e10vq
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2011
or
     
o   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   13-4922250
     
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
World Financial Center, 200 Vesey Street, 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 þ                     No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes þ                     No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o                     No þ
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, 2011
     
Common Shares (par value $.20 per share)   1,161,482,367 shares
 
 

 


 

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
FORM 10-Q
INDEX
         
    Page No.
       
 
       
       
 
       
    1  
 
       
    2  
 
       
    3  
 
       
    4  
 
       
       
 
       
    5  
    5  
    6  
    10  
    16  
    18  
    20  
    21  
    22  
    28  
    29  
    30  
    31  
    32  
    33  
    34  
 
       
    36  
 
       
    78  
 
       
    78  
 
       
       
 
       
    81  
 
       
    89  
 
       
    90  
 
       
    91  
 
       
    92  
 
       
    E-1  
 EX-12
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2
 EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
 EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
 EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT

 


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended September 30 (Millions, except per share amounts)   2011     2010
Revenues
             
Non-interest revenues
             
Discount revenue
  $ 4,218     $ 3,761
Net card fees
    556       527
Travel commissions and fees
    480       483
Other commissions and fees
    604       515
Other
    534       503
 
         
Total non-interest revenues
    6,392       5,789
 
         
Interest income
             
Interest and fees on loans
    1,653       1,675
Interest and dividends on investment securities
    68       103
Deposits with banks and other
    33       16
 
         
Total interest income
    1,754       1,794
 
         
Interest expense
             
Deposits
    127       141
Short-term borrowings
    5      
Long-term debt and other
    443       469
 
         
Total interest expense
    575       610
 
         
Net interest income
    1,179       1,184
 
         
Total revenues net of interest expense
    7,571       6,973
 
         
Provisions for losses
             
Charge card
    174       89
Cardmember loans
    48       262
Other
    27       22
 
         
Total provisions for losses
    249       373
 
         
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
    7,322       6,600
 
         
Expenses
             
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services
    2,511       2,275
Salaries and employee benefits
    1,598       1,354
Professional services
    690       701
Other, net
    812       630
 
         
Total
    5,611       4,960
 
         
Pretax income
    1,711       1,640
Income tax provision
    476       547
 
         
Net income
  $ 1,235     $ 1,093
 
         
Earnings per Common Share (Note 13):(a)
             
Basic
  $ 1.04     $ 0.91
Diluted
  $ 1.03     $ 0.90
 
         
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:
             
Basic
    1,175       1,193
Diluted
    1,181       1,199
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.18     $ 0.18
 

(a)  
Represents net income less earnings allocated to participating share awards and other items of $15 million and $13 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

1


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30 (Millions, except per share amounts)   2011     2010
Revenues
             
Non-interest revenues
             
Discount revenue
  $ 12,398     $ 10,863
Net card fees
    1,638       1,568
Travel commissions and fees
    1,457       1,302
Other commissions and fees
    1,717       1,512
Other
    1,546       1,414
 
         
Total non-interest revenues
    18,756       16,659
 
         
Interest income
             
Interest and fees on loans
    4,883       5,107
Interest and dividends on investment securities
    255       345
Deposits with banks and other
    71       45
 
         
Total interest income
    5,209       5,497
 
         
Interest expense
             
Deposits
    395       406
Short-term borrowings
    6       2
Long-term debt and other
    1,344       1,410
 
         
Total interest expense
    1,745       1,818
 
         
Net interest income
    3,464       3,679
 
         
Total revenues net of interest expense
    22,220       20,338
 
         
Provisions for losses
             
Charge card
    533       412
Cardmember loans
    104       1,490
Other
    66       66
 
         
Total provisions for losses
    703       1,968
 
         
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
    21,517       18,370
 
         
Expenses
             
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services
    7,542       6,405
Salaries and employee benefits
    4,715       3,996
Professional services
    2,098       1,898
Other, net
    1,954       1,584
 
         
Total
    16,309       13,883
 
         
Pretax income from continuing operations
    5,208       4,487
Income tax provision
    1,501       1,492
 
         
Income from continuing operations
    3,707       2,995
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
    36      
 
         
Net income
  $ 3,743     $ 2,995
 
         
Earnings per Common Share — Basic (Note 13):
             
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders(a)
  $ 3.09     $ 2.49
Income from discontinued operations
    0.03      
 
         
Net income attributable to common shareholders(a)
  $ 3.12     $ 2.49
 
         
Earnings per Common Share — Diluted (Note 13):
             
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders(a)
  $ 3.08     $ 2.47
Income from discontinued operations
    0.03      
 
         
Net income attributable to common shareholders(a)
  $ 3.11     $ 2.47
 
         
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:
             
Basic
    1,184       1,189
Diluted
    1,191       1,195
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.54     $ 0.54
 

(a)  
Represents income from continuing operations or net income, as applicable, less earnings allocated to participating share awards and other items of $44 million and $38 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
 
    September 30,     December 31,  
(Millions, except per share data)   2011     2010  
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
               
Cash and cash due from banks
  $ 1,942     $ 2,145  
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks (including securities purchased under resale agreements: 2011, $433; 2010, $372)
    22,608       13,557  
Short-term investment securities
    395       654  
 
           
Total
    24,945       16,356  
Accounts receivable
               
Cardmember receivables (includes gross receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2011, $7,115; 2010, $8,192), less reserves: 2011, $388; 2010, $386
    39,371       36,880  
Other receivables, less reserves: 2011, $111; 2010, $175
    3,517       3,554  
Loans
               
Cardmember loans (includes gross loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2011, $31,574; 2010, $34,726), less reserves: 2011, $2,139; 2010, $3,646
    56,068       57,204  
Other loans, less reserves: 2011, $17; 2010, $24
    359       412  
Investment securities
    9,269       14,010  
Premises and equipment — at cost, less accumulated depreciation: 2011, $4,747; 2010, $4,483
    3,187       2,905  
Other assets (includes restricted cash of consolidated variable interest entities: 2011, $123; 2010, $3,759)
    11,977       15,368  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 148,693     $ 146,689  
 
