-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WUu3Lh3rP2h4qHUEkrTAUoMRYjvAnlL8sOh1RqW0/WkjZZNUCLsstEwzX7Iu2u3c
 Sk6lF20HoqIhDHXc8Yu7jA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000004962-03-000188.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0000004962-03-000188.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002180807
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000004962-03-000188
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOLAN PETER R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199293

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07657
		FILM NUMBER:		03925459

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB CO
		STREET 2:		345 PARK AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10164

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB CO
		STREET 2:		345 PARK AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10164

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004962</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN EXPRESS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199293</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOLAN PETER R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10164</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Share Equivalent Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-30</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-09-30</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>355.080</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>45.06</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Shares</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>355.080</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>4495.977</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">The share equivalent units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">The share equivalent units are convertible immediately and have no expiration date.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">The reported share equivalent units were acquired pursuant to the Company's 2003 Share Equivalent Unit Plan for Directors and wil
l be settled in cash following termination of service as a Director.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F4">Includes share equivalent units acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan
 and/or the 2003 Share Equivalent Unit Plan for Directors.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Peter R. Dolan</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-10-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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