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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodendlabel1truefalsefalse-917000000-917000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-712000000-712000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse-917000000-917000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse-712000000-712000000[1],[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse-1606000000-1606000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse5700000057000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse507000000507000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse9truefalsefalse-699000000-699000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse10truefalsefalse-7000000-7000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse11truefalsefalse-28000000-28000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse12truefalsefalse-80000000-80000000[2],[3]falsefalsefalsetruefalse13truefalsefalse-503000000-503000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse14truefalsefalse-722000000-722000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse15truefalsefalse-368000000-368000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse16truefalsefalse-464000000-464000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse17truefalsefalse-469000000-469000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse18truefalsefalse-459000000-459000000[2]falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAccumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at fiscal year-end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, and unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 14, 17, 26
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 31
-Article 5
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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 25
falsefalse15false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTaxEffectPeriodIncreaseDecreaseus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse1100000011000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2900000029000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-4000000-4000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal tax effect of the change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges after taxes. The change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gains or losses.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 25
falsefalse16false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTaxus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse2200000022000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3300000033000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-66000000-66000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTax effect of the adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into functional currency of the reporting entity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 25
falsefalse17false0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetInvestmentHedgesTaxEffectaxpfalsedebitdurationTax effect on net change of net investment hedges during the period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse-396000000-396000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTax effect on net change of net investment hedges during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse18false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansTaxus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse1800000018000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-28000000-28000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-159000000-159000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTax effects of the net changes to accumulated comprehensive income during the period related to benefit plans.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 25
falsefalse19false0axp_OtherComprehensiveIncomeDiscontinuedOperationsTaxaxpfalsedebitdurationTax effects of the net changes to accumulated comprehensive income during the period related to discontinued operations.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse00[8]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00[5],[8]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1600000016000000[5],[8]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTax effects of the net changes to accumulated comprehensive income during the period related to discontinued operations.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse20false0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse-617000000-617000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse783000000783000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-685000000-685000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse11falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse12falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse13falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse14falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse15falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse16falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse17falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse18falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse19falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTax effect of the change in accumulated other comprehensive income, that is, the tax effect on items included in other comprehensive income during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 36
-Subparagraph b
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(3)
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 130
-Paragraph 24
-Subparagraph b
Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 31
-Article 5
Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3
truefalse1Includes $132 million and $87 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, related lease transactions. 2The following table shows the tax impact for the three years ended December 31, for the changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:3 Upon adoption of new GAAP effective January 1, 2010, the Lending Trust was consolidated. The December 31, 2009 non-consolidated outstanding balance was $25.0 billion and the year-end stated rate was 0.87 percent.4As described further in Notes 6 and 7, as a result of the adoption of new GAAP effective January 1, 2010, the Company no longer presents within its Consolidated Financial Statements the effects of the retained subordinated securities issued by previously unconsolidated VIEs related to the Company?s cardmember loan securitization programs.5Includes a $190 million other comprehensive loss, recorded in the third quarter of 2009, representing the correction of an error related to the accounting in prior periods for cumulative translation adjustments associated with a net investment in foreign subsidiaries. (Refer to Note 19 for further details).6For 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 balances7Historically, 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.8Relates to the change in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income prior to the dispositions of AEB and AEIDC. 1919Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