           
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
Liabilities
               
Customer deposits
  $ 33,142     $ 29,727  
Travelers Cheques outstanding
    5,055       5,618  
Accounts payable
    10,585       9,691  
Short-term borrowings
    3,649       3,414  
Long-term debt (includes debt issued by consolidated variable interest entities: 2011, $17,513; 2010, $23,341)
    61,767       66,416  
Other liabilities
    16,395       15,593  
 
           
Total liabilities
    130,593       130,459  
 
           
Contingencies (Note 15)
               
Shareholders’ Equity
               
Common shares, $0.20 par value, authorized 3.6 billion shares; issued and outstanding 1,169 million shares as of September 30, 2011 and 1,197 million shares as of December 31, 2010
    233       238  
Additional paid-in capital
    12,150       11,937  
Retained earnings
    6,520       4,972  
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
               
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax: 2011, $156; 2010, $(19)
    262       57  
Net unrealized derivatives losses, net of tax: 2011, $—; 2010, $4
    (1 )     (7 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax: 2011, $459; 2010, $405
    (619 )     (503 )
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit losses, net of tax: 2011, $214; 2010, $226
    (445 )     (464 )
 
           
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (803 )     (917 )
 
           
Total shareholders’ equity
    18,100       16,230  
 
           
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 148,693     $ 146,689  
 
           
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30 (Millions)   2011     2010  
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
               
Net income
  $ 3,743     $ 2,995  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
    (36 )      
 
           
Income from continuing operations
    3,707       2,995  
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Provisions for losses
    703       1,968  
Depreciation and amortization
    733       689  
Deferred taxes and other
    1,045       735  
Stock-based compensation
    227       185  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
               
Other receivables
    46       (232 )
Other assets
    (234 )     (424 )
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    1,346       1,843  
Travelers Cheques outstanding
    (585 )     (532 )
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    6,988       7,227  
 
           
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
               
Sale of investments
    944       1,759  
Maturity and redemption of investments
    4,714       8,998  
Purchase of investments
    (904 )     (7,054 )
Net (increase) decrease in cardmember loans/receivables
    (1,971 )     66  
Purchase of premises and equipment, net of sales: 2011, $6; 2010, $6
    (885 )     (586 )
Acquisitions/Dispositions, net of cash acquired
    (610 )     (254 )
Net decrease in restricted cash
    3,658       2,369  
 
           
Net cash provided by investing activities
    4,946       5,298  
 
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
               
Net increase in customer deposits
    3,455       2,055  
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings
    124       (274 )
Issuance of long-term debt
    9,311       3,423  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (14,113 )     (12,814 )
Issuance of American Express common shares
    507       375  
Repurchase of American Express common shares
    (1,950 )      
Dividends paid
    (646 )     (650 )
 
           
Net cash used in financing activities
    (3,312 )     (7,885 )
 
           
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (33 )     102  
 
           
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    8,589       4,742  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    16,356       16,599  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 24,945     $ 21,341  
 
           
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1.   Basis of Presentation
 
    The Company
 
    American Express Company (the Company) is a global service company that provides customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. The Company’s principal products and services are charge and credit payment card products and travel-related services offered to consumers and businesses around the world. The Company has also recently focused on generating alternative sources of revenue on a global basis in areas such as online and mobile payments and fee-based services. The Company’s various products and services are sold globally to diverse customer groups, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations. These products and services are sold through various channels, including direct mail, online applications, targeted direct and third-party sales forces and direct response advertising.
 
    The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of American Express Company for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
    The interim consolidated financial information in this report has not been audited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations for the interim periods have been made. All adjustments made were of a normal, recurring nature. Results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.
 
    Beginning the first quarter of 2011, certain payments to business partners previously expensed in other, net expense were reclassified as contra-revenue within total non-interest revenues or as marketing and promotion expense. These partner payments are primarily related to certain co-brand contracts where upfront payments are amortized over the life of the contract. Amounts in prior periods for this item and certain other amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation and are insignificant to the affected line items. In addition, in the first quarter of 2011, the Company reclassified $353 million, reducing both cash and cash due from banks, and other liabilities, on the December 31, 2010 Consolidated Balance Sheet from amounts previously reported to correct for the effect of a misclassification.
 
    Accounting estimates are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements. These estimates are based, in part, on management’s assumptions concerning future events. Among the more significant assumptions are those that relate to reserves for cardmember losses relating to loans and charge card receivables, reserves for Membership Rewards costs, fair value measurement, goodwill and income taxes. These accounting estimates reflect the best judgment of management, but actual results could differ.
2.   Acquisitions
 
    During the first quarter of 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in Loyalty Partner (March 1, 2011) for total consideration of $616 million ($585 million plus $31 million in cash acquired). In addition, the Company may acquire the remaining noncontrolling equity interest (NCI) over a three-year period beginning at the end of 2013 at a price based on business performance, which currently has an estimated fair value of $150 million. Loyalty Partner is a leading marketing services company known for the loyalty programs it operates in Germany, Poland and India. Loyalty Partner also provides market analysis, operating platforms and consulting services that help merchants grow their businesses.

5


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
    The Company purchased Accertify (November 10, 2010) and Revolution Money (January 15, 2010) for total consideration of $151 million and $305 million, respectively. Accertify is an online fraud solution provider, and Revolution Money, which was subsequently rebranded by the Company as Serve, is a provider of secure person-to-person payment services through an internet-based platform. These acquisitions did not have a significant impact on either the Company’s consolidated results of operations or the segments in which they are reflected for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.
 
    The following table summarizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for these acquisitions as of the acquisition dates:
 
    Loyalty             Revolution
(Millions)   Partner (a)     Accertify     Money
Goodwill
  $ 538     $ 131     $ 184
Definite-lived intangible assets
    295       15       119
All other assets
    206       11       7
 
               
Total assets
    1,039       157       310
Total liabilities (including NCI)
    423       6       5
 
               
Net assets acquired
  $ 616     $ 151     $ 305
 
               
Reportable operating segment
  ICS   GNMS   Corporate & Other
 
 
(a)   Amounts have been updated from the first and second quarters of 2011 due to adjustments to the preliminary purchase price allocation. The final purchase price allocation will be completed in a subsequent quarter.
    From time to time the Company may make smaller acquisitions that are not included in the table above.
3.   Fair Values
 
    Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, and is based on the Company’s principal or most advantageous market for the specific asset or liability.
 
    U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) provide for a three-level hierarchy of inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value, defined as follows:
    Level 1 — Inputs that are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
 
    Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability, including:
  -   Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets
 
  -   Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active
 
  -   Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability
 
  -   Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means
    Level 3 — Inputs that are unobservable and reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances (e.g., internally derived assumptions surrounding the timing and amount of expected cash flows).

6


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value
The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized by GAAP’s valuation hierarchy (as described in the preceding paragraphs), as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
    2011     2010
(Millions)   Total     Level 1     Level 2     Total     Level 1     Level 2
Assets:
                                             
Investment securities:(a)
                                             
Equity securities
  $ 313     $ 313     $     $ 475     $ 475     $
Debt securities and other
    8,956             8,956       13,535             13,535
Derivatives(b)
    1,790             1,790       1,089             1,089
 
                                 
Total assets
  $ 11,059     $ 313     $ 10,746     $ 15,099     $ 475     $ 14,624
 
                                 
Liabilities:
                                             
Derivatives(b)
  $ 221     $     $ 221     $ 419     $     $ 419
 
                                 
Total liabilities
  $ 221     $     $ 221     $ 419     $     $ 419
 
                                 
 
 
(a)  
Refer to Note 6 for the fair values of investment securities on a further disaggregated basis.
 
(b)  
Refer to Note 9 for the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities on a further disaggregated basis, as well as the netting of both (i) cash collateral received or posted under credit support agreements and (ii) derivative assets and derivative liabilities under master netting agreements. These balances have been presented gross in the table above.
The Company did not measure any financial instruments at fair value using significantly unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 or during the year ended December 31, 2010, nor were there transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy during those periods.
GAAP requires disclosure of the estimated fair value of all financial instruments. A financial instrument is defined as cash, evidence of an ownership in an entity, or a contract between two entities to deliver cash or another financial instrument or to exchange other financial instruments. The disclosure requirements for the fair value of financial instruments exclude leases, equity method investments, affiliate investments, pension and benefit obligations, insurance contracts and all non-financial instruments.
Valuation Techniques Used in Measuring Fair Value
For the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (categorized in the valuation hierarchy table above) the Company applies the following valuation techniques to measure fair value:
Investment Securities
 
When available, quoted market prices in active markets are used to determine fair value. Such investment securities are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
 
When quoted prices in an active market are not available, the fair values for the Company’s investment securities are obtained primarily from pricing services engaged by the Company, and the Company receives one price for each security. The fair values provided by the pricing services are estimated using pricing models, where the inputs to those models are based on observable market inputs. The inputs to the valuation techniques applied by the pricing services vary depending on the type of security being priced but are typically benchmark yields, benchmark security prices, credit spreads, prepayment speeds, reported trades and broker-dealer quotes, all with reasonable levels of transparency. The pricing services did not apply any adjustments to the pricing models used. In addition, the Company did not apply any adjustments to prices received from the pricing services. The Company classifies the prices obtained from the pricing services within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because the underlying inputs are directly observable from active markets or recent trades of similar securities in inactive markets. However, the pricing models used do entail a certain amount of subjectivity and therefore differing judgments in how the underlying inputs are modeled could result in different estimates of fair value.

7


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
    The Company reaffirms its understanding of the valuation techniques used by its pricing services at least annually. In addition, the Company corroborates the prices provided by its pricing services to test their reasonableness by comparing their prices to valuations from different pricing sources as well as comparing prices to the sale prices received from sold securities. Refer to Note 6 for additional fair value information.
 
    Derivative Financial Instruments
 
    The fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments, which could be presented as either assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, is estimated either by third-party valuation services that use proprietary pricing models or by internal pricing models. The pricing models do not contain a high level of subjectivity as the valuation techniques used do not require significant judgment, and inputs to those models are readily observable from actively quoted markets. The pricing models used are consistently applied and reflect the contractual terms of the derivatives, including the period of maturity, and market-based parameters such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity indices or prices, and volatility.
 
    Credit valuation adjustments are necessary when the market parameters, such as a benchmark curve, used to value derivatives are not indicative of the credit quality of the Company or its counterparties. The Company considers the counterparty credit risk by applying an observable forecasted default rate to the current exposure, which is adjusted by agreements to exchange collateral and/or net derivative assets and derivative liabilities, as applicable. Refer to Note 9 for additional fair value information.
 
    Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value
 
    The following table discloses the estimated fair value for the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are not carried at fair value, as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
    2011     2010  
    Carrying     Fair     Carrying     Fair  
(Billions)   Value     Value     Value     Value  
Financial Assets:
                               
Assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
  $ 68     $ 68  (a)   $ 61     $ 61  (b)
Loans, net
  $ 56     $ 57  (a)   $ 58     $ 58  (b)
Financial Liabilities:
                               
Liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
  $ 47     $ 47     $ 43     $ 43  
Certificates of deposit
  $ 10     $ 11     $ 13     $ 13  
Long-term debt
  $ 62     $ 64  (a)   $ 66     $ 69  (b)
 
 
(a)   Includes fair values of cardmember receivables and loans of $7.1 billion and $30.9 billion, respectively, available to settle obligations of consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) and long-term debt of $17.8 billion issued by consolidated VIEs as of September 30, 2011. Refer to the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the related carrying values.
 
(b)   Includes fair values of cardmember receivables and loans of $8.1 billion and $33.2 billion, respectively, available to settle obligations of consolidated VIEs and long-term debt of $23.6 billion issued by consolidated VIEs as of December 31, 2010. Refer to the Consolidated Balance Sheets for the related carrying values.
    The fair values of these financial instruments are estimates based upon the market conditions and perceived risks as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, and require management judgment. These figures may not be indicative of their future fair values. The fair value of the Company cannot be reliably estimated by aggregating the amounts presented.

