AMERICAN EXPRESS CO
10-Q, 1994-11-14
SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES
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                                UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  FORM 10-Q


[ X  ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 1994

                                     or

[    ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the Transition Period from                 to
                              -----------------   ------------------

                        Commission file number 1-7657


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


          New York State                          13-4922250
- -----------------------------------     --------------------------------
 (State or other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)             Identification No.)


American Express Tower, World Financial Center, New York, NY 10285
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (212) 640-2000
                                                   ---------------------
                                 None
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report.


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  X     No
                                                      ----      ----
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

              Class                      Outstanding at October 31, 1994
- ---------------------------------------  -------------------------------
Common Shares (par value $.60 per share)        506,864,526 shares

<PAGE>
                              AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

                                      FORM 10-Q

                                        INDEX


  Part I.        Financial Information:

                 Consolidated Statement of Income--Three and         1-2
                 nine months ended September 30, 1994 and
                 1993

                 Consolidated Balance Sheet--September 30,             3
                 1994 and December 31, 1993

                 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows--Nine            4
                 months ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

                 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements          5-6

                 Management's Discussion and Analysis of            7-16
                 Financial Condition and Results of
                 Operations

                 Review Report of Independent Auditors                17

   Part II.      Other Information                                    18

<PAGE>
                         
                         PART I--FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                            AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                      (millions, except per share amounts)
                                  (Unaudited)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                                   September 30,
                                              --------------------
                                                1994         1993
Net Revenues:                                 -------      -------
 Commissions and fees                         $ 2,157     $  1,981
 Interest and dividends, net                    1,046        1,038
 Life insurance premiums                          209          179
 Other                                            192          171
                                              -------      ------- 
   Total                                        3,604        3,369
                                              -------      -------
Expenses:
 Human resources                                  958          847
 Provisions for losses and benefits:
   Annuities and investment certificates          295          309
   Banking, credit and other                      249          291
   Life insurance                                 201          166
 Marketing and promotion                          280          279
 Interest                                         251          232
 Occupancy and equipment                          243          240
 Professional services                            173          141
 Communications                                    92           91
 Other                                            364          357
                                              -------      ------- 
   Total                                        3,106        2,953
                                              -------      -------

Pretax income from continuing operations          498          416
Income tax provision                              129          103
                                              -------      ------- 
Income from continuing operations                 369          313
Discontinued operations, net of
 income taxes                                       -          107
                                              -------      -------
Net income                                    $   369     $    420
                                              =======      =======
Income per common share
 from continuing operations                   $  0.71     $   0.61

Income per common share
 from discontinued operations                       -         0.22
                                              -------      -------
Net income per common share                   $  0.71     $   0.83
                                              =======      =======
Weighted average number of common
 shares outstanding (000's)                   512,579      503,623
                                              =======      =======
Cash dividends declared per
 common share                                 $ 0.225      $  0.25
                                              =======      =======

                See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       1
<PAGE>
                            AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
                      (millions, except per share amounts)
                                  (Unaudited)

                                                Nine Months Ended
                                                   September 30,
                                              --------------------
                                                1994         1993
Net Revenues:                                 -------      -------
 Commissions and fees                         $ 6,253     $  5,764
 Interest and dividends, net                    3,078        2,993
 Life insurance premiums                          585          522
 Other                                            564          496
                                              -------      -------
   Total                                       10,480        9,775
                                              -------      -------
Expenses:
 Human resources                                2,751        2,461
 Provisions for losses and benefits:
   Annuities and investment certificates          867          958
   Banking, credit and other                      777          930
   Life insurance                                 563          445
 Marketing and promotion                          794          800
 Interest                                         741          653
 Occupancy and equipment                          728          703
 Professional services                            485          413
 Communications                                   272          264
 Other                                          1,086          993
 Gain on sale of FDC                                -         (779)
                                              -------      -------
   Total                                        9,064        7,841
                                              -------      -------

Pretax income from continuing operations        1,416        1,934
Income tax provision                              371          620
                                              -------      ------- 
Income from continuing operations               1,045        1,314
Discontinued operations, net of
 income taxes                                      33         (235)
                                              -------      ------- 

Net income                                    $ 1,078     $  1,079
                                              =======      ======= 
Income per common share
 from continuing operations                   $  2.02     $   2.62

Income (loss) per common share
 from discontinued operations                    0.07        (0.48)
                                              -------      ------- 
Net income per common share                   $  2.09     $   2.14
                                              =======      ======= 
Weighted average number of common
 shares outstanding (000's)                   510,672      498,862
                                              =======      ======= 
Cash dividends declared per
 common share                                 $  0.70     $   0.75
                                              =======      ======= 

                See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       2
<PAGE>
                             AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

                            CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                                    (millions)
                                    (Unaudited)

                                                  September 30,   December 31,
Assets                                                 1994          1993
- ------                                            -------------   ------------
Cash and cash equivalents                            $   6,959     $   3,312
Accounts receivable and accrued interest, less
  reserves: 1994, $788; 1993, $796                      15,743        16,142
Investments                                             39,495        39,308
Loans and discounts, less reserves:
  1994, $515; 1993, $655                                14,665        14,796
Land, buildings and equipment--at cost, less
  accumulated depreciation: 1994, $1,570;
  1993, $1,441                                           1,905         1,976
Assets held in segregated asset accounts                10,700         8,992
Deferred acquisition costs                               2,201         2,025
Other assets                                             6,527         7,581
                                                        ------        ------
  Total assets                                       $  98,195     $  94,132
                                                        ======        ======

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Customers' deposits and credit balances              $  11,226     $  11,131
Travelers Cheques outstanding                            5,753         4,800
Accounts payable                                         4,378         3,737
Insurance and annuity reserves:
  Fixed annuities                                       19,556        19,149
  Life and disability policies                           4,591         4,257
Investment certificate reserves                          2,726         2,752
Short-term debt                                         14,338        12,489
Long-term debt                                           7,986         8,561
Liabilities related to segregated asset accounts        10,700         8,992
Other liabilities                                       10,080         9,530
                                                        ------        ------
  Total liabilities                                     91,334        85,398

Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred shares, $1.66 2/3 par value,
   authorized 20,000,000 shares
     Convertible Exchangeable Preferred shares,
       issued and outstanding 4,000,000 shares,
       stated at liquidation value                         200           200
     $216.75 CAP Preferred shares, issued and
       outstanding 122,448.98 shares in 1993,
       stated at par value (liquidation value
       of $300)                                              -             1
  Common shares, $.60 par value, authorized
   1,200,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
   507,663,152 shares in 1994 and 489,827,852
   shares in 1993                                          305           294
  Capital surplus                                        3,948         3,784
  Net unrealized securities gains (losses)                (219)            7
  Foreign currency translation adjustment                  (67)          (73)
  Deferred compensation                                   (112)         (128)
  Retained earnings                                      2,806         4,649
                                                        ------        ------
   Total shareholders' equity                            6,861         8,734
                                                        ------        ------
  Total liabilities and shareholders' equity         $  98,195     $  94,132
                                                        ======        ======

                   See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       3
<PAGE>
                            
                            AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                                    (millions)
                                   (Unaudited)
                                                            Nine Months Ended
                                                               September 30, 
                                                            -----------------
                                                                1994     1993
                                                                ----     ----
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Income from continuing operations                            $1,045   $ 1,314
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations
  to net cash provided by operating activities:
  Provisions for losses and benefits                          1,061     1,245
  Depreciation, amortization, deferred taxes and other          188       434
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of
      acquisitions/dispositions:
      Accounts receivable and accrued interest                 (529)     (341)
      Other assets                                              855      (820)
      Accounts payable and other liabilities                    552       245
Increase in Travelers Cheques outstanding                       953       546
Increase in insurance reserves                                  352       301
Gain on sale of FDC                                               -      (779)
Net cash flows (used) provided by operating activities of
  discontinued operations                                    (3,656)    1,669
                                                              -----     -----
Net cash provided by operating activities                       821     3,814
                                                              -----     -----
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Proceeds from FDC public offerings, net of
  cash sold in 1993                                               -       871
Sale of investments                                           3,678     2,186
Maturity and redemption of investments                        5,802     5,754
Purchase of investments                                     (10,480)  (10,194)
Net increase in Cardmember receivables                         (887)     (563)
Cardmember accounts receivable sold to Trust                    900       600
Proceeds from repayment of loans                             15,731    13,317
Issuance of loans                                           (15,309)  (13,490)
Purchase of land, buildings and equipment                      (193)     (235)
Sale of land, buildings and equipment                            87        55
Acquisitions/dispositions, net of cash acquired/sold           (375)      132
Net cash flows (used) provided by investing activities of
  discontinued operations                                       (36)       49
                                                              -----     -----
Net cash used by investing activities                        (1,082)   (1,518)
                                                              -----     -----
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net (decrease) increase in customers' deposits and credit 
    balances                                                    (95)      914
Sale of investment and annuity certificates                   4,281     4,044
Redemption of investment and annuity certificates            (3,993)   (2,760)
Net increase (decrease) in debt with maturities of 
   3 months or less                                           5,948      (492)
Issuance of debt                                              3,220     9,614
Principal payments on debt                                   (8,018)   (7,845)
Issuance of American Express common shares                      173       215
Repurchase of American Express common shares                   (137)        -
<PAGE>
Cash infusion to Lehman Brothers                               (904)        -
Dividends paid                                                 (386)     (393)
Net cash flows provided (used) by financing activities of
  discontinued operations                                     3,737      (966)
                                                              -----     -----
Net cash provided by financing activities                     3,826     2,331
Net change in cash and cash equivalents of 
  discontinued operations                                        45       752
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                         127       (49)
                                                              -----     -----
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                     3,647     3,826

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period              3,312     3,408
                                                              -----     -----
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                   $6,959   $ 7,234
                                                              =====     =====

                 See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       4
<PAGE>
                         AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

                           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED
                           FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction
   with the financial statements presented in the Annual Report on Form
   10-K of American Express Company (the Company or American Express) for
   the year ended December 31, 1993.  Certain prior year's amounts have
   been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.
   Significant accounting policies disclosed therein have not changed,
   except as disclosed in Note 4.

   The consolidated financial statements are unaudited; however, in the
   opinion of management, they include all normal recurring adjustments
   necessary for a fair presentation of the consolidated financial
   position of the Company at September 30, 1994 and December 31, 1993,
   the consolidated results of its operations for the three and nine
   months ended September 30, 1994 and 1993 and cash flows for the nine
   months ended September 30, 1994 and 1993.  Results of operations
   reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results
   for the entire year.

2. Interest and dividends, net, reflects gross interest and dividends, net
   of $240 million and $207 million of interest expense for the quarters
   ended September 30, 1994 and September 30, 1993, respectively, and
   $668 million and $643 million for the nine months ended September 30,
   1994 and September 30, 1993, respectively, related to the Company's
   international banking operations and Travel Related Services' consumer
   lending activities.

3. On May 31, 1994, the Company completed the spin-off of Lehman Brothers
   Holdings Inc. (Lehman Brothers) through a dividend to its common
   shareholders of all of the Lehman Brothers common stock held by
   American Express on that date.  See Consolidated Financial Condition,
   which is incorporated herein by reference.  As a result of this
   transaction, Lehman Brothers' results are reported as a discontinued
   operation in the Consolidated Financial Statements through May 31,
   1994.  For the period ended December 31, 1993, the assets and
   liabilities of Lehman Brothers have been reported in the Consolidated
   Balance Sheet as net assets of discontinued operations and are included
   in Other Assets.

4. As of January 1, 1994, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
   Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115, "Accounting for Certain
   Investments in Debt and Equity Securities".  Under SFAS No. 115, debt
   securities for which the Company has both the positive intent and the
   ability to hold to maturity are carried at amortized cost.  Other debt
   securities and all marketable equity securities are classified as
   either Available for Sale or Trading and are carried at fair value.
   Unrealized holding gains and losses on securities classified as
   Available for Sale are reported as a separate component of
   Shareholders' Equity.  Unrealized holding gains and losses on
   securities classified as Trading are recognized in earnings.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
   The following is a summary of investments at September 30, 1994
   (in millions):

       Held to Maturity, at amortized cost      $22,197
         (fair value $21,997)
       Available for Sale, at fair value         14,424
         (cost $14,775)
       Trading                                      349
       Mortgage loans                             2,525
                                                 ------
                                                $39,495  
                                                 ======

   The change in unrealized securities losses to $219 million (after-tax)
   at September 30, 1994 from $147 million (after-tax) at June 30, 1994,
   is the result of changes in the fair values of investments classified
   as Available for Sale.  The majority of the decline was in mortgage-
   backed securities, primarily due to rising interest rates.

5. Net income taxes paid during the nine months ended September 30, 1994
   and 1993 were approximately $131 million and $519 million,
   respectively.  Interest paid during the nine months ended September 30,
   1994 and 1993 was approximately $1.1 billion and $1.3 billion,
   respectively.

6. In the first quarter of 1993, the Company reduced its 54 percent
   ownership of First Data Corporation (FDC) to 22 percent through a
   public offering of FDC shares.  The Company recognized a gain from the
   sale of $433 million ($779 million pretax), which is included in the
   Consolidated Statement of Income for the nine months ended September
   30, 1993.  The Company's ownership of FDC was reduced to 21 percent in
   the second quarter of 1994 due to the Company's contribution of FDC
   shares to the American Express Foundation.

                                       6
<PAGE>

             MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                    CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Consolidated Financial Condition

On April 29, 1994, the Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend to
its common shareholders of all of the Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (Lehman
Brothers) common stock held by American Express on the dividend
distribution date.  The dividend was distributed on May 31, 1994 to
shareholders of record on May 20, 1994 and represented approximately
98.2 million shares of Lehman Brothers common stock.  Shareholders of
American Express received one share of Lehman Brothers common stock for
each five common shares of American Express that they held on the record
date.  Prior to the distribution, the Company added approximately
$1.1 billion of additional equity capital to Lehman Brothers representing:

  The Company's purchase of approximately $903.8 million of Lehman
  Brothers common stock, which was included in the dividend to
  American Express common shareholders.  The Company sold
  approximately $11.1 million of Lehman Brothers common stock from
  its holdings to certain Lehman Brothers executive officers; and

  The Company's purchase of $200 million of Lehman Brothers
  cumulative voting preferred stock which is being held for
  investment purposes.

