$AXP
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp

$axp Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000000496220000030 Filed on February 13, 2020

Income Statement

Concept	2018 Q4	2018 Q3	2018 Q2
Revenue	$10.47B	$10.14B	$10.00B
YoY Change	7.9%	9.19%	9.05%
Cost Of Revenue	$3.388B	$3.202B	$3.153B
YoY Change	17.44%	17.25%	16.09%
Gross Profit	$7.463B	$7.282B	$7.149B
YoY Change	5.66%	7.53%	7.8%
Gross Profit Margin	71.25%	71.79%	71.48%
Selling, General & Admin	$4.325B	$3.970B	$3.935B
YoY Change	8.18%	5.25%	2.21%
% of Gross Profit	57.95%	54.52%	55.04%
Research & Development
YoY Change
% of Gross Profit
Depreciation & Amortization	$286.0M	$322.0M	$337.0M
YoY Change	-22.28%	-4.73%	5.64%
% of Gross Profit	3.83%	4.42%	4.71%
Operating Expenses	$5.666B	$5.161B	$5.117B
YoY Change	7.49%	4.79%	9.48%
Operating Profit	$1.797B	$2.121B	$2.032B
YoY Change	0.28%	14.83%	3.78%
Interest Expense	$34.00M	$777.0M	$711.0M
YoY Change	466.67%	36.8%	36.47%
% of Operating Profit	1.89%	36.63%	34.99%
Other Income/Expense, Net
YoY Change
Pretax Income	$1.831B	$2.118B	$2.091B
YoY Change	1.84%	15.67%	6.85%
Income Tax	$317.0M	$464.0M	$468.0M
% Of Pretax Income	17.31%	21.91%	22.38%
Net Earnings	$2.010B	$1.654B	$1.623B
YoY Change	-266.67%	21.71%	20.76%
Net Earnings / Revenue	19.19%	16.31%	16.23%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$2.33	$1.89	$1.85
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$2.32	$1.88	$1.84
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	854.3M shares	858.0M shares	860.0M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		860.0M shares	862.0M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2018 Q4	2018 Q3	2018 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$27.28B	$30.18B	$29.63B
YoY Change	-16.98%	21.3%	1.92%
Cash & Equivalents	$27.81B	$31.26B	$31.26B
Short-Term Investments
Other Short-Term Assets
YoY Change
Inventory
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$55.32B	$54.97B	$54.42B
Other Receivables	$2.907B	$3.160B	$3.241B
Total Short-Term Assets	$85.51B	$88.31B	$87.30B
YoY Change	-4.56%	12.38%	7.99%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$4.416B	$4.295B	$4.251B
YoY Change	2.01%	-1.65%	-4.36%
Goodwill	$3.072B
YoY Change	2.09%
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments	$4.813B	$6.123B	$4.866B
YoY Change	49.06%	34.9%	2.88%
Other Assets	$1.043B	$783.0M	$1.263B
YoY Change	1.96%	-56.88%	2196.36%
Total Long-Term Assets	$103.5B	$100.7B	$97.71B
YoY Change	13.22%	11.36%	13.39%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$85.51B	$88.31B	$87.30B
Total Long-Term Assets	$103.5B	$100.7B	$97.71B
Total Assets	$189.0B	$189.0B	$185.0B
YoY Change	4.42%	11.83%	10.78%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$12.26B	$15.61B	$13.80B
YoY Change	-16.39%	27.49%	13.99%
Accrued Expenses
YoY Change
Deferred Revenue	$743.0M
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$3.100B	$2.292B	$1.972B
YoY Change	-5.43%	-2.55%	-42.44%
Long-Term Debt Due
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$85.32B	$87.20B	$83.16B
YoY Change	3.55%	14.91%	13.52%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$58.42B	$55.30B	$55.88B
YoY Change	4.69%	13.41%	7.58%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$22.57B	$25.13B	$24.92B
YoY Change	-8.77%	10.01%	20.87%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$81.00B	$80.43B	$80.81B
YoY Change	0.56%	12.32%	11.36%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$85.32B	$87.20B	$83.16B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$81.00B	$80.43B	$80.81B
Total Liabilities	$166.3B	$167.6B	$164.0B
YoY Change	2.07%	13.65%	12.44%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$12.50B	$11.52B	$10.90B
YoY Change	50.46%	5.62%	-0.67%
Common Stock	$170.0M	$171.0M	$173.0M
YoY Change	-1.16%	-2.29%	-2.26%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares	2.700M shares
Shareholders Equity	$22.29B	$21.46B	$20.89B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$188.6B	$189.1B	$184.9B
YoY Change	4.09%	12.17%	10.7%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2018 Q4	2018 Q3	2018 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$2.010B	$1.654B	$1.623B
YoY Change	-266.67%	21.71%	20.76%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$286.0M	$322.0M	$337.0M
YoY Change	-22.28%	-4.73%	5.64%
Cash From Operating Activities	-$1.252B	$5.086B	$3.033B
YoY Change	-125.25%	18.36%	-2.91%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$439.0M	-$335.0M	-$299.0M
YoY Change	75.6%	22.26%	14.56%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$5.005B	-$5.455B	-$7.389B
YoY Change	-46.15%	27.54%	60.77%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$5.444B	-$5.790B	-$7.688B
YoY Change	-42.96%	27.22%	58.29%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	3.240B	626.0M	4.184B
YoY Change	-66.47%	-126.18%	51.1%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	-1.252B	5.086B	3.033B
Cash From Investing Activities	-5.444B	-5.790B	-7.688B
Cash From Financing Activities	3.240B	626.0M	4.184B
Net Change In Cash	-3.456B	-78.00M	-471.0M
YoY Change	-168.09%	-97.05%	-145.46%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	-$1.252B	$5.086B	$3.033B
Capital Expenditures	-$439.0M	-$335.0M	-$299.0M
Free Cash Flow	-$813.0M	$5.421B	$3.332B
YoY Change	-115.61%	18.6%	-1.57%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2019	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000004962
CY2019	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2019	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2019
CY2019	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2019	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	1.667
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	1.667
CY2018	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	1.667
CY2019	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2019	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2019	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2019-12-31
CY2019	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2019	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	1-7657
CY2019	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	American Express Co
CY2019	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	NY
CY2019	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	13-4922250
CY2019	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	200 Vesey Street
CY2019	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	New York
CY2019	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	NY
CY2019	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	10285
CY2019	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	212
CY2019	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	640-2000
CY2019	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common Shares (par value $0.20 per Share)
CY2019	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	AXP
CY2019	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NYSE
CY2019	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2019	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2019	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2019	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2019	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6562000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	6015000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	4834000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	4416000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets OtherAssets	14731000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets OtherAssets	13378000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	847000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	6442000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	3100000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	57835000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	198321000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	188602000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Deposits	73287000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Deposits	69960000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current And Noncurrent AccountsPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent	12738000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current And Noncurrent AccountsPayableCurrentAndNoncurrent	12255000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	58423000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	24948000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	22574000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	175250000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	166312000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	20000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	20000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	1600	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	1600	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	1600	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	1600	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.20
