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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000004962-98-000030.txt : 19980515
<SEC-HEADER>0000004962-98-000030.hdr.sgml : 19980515
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000004962-98-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	S-8 POS
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		19980514
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		19980514
SROS:			BSE
SROS:			CSE
SROS:			NYSE
SROS:			PCX

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN EXPRESS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000004962
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FINANCE SERVICES [6199]
		IRS NUMBER:				134922250
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		S-8 POS
		SEC ACT:		
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	333-12683
		FILM NUMBER:		98621046

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AMERICAN EXPRESS TWR WORLD FINANCIAL CN
		STREET 2:		200 VESEY ST 49TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10285
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126402000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AMERICAN EXPRESS TOWER
		STREET 2:		200 VESEY ST 49TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10285
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>S-8 POS
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>S-8 POS 1989 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
<TEXT>

<PAGE>
        As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 1998

                                              Registration No.  333-12683

================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------


                            AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           New York                               13-4922250
        (State or other                        (I.R.S. Employer
         jurisdiction                         Identification No.)
      of incorporation or
         organization)


                                200 Vesey Street
                            New York, New York 10285
                              (Address of principal
                               executive offices)

                          -----------------------------

                          1989 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)
                          -----------------------------

                             LOUISE M. PARENT, ESQ.
                            Executive Vice President
                               and General Counsel
                            American Express Company
                                200 Vesey Street
                            New York, New York 10285
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                         -------------------------------


                                 (212) 640-2000
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


===============================================================================
<PAGE>

                              EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

         A total of 23,700,000 common shares of American Express Company (the
"Company") were registered by Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration
No. 333-12683) for issuance under the Company's 1989 Long-Term Incentive Plan
(the "1989 Plan"). On April 27, 1998, the shareholders of the Company approved
the 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan (the "1998 Plan"), which replaced the 1989
Plan. 17,970,000 common shares of the Company which were registered and
available for issuance in connection with the 1989 Plan have not been issued
under the 1989 Plan. Pursuant to instruction E to Form S-8 and the
interpretation of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") set
forth at page 113 of the Division of Corporation Finance's Manual of
Publicly-Available Telephone Interpretations, dated July 1997, these
17,970,000 shares are carried forward and deemed covered by the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 with respect to the 1998 Plan filed on the date hereof. A
registration fee of $276,923.90 was paid with respect to such 17,970,000
common shares at the time of the original filing of the Registration Statement
on Form S-8, filed with the Commission on September 25, 1996.


                                     PART II

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

         The Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-12683, is
incorporated by reference herein.


<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets 
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on 
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of 
New York, State of New York, on this 14th day of May, 1998.

                                               AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
                                               (Registrant)

                                               By /s/ Stephen P. Norman
                                                  ---------------------
                                                   Stephen P. Norman
                                                   Secretary

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

             *                                             *
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------
Harvey Golub                               Charles W. Duncan, Jr.
Chairman, Chief Executive                  Director
Officer and Director

/s/ Kenneth I. Chenault                                    *
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------
Kenneth I. Chenault                        Beverly Sills Greenough
President, Chief Operating                 Director
Officer and Director

             *                                             
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------
Richard Karl Goeltz                        F. Ross Johnson
Vice Chairman and                          Director
Chief Financial Officer

             *                                             
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------
Daniel T. Henry                            Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
Senior Vice President and                  Director
Comptroller

             *                                             
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------
Daniel F. Akerson                          Jan Leschly
Director                                   Director

             *                                             *
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------
Anne L. Armstrong                          Drew Lewis
Director                                   Director

             *                                             *
- ------------------------------             ------------------------------
Edwin L. Artzt                             Frank P. Popoff
Director                                   Director

             *
- -----------------------------
William G. Bowen
Director

*By:  /s/ Stephen P. Norman
      ---------------------
      Stephen P. Norman
      (As Attorney-In-Fact)
      May 14, 1998

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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