<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-13-003267.txt : 20130130
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-13-003267.hdr.sgml : 20130130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130130202105
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-13-003267
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130130

ISSUER:		

	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

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHENAULT KENNETH I
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180524

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07657
		FILM NUMBER:		13560431

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
		STREET 2:		200 VESEY STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10285
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <periodOfReport>2013-01-28</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004962</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN EXPRESS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180524</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHENAULT KENNETH I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 VESEY ST, AMERICAN EXPRESS TOWER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10285</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>124923</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>948056</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>64423</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>59.07</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>883633</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85220</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Wife</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11058</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Wife As Trustee/custodian</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23316.99</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported disposition represents bona fide gifts made by the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares acquired pursuant to the vesting of Restricted Stock Units (i.e., &quot;performance units&quot;) granted to the reporting person on January 26, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reported disposition represents the surrender of shares to satisfy tax obligations arising from the vesting of Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The transactions reported represent a simultaneous deemed acquisition of shares from the issuer and disposition of such shares to the issuer in respect of Restricted Stock Units (i.e., performance units) granted to the reporting person on January 24, 2012 which were settled in cash upon vesting on January 28, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Shares acquired pursuant to the vesting of Restricted Stock Units (i.e., &quot;performance units&quot;) granted to the reporting person on January 24, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Shares held in reporting person's account under the Company's Retirement Savings Plan. This plan uses unit accounting, and the number of shares that a participant is deemed to hold varies with the unit price of the Company pooled stock fund.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael G. Kuchs, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