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.20
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	810000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	810000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	847000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	163000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	170000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	11774000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital AdditionalPaidInCapital	12218000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	13871000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	12499000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossavailableforsalesecuritiestax Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossavailableforsalesecuritiestax	11000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossavailableforsalesecuritiestax Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossavailableforsalesecuritiestax	-1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	33000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-8000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossforeigncurrencytranslationadjustmenttax Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossforeigncurrencytranslationadjustmenttax	-319000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossforeigncurrencytranslationadjustmenttax Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossforeigncurrencytranslationadjustmenttax	-300000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-2189000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-2133000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	23071000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	22290000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	198321000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossdefinedbenefitplanstax Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossdefinedbenefitplanstax	-208000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossdefinedbenefitplanstax Accumulatedothercomprehensiveincomelossdefinedbenefitplanstax	-170000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	581000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Defined Benefit Pension And Other Postretirement Plans Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDefinedBenefitPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansNetOfTax	456000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-2737000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-2597000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	188602000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	6759000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	6921000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2748000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	3573000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	3352000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	2760000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	1188000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	1293000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	1321000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-426000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-455000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Noncash Income Expense OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	-782000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	283000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	283000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	282000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	368000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-991000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-398000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	1771000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	-4365000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Other Operating Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndOtherOperatingLiabilities	5249000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	13632000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	8930000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	13540000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	22000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	4000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	2000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	7329000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	3499000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	2494000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	11166000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	5434000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	2612000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Loans And Leases PaymentsForProceedsFromLoansAndLeases	11047000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Loans And Leases PaymentsForProceedsFromLoansAndLeases	15854000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Loans And Leases PaymentsForProceedsFromLoansAndLeases	16853000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	43000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	1645000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	1310000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	1062000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Businesses And Interest In Affiliates PaymentsForProceedsFromBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates	352000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Businesses And Interest In Affiliates PaymentsForProceedsFromBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates	520000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Businesses And Interest In Affiliates PaymentsForProceedsFromBusinessesAndInterestInAffiliates	211000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-152000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-16707000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-19615000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-18242000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits	3330000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits	5542000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deposits IncreaseDecreaseInDeposits	11385000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	3316000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	-148000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Repayments Of Short Term Debt ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfShortTermDebt	-2300000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	12706000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	21524000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	32764000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	13850000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	18895000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	24082000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	86000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	87000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Common Stock ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock	129000000	USD
CY2019	axp	Payments For Repurchases Of Common Shares And Other PaymentsForRepurchasesOfCommonSharesAndOther	4685000000	USD
CY2018	axp	Payments For Repurchases Of Common Shares And Other PaymentsForRepurchasesOfCommonSharesAndOther	1685000000	USD
CY2017	axp	Payments For Repurchases Of Common Shares And Other PaymentsForRepurchasesOfCommonSharesAndOther	4400000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	1422000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	1324000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	1251000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-519000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	5101000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	12245000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	232000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	129000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	226000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-3362000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-5455000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	7769000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	27808000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	33263000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	25494000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	24446000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	27808000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	1183000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	33263000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	33263000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Federal Funds Sold CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold	23932000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Federal Funds Sold CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold	27445000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents And Federal Funds Sold CashCashEquivalentsAndFederalFundsSold	32927000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents	514000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents	363000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents	336000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	24446000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	27808000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	20523000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2748000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	356000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	4314000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Other StockholdersEquityOther	-212000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	1.34
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	18261000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	6921000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-169000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	1570000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Other StockholdersEquityOther	-200000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	1.48
CY2018	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	1273000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	22290000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	6759000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-140000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Value Acquired Cost Method TreasuryStockValueAcquiredCostMethod	4585000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Other StockholdersEquityOther	-186000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	1.64
CY2019	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock DividendsCommonStock	1358000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	23071000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="margin-top:10pt;"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#002663;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">AMOUNTS BASED ON ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS</span></div><div style="margin-top:10pt;"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;">Accounting estimates are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements. These estimates are based, in part, on management’s assumptions concerning future events. Among the more significant assumptions are those that relate to reserves for Card Member losses on loans and receivables, Membership Rewards liability, goodwill and income taxes. These accounting estimates reflect the best judgment of management, but actual results could differ.</span></div>
CY2019	us-gaap	Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment Description PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustmentDescription	<div style="margin-top:10pt;"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#002663;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">CLASSIFICATION OF VARIOUS ITEMS</span></div><div style="margin-top:10pt;"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;">Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made to conform to the current period presentation.</span></div>
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Net Of Deferred Income LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetOfDeferredIncome	87381000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Net Of Deferred Income LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetOfDeferredIncome	81854000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	2383000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	2134000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Net Reported Amount LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount	84998000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Net Reported Amount LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetReportedAmount	79720000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Other Loans Receivable Net Amount OtherLoansReceivableNetAmount	4626000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Other Loans Receivable Net Amount OtherLoansReceivableNetAmount	3676000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Other Loans Allowance OtherLoansAllowance	152000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Other Loans Allowance OtherLoansAllowance	124000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	57413000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Gross NotesReceivableGross	55893000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	619000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	573000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net AccountsReceivableNet	56794000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net AccountsReceivableNet	55320000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing	428000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Nonperforming Nonaccrual Of Interest LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest	338000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Modified As Troubled Debt Restructuring Out Of Program LoansAndReceivablesModifiedAsTroubledDebtRestructuringOutOfProgram	198000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestment	762000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Modified As Troubled Debt Restructuring Out Of Program LoansAndReceivablesModifiedAsTroubledDebtRestructuringOutOfProgram	259000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment	1787000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Unpaid Principal Balance ImpairedFinancingReceivableUnpaidPrincipalBalance	1629000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Related Allowance ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance	168000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing	387000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Nonperforming Nonaccrual Of Interest LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest	279000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestment	462000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment	1326000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Unpaid Principal Balance ImpairedFinancingReceivableUnpaidPrincipalBalance	1212000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Related Allowance ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance	101000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Recorded Investment90 Days Past Due And Still Accruing FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment90DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing	327000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Impaired Nonperforming Nonaccrual Of Interest LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingNonaccrualOfInterest	199000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Recorded Investment FinancingReceivableModificationsRecordedInvestment	261000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Modified As Troubled Debt Restructuring Out Of Program LoansAndReceivablesModifiedAsTroubledDebtRestructuringOutOfProgram	186000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment	973000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Unpaid Principal Balance ImpairedFinancingReceivableUnpaidPrincipalBalance	892000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Related Allowance ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance	60000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Over Ninety Days Accrual Of Interest LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountOverNinetyDaysAccrualOfInterest	26000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Over Ninety Days Accrual Of Interest LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountOverNinetyDaysAccrualOfInterest	17000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Over Ninety Days Accrual Of Interest LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountOverNinetyDaysAccrualOfInterest	15000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Non Accrual Status LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNonAccrualStatus	10000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Non Accrual Status LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNonAccrualStatus	6000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Non Accrual Status LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNonAccrualStatus	5000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount In Compliance LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountInCompliance	188000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount In Compliance LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountInCompliance	148000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount In Compliance LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountInCompliance	141000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Not In Compliance LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNotInCompliance	72000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Not In Compliance LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNotInCompliance	50000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Loans And Receivables Impaired Troubled Debt Restructuring Amount Not In Compliance LoansAndReceivablesImpairedTroubledDebtRestructuringAmountNotInCompliance	45000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Average Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment	1530000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	161000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Average Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment	1134000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	130000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Average Recorded Investment ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment	884000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Impaired Financing Receivable Interest Income Accrual Method ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeAccrualMethod	102000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Number Of Contracts2 FinancingReceivableModificationsNumberOfContracts2	87000	account
