Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Buckminster Douglas E.
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
11/23/2009
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO [AXP]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
BELGRAVE HOUSE, 76 BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Pres, Int'l Consumer & SBS
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

LONDON 
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 90,512
D
 
Common Stock 11,414.73 (1)
I
401(k) Trust

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 02/28/2002(2) 02/27/2010 Common Stock 26,732 $ 38.224 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 04/10/2002(2) 04/09/2010 Common Stock 4,113 $ 41.315 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 02/26/2003(2) 02/25/2011 Common Stock 39,984 $ 38.922 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/28/2003(2) 01/27/2012 Common Stock 39,984 $ 31.941 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/27/2004(3) 01/26/2013 Common Stock 37,128 $ 29.239 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/26/2005(3) 01/25/2014 Common Stock 37,128 $ 43.977 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/24/2006(3) 01/23/2015 Common Stock 30,845 $ 45.768 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/23/2007(3) 01/22/2016 Common Stock 49,500 $ 51.865 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/25/2008(3) 01/24/2017 Common Stock 50,000 $ 57.77 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 07/31/2008(3) 07/30/2017 Common Stock 50,000 $ 58.54 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) 01/31/2009(3) 01/30/2018 Common Stock 100,000 $ 49.13 D  
Phantom Stock Units   (4)   (4) Common Stock 203.14 (5) $ 0 (6) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Buckminster Douglas E.
BELGRAVE HOUSE
76 BUCKINGHAM PALACE ROAD
LONDON 
      Pres, Int'l Consumer & SBS  

Signatures

/s/ Michael G. Kuchs, attorney-in-fact 12/02/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) 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.
(2) These options vested in three equal annual installments beginning on the date shown as "Date Exercisable."
(3) These shares become exercisable in four cumulative annual installments of 25% each beginning on date shown as "Date Exercisable."
(4) The units are to be settled following the reporting person's retirement or other termination of service.
(5) Includes phantom stock units acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Company's Supplemental Retirement Plan.
(6) The phantom stock converts into common stock on a one-for-one basis.
 
Remarks:
Exhibit List

     Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney

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