In addition, approximately $57 million of Lehman Brothers common stock was
acquired by Lehman Brothers employees through an existing employee
ownership plan, and approximately $89.2 million of the common stock was
acquired by Nippon Life Insurance Company (Nippon Life).  The Company also
purchased 928 shares and Nippon Life purchased 72 shares of Lehman Brothers
redeemable voting preferred stock for a nominal dollar amount.  The
redeemable voting preferred stock entitles its holders to receive an
aggregate annual dividend of 50 percent of Lehman Brothers net income over
$400 million for each of the next eight years, with a maximum of
$50 million in any one year.  In addition, the Company and Nippon Life will
be entitled to receive 92.8 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively, of
certain contingent revenue and earnings related payouts from Travelers
Corporation (Travelers), which were assigned by Lehman Brothers to American
Express and Nippon Life in connection with the spin-off transaction.  The
Travelers participations will yield a maximum of $50 million pretax
annually for three years, depending on the revenues of Smith Barney (of
which the first installment was received in the first quarter), plus 10
percent of after-tax profits of Smith Barney in excess of $250 million per
year over a five-year period.

As a result of this transaction, Lehman Brothers' results are reported as a
discontinued operation in the Consolidated Financial Statements through the
spin-off date.  The assets and liabilities of Lehman Brothers have been
reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as net assets of discontinued
operations; accordingly $1.5 billion is included in Other Assets at December
31, 1993.

                                       7
<PAGE>
In the second quarter of 1994, the Company reduced its quarterly dividend
to $0.225 per common share, representing an adjustment to its previous
$0.25 per share quarterly dividend rate, to reflect the Lehman Brothers
spin-off.

During the second quarter of 1994, the Company purchased four million of
its common shares in the open market in order to offset any dilution
resulting from the 1994 conversions of American Express Company 9%
Convertible Notes Series A-G, convertible prior to April 1, 1994 at
$17.755.  Of the $160 million in Notes originally issued, $58 million was
outstanding at December 31, 1993 and was converted into approximately
3.3 million shares during the first quarter.

In August 1994, the Company mandatorily redeemed 122,448.98 CAP Preferred 
shares issued to subsidiaries of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in 1991, through 
the issuance to such subsidiaries of 13,997,141 common shares in accordance 
with the terms of the preferred shares.  The number of common shares issued 
was adjusted to reflect the spin-off of Lehman Brothers.

During the third quarter of 1994, the Company's Board of Directors approved
a plan to purchase up to 20 million of the Company's common shares subject
to market conditions.  The plan aims to reduce the number of outstanding
common shares and common share equivalents to slightly less than
500 million shares by year end, and to target the number of shares at that
level.  This repurchase program will also permit the Company to offset any
issuance of new shares as part of employee compensation plans.  The Company
will also fund Company contributions to other employee plans through share
purchases in the open market or with cash instead of through the issuance
of new shares.  As of November 10, 1994, approximately 5.1 million shares
were repurchased under this plan.  In November 1994, in connection with the
share buyback program, the Company sold 4 million put options with
maturities ranging from approximately one to twelve months.

The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities", as of January 1, 1994.  See Note 4 which is incorporated
herein by reference.  At September 30, 1994, approximately 37 percent, or
$14.4 billion, of the Company's securities were classified as Available for
Sale.  This does not mean that the Company expects to sell these
securities, but that under SFAS No. 115 positive intent criteria, these
securities are available to meet possible liquidity needs should there be
significant changes in market interest rates, customer demand, funding
sources and terms, or foreign currency risk.

The following sections discuss changes during the nine months ended
September 30, 1994 in the financial condition of each of the Company's
business segments.  Except where indicated otherwise, comparisons of
September 30, 1994 balance sheet amounts are made with comparable amounts
at December 31, 1993.


Travel Related Services (TRS)

TRS' total assets were $42.8 billion at September 30, 1994 and
$38.8 billion at December 31, 1993.  The increase in total assets reflects
seasonal growth in the Travelers Cheque portfolio, higher lending

                                       8
<PAGE>
receivables and increased liquidity.  Accounts receivable and accrued
interest totaled $15.4 billion at September 30, 1994 and $15.7 billion
at December 31, 1993.  In the third quarter of 1994, TRS sold certain 
Cardmember receivables to a subsidiary, which transferred such receivables
to a trust.  The trust issued $900 million of trust certificates in a public
offering, in three series of $300 million due September 15, 1998, September 17,
2001, and September 15, 2004, respectively.  The net impact of the transaction
on TRS' results is immaterial.  Loans and discounts were $8.8 billion at 
September 30, 1994 and $8.2 billion at December 31, 1993.  TRS' prior year's 
assets have been restated to reflect the transfer of certain international 
consumer financial services businesses to American Express Bank.


IDS Financial Services (IDS)

IDS' total owned assets increased to $39.2 billion at September 30, 1994
from $37.4 billion at December 31, 1993.  This growth primarily reflects an
increase in assets held in segregated asset accounts, reflecting strong net
sales, partially offset by market depreciation.  Assets held in segregated
accounts totaled $10.7 billion and $9.0 billion at September 30, 1994 and
December 31, 1993, respectively.  These assets, primarily investments
carried at market value, are held for the exclusive benefit of variable
annuity and variable life insurance contract holders.  IDS earns investment
management and administration fees from the related funds.

Assets under management increased to $65.2 billion at September 30, 1994
from $62.3 billion at December 31, 1993, reflecting strong net sales,
partially offset by market depreciation.

During the first quarter of 1994, IDS Financial Corporation issued and sold
$70 million of 6.5% Medium-Term Notes due 2004 and $50 million of 6.625%
Medium-Term Notes due 2006.  The Notes were sold in private placements to
institutional investors.  The proceeds from these issuances were used for
general corporate purposes.


American Express Bank (the Bank)

The Bank's assets totaled $14.2 billion and $14.1 billion at September 30,
1994 and December 31, 1993, respectively.  The Bank's prior year's assets
have been restated to reflect the transfer of certain international
consumer financial services businesses from TRS.

Total loans were $5.4 billion at September 30, 1994 and $5.6 billion at
year-end 1993.  The reserve for credit losses was $118 million at September
30, 1994, compared with $126 million at December 31, 1993.  The Bank's
credit loss reserve coverage was 2.2 percent of total loans at both
September 30, 1994 and December 31, 1993.  Total loan write-offs, net of
recoveries, were $17 million during the first nine months of 1994, compared
with $40 million during the first nine months of 1993.  Nonperforming loans
totaled $33 million at September 30, 1994 and $43 million at December 31,
1993, while other nonperforming assets totaled $57 million at September 30,
1994, compared with $89 million at year-end 1993.  The decline in
nonperforming loans and other nonperforming assets primarily reflects
write-offs and the sale of a foreclosed property, respectively.

                                       9
<PAGE>
American Express Bank Ltd.'s (AEBL) risk-based capital ratios were
6.7 percent for Tier 1 Capital and 13.0 percent for Total Capital at
September 30, 1994, compared with 6.3 percent and 10.2 percent,
respectively, at year-end 1993.  AEBL's leverage ratio was 4.2 percent at
September 30, 1994 and 4.4 percent at December 31, 1993.  The increase in
the Total Capital ratio at September 30, 1994 was primarily due to the
issuance and sale outside the United States of $250 million of Floating
Rate Subordinated Notes due 2004.  The proceeds of this issuance were
used for general corporate purposes.



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

The Company reported consolidated net income of $369 million in the third
quarter of 1994, compared with income from continuing operations of
$313 million last year.  Including discontinued operations, third quarter
1993 results were $420 million.  Consolidated net revenues totaled
$3.6 billion in the third quarter of 1994, compared with $3.4 billion a
year ago.

The Company's effective tax rate was 26 percent in the third quarter of
1994, compared with 25 percent a year ago.  Both years' rates were reduced
by tax-advantaged investment income.

In October 1994, the Company announced a series of decisions that represent
a continuation of a reengineering program launched in 1992 to provide
better customer value at significantly lower costs.  The decision will
result in significant staff reductions throughout the Company over the next
several years.  Costs related to these initiatives are not expected to have
a material impact on current or future earnings.  Future savings generated
by these actions will be reinvested in the business and help facilitate the
achievement of the Company's business objectives.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

The Company reported consolidated income from continuing operations of
$1.0 billion for the first nine months of 1994, compared with $1.3 billion
last year, including the 1993 gain of $433 million ($779 million pretax) on
the sale of First Data Corporation (FDC) stock.  Including Lehman Brothers,
which is reflected as a discontinued operation through May 31, 1994, the
spin-off date, net income totaled $1.1 billion for the first nine months of
1994 and 1993.  Consolidated net revenues for the first nine months of 1994
were $10.5 billion, compared with $9.8 billion last year.

The Company's effective tax rate was 26 percent in the first nine months of
1994, compared with 32 percent a year ago.  This year's rate was reduced by
tax-advantaged investment income, while the prior year's rate reflects tax-
advantaged investment income, partially offset by the tax effects of the
FDC gain.

                                       10
<PAGE>

Travel Related Services

Three Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

TRS reported net income of $264 million in the third quarter of 1994,
compared with $234 million last year.  Pretax income totaled $364 million,
compared with $311 million a year ago.  TRS' prior year's results have been
restated to reflect the transfer of certain international consumer
financial services businesses to the Bank.

Worldwide Card billed business increased 15 percent to $35.5 billion in the
third quarter of 1994 from $30.8 billion last year, reflecting higher
spending per Cardmember and an increase in the number of Cards outstanding.
U.S. Card billed business was $25.2 billion, compared with $22.5 billion a
year ago.  Non-U.S. Card billed business totaled $10.3 billion, compared
with $8.3 billion last year.

Worldwide Cards in force totaled 35.6 million, compared with 34.2 million a
year ago.  U.S. Cards in force totaled 24.7 million, compared with
23.6 million last year.  Non-U.S. Cards in force were 10.9 million at
September 30, 1994, compared with 10.6 million a year ago.  Basic Cards in
force totaled 26.1 million, compared with 24.9 million last year.  The
increase in worldwide Cards in force reflects the addition of approximately
1.1 million Cards issued to U.S. Government employees beginning late in
1993.  The number of service establishments increased 8.8 percent to
3.8 million from 3.5 million last year.

Travelers Cheque sales totaled $8.4 billion in the third quarter of 1994,
compared with $8.0 billion last year.  Average Travelers Cheques
outstanding totaled $5.9 billion, compared with $5.5 billion a year ago.

Net revenues (total revenues net of lending interest expense) increased
9.0 percent to $2.6 billion, reflecting the increase in worldwide Card
billed business and growth in Business Travel sales.  Discount revenue
increased to $996 million from $897 million last year.  Net Card fees
totaled $435 million, compared with $433 million a year ago, reflecting a
change in the mix of Card products.  Lending finance charge revenue
increased to $317 million from $295 million a year ago.  Lending net
finance charge revenue increased 1.3 percent to $237 million.  Interest and
dividend revenue increased to $206 million from $196 million last year.
Other revenues increased 15.9 percent to $727 million primarily due to
increased travel sales.

Total expenses, excluding lending interest expense, increased 7.8 percent
to $2.2 billion for the third quarter of 1994, compared with $2.1 billion
in the third quarter of 1993, reflecting business travel acquisitions and
growth, as well as investments in certain business initiatives.  The
provision for losses and claims declined 2.3 percent to $365 million from
$374 million a year ago.  The worldwide charge Card provision declined to
$153 million in the third quarter of 1994 from $156 million last year,
reflecting continued improvement in Card credit experience, partially
offset by an increase in billed business.  The worldwide lending provision
was $81 million, compared to $98 million a year ago, reflecting a continued
decline in write-offs.  Interest expense, excluding lending interest
expense which is included in net revenues above, totaled $208 million in
the third quarter of 1994, down from $210 million last year.  Worldwide
charge Card interest expense totaled $164 million, compared with
$173 million last year.  Human resources expense increased to $651 million
in the third quarter of 1994 from $556 million a year ago, primarily
reflecting growth in the Business Travel and Corporate Card businesses.
Marketing and promotion expense was $274 million in the third quarter of
1994, compared with $275 million last year.
                                       11
<PAGE>
TRS' asset securitization program resulted in net discount expense of
$93 million in the third quarter of 1994 and $55 million in 1993 and
servicing fee revenue of $26 million in 1994 and $12 million in 1993,
reduced the provision for credit losses by $30 million in 1994 and
$21 million in 1993, and reduced interest expense, with no material impact
on net income in the third quarter of 1994 or 1993.


Nine Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

TRS' net income increased 13 percent to $762 million in the first nine
months of 1994, compared with $676 million last year.  Pretax income
totaled $1.1 billion, compared with $890 million a year ago.

Worldwide Card billed business increased 13 percent to $101.9 billion in
the first nine months of 1994 from $90.0 billion last year, reflecting
higher spending per Cardmember, growth in Corporate Card billed business
and an increase in the number of Cards outstanding.  U.S. Card billed
business was $73.5 billion, compared with $65.3 billion a year ago.
Non-U.S. Card billed business totaled $28.4 billion, compared with
$24.7 billion last year.

Travelers Cheque sales increased to $19.8 billion in the first nine months
of 1994 from $18.8 billion last year.  Average Travelers Cheques
outstanding totaled $5.3 billion, compared with $5.1 billion a year ago.