CY2019	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Post Modification Recorded Investment2 FinancingReceivableModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment2	812000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Number Of Contracts2 FinancingReceivableModificationsNumberOfContracts2	57000	account
CY2018	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Post Modification Recorded Investment2 FinancingReceivableModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment2	487000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	1223000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Number Of Contracts2 FinancingReceivableModificationsNumberOfContracts2	39000	account
CY2017	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Post Modification Recorded Investment2 FinancingReceivableModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment2	307000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Number Of Contracts1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultNumberOfContracts1	16000	account
CY2019	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Recorded Investment1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultRecordedInvestment1	106000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Number Of Contracts1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultNumberOfContracts1	12000	account
CY2018	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Recorded Investment1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultRecordedInvestment1	57000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Number Of Contracts1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultNumberOfContracts1	9000	account
CY2017	us-gaap	Financing Receivable Modifications Subsequent Default Recorded Investment1 FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultRecordedInvestment1	46000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	2134000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	1706000000	USD
CY2019	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Principal Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees	2462000000	USD
CY2018	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Principal Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees	2266000000	USD
CY2017	axp	Provisions For Losses For Loan And Lease Losses Additions Principal Interest And Fees ProvisionsForLossesForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdditionsPrincipalInterestAndFees	1868000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	2383000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	2134000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Loans And Leases Receivable Allowance LoansAndLeasesReceivableAllowance	1706000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Loss Recovery Of Bad Debts AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts	525000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Loss Recovery Of Bad Debts AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts	444000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Loss Recovery Of Bad Debts AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossRecoveryOfBadDebts	409000000	USD
CY2019	axp	Allowance For Loans Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	79000000	USD
CY2018	axp	Allowance For Loans Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	33000000	USD
CY2017	axp	Allowance For Loans Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForLoansRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	30000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	573000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	521000000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	467000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	963000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	937000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	795000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Losses Adjustments Net AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdjustmentsNet	17000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Losses Adjustments Net AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdjustmentsNet	26000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allowance For Loan And Lease Losses Adjustments Net AllowanceForLoanAndLeaseLossesAdjustmentsNet	5000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	619000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	573000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	521000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Recoveries AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries	374000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Recoveries AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries	367000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Recoveries AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableRecoveries	366000000	USD
CY2019	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	-16000000	USD
CY2017	axp	Allowance For Receivables Recoveries Of Bad Debts Tdr AllowanceForReceivablesRecoveriesOfBadDebtsTDR	2000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Equity Securities Fvni Accumulated Gross Unrealized Losses EquitySecuritiesFVNIAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLosses	3000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	48000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Cost EquitySecuritiesFvNiCost	55000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Equity Securities Fvni Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain EquitySecuritiesFVNIAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGain	25000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Equity Securities Fvni Accumulated Gross Unrealized Losses EquitySecuritiesFVNIAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLosses	2000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	78000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Cost EquitySecuritiesFvNiCost	51000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Equity Securities Fvni Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain EquitySecuritiesFVNIAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGain	0	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni Cost EquitySecuritiesFvNiCost	51000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Equity Securities Fvni Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain EquitySecuritiesFVNIAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGain	0	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Equity Securities Fvni Accumulated Gross Unrealized Losses EquitySecuritiesFVNIAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLosses	3000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	48000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Debtand Equity Securities Availableforsale Amortized Cost DebtandEquitySecuritiesAvailableforsaleAmortizedCost	8339000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Debt And Equity Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain DebtAndEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGain	71000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Debt And Equity Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss DebtAndEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLoss	4000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Debtand Equity Securities Availableforsale DebtandEquitySecuritiesAvailableforsale	8406000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Debtand Equity Securities Availableforsale Amortized Cost DebtandEquitySecuritiesAvailableforsaleAmortizedCost	4659000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Debt And