8


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The following methods were used to determine estimated fair values:
Financial Assets for Which Carrying Values Equal or Approximate Fair Value
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include cash and cash equivalents, cardmember receivables, accrued interest and certain other assets. For these assets, the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short term in duration or variable rate in nature.
Financial Assets Carried at Other Than Fair Value
Loans, net
Loans are recorded at historical cost, less reserves, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In estimating the fair value for the Company’s loans the principal market is assumed to be the securitization market and the Company uses the hypothetical securitization price to determine the fair value of the portfolio. The securitization price is estimated from the assumed proceeds of the hypothetical securitization in the current market, adjusted for securitization uncertainties such as market conditions and liquidity.
Financial Liabilities for Which Carrying Values Equal or Approximate Fair Value
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include accrued interest, customer deposits (excluding certificates of deposit, which are described further below), Travelers Cheques outstanding, short-term borrowings and certain other liabilities for which the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short term in duration, variable rate in nature or have no defined maturity.
Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value
Certificates of Deposit
Certificates of deposit (CDs) are recorded at their historical issuance cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Fair value is estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology based on the Company’s current borrowing rates for similar types of CDs.
Long-term Debt
Long-term debt is recorded at historical issuance cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Fair value is estimated using either quoted market prices or discounted cash flows based on the Company’s current borrowing rates for similar types of borrowings.

9


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
4.   Accounts Receivable and Loans
    The Company’s charge and lending payment card products result in the generation of cardmember receivables (from charge payment products) and cardmember loans (from lending payment products) described below.
 
    Cardmember and Other Receivables
 
    Cardmember receivables, representing amounts due from charge payment product customers, are recorded at the time a cardmember enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant. Each charge card transaction is authorized based on its likely economics reflecting a cardmember’s most recent credit information and spend patterns. Global limits are established to limit the maximum exposure for the Company from high risk and some high spend charge cardmembers, and accounts of high risk, out-of-pattern charge cardmembers can be monitored even if they are current. Charge card customers generally must pay the full amount billed each month. Cardmember receivable balances are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of reserves for losses (refer to Note 5), and include principal and any related accrued fees. Accounts receivable as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 were as follows:
 
(Millions)   2011     2010
U.S. Card Services(a)
  $ 18,957     $ 19,155
International Card Services
    6,746       6,673
Global Commercial Services(b)
    13,866       11,259
Global Network & Merchant Services(c)
    190       179
 
         
Cardmember receivables, gross(d)
    39,759       37,266
Less: Cardmember receivables reserve for losses
    388       386
 
         
Cardmember receivables, net
  $ 39,371     $ 36,880
 
         
Other receivables, net(e)
  $ 3,517     $ 3,554
 
         
 
 
(a)   Includes $6.6 billion and $7.7 billion of gross cardmember receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
(b)   Includes $0.5 billion of gross cardmember receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of both September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010.
 
(c)   Includes receivables primarily related to the Company’s International Currency Card portfolios.
 
(d)   Includes approximately $12.6 billion and $11.7 billion of cardmember receivables outside the United States as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
(e)   Other receivables primarily represent amounts for tax-related receivables, amounts due from the Company’s travel customers and suppliers, purchased joint venture receivables, amounts due from third-party issuing partners, amounts due from certain merchants for billed discount revenue, accrued interest on investments and other receivables due to the Company in the ordinary course of business.
    Cardmember and Other Loans
 
    Cardmember loans, representing amounts due from lending payment product customers, are recorded at the time a cardmember enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant or when a charge card customer enters into an extended payment arrangement. The Company’s lending portfolios primarily include revolving loans to cardmembers obtained through either their credit card accounts or the lending on charge feature of their charge card accounts. These loans have a range of terms such as credit limits, interest rates, fees and payment structures, which can be adjusted over time based on new information about cardmembers and in accordance with applicable regulations and the respective product’s terms and conditions. Cardmembers holding revolving loans are typically required to make monthly payments greater than or equal to certain pre-established amounts. The amounts that cardmembers choose to revolve are subject to finance charges. When cardmembers fall behind their required payments, their accounts are monitored.

10


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
    Cardmember loans are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of reserves for losses and unamortized net card fees and include accrued interest and fees receivable. The Company’s policy generally is to cease accruing for interest receivable on a cardmember loan at the time the account is written off. The Company establishes reserves for interest that the Company believes will not be collected.
 
    Loans as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 consisted of:
 
(Millions)   2011     2010
U.S. Card Services(a)
  $ 49,886     $ 51,565
International Card Services
    8,293       9,255
Global Commercial Services
    28       30
 
         
Cardmember loans, gross(b)
    58,207       60,850
Less: Cardmember loans reserve for losses
    2,139       3,646
 
         
Cardmember loans, net
  $ 56,068     $ 57,204
 
         
Other loans, net(c)
  $ 359     $ 412
 
         
 
 
(a)   Includes approximately $31.6 billion and $34.7 billion of gross cardmember loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
(b)   Cardmember loan balance includes unamortized net card fees of $138 million and $134 million as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
 
(c)   Other loans primarily represent small business installment loans and a store card portfolio whose billed business is not processed on the Company’s network.
    Cardmember Loans and Cardmember Receivables Aging
 
    Generally, a cardmember account is considered past due if payment is not received within 30 days after the billing statement date. The following table represents the aging of cardmember loans and receivables as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
            30-59     60-89     90+      
            Days     Days     Days      
            Past     Past     Past      
2011(Millions)   Current     Due     Due     Due     Total
Cardmember Loans:
                                     
U.S. Card Services
  $ 49,146     $ 230     $ 161     $ 349     $ 49,886
International Card Services
    8,134       51       35       73       8,293
Cardmember Receivables:
                                     
U.S. Card Services
  $ 18,575     $ 147     $ 75     $ 160     $ 18,957
International Card Services(a)
    (b )     (b )     (b )     63       6,746
Global Commercial Services(a)
    (b )     (b )     (b )     98       13,866
 
                                     
2010 (Millions)
                                     
Cardmember Loans:
                                     
U.S. Card Services
  $ 50,508     $ 282     $ 226     $ 549     $ 51,565
International Card Services
    9,044       66       48       97       9,255
Cardmember Receivables:
                                     
U.S. Card Services
  $ 18,864     $ 104     $ 55     $ 132     $ 19,155
International Card Services(a)
    (b )     (b )     (b )     64       6,673
Global Commercial Services(a)
    (b )     (b )     (b )     96       11,259
 
 
(a)   For cardmember receivables in International Card Services (ICS) and Global Commercial Services (GCS), delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A cardmember account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the cardmember’s billing statement date. In addition, if the Company initiates collection procedures on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing the associated cardmember receivable balance is considered as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes.
 
(b)   Historically, data for periods prior to 90 days past billing are not available due to system constraints. Therefore, it has not been utilized for risk management purposes. The balances that are current to 89 days past due can be derived as the difference between the Total and the 90+ Days Past Due balances.

11


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Credit Quality Indicators for Loans and Receivables
The following tables present the key credit quality indicators as of or for the nine months ended September 30:
                                                 
 
    2011     2010  
    Net Write-Off Rate             Net Write-Off Rate        
                    30 Days                     30 Days  
            Principal,     Past Due             Principal,     Past Due  
    Principal     Interest, &     as a % of     Principal     Interest, &     as a % of  
    Only  (a)   Fees  (a)   Total     Only  (a)   Fees  (a)   Total  
U.S. Card Services —
                                               
Cardmember Loans
    3.2 %     3.5 %     1.5 %     6.2 %     6.8 %     2.5 %
International Card Services —
                                               
Cardmember Loans
    2.9 %     3.5 %     1.9 %     4.9 %     5.8 %     2.8 %
U.S. Card Services —
                                               
Cardmember Receivables
    1.7 %     1.8 %     2.0 %     1.7 %     1.8 %     1.7 %
 
                                               
 
                                 
    2011     2010  
    Net Loss             Net Loss        
    Ratio as     90 Days     Ratio as     90 Days  
    a % of     Past Billing     a % of     Past Billing  
    Charge     as a % of     Charge     as a % of  
    Volume     Receivables     Volume (b)   Receivables  
International Card Services — Cardmember Receivables
    0.15 %     0.9 %     0.27 %     1.0 %
Global Commercial Services — Cardmember Receivables
    0.06 %     0.7 %     0.13 %     0.8 %
 
                               
 
 
(a)   The Company presents a net write-off rate based on principal losses only (i.e., excluding interest and/or fees) to be consistent with industry convention. In addition, because the Company’s practice is to include uncollectible interest and/or fees as part of its total provision for losses, a net write-off rate including principal, interest and/or fees is also presented.
 
(b)   In the first quarter of 2010, the Company modified its reporting in the ICS and GCS segments to write-off past due cardmember receivables when 180 days past due or earlier, versus its prior methodology of writing them off when 360 days past billing or earlier. This change is consistent with bank regulatory guidance and the write-off methodology adopted for the cardmember receivables portfolio in the U.S. Card Services (USCS) segment in the fourth quarter of 2008. This change resulted in approximately $60 million and $48 million of net write-offs for ICS and GCS, respectively, being included in the first quarter of 2010, which increased the net loss ratios and decreased the 90 days past billing metrics for these segments, but did not have a substantial impact on provisions for losses.
Refer to Note 5 for other factors, including external environmental factors, that management considers as part of its evaluation process for reserves for losses.
Impaired Loans and Receivables
Impaired loans and receivables are defined by GAAP as individual larger balance or homogeneous pools of smaller balance restructured loans and receivables for which it is probable that the lender will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan and receivable agreement. The Company considers impaired loans and receivables to include: (i) loans over 90 days past due still accruing interest, (ii) non-accrual loans, and (iii) loans and receivables modified as troubled debt restructurings (TDRs).
The Company may modify, through various company sponsored programs, cardmember loans and receivables in instances where the cardmember is experiencing financial difficulty to minimize losses to the Company while providing cardmembers with temporary or permanent financial relief. The Company has classified cardmember loans and receivables in these modification programs as TDRs. Such modifications to the loans and receivables may include (i) reducing the interest rate (as low as zero percent, in which case the loan is characterized as non-accrual in our TDR disclosures), (ii) reducing the outstanding balance (in the event of a settlement), (iii) suspending delinquency fees until the cardmember exits the TDR program, and (iv) placing the cardmember on a fixed payment plan not exceeding 60 months. Upon entering the modification program, the cardmember’s ability to make future purchases is either cancelled, or in certain

12


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
cases suspended until the cardmember successfully exits the TDR program. In accordance with the modification agreement with the cardmember, loans with modified terms will revert back to their original contractual terms (including their contractual interest rate) when they exit the TDR program, either (i) when all payments have been made in accordance with the modification agreement or (ii) in the event that a payment is not made in accordance with the modification agreement and the cardmember defaults out of the program. In either case, in accordance with its normal policy, the Company establishes a reserve for cardmember interest charges that it believes will not be collected.
The performance of a TDR is closely monitored to understand its impact on the Company’s reserve for losses. Though the ultimate success of these modification programs remains uncertain, the Company believes the programs improve the cumulative loss performance of such loans and receivables. Reserves for cardmember loans and receivables modified as TDRs are determined by the difference between the cash flows expected to be received from the cardmember, taking into consideration the probability of subsequent defaults, discounted at the original effective interest rates, and the carrying value of the cardmember loan or receivable balance. The Company determines the original effective interest rate as the interest rate in effect prior to the imposition of any penalty rate. All changes in the impairment measurement, including the component due to the passage of time, are included in the provision for losses within the Consolidated Statements of Income.
The following tables provide additional information with respect to the Company’s impaired cardmember loans and receivables as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
                                                 
 
    Loans over                                  
    90 Days             Loans &     Total              
    Past Due     Non-     Receivables     Impaired     Unpaid        
    & Accruing     Accrual     Modified     Loans &     Principal     Allowance  
(Millions)   Interest  (a)   Loans  (b)   as a TDR  (c)(d)   Receivables     Balance  (e)   for TDRs  (f)
2011
                                               
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Loans
  $ 65     $ 420     $ 869     $ 1,354     $ 1,303     $ 199  
International Card Services — Cardmember Loans
    71       6       9       86       84       4  
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Receivables
                159       159       158       94  
 
                                   
Total (g)
  $ 136     $ 426     $ 1,037     $ 1,599     $ 1,545     $ 297  
 
                                   
 
                                               
 
                                                 
 
    Loans over                                  
    90 Days             Loans &     Total              
    Past Due     Non-     Receivables     Impaired     Unpaid        
    & Accruing     Accrual     Modified     Loans &     Principal     Allowance  
(Millions)   Interest  (a)   Loans  (b)   as a TDR  (c)   Receivables     Balance  (e)   for TDRs  (f)
2010
                                               
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Loans
  $ 90     $ 628     $ 1,076     $ 1,794     $ 1,704     $ 274  
International Card Services — Cardmember Loans
    95       8       11       114       112       5  
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Receivables
                114       114       109       63  
 
                                   
Total (g)
  $ 185     $ 636     $ 1,201     $ 2,022     $ 1,925     $ 342  
 
                                   
 
                                               
 
 
(a)   The Company’s policy is generally to accrue interest through the date of charge-off (at 180 days past due). The Company establishes reserves for interest that the Company believes will not be collected.
 
