AMERICAN EXPRESS CENTURION BANK
8-K, 1997-04-16
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
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==============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 15, 1997


                  American Express Credit Account Master Trust
                           (Issuer in respect of the 
              Class A Series 1996-1 6.80% Asset Backed Certificates
           and Class B Series 1996-1 6.95% Asset Backed Certificates)


                         American Express Centurion Bank
                   Co-Originator of the Trust and a Transferor
                   -------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                    
          Utah                    000-20787-01         11-2869526
- ----------------------------      ------------       ---------------
(State or other jurisdiction      (Commission        (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)             File Number)       Identification No.)

6985 Union Park Center, Midvale, Utah                    84047   
- ---------------------------------------                  -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)

      Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (801) 565-5000 
                                                           --------------


              American Express Receivables Financing Corporation II
                   Co-Originator of the Trust and a Transferor
             ------------------------------------------------------

        Delaware                   000-20787           13-3854638
- ----------------------------      -----------        -------------
(State or other jurisdiction      (Commission        (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)             File Number)       Identification No.)

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

Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (212) 640-4473

============================================================================== <PAGE>

<PAGE>                                                              
Item 5.  Other Events

A.  Changes to Fees and Assessments for Certain Accounts.

     Certain fees and assessments connected to the Optima Card Accounts 
have been changed effective for billing periods closing in April 1997.  
The changes are as follows:

      *  Delinquency Assessments - The Delinquency Fee is increased from
        $15 to $20 for each billing period in which the Account holder
        fails to pay at least the minimum payment by the payment due date.

      *  Overlimit Fee - This fee is increased from $15 to $20 for each
        billing period in which the balance of the Account exceeds the
        credit limit for that Account.

      *  Minimum Payment - the Minimum Payment is reduced to 1/50th of
        the outstanding balance.

      *  Minimum Finance Charge - A Minimum Finance Charge of $.50 will
        be imposed on Accounts on which finance charges accrue.

      *  Average Daily Balance - Fees (except insurance premiums and Express 
         Cash fees) will now be included in the Average Daily Balance for
         purchases.  This will result in finance charges accruing on these fees.


B.  Monthly Servicer's Certificate.

      On May 16, 1996, the Trust issued $865,000,000 Class A Series 1996-1 6.80%
Asset Backed Certificates and $60,000,000 Class B Series 1996-1 6.95% Asset
Backed Certificates (the "Class A Certificates" and the "Class B Certificates",
respectively, and collectively, the "Series 1996-1 Certificates"), offered
pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement dated May 9, 1996 to Prospectus dated May 9,
1996 and issued under the  Pooling and Servicing Agreement (the "Agreement")
dated as of May 16, 1996, and the Series 1996-1 Supplement dated as of May 16,
1996, to the Agreement (the "Series 1996-1 Supplement").  Interest on the 
Series 1996-1 Certificates accrues from May 16, 1996 and is payable on July 15,
1996 and on the fifteenth day of each month thereafter (or, if such fifteenth 
day is not a business day, the immediately succeeding business day) (each, a 
"Distribution Date"). Principal with respect to the Class A Certificates and the
Class B Certificates is scheduled to be distributed on the May 2001 Distribution
Date, but may be paid earlier or later under certain limited circumstances as 
provided in the Agreement and Series 1996-1 Supplement.

      The Monthly Servicer's Certificate for the April 15, 1997 Distribution 
Date covering the Monthly Period February 25, 1997 to March 26, 1997, is 
filed as Exhibit 20.1 to this report.


Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(a)  Not applicable.
 
(b)  Not applicable.
 
(c)  Exhibits:

            20.1  Series 1996-1 Monthly Servicer's Certificate for the 
April 15, 1997 Distribution Date.
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                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized on the date indicated.


Dated:  April 15, 1997            


                                          AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT ACCOUNT
                                          MASTER TRUST


                                          AMERICAN EXPRESS CENTURION
                                          BANK,TRANSFEROR

                                          By:     ________________________
                                          Name:   Mark Hales
                                          Title:  Chief Financial Officer




                                          AMERICAN EXPRESS RECEIVABLES
                                          FINANCING CORPORATION II, TRANSFEROR


                                          By:     _________________________
                                          Name:   Leslie R. Scharfstein
                                          Title:  President


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

Designation                      Description                              Page
- -----------                      -----------                              ----
Exhibit 20.1             Series 1996-1 Monthly Servicer's Certificate       5
                         for the April 15, 1997 Distribution Date.

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<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                                                         Exhibit 20.1
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
                        MONTHLY SERVICER'S CERTIFICATE

            AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.

                 --------------------------------------------

                 AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT ACCOUNT MASTER TRUST

                               SERIES 1996-1

                 --------------------------------------------

The undersigned, a duly authorized representative of American Express Travel
Related Services Company, Inc., as Servicer ("TRS"), pursuant to the Pooling 
and Servicing Agreement, dated as of May 16, 1996 (as amended and
supplemented, the "Agreement"), as supplemented by the Series 1996-1
Supplement (as amended and supplemented, the "Series Supplement"), among TRS,
as Servicer, American Express Centurion Bank and American Express Receivables
Financing Corporation II, as Transferors, and The Bank of New York, as
Trustee, does hereby certify as follows:

1.   Capitalized terms used in this Certificate have their respective meanings
as set forth in the Agreement or the Series Supplement, as applicable.

2.   TRS is, as of the date hereof, the Servicer under the Agreement.

3.   The undersigned is a Servicing Officer.

4.   This Certificate relates to the Distribution Date occurring on April
15, 1997 and covers activity from February 25, 1997 through March 26, 1997.

5.    As of the date hereof, to the best knowledge of the undersigned, the
Servicer has performed in all material respects all its obligations under the
Agreement through the Monthly Period preceding such Distribution Date.

6.    As of the date hereof, to the best knowledge of the undersigned, no Pay
Out Event occurred on or prior to such Distribution date.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this
Certificate this 10th day of April, 1997.


                                     AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED
                                     SERVICES COMPANY, INC., as Servicer

                                     By: /s/ Marianne Thomson
                                        --------------------------------
                                        Name:  Marianne Thomson
                                        Title: Director 
                                               Financial Administration



<PAGE>
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
I.  Monthly Period Trust Activity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  A.  Trust Activity                                   Trust Totals
        --------------                                -----------------
<S>                                              <C>              <C>      
      Number of days in Period                                   30
      Beginning Principal Receivable Balance       1,705,724,405.82
      Special Funding Account Balance                          0.00
      Beginning Total Principal Balance            1,705,724,405.82

      Finance Charge Collections (excluding           25,295,749.00
        Discount Option & Recoveries)
      Discount Percentage                                      2.00%
      Discount Option Receivables Collections          3,133,603.52
      Premium Option Receivables Collections                   0.00
      Recoveries                                       1,295,024.00
      Total Collections of Finance Charge Receivables 29,724,376.52
      Total Collections of Principal Receivables     153,546,572.48
      Monthly Payment Rate                                   9.0018%
      Defaulted amount                                10,707,154.64
      Annualized Default Rate                                7.7743%
      Trust Portfolio Yield                                 13.5647%
      New Principal Receivables                      134,174,293.12
      Ending Principal Receivables Balance         1,675,644,971.82
      Ending Required Minimum Principal Balance    1,070,000,000.00
      Ending Transferor Amount                       675,644,971.82
      Ending Special Funding Account Balance                   0.00 
      Ending Total Principal Balance               1,675,644,971.82
 
  B.  Series Allocations                              Series 1996-1      Trust Total
      ----------------------------                    -------------      -----------
      Group Number                                                1
      Invested Amount                              1,000,000,000.00 1,000,000,000.00
      Adjusted Invested Amount                     1,000,000,000.00 1,000,000,000.00
      Principal Funding Account Balance                        0.00             0.00
      Series Required Transferor Amount               70,000,000.00    70,000,000.00
      Series Allocation Percentage                           100.00%
      Series Alloc. Finance Charge Collections        29,724,376.52    29,724,376.52
      Series Allocable Recoveries                      1,295,024.00     1,295,024.00
      Series Alloc. Principal Collections            153,546,572.48   153,546,572.48
      Series Allocable Defaulted Amount               10,707,154.64    10,707,154.64

  C.  Group I Allocations                             Series 1996-1    Group I Total
      -------------------                             -------------    -------------
      Investor Finance Charge Collections             17,426,248.00    17,426,248.00

      Investor Monthly Interest                        5,600,640.63     5,600,640.63 
      Investor Default Amount                          6,277,189.10     6,277,189.10
      Investor Monthly Fees                            1,666,666.67     1,666,666.67
      Investor Additional Amounts                              0.00             0.00
      Total                                           13,544,496.39    13,544,496.39

      Reallocated Investor Finance Charge 
        Collections                                   17,426,248.00    17,426,248.00
      Available Excess                                 3,881,751.61     3,881,751.61
</TABLE>
                                        -2-<PAGE>
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
II.  Series 1996-1 Certificates
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Series        Total Investor    Transferors
A.  Investor/Transferor Allocations           Allocations        Interest         Interest
    -------------------------------           -----------        --------         --------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>               <C> 
   
    Beginning Invested/Transferor Amount    1,705,724,405.82 1,000,000,000.00 705,724,405.82
    Beginning Adjusted Invested Amount                   N/A 1,000,000,000.00            N/A
    Floating Allocation Percentage                       N/A          58.6261%       41.3739%
    Principal Allocation Percentage                      N/A          58.6261%       41.3739%
    Collections of Finance Chg. Receivables    29,724,376.52    17,426,248.00  12,298,128.52
    Collections of Principal Receivables      153,546,572.48    90,018,394.51  63,528,177.97
    Defaulted Amount                           10,707,154.64     6,277,189.10   4,429,965.54

    Ending Invested/Transferor Amounts      1,675,644,971.82 1,000,000,000.00 675,644,971.82
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>                 <C>           <C>              <C>
                                                                                   Collateral
B.  Monthly Period Funding Requirements              Class A          Class B      Interest             Total
    -----------------------------------              -------          -------      ---------            -----
    Principal Funding Account                           0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Investment Proceeds for Monthly Period              0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Reserve Draw Amount                                 0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Available Reserve Account Amount                    0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Reserve Account Surplus                             0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Coupon March 17 - April 14                       6.8000%          6.9500%         5.8375% 
    Monthly Interest Due                        4,901,666.67       347,500.00     351,473.96     5,600,640.63
    Outstanding Monthly Interest Due                    0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Additional Interest Due                             0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Total Interest Due                          4,901,666.67       347,500.00     351,473.96     5,600,640.63
    Investor Default Amount                     5,429,768.57       376,631.35     470,789.18     6,277,189.10
    Investor Monthly Fees Due                   1,441,666.67       100,000.00     125,000.00     1,666,666.67
    Investor Additional Amounts Dues
    Total Due                                  11,773,101.90       824,131.35     947,263.14    13,544,496.39
    Reallocated Investor Finance Charge Collections                                             17,426,248.00
    Interest and Principal Funding Investment Proceeds                                                   0.00
    Series Adjusted Portfolio Yield                                                                   13.5647%
    Base Rate                                                                                          9.1468%

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               
  Collateral
C.  Certificates - Balances & Distributions       Class A            Class B      Interest             Total
    ---------------------------------------       -------            -------      --------             -----
    Beginning Certificates Balances           865,000,000.00    60,000,000.00  75,000,000.00 1,000,000,000.00
    Interest Distributions                      4,901,666.67       347,500.00     351,473.96     5,600,640.63
    Principal Deposits - Prin. Funding Account          0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Principal Distributions                             0.00             0.00           0.00             0.00
    Total Distributions                         4,901,666.67       347,500.00     351,473.96     5,600,640.63
    Ending Certificate Balances               865,000,000.00    60,000,000.00  75,000,000.00 1,000,000,000.00
</TABLE>
                                                 -3-
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<PAGE>
D.   Information regarding distributions on the Distribution Date in respect
of the Class A Certificates per $1,000 original certificate principal amount.

      1.   Total amount of the distribution:                $             5.67

      2.   Amount of the distribution in 
           respect of Class A Monthly Interest:             $             5.67

      3.   Amount of the distribution in respect of 
           Class A Outstanding Monthly Interest:            $             0.00

      4.   Amount of the distribution in respect of
           Class A Additional Interest:                     $             0.00

      5.   Amount of the distribution in 
           respect of Class A Principal:                    $             0.00


E.   Class A Investor Charge-Offs and Reimbursement of Class A Investor
Charge-Offs on such Distribution Date.

      1.   Total amount of Class A Investor Charge-Offs:    $             0.00

      2.   Amount of Class A Investor Charge-
            Offs per $1,000 original certificate 
            principal amount:                               $             0.00

      3.   Total amount reimbursed in respect of
            Class A Investor Charge-Offs:                   $             0.00

      4.   Amount reimbursed in respect of Class
            A Investor Charge-Offs per $1,000 
            original certificate principal amount:          $             0.00

      5.   The amount, if any, by which the 
            outstanding principal balance of the 
            Class A Certificates exceeds the Class
            A Invested Amount after giving effect to
            all transactions on such Distribution
            Date:                                           $             0.00


F.   Information regarding distributions in respect of the Class B
Certificates, per $1,000 original certificate principal amount.

      1.   The total amount of the distribution:            $             5.79

      2.   Amount of the distribution in  
            respect of class B monthly interest:            $             5.79

      3.   Amount of the distribution in 
            respect of class B outstanding monthly 
            interest:                                       $             0.00

      4.   Amount of the distribution in 
            respect of class B additional interest:         $             0.00

                                    - 4 -
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<PAGE>
     5.   Amount of the distribution in
            respect of class B principal:                   $             0.00

G.   Amount of reductions in Class B Invested Amount pursuant to clauses (c),
(d), and (e) of the definition of Class B Invested Amount on such Distribution
Date.

      1.   The amount of reductions in Class B 
            Invested Amount pursuant to clauses 
            (c), (d), and (e) of the definition 
            of Class B Invested Amount:                     $             0.00

      2.   The amount of reductions in the 
            Class B Invested Amount set forth in
            paragraph 1 above, per $1,000 original 
            certificate principal amount:                   $             0.00

      3.   The total amount reimbursed in respect
            of such reductions in the Class B 
            Invested Amount:                                $             0.00

      4.   The amount set forth in paragraph 3 
            above, per $1,000 original certificate
            principal amount:                               $             0.00

      5.   The amount, if any, by which the 
            outstanding principal balance of the 
            Class B Certificates exceeds the Class B 
            Invested Amount after giving effect to 
            all transactions on such Distribution 
            Date:                                           $             0.00


H.   Information regarding distributions on the Distribution Date to the
Collateral Interest Holder.

      1.   Total amount distributed to the Collateral 
            Interest Holder:                                $       351,473.96

      2.   Amount distributed in respect of Collateral 
            Monthly Interest:                               $       351,473.96

      3.   Amount distributed in respect of Collateral
            Additional Interest:                            $             0.00

      4.   The amount distributed to the Collateral 
            Interest Holder in respect of principal
            on the Collateral Invested Amount:              $             0.00


I.   Amount of reductions in Collateral Invested Amount pursuant to clauses
(c), (d), and (e) of the definition of Collateral Invested Amount.

      1.   The amount of reductions in the 
            Collateral Invested Amount pursuant 
            to clauses (c), (d), and (e) of the 
            definition of Collateral Invested Amount:       $             0.00

                                    - 5 -

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<PAGE>
      2.   The total amount reimbursed in respect
            of such reductions in the Collateral 
            Invested Amount:                                $             0.00


J.   Application of Reallocated Investor Finance Charge Collections.

      1.   Class A Available Funds:                         $    15,073,704.52

           a.   Class A Monthly Interest:                   $     4,901,666.67
           b.   Class A Outstanding Monthly Interest:       $             0.00
           c.   Class A Additional Interest:                $             0.00
           d.   Class A Investor Default Amount 
                 (Treated as Available Principal 
                 Collections):                              $     5,429,768.57
           e.   Excess Spread:                              $     4,742,269.28

      2.   Class B Available Funds:                         $     1,045,574.88

           a.   Class B Monthly Interest:                   $       347,500.00
           b.   Class B Outstanding Monthly Interest:       $             0.00
           c.   Class B Additional Interest:                $             0.00
           d.   Excess Spread:                              $       698,074.88

      3.   Collateral Available Funds:                      $     1,306,968.60

           a.   Excess Spread:                              $     1,306,968.60

      4.   Total Excess Spread:                             $     6,747,312.76


K.   Reallocated Principal Collections.

      1.   Principal Allocation Percentage:                            58.626%

      2.   Series 1996-1 Allocable Principal 
            Collections:                                    $   153,546,572.48

      3.   Principal Allocation Percentage of 
            Series 1996-1 Allocable Principal 
            Collections:                                    $    90,018,394.51

      4.   Reallocated Principal Collections 
            Required to fund the Required Amount:           $             0.00

      5.   Item 3 minus item 4:                             $    90,018,394.51

      6.   Shared Principal Collections from other 
            Series allocated to Series 1996-1:                             N/A

      7.   Other amounts Treated as Available Principal 
            Collections:                                    $     5,600,640.63

      8.   Available Principal Collections 
            (total of 5., 6. & 7.):                         $    95,619,035.14

                                    - 6 -
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<PAGE>
L.   Application of Available Principal Collections during Revolving Period.

      1.   Collateral Invested Amount                       $    75,000,000.00

      2.   Required Collateral Invested Amount              $    75,000,000.00

      3.   Excess of Collateral Invested Amount 
            over Required Collateral Invested Amount:       $             0.00

      4.   Treated as Shared Principal Collections:         $    95,619,035.14


M.   Application of Principal Collections During Accumulation or Amortization
Period.

      1.   Principal Funding Account:                                      N/A

      2.   Excess of Collateral Invested Amount
            over Required Collateral Invested Amount:                      N/A

      3.   Principal Distribution:                                         N/A

      4.   Treated as Shared Principal Collections:                        N/A


N.   Application of Excess Spread and Excess Finance Charge Collections
Allocated to Series 1996-1

      1.   Excess Spread:                                   $     6,747,312.76
      2.   Excess Finance Charge Collections:               $             0.00
      3.   Applied to fund Class A Required Amount:         $             0.00
      4.   Class A Investor Charge-Offs treated 
            as Available Principal Collections:             $             0.00
      5.   Applied to fund Class B overdue Interest:        $             0.00
      6.   Applied to fund Class B Required Amount:         $       376,631.35
      7.   Reduction of Class B Invested Amount 
            treated as Available Principal Collections:     $             0.00
      8.   Applied to Collateral Monthly Interest:          $       351,473.96
      9.   Applied to unpaid Monthly Servicing Fee:         $     1,666,666.67
      10.  Collateral Default Amount treated as 
            Available Principal Collections:                $       470,789.18
      11.  Reduction of Collateral Invested Amount 
            treated as Available Principal Collections:     $             0.00
      12.  Deposited to Reserve Account:                    $             0.00
      13.  Applied to other amounts owed to 
            Collateral Interest Holder:                     $             0.00
      l4.  Balance:                                         $     3,881,751.60


III. Trust Performance

A.   Delinquencies

      1.   31-60 Days Delinquent:                           $    33,414,931.00
      2.   61-90 Days Delinquent:                           $    15,013,555.00
      3.   90+ Days Delinquent:                             $    19,406,388.00
      4.   Total 30+ Days Delinquent:                       $    67,834,874.00

                                    - 7 -
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<PAGE>

B.   Yield and Base Rate

      1.   Base Rate

           a.   Current Monthly Period             9.1468%
           b.   Prior Monthly Period               9.7888%
           c.   Second Prior Monthly Period        7.8692%

      2.   Three Month Average Base Rate                               8.9349%

      3.   Series Adjusted Portfolio Yield

           a.   Current Monthly Period              13.56%
           b.   Prior Monthly Perid                 14.11%
           c.   Second Prior Monthly Period         13.47%

      4.   Three Month Average Series Adjusted Portfolio Yield          13.71%




























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