Equity Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain DebtAndEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGain	10000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Debt And Equity Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss DebtAndEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLoss	22000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Debtand Equity Securities Availableforsale DebtandEquitySecuritiesAvailableforsale	4647000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Debtand Equity Securities Availableforsale Amortized Cost DebtandEquitySecuritiesAvailableforsaleAmortizedCost	3158000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Debt And Equity Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain DebtAndEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGain	16000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Debt And Equity Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss DebtAndEquitySecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLoss	15000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Debtand Equity Securities Availableforsale DebtandEquitySecuritiesAvailableforsale	3159000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	18000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	324000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsAmortizedCost	209000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	224000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	2000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	873000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	16000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsNumberOfPositions	2	security
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	18000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerNumberOfPositions	3	security
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	324000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	1000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionNumberOfPositions	5	security
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition	342000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss	2000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsNumberOfPositions	2	security
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	224000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	2000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerNumberOfPositions	29	security
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	873000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	16000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionNumberOfPositions	31	security
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition	1097000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss	18000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	6607000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	1332000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Five Through Ten Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsFairValue	171000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Ten Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTenYearsFairValue	218000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	8328000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	6602000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsAmortizedCost	1307000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Five Through Ten Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFiveThroughTenYearsAmortizedCost	166000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	1043000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	8284000000	USD
CY2019	axp	Weighted Average Debt Maturities Due Within One Year Rate WeightedAverageDebtMaturitiesDueWithinOneYearRate	0.0217
CY2019	axp	Weighted Average Debt Maturities Due After One Year But Within Five Years Rate WeightedAverageDebtMaturitiesDueAfterOneYearButWithinFiveYearsRate	0.0227
CY2019	axp	Weighted Average Debt Maturities Due After Five Years But Within Ten Years Rate WeightedAverageDebtMaturitiesDueAfterFiveYearsButWithinTenYearsRate	0.0301
CY2019	axp	Weighted Average Debt Maturities Due After Ten Years Rate WeightedAverageDebtMaturitiesDueAfterTenYearsRate	0.0399
CY2019	axp	Weighted Average Yields WeightedAverageYields	0.0225
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3072000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	267000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3315000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	275000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Remaining Other Assets RemainingOtherAssets	11149000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Remaining Other Assets RemainingOtherAssets	10031000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets OtherAssets	14731000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets OtherAssets	13378000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3009000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	90000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Method Qualified Affordable Housing Project Investments AmortizationMethodQualifiedAffordableHousingProjectInvestments	1109000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3315000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	-27000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	3072000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	255000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Written Off Related To Sale Of Business Unit GoodwillWrittenOffRelatedToSaleOfBusinessUnit	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Translation And Purchase Accounting Adjustments GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments	-12000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss	221000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Impaired Accumulated Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss	221000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	704000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	702000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	437000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	427000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	49000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	212000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	207000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	1154000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Amortization Method Qualified Affordable Housing Project Investments AmortizationMethodQualifiedAffordableHousingProjectInvestments	1006000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Domestic InterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic	72445000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Domestic InterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic	69144000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Noninterest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Domestic NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic	415000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Noninterest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Domestic NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesDomestic	412000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Foreign InterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesForeign	23000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Foreign InterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesForeign	28000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Noninterest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Foreign NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesForeign	404000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Noninterest Bearing Deposit Liabilities Foreign NoninterestBearingDepositLiabilitiesForeign	376000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Deposits	73287000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Deposits	69960000000	USD
CY2019	axp	Weighted Average Maturity Certificates Of Deposits WeightedAverageMaturityCertificatesOfDeposits	P48M
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Rate Domestic Deposit Certificates Of Deposit WeightedAverageRateDomesticDepositCertificatesOfDeposit	0.0253
