2.2.0.25falsefalse06065 - Disclosure - Investment Securities (Details 3)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 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$3true0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainLossNetAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse10000001[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse226000000226[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2000000020[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph a
falsefalse5false0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLossesus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-6000000-6falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-1000000-1falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-8000000-8falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the gross loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph a
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainLossNetus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse-5000000-5falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse225000000225falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1200000012falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis item represents the difference between the gross realized gains and losses realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Additionally, this item would include any losses recognized for other than temporary impairments of the subject investments in debt and equity securities.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 16
truefalse7true0axp_InvestmentSecuritiesTextualsAbstractaxpfalsenadurationInvestment Securities Textuals.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringInvestment Securities Textuals.falsefalse8false0axp_PercentageOfCompanysInvestmentSoldaxpfalsenadurationRepresents the percentage ownership relating to the sale of the Company's investment in Industrial and Commercial Bank of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.500.50falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureRepresents the percentage ownership relating to the sale of the Company's investment in Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).No authoritative reference available.falsefalse1The 2009 gains primarily represent the gain from the sale of 50 percent of the Company's investment in ICBC.36Investment Securities (Details 3) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