Net revenues increased 7.3 percent to $7.5 billion, reflecting the increase
in worldwide Card billed business and growth in Business Travel sales.
This increase was partially offset by discount rate reductions from SE
repricing implemented throughout 1993.  Discount revenue increased
9.3 percent to $2.9 billion from $2.6 billion last year.  Net Card fees
totaled $1.3 billion, unchanged from a year ago.  Lending finance charge
revenue increased to $912 million from $890 million last year.  Lending net
finance charge revenue increased slightly to $700 million from $696 million
last year.  Interest and dividend revenue increased to $567 million from
$547 million last year.  Other revenues increased 14 percent to
$2.0 billion primarily due to increased travel sales.

Total expenses, excluding lending interest expense, increased 5.6 percent
to $6.4 billion for the first nine months of 1994, compared with
$6.1 billion last year.  The provision for losses and claims declined
5.6 percent to $1.1 billion from $1.2 billion a year ago.  The worldwide
charge Card provision declined to $478 million in the first nine months of
1994 from $528 million last year, reflecting continued improvement in Card
credit experience, partially offset by an increase in billed business.  The
worldwide lending provision was $258 million, compared with $311 million a
year ago, reflecting a continued decline in write-offs.  Interest expense,
excluding lending interest expense which is included in net revenues above,
totaled $600 million for the first nine months of 1994, down from
$609 million last year, reflecting lower borrowing rates, partially offset
by increased funding requirements.  Worldwide charge Card interest expense
totaled $490 million, compared with $520 million last year.  Excluding
interest and the provision for losses, total expenses increased 8.2
percent, in part, reflecting business travel acquisitions and growth and
investments in certain business initiatives.  Human resources expense
increased 15 percent to $1.9 billion in the first nine months of 1994 from
$1.6 billion a year ago, primarily reflecting growth in the Business Travel
and Corporate Card businesses.  Marketing and promotion expense decreased
slightly to $776 million in the first nine months of 1994 from $785 million
last year.  Marketing and promotion expenses for the full year are expected
to be approximately the same as a year ago.

                                       12
<PAGE>
In the first nine months of 1994 and 1993, TRS' asset securitization
program resulted in net discount expense of $228 million and $154 million,
respectively, and servicing fee revenue of $57 million and $35 million,
respectively, reduced the provision for credit losses by $86 million and
$65 million, respectively, and reduced interest expense, with no material
impact on net income in the first nine months of 1994 or 1993.



IDS Financial Services

Three Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

IDS' net income increased 19 percent to $114 million in the third quarter of
1994 from $96 million last year.  Revenues increased to $822 million in the
third quarter of 1994 from $816 million a year ago.  Revenue and earnings
growth benefited primarily from an increase in fees related to higher levels
of assets under management, as well as an increase in life insurance in force.
These benefits were partially offset by lower investment margins.  Pretax
income totaled $168 million, compared with $140 million last year.

IDS' financial planning field force totaled 7,847 at September 30, 1994,
compared with 7,655 and 7,554 at December 31, 1993 and September 30, 1993,
respectively.  Product sales generated from financial plans were approximately
64 percent of total sales, compared with approximately 58 percent a year ago.
Fees from financial plans were $9.6 million in the third quarter of 1994 and
1993.  Mutual fund sales totaled $2.0 billion in the third quarter of 1994,
down 3.6 percent from $2.1 billion last year.  Sales of equity mutual funds
and money market mutual funds increased over a year ago, while sales of income
mutual funds decreased.  Annuity sales were $1.1 billion in the third quarter
of 1994, up slightly from a year ago.  Sales of investment certificates
increased significantly to $324 million in the third quarter of 1994 from
$155 million last year.  This increase reflects sales of longer-term
certificates.  Life and other insurance sales totaled $78 million in the third
quarter of 1994, down from $81 million a year ago.  Life insurance in force
increased 14 percent to $50.9 billion at September 30, 1994 from $46.1 billion
at December 31, 1993 and $44.8 billion at September 30, 1993.

Investment income decreased to $498 million in the third quarter of 1994
from $527 million last year, reflecting lower yields, partially offset by
higher invested assets.  Commissions and fees totaled $200 million in the
third quarter of 1994, up from $188 million a year ago, reflecting
management fees earned on a higher asset base.

Total expenses were $654 million in the third quarter of 1994, compared
with $676 million last year.  The provision for annuity benefits, the
largest component of expenses, decreased to $256 million from $270 million
a year ago, reflecting lower accrual rates, partially offset by higher
annuities in force.  The provision for insurance benefits increased to
$95 million from $80 million a year ago.  The provision for investment
certificates totaled $30 million, up from $29 million last year.  Human
resources expense increased to $213 million from $200 million a year ago,
reflecting an increase in the number of employees and financial planners.
Other operating expenses decreased to $60 million in the third quarter of
1994 from $95 million last year, reflecting primarily a lower provision for
insurance industry guarantee association assessments, as well as lower
amortization of deferred acquisition costs.

                                       13
<PAGE>
Nine Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

IDS' net income increased 21 percent to $314 million in the first nine months
of 1994 from $260 million last year.  Revenues increased 4.3 percent to
$2.5 billion in the first nine months of 1994 from $2.3 billion a year ago.
Revenue and earnings growth benefited primarily from an increase in fees
related to higher levels of assets under management, increased life insurance
in force and wider investment margins compared to year-ago levels.  Pretax
income totaled $465 million, compared with $379 million last year.

Total product sales increased during the first nine months of 1994 compared
to last year.  Product sales generated from financial plans were
approximately 62 percent of total sales, compared with approximately
57 percent a year ago.  Fees from financial plans were $29.4 million in the
first nine months of 1994, compared with $27.4 million last year.  Mutual
fund sales totaled $6.9 billion in the first nine months of 1994, up
10 percent from $6.2 billion last year.  This increase reflects higher
sales of equity funds.  Annuity sales increased 6.7 percent in the first
nine months of 1994 to $3.3 billion from $3.1 billion a year ago,
reflecting increased sales of annuities with variable investment options.
Sales of investment certificates totaled $695 million in the first nine
months of 1994, up from $453 million last year.  Life and other insurance
sales totaled $231 million in the first nine months of 1994, up 4.9 percent
from $220 million a year ago, reflecting increased sales of universal life
insurance.

Investment income totaled $1.5 billion in the first nine months of 1994 and
1993, reflecting lower yields offset by higher invested assets.
Commissions and fees totaled $604 million in the first nine months of 1994,
up 14 percent from $530 million a year ago, reflecting management fees
earned on a higher asset base.

Total expenses were $2.0 billion in the first nine months of 1994 and 1993.
The provision for annuity benefits, the largest component of expenses,
decreased to $762 million from $801 million a year ago, reflecting lower
accrual rates, partially offset by higher annuities in force.  The
provision for insurance benefits increased to $268 million from
$237 million a year ago, reflecting growth in insurance in force.  The
provision for investment certificates totaled $77 million, down from
$97 million last year, reflecting lower investment certificates in force
and lower accrual rates.  Human resources expense increased to $620 million
from $560 million a year ago, reflecting an increase in the number of
employees and financial planners, and increased commissionable sales.
Other operating expenses decreased to $258 million in the first nine months
of 1994 from $271 million last year, reflecting a lower provision for
insurance industry guarantee association assessments, partially offset by
increased amortization of deferred acquisition costs and surrenders as a
result of an annuity exchange plan announced during the first quarter of
1994.


American Express Bank

Three Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

The Bank reported net income of $20 million in the third quarter of 1994,
compared with $29 million a year ago.  Last year's results included a
$5 million benefit from the change in the U.S. federal income tax rate.
The Bank's results for the third quarter of 1994 reflect lower revenues and
higher operating expenses, primarily reflecting spending related to systems
technology.  This decline in results was partially offset by a reduction in
the provision for credit losses.  Pretax income totaled $31 million,

                                       14
<PAGE>
compared with $37 million last year.  The Bank's prior year's results have
been restated to reflect the transfer of certain international consumer
financial services businesses from TRS to the Bank.

Net interest income totaled $89 million in the third quarter of 1994,
compared with $93 million a year ago.  Noninterest income, consisting
primarily of commissions, fees and other revenues, decreased to $74 million
in the third quarter of 1994 from $78 million last year.  Noninterest
expenses, excluding the provision for credit losses, totaled $132 million
in the third quarter of 1994, compared with $125 million a year ago.  No
provision for credit losses was recorded in the third quarter of 1994,
compared with $9.4 million a year ago.


Nine Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

The Bank's net income totaled $64 million in the first nine months of 1994,
compared with $68 million a year ago.  The Bank's results for the first
nine months of 1994 reflect a decline in net interest income, primarily due
to higher short-term funding costs and lower investment income, as well as
higher operating expenses.  Partially offsetting this decline was a lower
provision for credit losses.  Pretax income totaled $94 million, compared
with $99 million last year.

Net interest income totaled $264 million in the first nine months of 1994,
compared with $274 million a year ago, reflecting higher short-term funding
costs and lower investment income.  Noninterest income increased to
$229 million in the first nine months of 1994 from $224 million last year,
primarily reflecting growth in fee income.  Noninterest expenses, excluding
the provision for credit losses, totaled $390 million in the first nine
months of 1994, compared with $364 million a year ago.  Increased expense
levels primarily reflected spending related to systems technology and
higher human resources expense.  The provision for credit losses was
$8.3 million in the first nine months of 1994, compared with $35 million a
year ago, reflecting a lower level of nonperforming loans.


Corporate and Other

Three Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

Corporate and Other reported 1994 third quarter net expenses of
$29 million, compared with $46 million last year.  Corporate expenses for
1993 included a $5 million expense from the change in the U.S. federal
income tax rate.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 1994 and 1993

Corporate and Other reported net expenses of $95 million in the first nine
months of 1994, compared with $123 million in 1993, before a $433 million
($779 million pretax) gain from the sale of FDC stock last year.

Results for the first nine months of 1994 include income from the Company's
share of the Travelers revenue participation, in accordance with an
agreement related to the 1993 sale of SLB, as well as a capital gain on the
sale of Travelers preferred stock and warrants which were acquired as part
of the 1993 sale.  These gains were offset by the Company's costs
associated with the Lehman Brothers spin-off and certain business building
initiatives.

                                       15
<PAGE>
Results for the first nine months of 1993 included the first quarter gain
on the sale of FDC stock mentioned above, which reduced the Company's
ownership in FDC from 54 percent to approximately 22 percent.









































                                       16
<PAGE>
             INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REVIEW REPORT



The Shareholders and Board of Directors
American Express Company


We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of American
Express Company (the "Company") as of September 30, 1994, the related
consolidated statements of income for the three-month and nine-month periods
ended September 30, 1994 and 1993, and the consolidated statement of cash
flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 1994 and 1993.  These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  A review of interim
financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures
to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial
and accounting matters.  It is substantially less in scope than an audit
conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, which will
be performed for the full year with the objective of expressing an opinion
regarding the consolidated financial statements taken as a whole. 
Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that
should be made to the accompanying consolidated financial statements referred
to above for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards, the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31,
1993, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity,
and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our
report dated February 3, 1994, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those
consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth
in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1993, is
fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated
balance sheet from which it has been derived.


ERNST & YOUNG LLP

/s/Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York
November 14, 1994






                                       17
<PAGE>
                   PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

                    AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings

               On June 2, 1994, two former employees of American Express
Bank International ("AEBI"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Express
Bank Ltd. ("AEB"), were convicted in a federal district court in Texas of
money laundering, bank fraud and misapplication of funds in connection with
the account of a Mexican client.  AEBI was not a party in this case.  However,
the United States Attorney's Office and a federal grand jury in the Southern
District of Texas are continuing the investigation, and a subpoena for the
production of documents has been issued to AEBI.  AEBI is cooperating in the
investigation.  If AEBI were charged with a violation of law, substantial
fines, civil penalties, forfeitures and possibly criminal sanctions could
result.  A criminal charge and conviction could also have adverse collateral
consequences for AEB and AEBI, as well as certain of the registrant's other
businesses.

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

      (a) Exhibits

          See Exhibit Index on page E-1 hereof.


      (b) Reports on Form 8-K:

          Form 8-K, dated July 25, 1994, Item 5, reporting the registrant's
          earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 1994.

          Form 8-K, dated October 5, 1994, Item 5, reporting a continuation
          of the registrant's reengineering program.

          Form 8-K, dated October 24, 1994, Item 5, reporting the
          registrant's earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 1994.
















                                       18
<PAGE>

                                     SIGNATURES






       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
       the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed by the
       undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.






                                               AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
                                                    (Registrant)






        Date: November 14, 1994                By  /s/ Michael P. Monaco
                                               --------------------------
                                               Michael P. Monaco
                                               Executive Vice President,
                                               Chief Financial Officer and
                                               Treasurer



        Date: November 14, 1994                /s/ Daniel T. Henry
                                               -------------------------
                                               Daniel T. Henry
                                               Senior Vice President and
                                               Comptroller
                                               (Chief Accounting Officer)

<PAGE>
                          EXHIBIT INDEX

    The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report:


    Exhibit                Description

    10.1  Amendment of American Express Senior Executive Severance Plan.

    10.2  Amendment of American Express Company Executives' Incentive
          Compensation Plan.

    10.3  Amendment of American Express Company Key Executive Life
          Insurance Plan.

    10.4  Amendment of American Express Salary/Bonus Deferral Plan.

    10.5  Amendment of American Express Supplementary Pension Plan.

    10.6  Amendment of Long-Term Incentive Awards under the American
          Express Company 1979 and 1989 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

    12.1  Computation in Support of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

    12.2  Computation in Support of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
          Preferred Share Dividends.

