==============================================================================


                      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): September 22, 2003
                          --------------------------



                           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)                                     Identification No.)


       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

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



==============================================================================

Item 5. Other events.

     On September 22, 2003, American Express Company issued a press release
announcing the election of Edward D. Miller to its Board of Directors. A
portion of such press release is filed herein as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

        (c)    Exhibits

        99.1   A portion of a press release issued by American Express Company,
               dated September 22, 2003, announcing the election of
               Edward D. Miller to its Board of Directors.



                                   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:   September 23, 2003



                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Item No.                          Description
--------                          -----------
99.1         A portion of a press release issued by American Express Company,
             dated September 22, 2003, announcing the election of
             Edward D. Miller to its Board of Directors.