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Savings InterestBearingDomesticDepositSavings	46394000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Savings InterestBearingDomesticDepositSavings	39491000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Certificates Of Deposits InterestBearingDomesticDepositCertificatesOfDeposits	1854000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Interest Bearing Domestic Deposit Certificates Of Deposits InterestBearingDomesticDepositCertificatesOfDeposits	817000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Third Party Certificates Of Deposit ThirdPartyCertificatesOfDeposit	8076000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Third Party Certificates Of Deposit ThirdPartyCertificatesOfDeposit	12667000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Third Party Sweep Accounts ThirdPartySweepAccounts	16121000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Third Party Sweep Accounts ThirdPartySweepAccounts	16169000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Noninterestbearing Domestic Deposit Other NoninterestbearingDomesticDepositOther	26000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Noninterestbearing Domestic Deposit Other NoninterestbearingDomesticDepositOther	36000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Foreign DepositsForeign	26000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Foreign DepositsForeign	37000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Card Member Credit Balances CardMemberCreditBalances	790000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Card Member Credit Balances CardMemberCreditBalances	743000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Deposits	73287000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deposits Deposits	69960000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year One TimeDepositMaturitiesYearOne	4632000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year Two TimeDepositMaturitiesYearTwo	2302000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year Three TimeDepositMaturitiesYearThree	2385000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year Four TimeDepositMaturitiesYearFour	374000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities Year Five TimeDepositMaturitiesYearFive	251000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposit Maturities After Year Five TimeDepositMaturitiesAfterYearFive	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits TimeDeposits	9944000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits At Or Above Fdic Insurance Limit TimeDepositsAtOrAboveFDICInsuranceLimit	626000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Time Deposits At Or Above Fdic Insurance Limit TimeDepositsAtOrAboveFDICInsuranceLimit	285000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	6442000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Short Term Borrowings ShortTermBorrowings	3100000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Averagecommercialpaperoutstanding Averagecommercialpaperoutstanding	299000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Averagecommercialpaperoutstanding Averagecommercialpaperoutstanding	228000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense	112000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense	117000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	57835000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	58423000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	15615000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	11710000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	14188000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	7035000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	5015000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	4883000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	58446000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense	112000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumNet	716000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Long Term Impact Debt Due To Fair Value Hedge Accounting LongTermImpactDebtDueToFairValueHedgeAccounting	217000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	57835000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	3500000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity	3500000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Restrictive Covenants DebtInstrumentRestrictiveCovenants	1.25
CY2019	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Amount LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeeAmount	16500000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Line Of Credit Facility Commitment Fee Amount LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeeAmount	14200000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	3400000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	2700000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	2000000000.0	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Membership Rewards Liabilities MembershipRewardsLiabilities	8892000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Membership Rewards Liabilities MembershipRewardsLiabilities	8414000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	2429000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	2164000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Rebate And Reward Accruals RebateAndRewardAccruals	1790000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Rebate And Reward Accruals RebateAndRewardAccruals	1596000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Other Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	1122000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Other Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredIncomeTaxesAndOtherTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	1079000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Credits And Other Liabilities DeferredCreditsAndOtherLiabilities	10715000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Credits And Other Liabilities DeferredCreditsAndOtherLiabilities	9321000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	24948000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities OtherLiabilities	22574000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Us Tax Act Deemed Repatriation Tax Estimate USTaxActDeemedRepatriationTaxEstimate	1012000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Us Tax Act Deemed Repatriation Tax Estimate USTaxActDeemedRepatriationTaxEstimate	1689000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Deferred Charge Card And Other Fees DeferredChargeCardAndOtherFees	2532000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Deferred Charge Card And Other Fees DeferredChargeCardAndOtherFees	2208000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Costs Credit Card Origination Costs Amount DeferredCostsCreditCardOriginationCostsAmount	270000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Costs Credit Card Origination Costs Amount DeferredCostsCreditCardOriginationCostsAmount	282000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Reserves For Membership Cancellations ReservesForMembershipCancellations	-200000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Reserves For Membership Cancellations ReservesForMembershipCancellations	-167000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Deferred Card And Other Fees Net DeferredCardAndOtherFeesNet	2062000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Deferred Card And Other Fees Net DeferredCardAndOtherFeesNet	1759000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	9000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	12000000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Available For Grant ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant	14000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	280000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	288000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	283000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	67000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	69000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriod	0	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	0
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	61.15
CY2017	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	102000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	5484000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	64.73
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	408000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	101.43
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1626000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	51.92
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	94000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	92.19
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	4172000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	72.70
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	4171000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	72.70
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber	2357000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P5Y3M18D
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P4Y
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P5Y3M18D
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	216000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	149000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	216000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	151000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	142000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	151000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P22Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.04