    15    Letter re Unaudited Interim Financial Information.

    27    Financial Data Schedule.


















                                       E-1
<PAGE>

                                                     Exhibit 10.1

                          AMENDMENT OF

        AMERICAN EXPRESS SENIOR EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN

       RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 7.1 thereof, effective as of the
date hereof the American Express Senior Executive Severance Plan (the "Plan")
is amended as follows:

     1.   Article One of the Plan is amended by (i) the deletion of Section
          1.10 and the new definition for Committee set forth below shall be
          used throughout the Plan wherever the term "CBN Committee" had
          been used previously, and (ii) the addition of the following new
          sections thereto to appear in the appropriate alphabetical order
          with all current numbering of sections within this Article One and
          in cross references in the Plan to be renumbered accordingly, as
          follows:

          "1.6  "Change in Control" means the happening of any of the
          following:

               (a)  Any individual, entity or group (a "Person") (within
          the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) becomes the
          beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated
          under the Exchange Act) of 25% or more of either (i) the then
          outstanding common shares of the Company (the "Outstanding Company
          Common Shares") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then
          outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote
          generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company
          Voting Securities"); provided, however, that such beneficial
          ownership shall not constitute a Change in Control if it occurs as
          a result of any of the following acquisitions of securities:  (i)
          any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by
          the Company or any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity
          controlled by the Company (a "Subsidiary"), (iii) any acquisition
          by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
          maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary or (iv) any
          acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization,
          merger or consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger
          or consolidation, the conditions described in clauses (i), (ii)
          and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 1.6 are satisfied. 
          Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be
          deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person")
          became the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the Outstanding
          Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities as
          a result of the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares
          or Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company which, by
          reducing the number of Outstanding Company Common Shares or
          Outstanding Company Voting Securities, increases the proportional
          number of shares beneficially owned by the Subject Person;
          provided, that if a Change in Control would be deemed to have
          occurred (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of
          the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or
          Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company, and after
          such share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes
          the beneficial owner of any additional Outstanding Company Common
          Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities which increases
          the percentage of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or
          Outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by the
          Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall then be deemed to
          have occurred; or
<PAGE>
               (b)  Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the
          Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute
          at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any
          individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose
          election, or nomination for election by the Company's
          shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
          directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered
          as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board,
          but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
          assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or
          threatened election contest or other actual or threatened
          solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person
          other than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to
          avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest or
          solicitation; or

               (c)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
          reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, unless,
          following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more
          than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
          stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization,
          merger or consolidation and the combined voting power of the then
          outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
          generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned,
          directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the
          individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners,
          respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Shares and
          Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
          reorganization, merger or consolidation, (ii) no Person (excluding
          the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
          Company, a Subsidiary or such corporation resulting from such
          reorganization, merger or consolidation or any subsidiary thereof,
          and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
          reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly,
          25% or more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or
          Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be)
          beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of,
          respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
          corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
          consolidation or the combined voting power of the then outstanding
          voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally
          in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of the
          members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
          from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of
          the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
          agreement providing for such reorganization, merger or
          consolidation; or

               (d)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (i) a
          complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the
          sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially
          all of the assets of the Company, other than to a corporation,
          with respect to which following such sale, lease, exchange or
          other disposition (A) more than 60% of, respectively, the then
          outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the
          combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
          such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
          directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
          all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were
          the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company
          Common Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities
          immediately prior to such sale, lease, exchange or other
          disposition,  (B) no Person (excluding the Company and any
          employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or a
<PAGE>
          Subsidiary or such corporation or a subsidiary thereof and any
          Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale, lease,
          exchange or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 25% or more
          of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
          Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly
          or indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding
          shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting
          power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
          corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
          directors and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board
          of directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent
          Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or
          action of the Board providing for such sale, lease, exchange or
          other disposition of assets of the Company.

          1.8  "Committee" means the Compensation and Benefits Committee of
          the Board of Directors or any successor committee appointed by the
          Board of Directors.

          1.12  "Constructive Termination" means resignation or other
          employment termination by an Employee from an Employing Company as
          a result of one or more of the following without the Employee's
          written consent:

               a. a reduction in Base Salary, except for across-the-board
               reductions in the Base Salary that similarly affect all
               Employees included in the Plan,

               b. the Employing Company's requirement that the Employee be
               based more than 50 miles from the location at which the
               Employee was based immediately prior to the Change in
               Control and which location is more than 35 miles from the
               Employee's residence,

               c. the assignment to the Employee of any duties that are
               materially inconsistent with the Employee's duties prior to
               the Change in Control, or

               d. a significant reduction in the Employee's position,
               duties, or responsibilities from those in effect prior to
               the Change in Control.

          1.13  "Defined Termination" means a termination of employment by
          an Employee within two years after a Change in Control that occurs
          as a result of either:

               a. an Involuntary Termination, or

               b. a Constructive Termination.

          1.18  "Good Cause" means a discontinuance of an Employee's
          employment by an Employing Company upon one of the following:

               a. an Employee's Willful and continued failure to adequately
               perform substantially all of the Employee's duties with an
               Employing Company,

               b. an Employee's Willful engagement in conduct which is
               demonstrably and materially injurious to an Employing
               Company or an affiliate thereof, monetarily or otherwise, or

               c. conviction of a felony by the Employee.


<PAGE>
          1.19  "Involuntary Termination" means any involuntary
          discontinuance of an Employee's employment by an Employing Company
          for reasons other than Good Cause.

          1.27  "Willful" means that an act or failure to act on an
          Employee's part is done, or omitted to be done, by the Employee in
          a manner that is not in good faith, and that is without reasonable
          belief that such action or omission was in the best interests of
          an Employing Company."

     2.   Article Two of the Plan is amended by deleting subsections 2.1.7
          and 2.1.8 and adding the following in place thereof:

          "2.1.7  Transfer to unsuitable position;

          2.1.8  Relocation, provided Employee continues at work through the
          transition period; or

          2.1.9  If the Employee has a Defined Termination."

     3.   Article Three of the Plan is amended by deleting the period at the
          end of Section 3.5 and adding the following to the end thereof:

          "; provided, however, that in the event the Employee has a Defined
          Termination, such restrictive covenants shall: (a) be reasonable
          under the applicable facts and circumstances; (b) include the
          following: (i) non-solicitation of customers and employees; (ii)
          confidentiality of business data; (iii) full release of claims;
          and (iv) non-denigration of the Company and its affiliates, and
          their officers, directors and agents; and (c) not include any non-
          competition limitations."

     4.   Article Three of the Plan is amended by adding the following new
          Section 3.6 to the end thereof:

          "3.6  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the
          contrary, if all or any portion of the payments or benefits to
          which the Employee will be entitled under this Plan, either alone
          or together with other payments or benefits which the Employee
          receives or is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the
          Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person or entity
          that would be treated as a payor of parachute payments as
          hereinafter defined, under any other plan, agreement or
          arrangement, would constitute a "parachute payment" within the
          meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
          amended (the "Code") or any successor provision thereto and the
          regulations thereunder (except that "2.95" shall be used instead
          of "3" under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any
          successor provision thereto), such payment or benefits provided to
          the Employee under this Plan, and any other payments or benefits
          which the Employee receives or is entitled to receive directly or
          indirectly from the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
          other person or entity that would be treated as a payor of
          parachute payments as hereinafter defined, under any other plan,
          agreement or arrangement which would constitute a parachute
          payment, shall be reduced (but not below zero) as described below
          to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof would
          constitute such a parachute payment as previously defined (except
          that "2.95" shall be used instead of "3" under Section
          280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any successor provision thereto).

<PAGE>
          Whether payments or benefits to the Employee are to be reduced
          pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph, and the extent
          to which they are to be so reduced, will be determined by the firm
          serving, immediately prior to the Change in Control, as the
          Company's independent auditors, or if that firm refuses to serve,
          by another qualified firm, whether or not serving as independent
          auditors, designated by the Administration Committee under the
          American Express Senior Executive Severance Plan (the "Firm"). 
          The Firm will be paid reasonable compensation by the Company for
          such services.  If the Firm concludes that its determination is
          inconsistent with a final determination of a court or the Internal
          Revenue Service, the Firm shall, based on such final
          determination, redetermine whether the amount payable to the
          Employee should have been reduced and, if applicable, the amount
          of any such reduction.  If the Firm determines that a lesser
          payment should have been made to the Employee, then an amount
          equal to the amount of the excess of the earlier payment over the
          redetermined amount (the "Excess Amount") will be deemed for all
          purposes to be a loan to the Employee made on the date of the
          Employee's receipt of such Excess Amount, which the Employee will
          have an obligation to repay to the Company on the fifth business
          day after demand, together with interest on such amount at the
          lowest applicable Federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of
          the Code or any successor provision thereto), compounded
          semi-annually (the "Section 1274 Rate") from the date of the
          Employee's receipt of such Excess Amount until the date of such
          repayment (or such lesser rate (including zero) as may be
          designated by the Firm such that the Excess Amount and such
          interest will not be treated as a parachute payment as previously
          defined).  If the Firm determines that a greater payment should
          have been made to the Employee, within five business days of such
          determination, the Company will pay to the Employee the amount of
          the deficiency, together with interest thereon from the date such
          amount should have been paid to the date of such payment, at the
          Section 1274 Rate (or such lesser rate (including zero) as may be
          designated by the Firm such that the amount of such deficiency and
          such interest will not be treated as a parachute payment as
          previously defined).

          If a reduction is to be made pursuant to this paragraph, the Firm
          will have the right to determine which payments and benefits will
          be reduced as described below based on the following hierarchy
          from the first to be reduced to the last (or on such other
          hierarchy chosen by the Firm in its sole discretion), either those
          under this Plan alone or such other payments or benefits which the
          Employee receives or is entitled to receive directly or indirectly
          from the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person or
          entity that would be treated as a payor of parachute payments as
          previously defined, under any other plan, agreement or
          arrangement:  

          (I)       nonqualified stock option awards;

          (II)      restricted stock awards, awards in lieu of restricted
                    stock awards, and restricted stock units;

          (III)     amounts payable under deferred compensation
                    (including, but not limited to, base salary, cash
                    bonus or annual incentive awards, and long-term
                    incentive awards) programs;

          (IV)      any other awards or amounts not described in (I), (II)
                    or (III) above that would be payable or provided upon
                    a Change in Control;
<PAGE>
          (V)       amounts payable under severance benefit plans;

          (VI)      amounts payable under annual incentive (e.g., cash
                    bonus) plans;

          (VII)     portfolio grant awards and performance grant awards;

          (VIII)    amounts payable under employee welfare benefit plans,
                    such as life insurance plans (including, but not
                    limited to, the American Express Key Executive Life
                    Insurance Plan);

          (IX)      amounts payable under nonqualified employee pension
                    benefit plans; and

          (X)       any other awards or amounts not described in (V),
                    (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) above that would be
                    payable or provided upon Defined Termination.

          The payments and benefits subject to reduction pursuant to this
          paragraph include one or more attributes thereof, including, but
          not limited to, acceleration of the time for the vesting or
          payment thereof and the crediting of additional interest
          equivalents thereunder.  Such reduction may be effected by the
          reduction or elimination, in whole or in part, of any such payment
          or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof).  If a
          payment or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof) is
          reduced in part, the remaining portion of the payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) will continue in full
          force and effect under the provisions of such payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) as if the Change in
          Control did not occur and without regard to such reduction or
          elimination.  Nothing in the preceding three sentences of this
          paragraph is intended or should be interpreted to change the
          calculated reduction amounts and procedure of this paragraph." 

     5.   Article Four of the Plan is amended by deleting the period at the
          end of Section 4.1 and adding the following to the end thereof:

           "; provided, however, that in the event the Employee has a
          Defined Termination, the severance benefit under the Plan will be
          paid within five days after the date of such Change in Control."

     6.   Sections 7.1 and 7.2 of Article Seven of the Plan are each amended
          by adding the following to the end thereof:

          "The foregoing sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, neither
          the Board of Directors nor the Committee may terminate this Plan
          or amend this Plan in a manner that is detrimental to the rights
          of any participant of the Plan without his written consent (i)
          with respect to the provisions of the Plan which become applicable
          upon a Change in Control, and (ii) with respect to all provisions
          of the Plan for a period of two years and one day after the date
          of a Change in Control."

<PAGE>

                                                     Exhibit 10.2

                          AMENDMENT OF

                    AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

             EXECUTIVES' INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN


RESOLVED, that pursuant to Paragraph (b) of Article IX thereof, the American
Express Company Executives' Incentive Compensation Plan (the "Plan") is
amended effective as of the date hereof, as follows:

          1.   Paragraph (a) of Article V of the Plan is amended by
          deleting the period at the end thereof and adding the following:

     "; provided, however, that if, within two years following the occurrence
     of a Change in Control (as defined below in Article VI), a participant
     under the Plan experiences a termination of employment that would
     otherwise entitle him to receive the payment of severance benefits under
     the provisions of the severance plan that are in effect and that he
     participates in as of the date of such Change in Control, and is at Job
     Band 50 or higher on the date of such termination of employment, then
     such participant in the Plan shall be paid, within five days after the
     date of such termination of employment, a prorata award under the Plan
     equal to (i) (A) the average award paid or payable to such participant
     under the Plan (or any other annual incentive award program of the
     Company or one of its subsidiaries at the time of such prior payment)
     for the two years prior to the Change in Control, or (B) if such
     participant has not received two such awards, the most recent award paid
     or payable (or target amount so payable, if such participant has not
     previously received any such award) to such participant under the Plan
     (or any other annual incentive award program of the Company or one of
     its subsidiaries at the time of such prior payment), multiplied by (ii)
     the number of full or partial months that have elapsed during the
     performance year under the Plan at the time of such termination of
     employment divided by 12, provided, further, that in the event such
     termination of employment occurs after the end of the performance year
     under the Plan but before the payment date under the Plan, then such
     participant shall also be paid, within five days after such termination
     of employment, an award under the Plan equal to (X) the average award
     paid or payable to such participant under the Plan (or any other annual
     incentive award program of the Company or one of its subsidiaries at the
     time of such prior payment) for the two years prior to the Change in
     Control, or (Y) if such participant has not received two such awards,
     the most recent award paid or payable (or target amount so payable, if
     such participant has not previously received any such award) to such
     participant under the Plan (or any other annual incentive award program
     of the Company or one of its subsidiaries at the time of such prior
     payment)."