(b)   Non-accrual loans not in modification programs include certain cardmember loans placed with outside collection agencies for which the Company has ceased accruing interest. The Company’s policy is not to resume the accrual of interest on these loans. Payments received are applied against the recorded loan balance. Interest income is recognized on a cash basis for any payments received after the loan balance has been paid in full.
 
(c)   The total loans and receivables modified as a TDR include $517 million and $655 million that are non-accrual and $5 million and $7 million that are past due 90 days and still accruing interest as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. These amounts are excluded from the previous two columns.
 
(d)   The Company reassessed all cardmember loans and receivables modifications that occurred on or after January 1, 2011, to determine whether any such modifications met the definition of a TDR under new GAAP effective July 1, 2011. As a result, beginning the third quarter of 2011 the Company now includes its short-term settlement programs in TDRs. The Company’s settlement programs have terms of three months or less and are contingent upon the cardmember fulfilling the program’s payment terms, which if satisfied results in the write-off of the cardmember’s remaining outstanding balance. The cardmember loans and receivables modified through these settlement programs continue to be evaluated individually for impairment when measuring reserves for losses. As of September 30, 2011, the outstanding balance of cardmember loans and receivables modified through settlement programs was $5.8 million and the associated reserves for losses was $3.7 million.

13


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)


(e)  
Unpaid principal balance consists of cardmember charges billed and excludes other amounts charged directly by the Company such as interest and fees.
 
(f)  
Represents the reserve for losses for TDRs, which are evaluated separately for impairment. The Company records a reserve for losses for all impaired loans. Refer to Cardmember Loans Evaluated Separately and Collectively for Impairment in Note 5 for further discussion of the reserve for losses on loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest and non-accrual loans, which are evaluated collectively for impairment.
 
(g)  
These disclosures are not significant for cardmember receivables in ICS and GCS.
The following table provides information with respect to the Company’s interest income recognized and average balances of impaired cardmember loans and receivables:
                               
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
    September 30, 2011     September 30, 2011
    Interest             Interest      
    Income     Average     Income     Average
(Millions)   Recognized     Balance     Recognized     Balance
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Loans
  $ 16     $ 1,390     $ 51     $ 1,541
International Card Services — Cardmember Loans
    5       92       22       102
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Receivables
          149             138
 
                     
Total (a)
  $ 21     $ 1,631     $ 73     $ 1,781
 
                     
 
                             
 
                               
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
    September 30, 2010     September 30, 2010
    Interest             Interest      
    Income     Average     Income     Average
(Millions)   Recognized     Balance     Recognized     Balance
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Loans
  $ 23     $ 2,090     $ 78     $ 2,370
International Card Services — Cardmember Loans
    7       134       32       149
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Receivables
          109             109
 
                     
Total (a)
  $ 30     $ 2,333     $ 110     $ 2,628
 
                     
 
                             
 
(a)   These disclosures are not significant for cardmember receivables in ICS and GCS.
Cardmember Loans and Receivables Modified as TDRs
The following table provides additional information with respect to the cardmember loans and receivables modified as TDRs during the following periods:
                                                 
 
            Three Months Ended             Nine Months Ended  
            September 30, 2011             September 30, 2011  
            Aggregated     Aggregated             Aggregated     Aggregated  
            Pre-     Post-             Pre-     Post-  
            Modification     Modification             Modification     Modification  
    Number of     Outstanding     Outstanding     Number of     Outstanding     Outstanding  
(Accounts in thousands, Dollars in millions)   Accounts     Balances  (a)(b)   Balances  (a)(b)   Accounts     Balances  (a)(b)   Balances  (a)(b)
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings:
                                               
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Loans
    35     $ 269     $ 259       116     $ 875     $ 839  
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Receivables
    14       108       105       36       292       281  
 
                                   
Total (c)
    49     $ 377     $ 364       152     $ 1,167     $ 1,120  
 
                                   
 
                                               
 
(a)  
The outstanding balance includes principal and accrued interest.
 
(b)  
The difference between the pre- and post-modification outstanding balances is solely attributable to amounts charged off for cardmember loans and receivables being resolved through the Company’s short-term settlement programs.
 
(c)  
These disclosures are not significant for cardmember loans modifications in ICS.
As described previously, the Company’s cardmember loans and receivables modification programs may include (i) reducing the interest rate, (ii) reducing the outstanding balance, (iii) suspending delinquency fees and (iv) placing the cardmember on a fixed payment plan not exceeding 60 months. Upon entering the modification program, the cardmember’s ability to make future purchases is either cancelled, or in certain cases suspended until the cardmember successfully exits the TDR program.

14


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The Company has evaluated the primary financial effects of the impact of the changes to an account upon modification as follows:
 
Interest Rate Reduction: For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the average interest rate reduction was 12% for USCS cardmember loans, resulting in an estimated reduction in interest income of approximately $2 million and $17 million, respectively. The Company does not offer interest rate reduction programs for USCS cardmember receivables as these receivables are non-interest bearing.
 
 
Outstanding Balance Reduction: The table above presents the financial effects on the Company as a result of reducing the outstanding balance for Short-Term Settlement Programs. The difference between the pre- and post-modification outstanding balances represents the amount that either has been written-off or will be written-off upon successful completion of the settlement program.
 
 
Payment Term Extension: For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the average payment term extension was approximately 15 months for USCS cardmember receivables. For USCS cardmember loans, there have been no extension of payment terms.
The following table provides information with respect to the cardmember loans and receivables modified as TDRs on which there was a default within 12 months of modification during the periods presented. A cardmember will default from a modification program after between one and up to three consecutive missed payments, depending on the terms of the modification program.
                                 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2011     September 30, 2011  
            Aggregated             Aggregated  
            Outstanding             Outstanding  
    Number of     Balances     Number of     Balances  
(Accounts in thousands, Dollars in millions)   Accounts     Upon Default  (a)   Accounts     Upon Default  (a)
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings That Subsequently Defaulted:
                               
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Loans
    9     $ 65       36     $ 271  
U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Receivables
    1       7       5       32  
 
                       
Total (b)
    10     $ 72       41     $ 303  
 
                       
 
                               
 
 
(a)  
The outstanding balance includes principal and accrued interest.
 
(b)  
During the periods presented, the ICS cardmember loan modifications on which there was a default from the modification program within 12 months of modification were not significant.

15


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
5. Reserves for Losses
Reserves for losses relating to cardmember loans and receivables represent management’s best estimate of the losses inherent in the Company’s outstanding portfolio of loans and receivables. Management’s evaluation process requires certain estimates and judgments.
Reserves for these losses are primarily based upon models that analyze portfolio performance and reflect management’s judgment regarding overall reserve adequacy. The analytic models take into account several factors, including average losses and recoveries over an appropriate historical period. Management considers whether to adjust the analytic models for specific factors such as increased risk in certain portfolios, impact of risk management initiatives on portfolio performance and concentration of credit risk based on factors such as tenure, industry or geographic regions. In addition, management adjusts the reserves for losses on cardmember loans for other external environmental factors including leading economic and market indicators such as the unemployment rate, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), home price indices, non-farm payrolls, personal consumption expenditures index, consumer confidence index, purchasing managers index, bankruptcy filings and the legal and regulatory environment. Generally, due to the short-term nature of cardmember receivables, the impact of additional external factors on the inherent losses within the cardmember receivable portfolio is not significant. As part of this evaluation process, management also considers various reserve coverage metrics, such as reserves as a percentage of past due amounts, reserves as a percentage of cardmember receivables or loans and net write-off coverage.
Cardmember loans and receivables balances are written off when management deems amounts to be uncollectible and is generally determined by the number of days past due, which is generally no later than 180 days past due. Cardmember loans and receivables in bankruptcy or owed by deceased individuals are written off upon notification. Recoveries are recognized on a cash basis.
Changes in Cardmember Receivables Reserve for Losses
The following table presents changes in the cardmember receivables reserve for losses for the nine months ended September 30:
                 
 
(Millions)   2011     2010  
 
Balance, January 1
  $ 386     $ 546  
Additions:
               
Cardmember receivables provisions(a)
    404       292  
Cardmember receivables provisions — other(b)
    129       120  
 
           
Total provision
    533       412  
 
           
Deductions:
               
Cardmember receivables net write-offs(c)
    (406 )     (481 )
Cardmember receivables — other(d)
    (125 )     (113 )
 
           
Balance, September 30
  $ 388     $ 364  
 
           
 
               
 
(a)   Represents loss provisions for cardmember receivables consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee reserve components.
 
(b)   Primarily represents loss provisions for cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions.
 
(c)   Represents write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries of $255 million and $275 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
(d)   These amounts include net write-offs of cardmember receivables resulting from unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments.

16


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Cardmember Receivables Evaluated Separately and Collectively for Impairment
The following table presents cardmember receivables evaluated separately and collectively for impairment and related reserves as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
               
 
(Millions)   2011     2010
 
Cardmember receivables evaluated separately for impairment(a)
  $ 159     $ 114
Reserves on cardmember receivables evaluated separately for impairment(a)
  $ 94     $ 63
 
         
Cardmember receivables evaluated collectively for impairment
  $ 39,600     $ 37,152
Reserves on cardmember receivables evaluated collectively for impairment
  $ 294     $ 323
 
         
 
             
 
(a)  
Represents receivables modified in a TDR and related reserves. Refer to the Impaired Loans and Receivables discussion in Note 4 for further information.
Changes in Cardmember Loans Reserve for Losses
The following table presents changes in the cardmember loans reserve for losses for the nine months ended September 30:
                 
 
(Millions)   2011     2010  
 
Balance, January 1
  $ 3,646     $ 3,268  
Reserves established for consolidation of a variable interest entity(a)
          2,531  
 
           
Total adjusted balance, January 1
    3,646       5,799  
 
           
Additions:
               
Cardmember loans provisions(b)
    23       1,429  
Cardmember loans provisions — other(c)
    81       61  
 
           
Total provision
    104       1,490  
 
           
Deductions:
               
Cardmember loans net write-offs — principal(d)
    (1,375 )     (2,630 )
Cardmember loans net write-offs — interest and fees(d)
    (159 )     (287 )
Cardmember loans — other(e)
    (77 )     (54 )
 
           
Balance, September 30
  $ 2,139     $ 4,318  
 
           
 
               
 

(a)  
Represents the establishment of cardmember reserves for losses for cardmember loans issued by the American Express Credit Account Master Trust (the Lending Trust) for the securitized loan portfolio that was consolidated under accounting guidance for consolidation of VIEs effective January 1, 2010. The establishment of the $2.5 billion reserve for losses for the securitized loan portfolio was determined by applying the same methodology as is used for the Company’s unsecuritized loan portfolio. There was no incremental reserve required nor were any charge-offs recorded in conjunction with the consolidation of the Lending Trust.
 
(b)  
Represents loss provisions for cardmember loans consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), interest and fee reserves components.
 
(c)  
Primarily represents loss provisions for cardmember loans resulting from unauthorized transactions.
 
(d)  
Cardmember loans net write-offs — principal for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 include recoveries of $444 million and $422 million, respectively. Recoveries of interest and fees were de minimis.
 
(e)  
These amounts include net write-offs related to unauthorized transactions and foreign currency translation adjustments.

17


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
   
Cardmember Loans Evaluated Separately and Collectively for Impairment
 
   
The following table presents cardmember loans evaluated separately and collectively for impairment and the related reserves as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
               
 
(Millions)   2011     2010
Cardmember loans evaluated separately for impairment(a)
  $ 878     $ 1,087
Reserves on cardmember loans evaluated separately for impairment(a)
  $ 203     $ 279
 
         
Cardmember loans evaluated collectively for impairment(b)
  $ 57,329     $ 59,763
Reserves on cardmember loans evaluated collectively for impairment(b)
  $ 1,936     $ 3,367
 
         
 
 

(a)
 
Represents loans modified in a TDR and related reserves. Refer to the Impaired Loans and Receivables discussion in Note 4 for further information.
 
