v2.4.1.9
Reportable Operating Segments and Geographic Operations (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Non-interest revenues $ 6,503us-gaap_NoninterestIncome $ 6,836us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
Interest income 1,857us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating 1,776us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
Interest expense 410us-gaap_InterestExpense 439us-gaap_InterestExpense
Total revenues, net of interest expense 7,950axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense 8,173axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
Net income 1,525us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 1,432us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
U S Card Services [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Non-interest revenues 3,148us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember		 2,991us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember
Interest income 1,529us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember		 1,423us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember
Interest expense 152us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember		 150us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember
Total revenues, net of interest expense 4,525axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember		 4,264axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember
Net income 934us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember		 876us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_USCardServicesMember
International Card Services [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Non-interest revenues 1,061us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember		 1,157us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Interest income 244us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember		 277us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Interest expense 64us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember		 82us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Total revenues, net of interest expense 1,241axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember		 1,352axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Net income 134us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember		 159us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_InternationalCardServicesMember
Global Commercial Services [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Non-interest revenues 871us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember		 1,249us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Interest income 4us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember		 4us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Interest expense 48us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember		 59us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Total revenues, net of interest expense 827axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember		 1,194axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Net income 180us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember		 184us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalCommercialServicesMember
Global Network And Merchant Services [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Non-interest revenues 1,270us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember		 1,293us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Interest income 20us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember		 10us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Interest expense (54)us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember		 (62)us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Total revenues, net of interest expense 1,344axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember		 1,365axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Net income 444us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember		 443us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= axp_GlobalNetworkAndMerchantServicesMember
Corporate and Other [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Non-interest revenues 153us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember		 146us-gaap_NoninterestIncome
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Interest income 60us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember		 62us-gaap_InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Interest expense 200us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember		 210us-gaap_InterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Total revenues, net of interest expense 13axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember		 (2)axp_TotalRevenuesNetOfInterestExpense
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember
Net income $ (167)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember		 $ (230)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateAndOtherMember