period |
(1,499)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(1,090)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
| (Decrease) increase due to amounts reclassified into earnings |
0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
1axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
| Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations |
(450)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(18)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTaxPeriodIncreaseDecrease / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
| Net losses gains related to hedges of investment in foreign operations |
195axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesRelatedToHedgesOfInvestmentInForeignOperationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(17)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesRelatedToHedgesOfInvestmentInForeignOperationsNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
| Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
(255)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(34)axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
| Balances as of end of period |
(1,754)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
(1,124)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember |
| Net Unrealized Pension and Other Postretirement Gains (Losses) [Member] |
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| Changes in Other Comprehensive income |
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| Balances as of start of period |
(516)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
(399)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
| Pension and other postretirement benefit gains |
23us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
27us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
| Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
23axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
27axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetChangeNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
| Balances as of end of period |
$ (493)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |
$ (372)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax / us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis = us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember |