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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000004962-08-000027.txt : 20081112
<SEC-HEADER>0000004962-08-000027.hdr.sgml : 20081111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081112073247
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000004962-08-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081110
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081112

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:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07657
		FILM NUMBER:		081178104

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 VESEY STREET
		STREET 2:		50TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10285
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126402000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 VESEY STREET
		STREET 2:		50TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10285
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>pressreleasenov102008.txt
<DESCRIPTION>8-K AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
                                 UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT

    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 10, 2008

                           American Express Company
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          New York                   No. 1-7657          No. 13-4922250
- -------------------------------   ----------------    ---------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction      (Commission          (IRS Employer
       of incorporation)            File Number)        Identification No.)

         World Financial Center
            200 Vesey Street                                10285
           New York, New York
- ----------------------------------------              ------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 640-2000

                                     None
       ----------------------------------------------------------------
        (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of
the following provisions:

| |  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
     Act (17 CFR 230.425)

| |  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange
     Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

| |  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

| |  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


<PAGE>


Item 8.01   OTHER EVENTS.

         On November 10, 2008, American Express Company announced that the
U.S. Federal Reserve had approved its application to become licensed as a bank
holding company and to be regulated by the Federal Reserve. A copy of the
company's press release, dated November 10, 2008, is attached as Exhibit 99.1
to this Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 9.01   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibit is being filed as part of this Report on Form 8-K:

  99.1 Press Release, dated November 10, 2008.

                                      -1-
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                        AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
                                              (Registrant)

                                        By: /s/ Stephen P. Norman
                                        -------------------------
                                        Name:   Stephen P. Norman
                                        Title:  Secretary

Dated: November 11, 2008
                                      -2-


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.    Description
- -----------    ------------------------------------------
   99.1        Press Release, dated November 10, 2008.







                                      -3-
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>exhibit99_1pressrelease.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE RE BANK HOLDING COMPANY
<TEXT>
                                                                EXHIBIT 99.1


NEWS RELEASE   NEWS RELEASE   NEWS RELEASE   NEWS RELEASE   NEWS RELEASE   NEWS

[LOGO OF AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY]

Contacts:            Media:  Joanna Lambert              Michael O'Neill
                             212-640-9668                212-640-5951
                             joanna.g.lambert@aexp.com   mike.o'neill@aexp.com

        Investors/Analysts:  Alex Hopwood                Ron Stovall
                             212-640-5495                212-640-5574
                             alex.w.hopwood@aexp.com     ronald.stovall@aexp.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

             AMERICAN EXPRESS GRANTED BANK HOLDING COMPANY STATUS

NEW YORK, November 10, 2008 -- American Express announced today that the U.S.
Federal Reserve has approved its application to become licensed as a bank
holding company and to be regulated by the Federal Reserve.

Qualifying as a bank holding company will provide American Express maximum
flexibility and stability in this challenging economic environment. It aligns
American Express' regulatory status with other companies in the financial
services industry, further diversifies the Company's funding sources and
access to capital, and provides opportunities to expand its deposit-taking
capabilities.

"Given the continued volatility in the financial markets, we want to be best
positioned to take advantage of the various programs the federal government
has introduced or may introduce to support U.S. financial institutions. We
will continue to build a larger deposit base to broaden our funding sources.
With Federal Reserve oversight we should gain greater access to the capital on
offer under the current and any future government-sponsored programs. This
decision to become a bank holding company does not fundamentally change
American Express' core focus on the payments industry, nor will it require any
significant divestitures," said Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, American Express Company.

American Express already has two long-standing U.S. bank subsidiaries -
American Express Centurion Bank, an industrial loan bank chartered in Utah,
and American Express Bank FSB, a federal savings bank. Through these
institutions, the Company issues proprietary credit and charge cards, funds
cardmember loans and offers certificates of deposit.

American Express Company is a leading global payments and travel company
founded in 1850. For more information, visit www.americanexpress.com.

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