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): January 24, 2005


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



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


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


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

              ---------------------------------------------------
         (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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

         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))

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ITEM 2.02 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION AND ITEM 7.01
REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

     The following information is furnished under Item 2.02 - Results of
Operations and Financial Condition and Item 7.01 - Regulation FD Disclosure:

     On January 24, 2005, American Express Company issued a press release
announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2005.
A copy of such press release is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.1 and is
hereby incorporated herein by reference. In addition, in conjunction with the
announcement of its financial results, American Express Company distributed
additional financial information relating to its 2004 fourth quarter and full
year financial results and a 2004 Fourth Quarter/Full Year Earnings
Supplement. Such additional financial information and the 2004 Fourth
Quarter/Full Year Earnings Supplement are attached to this report as Exhibits
99.2 and 99.3, respectively, and each is hereby incorporated by reference.



EXHIBIT

99.1   Press Release, dated January 24, 2005, of American Express Company
       announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year
       of 2004.

99.2   Additional financial information relating to the financial results of
       American Express Company for the fourth quarter and full year of 2004.

99.3   2004 Fourth Quarter/Full Year Earnings Supplement of American Express
       Company.





                                   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

DATE:   January 24, 2005





                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
No.      Description
----     -----------
99.1     Press Release, dated January 24, 2005, of American Express Company
         announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year
         of 2004.

99.2     Additional financial information relating to the financial results of
         American Express Company for the fourth quarter and full year of
         2004.

99.3     2004 Fourth Quarter/Full Year Earnings Supplement of American Express
         Company.