2.2.0.25falsefalse06124 - Disclosure - Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details Textuals)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
$TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000004962duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3true0axp_DerivativesAndHedgingActivitiesTextualsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationDerivatives and Hedging Activities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDerivatives and Hedging Activities.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfCashFlowHedgeInstrumentsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse13000000001300000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse16000000001600000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0axp_NetReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedgesaxpfalsecreditdurationRepresents the amount of a net reduction to interest expense on long-term debt and other, primarily related to the net...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse522000000522000000[1],[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse464000000464000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse122000000122000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount of a net reduction to interest expense on long-term debt and other, primarily related to the net settlements on the Company's fair value hedges.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedWithinTwelveMonthsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse1100000011000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe estimated net amount of existing gains (losses) on cash flow hedges at the reporting date expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 45
-Subparagraph b(2)
falsefalse7false0us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfInterestRateFairValueHedgeDerivativesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse1590000000015900000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1510000000015100000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate notional amount of all interest rate derivatives designated as hedging instruments in fair value hedges. Notional amount refers to the monetary amount specified in the interest rate derivative contract.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse1For cardmember receivables in International Card Services and Global Commercial Services, delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A cardmember account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the cardmember's billing statement date. In addition, if the Company initiates collection procedures on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing the associated cardmember receivable balance is considered as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes. Historically, data for periods prior to 90 days past billing are not available due to system constraints. Therefore, it has not been utilized for risk management purposes. The balances that are current - 89 days past due can be derived as difference between the Total and the 90+ Days Past Due balances2Historically, data for periods prior to 90 days past billing are not available due to system constraints. Therefore, it has not been utilized for risk management purposes. The balances that are current - 89 days past due can be derived as the difference between the Total and the 90+ Days Past Due balances.35Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details Textuals) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
