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 22, 2004

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

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

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



          New York                      1-7657                 13-4922250
-----------------------------  ------------------------    -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)     (I.R.S. Employer
     of incorporation or                                   Identification No.)
        organization)



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


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 640-2000

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         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



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ITEM 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE;  AND ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
                         FINANCIAL CONDITION.


     The  following  information  is  furnished  under  Item 9 -  Regulation  FD
Disclosure and Item 12 - Results of Operations and Financial Condition:

On April 22, 2004,  American  Express Company issued a press release  announcing
its  financial  results  for the first  quarter  of 2004.  A copy of such  press
release is attached to this  report as Exhibit  99.1 and is hereby  incorporated
herein by reference.  In addition,  in conjunction  with the announcement of its
financial results,  American Express Company  distributed  additional  financial
information  relating  to its 2004 first  quarter  financial  results and a 2004
First Quarter Earnings Supplement. Such additional financial information and the
2004 First Quarter  Supplement  are attached to this report as Exhibits 99.2 and
99.3, respectively, and each is hereby incorporated by reference.


EXHIBIT

99.1      Press  Release,  dated April 22,  2004,  of American  Express  Company
          announcing its financial  results for the first quarter of 2004.

99.2      Additional financial  information relating to the financial results of
          American Express Company for the first quarter of 2004.

99.3      2004 First Quarter Earnings Supplement of American Express Company.





                                   SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.


                                        AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
                                        (REGISTRANT)

                                        By:    /s/ Stephen P. Norman
                                               ---------------------
                                        Name:  Stephen P. Norman
                                        Title: Secretary









DATE:   April 22, 2004





                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.    Description
-----------    -----------


99.1           Press Release,  dated April 22, 2004, of American Express Company
               announcing its financial  results for the fist quarter of 2004.

99.2           Additional  financial   information  relating  to  the  financial
               results of  American  Express  Company  for the first  quarter of
               2004.

99.3           2004  First  Quarter  Earnings  Supplement  of  American  Express
               Company.