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 *
  Squeri Stephen J
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
05/02/2005
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO [AXP]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
200 VESEY STREET
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP, Chief Information Officer
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

NEW YORK, NY 10285
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 63,779
D
 

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) 02/23/2003(1) 02/22/2008 Common Stock 23,800 $ 29.302 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 02/23/2000(2) 02/22/2008 Common Stock 9,100 $ 29.302 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 02/22/2001(3) 02/21/2009 Common Stock 21,000 $ 35.292 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 02/28/2002(3) 02/27/2010 Common Stock 24,000 $ 43.667 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 07/24/2002(3) 07/23/2010 Common Stock 12,000 $ 57.969 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 02/26/2003(3) 02/25/2011 Common Stock 65,000 $ 44.465 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 11/18/2001 02/25/2006 Common Stock 7,973 $ 43.755 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 01/28/2003(3) 01/27/2012 Common Stock 70,000 $ 36.49 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 01/27/2004(4) 01/26/2013 Common Stock 63,000 $ 33.403 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 12/26/2003 02/23/2007 Common Stock 7,420 $ 42.42 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 01/26/2005(4) 01/25/2014 Common Stock 66,000 $ 50.24 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 08/19/2004 02/22/2008 Common Stock 5,209 $ 53.565 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 08/19/2004 07/27/2007 Common Stock 2,011 $ 53.565 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 08/19/2004 02/23/2007 Common Stock 689 $ 53.565 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 03/29/2005 02/22/2008 Common Stock 16,481 $ 51.065 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 01/24/2006(4) 01/23/2015 Common Stock 23,000 $ 52.285 D  
Employee Stock Option (right to buy) 01/24/2006(4) 01/23/2015 Common Stock 60,000 $ 52.285 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Squeri Stephen J
200 VESEY STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10285
      EVP, Chief Information Officer  

Signatures

/s/ Stephen P. Norman, Attorney-In-Fact 05/10/2005
**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) 8,200 of these options became exercisable on 2/23/2003; the balance became exercisable on 2/23/2004.
(2) 3,600 of these options became exercisable on 2/23/2000; the balance became exercisable on 2/23/2001.
(3) These options will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the date shown as "Date Exercisable" subject to continuous employment.
(4) These options will vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the date shown as "Date Exercisable" subject to continuous employment.
 
Remarks:
Exhibit List
Exhibit 24     Squeri Power of Attorney

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