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	134000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	114000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	100000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	89000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	77000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	842000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	1356000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	573000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	783000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Contingent Obligations Co Brand Partners ContingentObligationsCoBrandPartners	5000000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	343000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	514000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	440000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	214000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Fair Value Gross Liability DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiability	90000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Fair Value Gross Liability DerivativeAssetFairValueGrossLiability	90000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liability Fair Value Gross Asset DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossAsset	90000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liability Fair Value Gross Asset DerivativeLiabilityFairValueGrossAsset	90000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Collateral Obligation To Return Cash Offset DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset	185000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Collateral Obligation To Return Cash Offset DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset	28000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liability Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash Offset DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset	9000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liability Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash Offset DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset	78000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	68000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	396000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	341000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	46000000	USD
CY2019Q4	axp	Margin On Interest Rate Swap Not Netted MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted	-47000000	USD
CY2018Q4	axp	Margin On Interest Rate Swap Not Netted MarginOnInterestRateSwapNotNetted	-84000000	USD
CY2019	axp	Net Increase Reduction To Interest Expense Long Term Debt And Other Related To Net Settlements On Fair Value Hedges NetIncreaseReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges	102000000	USD
CY2018	axp	Net Increase Reduction To Interest Expense Long Term Debt And Other Related To Net Settlements On Fair Value Hedges NetIncreaseReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges	51000000	USD
CY2017	axp	Net Increase Reduction To Interest Expense Long Term Debt And Other Related To Net Settlements On Fair Value Hedges NetIncreaseReductionToInterestExpenseLongTermDebtAndOtherRelatedToNetSettlementsOnFairValueHedges	-133000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	78000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	48000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	8328000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	4599000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	343000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure AssetsFairValueDisclosure	5161000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	440000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	514000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Fair Value Disclosure AssetsFairValueDisclosure	8749000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	214000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	440000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure	214000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	1000000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue	29000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	1000000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue	46000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Guarantees Indemnifications And Warranties Policies GuaranteesIndemnificationsAndWarrantiesPolicies	Our recognition of these instruments is at fair value. In addition, we establish reserves when a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	3600000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	847000000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	859000000	shares
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	904000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	40000000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	15000000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	50000000	shares
CY2019	axp	Common Stock Shares Other CommonStockSharesOther	3000000	shares
CY2018	axp	Common Stock Shares Other CommonStockSharesOther	3000000	shares
CY2017	axp	Common Stock Shares Other CommonStockSharesOther	5000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	810000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	847000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Capital Shares Reserved For Future Issuance CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance	19000000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	859000000	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	120000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	40000000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	15000000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares Acquired TreasuryStockSharesAcquired	50000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	109000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	2600000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	2700000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Shares TreasuryStockShares	2900000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Carrying Basis TreasuryStockCarryingBasis	292000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Carrying Basis TreasuryStockCarryingBasis	207000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Treasury Stock Carrying Basis TreasuryStockCarryingBasis	217000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	20000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Price Per Share PreferredStockRedemptionPricePerShare	1000000
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Redemption Price Per Share PreferredStockRedemptionPricePerShare	1000000
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	0	shares
CY2019Q4	axp	Depositary Shares Redemption Amount DepositarySharesRedemptionAmount	1000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	0	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	0	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-7000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Other Comprehensive Income Reclassification For Realized Gains Losses Into Earnings Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationForRealizedGainsLossesIntoEarningsNetOfTax	-7000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	678000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax	-370000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-62000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	356000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-10000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-500000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTax	328000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-11000000	USD
CY2018	axp	Unrealizedgainsandlossesmovedfromaocitoretainedearningsduetotheadoptionofnewaccountingguidance Unrealizedgainsandlossesmovedfromaocitoretainedearningsduetotheadoptionofnewaccountingguidance	-2000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-169000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	41000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	84000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss After Reclassification And Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossAfterReclassificationAndTax	-140000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	125000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-140000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	289000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	12000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-2000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax	-4000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTaxPortionAttributableToParent	24000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-44000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-172000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	-43000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	107000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesTax	-215000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Pension And Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansTax	38000000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	74000000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	192000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Settlements With Taxing Authorities UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities	77000000	USD
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CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	700000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	26000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	289000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	700000000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	726000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	701000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	821000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	800000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	623000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	81000000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Diluted NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersDiluted	6631000000	USD
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CY2019Q4	axp	Capitalconservationbuffer Capitalconservationbuffer	0.025
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CY2019	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Maximum Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure	185000000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk Financial Instrument Maximum Exposure ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure	177000000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	8122000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Noninterest Income NoninterestIncome	34936000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	28159000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest And Dividend Income Operating InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating	12084000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	3464000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	43556000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	3573000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	8429000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1670000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	6759000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	198000000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Noninterest Income NoninterestIncome	32675000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	26607000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest And Dividend Income Operating InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating	10606000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	2943000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	40338000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	3352000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Noninterest Income NoninterestIncome	30427000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1201000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	6921000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	189000000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	24780000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest And Dividend Income Operating InterestAndDividendIncomeOperating	8563000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	2112000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	36878000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Provision For Loan Lease And Other Losses ProvisionForLoanLeaseAndOtherLosses	2760000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	7425000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	4677000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2748000000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	181000000000	USD
CY2017Q4	axp	Us Tax Act Discrete Net Charge UsTaxActDiscreteNetCharge	2600000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	43556000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	8429000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	40338000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	8122000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	36878000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	7425000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	11365000000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	10989000000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	10838000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	10364000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	10474000000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	10144000000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	10002000000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Net Of Interest Expense RevenuesNetOfInterestExpense	9718000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1986000000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2266000000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2219000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1958000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1831000000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2118000000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2091000000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2082000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1693000000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1755000000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1761000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1550000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	2010000000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1654000000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1623000000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	1634000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.04
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.09
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.07
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.81
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.33
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.89
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.85
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.86
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.03
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.08
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.07
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.80
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.32
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.88
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.84
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	20000000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.86
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.43
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.43
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.39
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.39
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.39
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.39
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.35
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	0.35
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	-12000000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	-11000000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	-13000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	-11000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	-16000000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	-13000000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	-12000000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Amount Of Dilutive Securities Stock Options And Restrictive Stock Units AmountOfDilutiveSecuritiesStockOptionsAndRestrictiveStockUnits	-13000000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	19000000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	21000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	20000000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	21000000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	21000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	19000000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Dividends Preferred Stock DividendsPreferredStock	20000000	USD

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$AXP
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp

2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000000496220000030 Filed on February 13, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$AXP AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp

2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000000496220000030 Filed on February 13, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$AXP
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO Stock $axp