-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QPUnh2RYbH1so9hCjTOkVsBfwgc6PqFd2fOlMdIPtqPANTu90mzgZ4iRdsytL8jP
 a/QjtHDCA75iiJgSCKPAXg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000004962-03-000130.txt : 20030702
<SEC-HEADER>0000004962-03-000130.hdr.sgml : 20030702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030702140725
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000004962-03-000130
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030702

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WALTER ROBERT D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001209442

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07657
		FILM NUMBER:		03771116

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMERICAN EXPRESS CO
		STREET 2:		200 VESEY STREET MAIL STOP 01-50-01
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10285
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126402000

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>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-06-30</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004962</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN EXPRESS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001209442</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WALTER ROBERT D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Share Equivalent Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-30</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-06-30</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>374.010</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Shares</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>374.010</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2774.318</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<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>Robert D. Walter</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Robert D. Walter</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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