          2.   Article VI of the Plan is amended by the addition of new
          paragraphs (f), (g) and (h) thereto, to read as follows:

     "(f)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan
     (except for Paragraph VI(h)), upon the occurrence of a Change in Control
     (as defined below), the value of any incentive award, the payment of
     which has been deferred as of the date of such Change in Control
     (including any earnings equivalents accrued thereon, plus additional
     interest equivalents for a period of 24 months from the date of the
     Change in Control, based on the deferral rate in effect for the plan
     year prior to the date of the Change in Control), shall be paid to the
     participant within five days following the date of such Change in
     Control.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, any participant whose
     incentive award is deferred in whole or in part shall be deemed to have
<PAGE>
     had such portion of his account credited with interest equivalents from
     the date of deferral to the date of the Change in Control at the higher
     of the deferral rates (applicable to the alternative chosen by the
     participant) in effect during such deferral period (but not less than
     zero)."

     (g)  For purposes of this Plan, "Change in Control" means the happening
     of any of the following:

          (i)  Any individual, entity or group (a "Person") (within the
     meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) becomes the beneficial owner
     (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
     25% or more of either (A) the then outstanding common shares of the
     Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Shares") or (B) the combined
     voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
     entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
     "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that such
     beneficial ownership shall not constitute a Change in Control if it
     occurs as a result of any of the following acquisitions of securities:
     (W) any acquisition directly from the Company, (X) any acquisition by
     the Company or any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity
     controlled by the Company (a "Subsidiary"), (Y) any acquisition by any
     employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
     Company or any Subsidiary or (Z) any acquisition by any corporation
     pursuant to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, if, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the conditions described
     in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii) of this Section (g) are
     satisfied.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not
     be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person")
     became the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the Outstanding Company
     Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities as a result of
     the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding
     Company Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number
     of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities, increases the proportional number of shares beneficially
     owned by the Subject Person; provided, that if a Change in Control would
     be deemed to have occurred (but for the operation of this sentence) as a
     result of the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company, and after such
     share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the
     beneficial owner of any additional Outstanding Company Common Shares or
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities which increases the percentage of
     the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities beneficially owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in
     Control shall then be deemed to have occurred; or

          (ii)  Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board
     (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
     director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
     election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at
     least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
     shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the
     Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
     whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an
     actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened
     solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
     than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or
     settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation; or

          (iii)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, unless, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (A) more than 60% of,
<PAGE>
     respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
     corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation
     and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
     of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
     directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
     substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
     beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
     Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (B) no Person (excluding
     the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
     Company, a Subsidiary or such corporation resulting from such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation or any subsidiary thereof, and
     any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 25% or
     more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization,
     merger or consolidation or the combined voting power of the then
     outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (C) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the
     Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement
     providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; or

          (iv)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (A) a
     complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (B) the sale,
     lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
     assets of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to
     which following such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition (X) more
     than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock
     of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then
     outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned,
     directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals
     and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the
     Outstanding Company Common Shares and Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities immediately prior to such sale, lease, exchange or other
     disposition, (Y) no Person (excluding the Company and any employee
     benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or a Subsidiary or such
     corporation or a subsidiary thereof and any Person beneficially owning,
     immediately prior to such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition,
     directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the Outstanding Company Common
     Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be)
     beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively,
     the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the
     combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
     corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and
     (Z) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of such
     corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
     execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board providing for
     such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of assets of the
     Company.

     (h)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary,
     if all or any portion of the payments or benefits to which the
     participant will be entitled under this Plan, either alone or together
     with other payments or benefits which the participant receives or is
     entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries or any other person or entity that would be treated as
     a payor of parachute payments as hereinafter defined, under any other
     plan, agreement or arrangement, would constitute a "parachute payment"
     within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
<PAGE>
     as amended (the "Code") or any successor provision thereto and the
     regulations thereunder (except that "2.95" shall be used instead of "3"
     under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any successor provision
     thereto), such payment or benefits provided to the participant under
     this Plan, and any other payments or benefits which the participant
     receives or is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person or entity that
     would be treated as a payor of parachute payments as hereinafter
     defined, under any other plan, agreement or arrangement which would
     constitute a parachute payment, shall be reduced (but not below zero) as
     described below to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof would
     constitute such a parachute payment as previously defined (except that
     "2.95" shall be used instead of "3" under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of
     the Code or any successor provision thereto).  Whether payments or
     benefits to the participant are to be reduced pursuant to the first
     sentence of this paragraph, and the extent to which they are to be so
     reduced, will be determined by the firm serving, immediately prior to
     the Change in Control, as the Company's independent auditors, or if that
     firm refuses to serve, by another qualified firm, whether or not serving
     as independent auditors, designated by the Administration Committee
     under the American Express Senior Executive Severance Plan (the "Firm"). 
     The Firm will be paid reasonable compensation by the Company for such
     services.  If the Firm concludes that its determination is inconsistent
     with a final determination of a court or the Internal Revenue Service,
     the Firm shall, based on such final determination, redetermine whether
     the amount payable to the participant should have been reduced and, if
     applicable, the amount of any such reduction.  If the Firm determines
     that a lesser payment should have been made to the participant, then an
     amount equal to the amount of the excess of the earlier payment over the
     redetermined amount (the "Excess Amount") will be deemed for all
     purposes to be a loan to the participant made on the date of the
     participant's receipt of such Excess Amount, which the participant will
     have an obligation to repay to the Company on the fifth business day
     after demand, together with interest on such amount at the lowest
     applicable Federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code or
     any successor provision thereto), compounded semi-annually (the "Section
     1274 Rate") from the date of the participant's receipt of such Excess
     Amount until the date of such repayment (or such lesser rate (including
     zero) as may be designated by the Firm such that the Excess Amount and
     such interest will not be treated as a parachute payment as previously
     defined).  If the Firm determines that a greater payment should have
     been made to the participant, within five business days of such
     determination, the Company will pay to the participant the amount of the
     deficiency, together with interest thereon from the date such amount
     should have been paid to the date of such payment, at the Section 1274
     Rate (or such lesser rate (including zero) as may be designated by the
     Firm such that the amount of such deficiency and such interest will not
     be treated as a parachute payment as previously defined).  If a
     reduction is to be made pursuant to this paragraph, the Firm will have
     the right to determine which payments and benefits will be reduced as
     described below based on the following hierarchy from the first to be
     reduced to the last (or on such other hierarchy chosen by the Firm in
     its sole discretion), either those under this Plan alone or such other
     payments or benefits which the participant receives or is entitled to
     receive directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries or any other person or entity that would be treated as a
     payor of parachute payments as previously defined, under any other plan,
     agreement or arrangement:  

          (I)       nonqualified stock option awards;

          (II)      restricted stock awards, awards in lieu of restricted
                    stock awards, and restricted stock units;
<PAGE>
          (III)     amounts payable under deferred compensation
                    (including, but not limited to, base salary, cash
                    bonus or annual incentive awards, and long-term
                    incentive awards) programs;

          (IV)      any other awards or amounts not described in (I), (II)
                    or (III) above that would be payable or provided upon
                    a Change in Control;

          (V)       amounts payable under severance benefit plans;

          (VI)      amounts payable under annual incentive (e.g., cash
                    bonus) plans;

          (VII)     portfolio grant awards and performance grant awards;

          (VIII)    amounts payable under employee welfare benefit plans,
                    such as life insurance plans (including, but not
                    limited to, the American Express Key Executive Life
                    Insurance Plan);

          (IX)      amounts payable under nonqualified employee pension
                    benefit plans; and

          (X)       any other awards or amounts not described in (V),
                    (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) above that would be
                    payable or provided upon a termination of employment
                    that occurs within two years after a Change in Control
                    as described in Paragraph V(a) above.

          The payments and benefits subject to reduction pursuant to this
          paragraph include one or more attributes thereof, including, but
          not limited to, acceleration of the time for the vesting or
          payment thereof and the crediting of additional interest
          equivalents thereunder.  Such reduction may be effected by the
          reduction or elimination, in whole or in part, of any such payment
          or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof).  If a
          payment or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof) is
          reduced in part, the remaining portion of the payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) will continue in full
          force and effect under the provisions of such payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) as if the Change in
          Control did not occur and without regard to such reduction or
          elimination.  Nothing in the preceding three sentences of this
          paragraph is intended or should be interpreted to change the
          calculated reduction amounts and procedure of this paragraph."

          3.  Paragraph (b) of Article IX of the Plan is amended in its
          entirety, to read as follows:

     "The Board of Directors of the Company may amend this Plan in whole or
     in part from time to time, and may terminate it at any time.  The
     foregoing sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board of
     Directors of the Company may not amend or terminate this Plan in a
     manner that is detrimental to the rights of any participant with respect
     to the provisions which are applicable upon a Change in Control, without
     his written consent.  The Board of Directors of the Company shall cause
     all companies that are or have been Participating Companies to be
     notified promptly of any amendment or termination.  No amendment or
     termination shall deprive any participant, former participant,
     beneficiary or legal representatives of a former participant of any
     right under this Plan as such right exists at the time of such amendment
     or termination, nor increase the obligations of any company that is or
     has been a Participating Company without its consent."
<PAGE>

                                                     Exhibit 10.3

                          AMENDMENT OF

                    AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

                KEY EXECUTIVE LIFE INSURANCE PLAN


RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 10.01 thereof, the American Express Company
Key Executive Life Insurance Plan (the "Plan") is amended effective as of the
date hereof, as follows:

1.   Article II of the Plan is amended by the addition of new Section 2.19 as
follows:

     "2.19  For purposes of this Plan, "Change in Control" means the
     happening of any of the following:

          (a)  Any individual, entity or group (a "Person") (within the
     meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) becomes the beneficial owner
     (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
     25% or more of either (i) the then outstanding common shares of the
     Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Shares") or (ii) the combined
     voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
     entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
     "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that such
     beneficial ownership shall not constitute a Change in Control if it
     occurs as a result of any of the following acquisitions of securities: 
     (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by
     the Company or any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity
     controlled by the Company (a "Subsidiary"), (iii) any acquisition by any
     employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
     Company or any Subsidiary or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation
     pursuant to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, if, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the conditions described
     in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 2.19
     are satisfied.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall
     not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person")
     became the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the Outstanding Company
     Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities as a result of
     the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding
     Company Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number
     of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities, increases the proportional number of shares beneficially
     owned by the Subject Person; provided, that if a Change in Control would
     be deemed to have occurred (but for the operation of this sentence) as a
     result of the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company, and after such
     share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the
     beneficial owner of any additional Outstanding Company Common Shares or
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities which increases the percentage of
     the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities beneficially owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in
     Control shall then be deemed to have occurred; or

          (b)  Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board
     (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
     director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
     election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at
     least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
     shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the
     Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
<PAGE>
     whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an
     actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened
     solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
     than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or
     settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation; or

          (c)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, unless, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 60% of,
     respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
     corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation
     and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
     of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
     directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
     substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
     beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
     Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (ii) no Person (excluding
     the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
     Company, a Subsidiary or such corporation resulting from such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation or any subsidiary thereof, and
     any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 25% or
     more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization,
     merger or consolidation or the combined voting power of the then
     outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the
     Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement
     providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; or

          (d)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (i) a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale, lease,
     exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
     of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which
     following such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition (A) more than
     60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of
     such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
     voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
     election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
     indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities
     who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company
     Common Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately
     prior to such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition,  (B) no Person
     (excluding the Company and any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
     of the Company or a Subsidiary or such corporation or a subsidiary
     thereof and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 25%
     or more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the
     then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (C) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of such corporation were members
     of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
     agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale, lease,
     exchange or other disposition of assets of the Company."

<PAGE>
     2.   Section 7.02 of the Plan is amended by adding the following to the
     end thereof:

     "d.  (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the
     contrary (except for Section 7.02(d)(ii)), following the occurrence of a
     Change in Control (as defined below), in the event a Participant under
     the Plan whose job is classified at grade level 50 or above experiences
     a Defined Termination as such term is defined in the Company's Senior
     Executive Severance Plan (regardless of whether or not the Participant
     is eligible under such plan), then the Policy Owner shall transfer
     ownership of the Policy to the Participant (or Assignee), who shall
     become sole owner of the Policy free of all provisions and restrictions
     of this Plan, within five days after the date of such Defined
     Termination.

     (ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary,
     if all or any portion of the payments or benefits to which the
     Participant will be entitled under this Plan, either alone or together
     with other payments or benefits which the Participant receives or is
     entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries or any other person or entity that would be treated as
     a payor of parachute payments as hereinafter defined, under any other
     plan, agreement or arrangement, would constitute a "parachute payment"
     within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
     as amended (the "Code") or any successor provision thereto and the
     regulations thereunder (except that "2.95" shall be used instead of "3"
     under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any successor provision
     thereto), such payment or benefits provided to the Participant under
     this Plan, and any other payments or benefits which the Participant
     receives or is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person or entity that
     would be treated as a payor of parachute payments as hereinafter
     defined, under any other plan, agreement or arrangement which would
     constitute a parachute payment, shall be reduced (but not below zero) as
     described below to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof would
     constitute such a parachute payment as previously defined (except that
     "2.95" shall be used instead of "3" under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of
     the Code or any successor provision thereto).  Whether payments or
     benefits to the Participant are to be reduced pursuant to the first
     sentence of this paragraph, and the extent to which they are to be so
     reduced, will be determined by the firm serving, immediately prior to
     the Change in Control, as the Company's independent auditors, or if that
     firm refuses to serve, by another qualified firm, whether or not serving
     as independent auditors, designated by the Administration Committee
     under the American Express Senior Executive Severance Plan (the "Firm"). 
     The Firm will be paid reasonable compensation by the Company for such
     services.  If the Firm concludes that its determination is inconsistent
     with a final determination of a court or the Internal Revenue Service,
     the Firm shall, based on such final determination, redetermine whether
     the amount payable to the Participant should have been reduced and, if
     applicable, the amount of any such reduction.  If the Firm determines
     that a lesser payment should have been made to the Participant, then an
     amount equal to the amount of the excess of the earlier payment over the
     redetermined amount (the "Excess Amount") will be deemed for all
     purposes to be a loan to the Participant made on the date of the
     Participant's receipt of such Excess Amount, which the Participant will
     have an obligation to repay to the Company on the fifth business day
     after demand, together with interest on such amount at the lowest
     applicable Federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code or
     any successor provision thereto), compounded semi-annually (the "Section
     1274 Rate") from the date of the Participant's receipt of such Excess
     Amount until the date of such repayment (or such lesser rate (including
     zero) as may be designated by the Firm such that the Excess Amount and
     such interest will not be treated as a parachute payment as previously
<PAGE>
     defined).  If the Firm determines that a greater payment should have
     been made to the Participant, within five business days of such
     determination, the Company will pay to the Participant the amount of the
     deficiency, together with interest thereon from the date such amount
     should have been paid to the date of such payment, at the Section 1274
     Rate (or such lesser rate (including zero) as may be designated by the
     Firm such that the amount of such deficiency and such interest will not
     be treated as a parachute payment as previously defined).  If a
     reduction is to be made pursuant to this paragraph, the Firm will have
     the right to determine which payments and benefits will be reduced as
     described below based on the following hierarchy from the first to be
     reduced to the last (or on such other hierarchy chosen by the Firm in
     its sole discretion), either those under this Plan alone or such other
     payments or benefits which the Participant receives or is entitled to
     receive directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries or any other person or entity that would be treated as a
     payor of parachute payments as previously defined, under any other plan,
     agreement or arrangement:  

          (I)       nonqualified stock option awards;

          (II)      restricted stock awards, awards in lieu of restricted
                    stock awards, and restricted stock units;

          (III)     amounts payable under deferred compensation
                    (including, but not limited to, base salary, cash
                    bonus or annual incentive awards, and long-term
                    incentive awards) programs;

          (IV)      any other awards or amounts not described in (I), (II)
                    or (III) above that would be payable or provided upon
                    a Change in Control;

          (V)       amounts payable under severance benefit plans;

          (VI)      amounts payable under annual incentive (e.g., cash
                    bonus) plans;

          (VII)     portfolio grant awards and performance grant awards;

          (VIII)    amounts payable under employee welfare benefit plans,
                    such as life insurance plans (including, but not
                    limited to, the American Express Key Executive Life
                    Insurance Plan);

          (IX)      amounts payable under nonqualified employee pension
                    benefit plans; and

          (X)       any other awards or amounts not described in (V),
                    (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) above that would be
                    payable or provided upon a Defined Termination as
                    described in Section 7.02(d).

          The payments and benefits subject to reduction pursuant to this
          paragraph include one or more attributes thereof, including, but
          not limited to, acceleration of the time for the vesting or
          payment thereof and the crediting of additional interest
          equivalents thereunder.  Such reduction may be effected by the
          reduction or elimination, in whole or in part, of any such payment
          or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof).  If a
          payment or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof) is
          reduced in part, the remaining portion of the payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) will continue in full
          force and effect under the provisions of such payment or benefit
<PAGE>
          (including any or all attributes thereof) as if the Change in
          Control did not occur and without regard to such reduction or
          elimination.  Nothing in the preceding three sentences of this
          paragraph is intended or should be interpreted to change the
          calculated reduction amounts and procedure of this paragraph."

     3.  Sections 10.01 and 11.01 of the Plan is each amended by adding the
     following to the end thereof:

     "The foregoing sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may
     not amend or terminate this Plan in a manner that is detrimental to the
     rights of any Participant with respect to the provisions which are
     applicable upon a Change in Control, without his written consent."

<PAGE>

                                                     Exhibit 10.4

                          AMENDMENT OF

                        AMERICAN EXPRESS

                   SALARY/BONUS DEFERRAL PLAN



RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 7.1 thereof, the American Express
Salary/Bonus Deferral Plan (the "Plan") is amended effective as of the date
hereof, as follows:

          1.   Article I of the Plan is amended by adding new Section 1.22
thereto, to read as follows:

     "1.22  'Change in Control' means the happening of any of the following:

          (a)  Any individual, entity or group (a "Person") (within the
     meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) becomes the beneficial owner
     (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
     25% or more of either (i) the then outstanding common shares of the
     Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Shares") or (ii) the combined
     voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
     entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
     "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that such
     beneficial ownership shall not constitute a Change in Control if it
     occurs as a result of any of the following acquisitions of securities: 
     (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by
     the Company or any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity
     controlled by the Company (a "Subsidiary"), (iii) any acquisition by any
     employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
     Company or any Subsidiary or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation
     pursuant to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, if, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the conditions described
     in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 1.22
     are satisfied.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall
     not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person")
     became the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the Outstanding Company
     Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities as a result of
     the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding
     Company Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number
     of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities, increases the proportional number of shares beneficially
     owned by the Subject Person; provided, that if a Change in Control would
     be deemed to have occurred (but for the operation of this sentence) as a
     result of the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company, and after such
     share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the
     beneficial owner of any additional Outstanding Company Common Shares or
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities which increases the percentage of
     the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities beneficially owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in
     Control shall then be deemed to have occurred; or

          (b)  Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board
     (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
     director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
     election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at
     least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
     shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the
     Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
<PAGE>
     whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an
     actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened
     solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
     than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or
     settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation; or

          (c)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, unless, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 60% of,
     respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
     corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation
     and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
     of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
     directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
     substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
     beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
     Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (ii) no Person (excluding
     the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
     Company, a Subsidiary or such corporation resulting from such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation or any subsidiary thereof, and
     any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 25% or
     more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization,
     merger or consolidation or the combined voting power of the then
     outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the
     Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement
     providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; or

          (d)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (i) a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale, lease,
     exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
     of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which
     following such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition (A) more than
     60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of
     such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
     voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
     election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
     indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities
     who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company
     Common Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately
     prior to such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition,  (B) no Person
     (excluding the Company and any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
     of the Company or a Subsidiary or such corporation or a subsidiary
     thereof and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 25%
     or more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the
     then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (C) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of such corporation were members
     of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
     agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale, lease,
     exchange or other disposition of assets of the Company."

<PAGE>
          2. Section 6.5 of the Plan is renumbered Section 6.7 and new Sec-
          tions 6.5 and 6.6 are added, to read as follows:

     "6.5 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan
          (except for Section 6.6), upon the occurrence of a Change in
          Control, the amounts credited to a Participant's Deferred
          Compensation Account as of the date of such Change in Control
          (including any earnings equivalents accrued thereon, plus
          additional interest equivalents for a period of 24 months from the
          date of the Change in Control, based on the deferral rate in
          effect for the plan year prior to the date of the Change in
          Control) shall be paid to the Participant within five days follow-
          ing the date of such Change in Control.  For purposes of the
          preceding sentence, any Deferred Compensation Account shall be
          deemed to have been credited with interest equivalents from the
          date of deferral to the date of the Change in Control at the
          higher of the deferral rates (applicable to the alternative chosen
          by the Participant)  in effect during such deferral period (but
          not less than zero)."

     "6.6 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary,
          if all or any portion of the payments or benefits to which the
          Participant will be entitled under this Plan, either alone or
          together with other payments or benefits which the Participant
          receives or is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the
          Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person or entity
          that would be treated as a payor of parachute payments as
          hereinafter defined, under any other plan, agreement or
          arrangement, would constitute a "parachute payment" within the
          meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
          amended (the "Code") or any successor provision thereto and the
          regulations thereunder (except that "2.95" shall be used instead
          of "3" under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any
          successor provision thereto), such payment or benefits provided to
          the Participant under this Plan, and any other payments or
          benefits which the Participant receives or is entitled to receive
          directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its subsidiaries
          or any other person or entity that would be treated as a payor of
          parachute payments as hereinafter defined, under any other plan,
          agreement or arrangement which would constitute a parachute
          payment, shall be reduced (but not below zero) as described below
          to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof would
          constitute such a parachute payment as previously defined (except
          that "2.95" shall be used instead of "3" under Section
          280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any successor provision thereto). 
          Whether payments or benefits to the Participant are to be reduced
          pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph, and the extent
          to which they are to be so reduced, will be determined by the firm
          serving, immediately prior to the Change in Control, as the
          Company's independent auditors, or if that firm refuses to serve,
          by another qualified firm, whether or not serving as independent
          auditors, designated by the Administration Committee under the
          American Express Senior Executive Severance Plan (the "Firm"). 
          The Firm will be paid reasonable compensation by the Company for
          such services.  If the Firm concludes that its determination is
          inconsistent with a final determination of a court or the Internal
          Revenue Service, the Firm shall, based on such final
          determination, redetermine whether the amount payable to the
          Participant should have been reduced and, if applicable, the
          amount of any such reduction.  If the Firm determines that a
          lesser payment should have been made to the Participant, then an
          amount equal to the amount of the excess of the earlier payment
          over the redetermined amount (the "Excess Amount") will be deemed
          for all purposes to be a loan to the Participant made on the date
<PAGE>
          of the Participant's receipt of such Excess Amount, which the
          Participant will have an obligation to repay to the Company on the
          fifth business day after demand, together with interest on such
          amount at the lowest applicable Federal rate (as defined in
          Section 1274(d) of the Code or any successor provision thereto),
          compounded semi-annually (the "Section 1274 Rate") from the date
          of the Participant's receipt of such Excess Amount until the date
          of such repayment (or such lesser rate (including zero) as may be
          designated by the Firm such that the Excess Amount and such
          interest will not be treated as a parachute payment as previously
          defined).  If the Firm determines that a greater payment should
          have been made to the Participant, within five business days of
          such determination, the Company will pay to the Participant the
          amount of the deficiency, together with interest thereon from the
          date such amount should have been paid to the date of such
          payment, at the Section 1274 Rate (or such lesser rate (including
          zero) as may be designated by the Firm such that the amount of
          such deficiency and such interest will not be treated as a
          parachute payment as previously defined).  If a reduction is to be
          made pursuant to this paragraph, the Firm will have the right to
          determine which payments and benefits will be reduced as described
          below based on the following hierarchy from the first to be
          reduced to the last (or on such other hierarchy chosen by the Firm
          in its sole discretion), either those under this Plan alone or
          such other payments or benefits which the Participant receives or
          is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the Company or
          any of its subsidiaries or any other person or entity that would
          be treated as a payor of parachute payments as previously defined,
          under any other plan, agreement or arrangement:  

          (I)       nonqualified stock option awards;

          (II)      restricted stock awards, awards in lieu of restricted
                    stock awards, and restricted stock units;

          (III)     amounts payable under deferred compensation
                    (including, but not limited to, base salary, cash
                    bonus or annual incentive awards, and long-term
                    incentive awards) programs;

          (IV)      any other awards or amounts not described in (I), (II)
                    or (III) above that would be payable or provided upon
                    a Change in Control;

          (V)       amounts payable under severance benefit plans;

          (VI)      amounts payable under annual incentive (e.g., cash
                    bonus) plans;

          (VII)     portfolio grant awards and performance grant awards;

          (VIII)    amounts payable under employee welfare benefit plans,
                    such as life insurance plans (including, but not
                    limited to, the American Express Key Executive Life
                    Insurance Plan);

          (IX)      amounts payable under nonqualified employee pension
                    benefit plans; and

          (X)       any other awards or amounts not described in (V),
                    (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) above that would be
                    payable or provided (i) upon a Defined Termination, or
                    (ii) upon a termination of employment within two years
                    after a Change in Control if the Participant is in a
<PAGE>
                    job classified as Job Band 50, and if such termination
                    of employment would otherwise entitle him to receive
                    the payment of severance benefits under the provisions
                    of the severance plan that are in effect and that he
                    participates in as of the date of such Change in
                    Control, as the case may be.

          The payments and benefits subject to reduction pursuant to this
          paragraph include one or more attributes thereof, including, but
          not limited to, acceleration of the time for the vesting or
          payment thereof and the crediting of additional interest
          equivalents thereunder.  Such reduction may be effected by the
          reduction or elimination, in whole or in part, of any such payment
          or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof).  If a
          payment or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof) is
          reduced in part, the remaining portion of the payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) will continue in full
          force and effect under the provisions of such payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) as if the Change in
          Control did not occur and without regard to such reduction or
          elimination.  Nothing in the preceding three sentences of this
          paragraph is intended or should be interpreted to change the
          calculated reduction amounts and procedure of this paragraph."  

          3. Section 7.1 of the Plan is amended in its entirety, to read as
follows:

     "7.1      The Committee may at any time and from time to time modify
               or amend any or all of the provisions of the Plan
               (including, but not limited to, acceleration of payment(s))
               or may at any time terminate the Plan; provided that no such
               action shall materially adversely affect the rights of any
               Participant hereunder without his consent thereto, as
               determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  The
               foregoing sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, the
               Board of Directors, the Committee or any other person may
               not amend or terminate this Plan in a manner that is
               detrimental to the rights of any Participant of the Plan
               with respect to the provisions which become applicable upon
               a Change in Control, without his written consent."

<PAGE>

                                                     Exhibit 10.5

                          AMENDMENT OF

                        AMERICAN EXPRESS

                   SUPPLEMENTARY PENSION PLAN


          RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 9 thereof, effective as of the
date hereof the American Express Supplementary Pension Plan (the "Plan") is
amended, as follows:

          1.   Section 2 of the Plan is amended by adding at the end thereof
new definitions, to read as follows:

      "'Change in Control' means the happening of any of the following:

          (a)  Any individual, entity or group (a "Person") (within the
     meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) becomes the beneficial owner
     (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
     25% or more of either (i) the then outstanding common shares of the
     Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Shares") or (ii) the combined
     voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
     entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
     "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that such
     beneficial ownership shall not constitute a Change in Control if it
     occurs as a result of any of the following acquisitions of securities: 
     (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by
     the Company or any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity
     controlled by the Company (a "Subsidiary"), (iii) any acquisition by any
     employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
     Company or any Subsidiary or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation
     pursuant to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, if, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the conditions described
     in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 2 are
     satisfied.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not
     be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person")
     became the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the Outstanding Company
     Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities as a result of
     the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding
     Company Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number
     of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities, increases the proportional number of shares beneficially
     owned by the Subject Person; provided, that if a Change in Control would
     be deemed to have occurred (but for the operation of this sentence) as a
     result of the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company, and after such
     share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the
     beneficial owner of any additional Outstanding Company Common Shares or
     Outstanding Company Voting Securities which increases the percentage of
     the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities beneficially owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in
     Control shall then be deemed to have occurred; or

          (b)  Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board
     (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
     director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
     election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at
     least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
     shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the
     Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
     whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an
<PAGE>
     actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened
     solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
     than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or
     settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation; or

          (c)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, unless, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 60% of,
     respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
     corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation
     and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
     of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
     directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
     substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
     beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
     Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (ii) no Person (excluding
     the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
     Company, a Subsidiary or such corporation resulting from such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation or any subsidiary thereof, and
     any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 25% or
     more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization,
     merger or consolidation or the combined voting power of the then
     outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the
     Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement
     providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; or

          (d)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (i) a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale, lease,
     exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
     of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which
     following such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition (A) more than
     60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of
     such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
     voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
     election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
     indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities
     who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company
     Common Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately
     prior to such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition,  (B) no Person
     (excluding the Company and any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
     of the Company or a Subsidiary or such corporation or a subsidiary
     thereof and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 25%
     or more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the
     then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (C) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of such corporation were members
     of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
     agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale, lease,
     exchange or other disposition of assets of the Company.

<PAGE>
          2. Section 4 of the Plan is amended by adding at the end thereof
          new sentences, to read as follows:

     "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in either this
     Supplementary Pension Plan or the Retirement Plan (except for the
     provision in this Section 4 dealing with a limitation under Section 280G
     of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), upon a Change in
     Control all accrued benefits under the Plan as of the date of the Change
     in Control shall be funded by the Company within five days following the
     Change in Control in the form of a so-called "rabbi" grantor trust, in
     an amount determined by the then current actuary for this Supplementary
     Pension Plan to be sufficient to pay all accrued liabilities as of the
     date of the Change in Control including additional accrued benefits as
     described below in this paragraph.

     If, during the first year following a Change in Control, an Employee
     experiences a Defined Termination, as such term is defined in the Com-
     pany's Senior Executive Severance Plan (provided that the Employee is
     eligible under such plan), then such Employee shall be deemed to have
     rendered two additional years of Credited Service and to have attained
     two additional years of age for all purposes under the Plan from his
     date of termination, and shall also be credited with an additional
     accrued benefit under the Plan that is equivalent to the Pension benefit
     that would have accrued under the Retirement Plan if the Employee had
     rendered such two additional years of Credited Service and had attained
     such additional two years of age for all purposes under the Retirement
     Plan.  Upon such a termination of employment (as described in the
     preceding sentence) during the second year following a Change in
     Control, then such Employee shall be deemed to have rendered one
     additional year of Credited Service and to have attained one additional
     year of age for all purposes under the Plan and the Retirement Plan, as
     described in the preceding sentence.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, if all
     or any portion of the payments or benefits to which the Employee will be
     entitled under this Plan, either alone or together with other payments
     or benefits which the Employee receives or is entitled to receive
     directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
     any other person or entity that would be treated as a payor of parachute
     payments as hereinafter defined, under any other plan, agreement or
     arrangement, would constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning
     of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
     "Code") or any successor provision thereto and the regulations
     thereunder (except that "2.95" shall be used instead of "3" under
     Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any successor provision
     thereto), such payment or benefits provided to the Employee under this
     Plan, and any other payments or benefits which the Employee receives or
     is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries or any other person or entity that would be treated as
     a payor of parachute payments as hereinafter defined, under any other
     plan, agreement or arrangement which would constitute a parachute
     payment, shall be reduced (but not below zero) as described below to the
     extent necessary so that no portion thereof would constitute such a
     parachute payment as previously defined (except that "2.95" shall be
     used instead of "3" under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any
     successor provision thereto).  Whether payments or benefits to the
     Employee are to be reduced pursuant to the first sentence of this
     paragraph, and the extent to which they are to be so reduced, will be
     determined by the firm serving, immediately prior to the Change in
     Control, as the Company's independent auditors, or if that firm refuses
     to serve, by another qualified firm, whether or not serving as
     independent auditors, designated by the Administration Committee under
     the American Express Senior Executive Severance Plan (the "Firm").  The
     Firm will be paid reasonable compensation by the Company for such
<PAGE>
     services.  If the Firm concludes that its determination is inconsistent
     with a final determination of a court or the Internal Revenue Service,
     the Firm shall, based on such final determination, redetermine whether
     the amount payable to the Employee should have been reduced and, if
     applicable, the amount of any such reduction.  If the Firm determines
     that a lesser payment should have been made to the Employee, then an
     amount equal to the amount of the excess of the earlier payment over the
     redetermined amount (the "Excess Amount") will be deemed for all
     purposes to be a loan to the Employee made on the date of the Employee's
     receipt of such Excess Amount, which the Employee will have an
     obligation to repay to the Company on the fifth business day after
     demand, together with interest on such amount at the lowest applicable
     Federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code or any successor
     provision thereto), compounded semi-annually (the "Section 1274 Rate")
     from the date of the Employee's receipt of such Excess Amount until the
     date of such repayment (or such lesser rate (including zero) as may be
     designated by the Firm such that the Excess Amount and such interest
     will not be treated as a parachute payment as previously defined).  If
     the Firm determines that a greater payment should have been made to the
     Employee, within five business days of such determination, the Company
     will pay to the Employee the amount of the deficiency, together with
     interest thereon from the date such amount should have been paid to the
     date of such payment, at the Section 1274 Rate (or such lesser rate
     (including zero) as may be designated by the Firm such that the amount
     of such deficiency and such interest will not be treated as a parachute
     payment as previously defined).  If a reduction is to be made pursuant
     to this paragraph, the Firm will have the right to determine which
     payments and benefits will be reduced as described below based on the
     following hierarchy from the first to be reduced to the last (or on such
     other hierarchy chosen by the Firm in its sole discretion), either those
     under this Plan alone or such other payments or benefits which the
     Employee receives or is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person or entity
     that would be treated as a payor of parachute payments as previously
     defined, under any other plan, agreement or arrangement:  

          (I)       nonqualified stock option awards;

          (II)      restricted stock awards, awards in lieu of restricted
                    stock awards, and restricted stock units;

          (III)     amounts payable under deferred compensation
                    (including, but not limited to, base salary, cash
                    bonus or annual incentive awards, and long-term
                    incentive awards) programs;

          (IV)      any other awards or amounts not described in (I), (II)
                    or (III) above that would be payable or provided upon
                    a Change in Control;

          (V)       amounts payable under severance benefit plans;

          (VI)      amounts payable under annual incentive (e.g., cash
                    bonus) plans;

          (VII)     portfolio grant awards and performance grant awards;

          (VIII)    amounts payable under employee welfare benefit plans,
                    such as life insurance plans (including, but not
                    limited to, the American Express Key Executive Life
                    Insurance Plan);

          (IX)      amounts payable under nonqualified employee pension
                    benefit plans; and
<PAGE>
          (X)       any other awards or amounts not described in (V),
                    (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) above that would be
                    payable or provided upon Defined Termination.

          The payments and benefits subject to reduction pursuant to this
          paragraph include one or more attributes thereof, including, but
          not limited to, acceleration of the time for the vesting or
          payment thereof and the crediting of additional interest
          equivalents thereunder.  Such reduction may be effected by the
          reduction or elimination, in whole or in part, of any such payment
          or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof).  If a
          payment or benefit (including any or all attributes thereof) is
          reduced in part, the remaining portion of the payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) will continue in full
          force and effect under the provisions of such payment or benefit
          (including any or all attributes thereof) as if the Change in
          Control did not occur and without regard to such reduction or
          elimination.  Nothing in the preceding three sentences of this
          paragraph is intended or should be interpreted to change the
          calculated reduction amounts and procedure of this paragraph."  

          3.   Section 9 of the Plan is amended by the deletion of the
first sentence thereof, and its replacement with the following sentences, to
read as follows:

          "The Board of Directors of American Express Company retains the
     right, at any time and from time to time, to alter, amend, change,
     suspend, substitute, delete, revoke or terminate this Plan in whole or
     in part, for any reason, and without either the consent of, or prior
     notification to, any person.  The Board of Directors of American Express
     Company shall have the right to delegate its authority and power here-
     under, or any portion thereof, to any committee of the Board of
     Directors of American Express Company, and the right to rescind any such
     delegation to such committee in whole or in part.  The two foregoing
     sentences to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Board of
     Directors of American Express Company nor its delegate may terminate
     this Plan or amend this Plan in any manner that is detrimental to the
     rights of any Employee with respect to the provisions which become
     applicable upon a Change in Control, without his written consent."

<PAGE>

                                                     Exhibit 10.6


                          AMENDMENT OF

                   LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS 

               UNDER THE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY 

      1979 AND 1989 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN (THE "PLANS")


All long-term incentive awards under the Plans that are outstanding as of the
date hereof are amended as of the date hereof by adding the following
paragraph to the end thereof, as applicable:

I.   Nonqualified Stock Options ("Options")

     Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
     contrary (except for the provision dealing with a limitation under
     Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), upon a
     Change in Control (as defined below), the awardholder shall immediately
     be 100% vested in the total number of shares covered hereby such that
     they shall be fully exercisable.  The Committee may not amend or delete
     this section of this Agreement in a manner that is detrimental to the
     awardholder, without his written consent.  A "Change in Control" means
     the happening of any of the following:

          [See long definition in Section VI below.]

II.  Restricted Stock Awards ("RSA's")

     Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
     contrary (except for the provision dealing with a limitation under
     Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), upon a
     Change in Control (as defined below), the awardholder shall immediately
     be 100% vested in the total number of shares covered hereby such that
     they shall no longer be subject to any transfer restrictions imposed by
     this Agreement.  The Committee may not amend or delete this section of
     this Agreement in a manner that is detrimental to the awardholder,
     without his written consent.  A "Change in Control" means the happening
     of any of the following:

          [See long definition in Section VI below.]

III. Letters of Intent in lieu of RSA's

     Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
     contrary (except for the provision dealing with a limitation under
     Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), upon a
     Change in Control (as defined below), the awardholder shall immediately
     be entitled to receive the total number of shares covered hereby such
     that they shall no longer be subject to any restrictions on issuance
     imposed by this Agreement.  The Committee may not amend or delete this
     section of this Agreement in a manner that is detrimental to the
     awardholder, without his written consent.  A "Change in Control" means
     the happening of any of the following:

          [See long definition in Section IV below.]
<PAGE>

IV.  Restricted Stock Units ("RSU's")

     Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
     contrary (except for the provision dealing with a limitation under
     Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), upon a
     Change in Control (as defined below), the awardholder shall immediately
     be entitled to receive, within five days after the date of such Change
     in Control, that number of common shares of American Express Company
     equal in value to the awardholder's Retirement Parity Value, plus the
     value of "dividend equivalents" on such shares to the extent such
     "dividend equivalents" have not already been paid to the awardholder
     under Section 3.1 of this Agreement, and such shares shall no longer be
     subject to any transfer restrictions imposed by this Agreement or to any
     non-compete, consulting or other restrictions under Section 3.3 of this
     Agreement.  The Committee may not amend or delete this section of this
     Agreement in a manner that is detrimental to the awardholder, without
     his written consent.  A "Change in Control" means the happening of any
     of the following:

          [See long definition in Section VI below.]

V.   Portfolio Grant Awards ("PG-III's, PG-IV's and PG-V's") and Performance
     Grants (also known as Annual Incentive Awards) 

     Change in Control.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
     contrary (except for the provision dealing with a limitation under
     Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), if,
     within two years after the date of a Change in Control (as defined
     below), the awardholder experiences a termination of employment that
     would otherwise entitle him to receive the payment of severance benefits
     under the provisions of the severance plan that are in effect and that
     he participates in as of the date of such Change in Control, (i) the
     awardholder shall immediately be 100% vested in the Award; (ii) the
     Committee shall determine the value of the Award as of the date of such
     termination of employment as if the Award Period had just ended, based
     on results against the percentage performance measures to the last day
     of calendar quarter ending on or immediately prior to such date (that
     is, based on the percentage of grant value produced by such interim
     results), but prorated based on (a) the total number of full and partial
     months of the Award Period which have elapsed between (X) January 1 of
     the year in which the Award Date occurs, and (Y) the date of such
     termination of employment, divided by (b) the total number of months in
     the Award Period; and (iii) such value of the Award shall be paid to the
     awardholder within five days after the date of such termination of
     employment.  The Committee may not amend or delete this section of this
     Agreement in a manner that is detrimental to the awardholder, without
     his written consent.  A "Change in Control" means the happening of any
     of the following:

          [See long definition in Section VI below.]

VI.  Definition of "Change in Control"

          (a)  Any individual, entity or group (a "Person") (within the
     meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) becomes the beneficial owner
     (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of
     25% or more of either (i) the then outstanding common shares of the
     Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Shares") or (ii) the combined
     voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
     entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
     "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that such
     beneficial ownership shall not constitute a Change in Control if it
<PAGE>
     occurs as a result of any of the following acquisitions of securities: 
     (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by
     the Company or any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity
     controlled by the Company (a "Subsidiary"), (iii) any acquisition by any
     employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
     Company or any Subsidiary or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation
     pursuant to a reorganization, merger or consolidation, if, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the conditions described
     in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Change in
     Control Section are satisfied.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change
     in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the
     "Subject Person") became the beneficial owner of 25% or more of the
     Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities as a result of the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common
     Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company which, by
     reducing the number of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding
     Company Voting Securities, increases the proportional number of shares
     beneficially owned by the Subject Person; provided, that if a Change in
     Control would be deemed to have occurred (but for the operation of this
     sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common
     Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company, and
     after such share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes
     the beneficial owner of any additional Outstanding Company Common Shares
     or Outstanding Company Voting Securities which increases the percentage
     of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
     Securities beneficially owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in
     Control shall then be deemed to have occurred; or

          (b)  Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board
     (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
     majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
     director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
     election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at
     least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board
     shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the
     Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
     whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an
     actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened
     solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other
     than the Board, including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or
     settle any such actual or threatened contest or solicitation; or

          (c)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, in each case, unless, following
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 60% of,
     respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
     corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation
     and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities
     of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
     directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
     substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
     beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
     Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (ii) no Person (excluding
     the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
     Company, a Subsidiary or such corporation resulting from such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation or any subsidiary thereof, and
     any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 25% or
     more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization,
     merger or consolidation or the combined voting power of the then
<PAGE>
     outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from
     such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the
     Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement
     providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; or

          (d)  Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (i) a complete
     liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale, lease,
     exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
     of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which
     following such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition (A) more than
     60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of
     such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
     voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
     election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
     indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities
     who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company
     Common Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately
     prior to such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition,  (B) no Person
     (excluding the Company and any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
     of the Company or a Subsidiary or such corporation or a subsidiary
     thereof and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
     sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 25%
     or more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company
     Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or
     indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
     common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the
     then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
     generally in the election of directors and (C) at least a majority of
     the members of the board of directors of such corporation were members
     of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
     agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale, lease,
     exchange or other disposition of assets of the Company.

VII. Applicable to all awards in I through V above:

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
     if all or any portion of the payments or benefits to which the
     participant will be entitled under this Agreement, either alone or
     together with other payments or benefits which the participant receives
     or is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the Company or any
     of its subsidiaries or any other person or entity that would be treated
     as a payor of parachute payments as hereinafter defined, under any other
     plan, agreement or arrangement, would constitute a "parachute payment"
     within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
     as amended (the "Code") or any successor provision thereto and the
     regulations thereunder (except that "2.95" shall be used instead of "3"
     under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Code or any successor provision
     thereto), such payment or benefits provided to the participant under
     this Agreement, and any other payments or benefits which the participant
     receives or is entitled to receive directly or indirectly from the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person or entity that
     would be treated as a payor of parachute payments as hereinafter
     defined, under any other plan, agreement or arrangement which would
     constitute a parachute payment, shall be reduced (but not below zero) as
     described below to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof would
     constitute such a parachute payment as previously defined (except that
     "2.95" shall be used instead of "3" under Section 280G(b)(2)(A)(ii) of
     the Code or any successor provision thereto).

     Whether payments or benefits to the participant are to be reduced
     pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph, and the extent to
     which they are to be so reduced, will be determined by the firm serving,
<PAGE>
     immediately prior to the Change in Control, as the Company's independent
     auditors, or if that firm refuses to serve, by another qualified firm,
     whether or not serving as independent auditors, designated by the
     Administration Committee under the American Express Senior Executive
     Severance Plan (the "Firm").  The Firm will be paid reasonable
     compensation by the Company for such services.  If the Firm concludes
     that its determination is inconsistent with a final determination of a
     court or the Internal Revenue Service, the Firm shall, based on such
     final determination, redetermine whether the amount payable to the
     participant should have been reduced and, if applicable, the amount of
     any such reduction.  If the Firm determines that a lesser payment should
     have been made to the participant, then an amount equal to the amount of
     the excess of the earlier payment over the redetermined amount (the
     "Excess Amount") will be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the
     participant made on the date of the participant's receipt of such Excess
     Amount, which the participant will have an obligation to repay to the
     Company on the fifth business day after demand, together with interest
     on such amount at the lowest applicable Federal rate (as defined in
     Section 1274(d) of the Code or any successor provision thereto),
     compounded semi-annually (the "Section 1274 Rate") from the date of the
     participant's receipt of such Excess Amount until the date of such
     repayment (or such lesser rate (including zero) as may be designated by
     the Firm such that the Excess Amount and such interest will not be
     treated as a parachute payment as previously defined).  If the Firm
     determines that a greater payment should have been made to the
     participant, within five business days of such determination, the
     Company will pay to the participant the amount of the deficiency,
     together with interest thereon from the date such amount should have
     been paid to the date of such payment, at the Section 1274 Rate (or such
     lesser rate (including zero) as may be designated by the Firm such that
     the amount of such deficiency and such interest will not be treated as a
     parachute payment as previously defined).  If a reduction is to be made
     pursuant to this paragraph, the Firm will have the right to determine
     which payments and benefits will be reduced as described below based on
     the following hierarchy from the first to be reduced to the last (or on
     such other hierarchy chosen by the Firm in its sole discretion), either
     those under this Agreement alone or such other payments or benefits
     which the participant receives or is entitled to receive directly or
     indirectly from the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other
     person or entity that would be treated as a payor of parachute payments
     as previously defined, under any other plan, agreement or arrangement:  

     (I)       nonqualified stock option awards;

     (II)      restricted stock awards, awards in lieu of restricted stock
               awards, and restricted stock units;

     (III)     amounts payable under deferred compensation (including, but
               not limited to, base salary, cash bonus or annual incentive
               awards, and long-term incentive awards) programs;

     (IV)      any other awards or amounts not described in (I), (II) or
               (III) above that would be payable or provided upon a Change
               in Control;

     (V)       amounts payable under severance benefit plans;

     (VI)      amounts payable under annual incentive (e.g., cash bonus)
               plans;

     (VII)     portfolio grant awards and performance grant awards;
<PAGE>
     (VIII)    amounts payable under employee welfare benefit plans, such
               as life insurance plans (including, but not limited to, the
               American Express Key Executive Life Insurance Plan);

     (IX)      amounts payable under nonqualified employee pension benefit
               plans; and

     (X)       any other awards or amounts not described in (V), (VI),
               (VII), (VIII) or (IX) above that would be payable or
               provided upon a termination of employment that occurs within
               two years after a Change in Control as described in the
               Change in Control provision above.

     The payments and benefits subject to reduction pursuant to this
     paragraph include one or more attributes thereof, including, but not
     limited to, acceleration of the time for the vesting or payment thereof
     and the crediting of additional interest equivalents thereunder.  Such
     reduction may be effected by the reduction or elimination, in whole or
     in part, of any such payment or benefit (including any or all attributes
     thereof).  If a payment or benefit (including any or all attributes
     thereof) is reduced in part, the remaining portion of the payment or
     benefit (including any or all attributes thereof) will continue in full
     force and effect under the provisions of such payment or benefit
     (including any or all attributes thereof) as if the Change in Control
     did not occur and without regard to such reduction or elimination. 
     Nothing in the preceding three sentences of this paragraph is intended
     or should be interpreted to change the calculated reduction amounts and
     procedure of this paragraph.

<PAGE>



                                                          EXHIBIT 12.1
                         AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

       COMPUTATION IN SUPPORT OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                           (Dollars in millions)

                           Nine Months
                              Ended              Years Ended December 31,
                          September 30,    -----------------------------------
                              1994          1993      1992      1991      1990
Earnings:                 ------------      ----      ----      ----      ----
 Pretax income from
   continuing operations    $1,416        $2,326    $  896    $  622    $1,578
 Interest expense            1,409         1,783     2,171     2,761     3,160
 Other adjustments             101            88       196       142       209
                             -----         -----     -----     -----     -----
Total earnings (a)          $2,926        $4,197    $3,263    $3,525    $4,947
                             -----         -----     -----     -----     -----
Fixed charges:
 Interest expense           $1,409        $1,783    $2,171    $2,761    $3,160
 Other adjustments              99           130       154       147       143
                             -----         -----     -----     -----     -----
Total fixed charges (b)     $1,508        $1,913    $2,325    $2,908    $3,303
                             -----         -----     -----     -----     -----
Ratio of earnings to
 fixed charges (a/b)          1.94          2.19      1.40      1.21      1.50

  Included in interest expense in the above computation is interest
  expense related to the Company's international banking operations and
  Travel Related Services' consumer lending activities, which is netted
  against interest and dividends in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

  For purposes of the "earnings" computation, other adjustments include
  adding the amortization of capitalized interest, the net loss of
  affiliates accounted for at equity whose debt is not guaranteed by the
  Company, the minority interest in the earnings of majority-owned
  subsidiaries with fixed charges, and the interest component of rental
  expense and subtracting undistributed net income of affiliates accounted
  for at equity.

  For purposes of the "fixed charges" computation, other adjustments
  include capitalized interest costs and the interest component of rental
  expense.

  On May 31, 1994, the Company completed the spin-off of Lehman Brothers
  through a dividend to American Express common shareholders.
  Accordingly, Lehman Brothers' results are reported as a discontinued
  operation and are excluded from the above computation for all periods
  presented.  In March 1993, the Company reduced its ownership in First
  Data Corporation to approximately 22 percent through a public offering.
  As a result, beginning in 1993 FDC is reported as an equity investment
  in the above computation.
<PAGE>


                                                          EXHIBIT 12.2
                         AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

     COMPUTATION IN SUPPORT OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
                         PREFERRED SHARE DIVIDENDS
                           (Dollars in millions)

                           Nine Months
                              Ended              Years Ended December 31,
                          September 30,     ----------------------------------
                               1994         1993      1992      1991      1990
Earnings:                      ----         ----      ----      ----      ----
 Pretax income from
   continuing operations    $1,416        $2,326    $  896    $  622    $1,578
 Interest expense            1,409         1,783     2,171     2,761     3,160
 Other adjustments             101            88       196       142       209
                             -----         -----     -----     -----     -----
Total earnings (a)          $2,926        $4,197    $3,263    $3,525    $4,947
                             -----         -----     -----     -----     -----
Fixed charges and
 preferred share 
 dividends:
 Interest expense           $1,409        $1,783    $2,171    $2,761    $3,160
 Dividends on preferred
   shares                       44            66        65        61        74
 Other adjustments              99           130       154       147       143
                             -----         -----     -----     -----     -----
Total fixed charges and
 preferred share
 dividends (b)              $1,552        $1,979    $2,390    $2,969    $3,377
                             -----         -----     -----     -----     -----
Ratio of earnings to
 fixed charges and
 preferred share
 dividends (a/b)              1.89          2.12      1.37      1.19      1.46

  Included in interest expense in the above computation is interest
  expense related to the Company's international banking operations and
  Travel Related Services' consumer lending activities, which is netted
  against interest and dividends in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

  For purposes of the "earnings" computation, other adjustments include
  adding the amortization of capitalized interest, the net loss of
  affiliates accounted for at equity whose debt is not guaranteed by the
  Company, the minority interest in the earnings of majority-owned
  subsidiaries with fixed charges, and the interest component of rental
  expense and subtracting undistributed net income of affiliates accounted
  for at equity.

  For purposes of the "fixed charges and preferred share dividends"
  computation, dividends on outstanding preferred shares have been
  increased to an amount representing the pretax earnings required to
  cover such dividend requirements.  Other adjustments include capitalized
  interest costs and the interest component of rental expense.

  On May 31, 1994, the Company completed the spin-off of Lehman Brothers
  through a dividend to American Express common shareholders.
  Accordingly, Lehman Brothers' results are reported as a discontinued
  operation and are excluded from the above computation for all periods
  presented.  In March 1993, the Company reduced its ownership in First
  Data Corporation to approximately 22 percent through a public offering.
  As a result, beginning in 1993 FDC is reported as an equity investment
  in the above computation.
<PAGE>


                                                                   Exhibit 15


November 14, 1994



The Shareholders and Board of Directors
American Express Company

We are aware of the incorporation by reference in Registration Statements
(Forms S-8 No. 2-46918, No. 2-59230, No. 2-64285, No. 2-73954,
No. 2-74368, No. 2-89115, No. 2-89680, No. 2-93654, No. 2-97617, No. 33-01771,
No. 33-02980, No. 33-05875, No. 33-06350, No. 33-17133, No. 33-19724,
No. 33-24675, No. 33-28721, No. 33-32876, No. 33-33552, No. 33-34005,
No. 33-34625, No. 33-36422, No. 33-37882, No. 33-38777, No. 33-43671,
No. 33-43695, No. 33-45584, No. 33-48629, No. 33-55344, No. 33-62124 and
33-65008; Forms S-3 No. 2-89469, No. 2-95771, No. 33-06038, No. 33-07435,
No. 33-17706, No. 33-40636, No. 33-43268, No. 33-66654 and No. 33-50997) of
American Express Company of our report dated November 14, 1994 relating to the
unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of American Express
Company which are included in its Form 10-Q for the three-month and nine-month
periods ended September 30, 1994.

Pursuant to Rule 436(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, our report is not a
part of the registration statement prepared or certified by accountants within
the meaning of Section 7 or 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.




/s/Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York
<PAGE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

 <ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30,
1994 and Consolidated Statement of Income for the nine months
ended September 30, 1994 and is qualified in its entirety by 
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1994
<CASH>                                           6,959
<SECURITIES>                                    39,495
<RECEIVABLES>                                   16,531
<ALLOWANCES>                                       788
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                           3,475
<DEPRECIATION>                                   1,570
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  98,195
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0
<BONDS>                                         22,324
<COMMON>                                           305
                                0
                                        200
<OTHER-SE>                                       6,356
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    98,195
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                10,480
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    5,030
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 1,086
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,207
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 741
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,416
<INCOME-TAX>                                       371
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,045
<DISCONTINUED>                                      33
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,078
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0
        



</TABLE>


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