(b)
 
Represents current loans and loans less than 90 days past due, loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest, and non-accrual loans and related reserves. The reserves include the results of analytical models that are specific to individual pools of loans and reserves for external environmental factors that apply broadly to all loans collectively evaluated for impairment and are not specific to any individual pool of loans.
6.  
Investment Securities
 
   
Investment securities include debt and equity securities and are classified as available for sale. The Company’s investment securities, principally debt securities, are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with unrealized gains (losses) recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI), net of income tax provisions (benefits). Realized gains and losses are recognized in results of operations upon disposition of the securities using the specific identification method on a trade date basis. Refer to Note 3 for a description of the Company’s methodology for determining the fair value of its investment securities.
 
   
The following is a summary of investment securities as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
   
 
                                                               
  2011     2010
          Gross     Gross     Estimated             Gross     Gross     Estimated
          Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair             Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair
(Millions)   Cost     Gains     Losses     Value     Cost     Gains     Losses     Value
State and municipal obligations
  $ 5,205     $ 82     $ (102 )   $ 5,185     $ 6,140     $ 24     $ (367 )   $ 5,797
U.S. Government agency obligations
    352       3             355       3,402       12       (1 )     3,413
U.S. Government treasury obligations
    1,932       11             1,943       2,450       6             2,456
Corporate debt securities(a)
    1,006       11       (3 )     1,014       1,431       15       (1 )     1,445
Mortgage-backed securities(b)
    272       16             288       272       6       (2 )     276
Equity securities(c)
    98       215             313       98       377             475
Foreign government bonds and obligations
    107       6             113       95       4             99
Other(d)
    57       1             58       49                   49
 
                                             
Total
  $ 9,029     $ 345     $ (105 )   $ 9,269     $ 13,937     $ 444     $ (371 )   $ 14,010
 
                                             
 
 

(a)
 
The September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 balances include, on a cost basis, $0.9 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively, of corporate debt obligations issued under the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP) that are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
 
(b)
 
Represents mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae.
 
(c)
 
Represents the Company’s investment in the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Effective August 1, 2011, the Company has hedged its exposure to changes in fair value on its investment in ICBC, and as a result from August 1, 2011, unrealized gains (losses) are recorded in other revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Income. Refer to Note 9 for further information.
 
(d)
 
Other is comprised of investments in various mutual funds.

18


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Other-Than-Temporary Impairment
Realized losses are recognized upon management’s determination that a decline in fair value is other than temporary. The determination of other-than-temporary impairment is a subjective process, requiring the use of judgments and assumptions regarding the amount and timing of recovery. The Company reviews and evaluates its investments at least quarterly and more often, as market conditions may require, to identify investments that have indications of other-than-temporary impairments. It is reasonably possible that a change in estimate could occur in the near term relating to other-than-temporary impairment. Accordingly, the Company considers several factors when evaluating debt securities for other-than-temporary impairment including the determination of the extent to which the decline in fair value of the security is due to increased default risk for the specific issuer or market interest rate risk. With respect to increased default risk, the Company assesses the collectibility of principal and interest payments by monitoring issuers’ credit ratings, related changes to those ratings, specific credit events associated with the individual issuers as well as the credit ratings of a financial guarantor, where applicable, and the extent to which amortized cost exceeds fair value and the duration and size of that difference. With respect to market interest rate risk, including benchmark interest rates and credit spreads, the Company assesses whether it has the intent to sell the securities and whether it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the securities before recovery of any unrealized losses.
The following table provides information about the Company’s investment securities with gross unrealized losses and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
                                                                 
    2011     2010  
(Millions)   Less than 12 months     12 months or more     Less than 12 months     12 months or more  
            Gross             Gross             Gross             Gross  
    Estimated     Unrealized     Estimated     Unrealized     Estimated     Unrealized     Estimated     Unrealized  
Description of Securities   Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses  
State and municipal obligations
  $ 370     $ (10 )   $ 1,112     $ (92 )   $ 2,535     $ (156 )   $ 1,076     $ (211 )
U.S. Government agency obligations
                            299       (1 )            
Corporate debt securities
    95       (2 )     2       (1 )                 3       (1 )
Mortgage-backed securities
                            71       (2 )            
 
                                                             
 
                                               
Total
  $ 465     $ (12 )   $ 1,114     $ (93 )   $ 2,905     $ (159 )   $ 1,079     $ (212 )
 
                                               
 
The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses due to temporary impairments by ratio of fair value to amortized cost as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
                                                                         
(Dollars in millions)   Less than 12 months     12 months or more     Total  
                    Gross                     Gross                     Gross  
Ratio of Fair Value to   Number of     Estimated     Unrealized     Number of     Estimated     Unrealized     Number of     Estimated     Unrealized  
Amortized Cost   Securities     Fair Value     Losses     Securities     Fair Value     Losses     Securities     Fair Value     Losses  
2011:
                                                                       
90%—100%
    79     $ 430     $ (8 )     105     $ 812     $ (39 )     184     $ 1,242     $ (47 )
Less than 90%
    2       35       (4 )     32       302       (54 )     34       337       (58 )
 
                                                     
Total as of September 30, 2011
    81     $ 465     $ (12 )     137     $ 1,114     $ (93 )     218     $ 1,579     $ (105 )
 
                                                     
2010:
                                                                       
90%—100%
    457     $ 2,554     $ (113 )     31     $ 79     $ (7 )     488     $ 2,633     $ (120 )
Less than 90%
    48       351       (46 )     115       1,000       (205 )     163       1,351       (251 )
 
                                                     
 
                                                                     
Total as of December 31, 2010
    505     $ 2,905     $ (159 )     146     $ 1,079     $ (212 )     651     $ 3,984     $ (371 )
 
                                                     
 
The gross unrealized losses on state and municipal securities and all other debt securities can be attributed to higher credit spreads generally for state and municipal securities, higher credit spreads for specific issuers, changes in market benchmark interest rates, or a combination thereof, all as compared to those prevailing when the investment securities were acquired.

19


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
   
In assessing default risk on these investment securities, the Company has qualitatively considered the key factors identified above and determined that it expects to collect all of the contractual cash flows due on the investment securities.
 
   
Overall, for the investment securities in gross unrealized loss positions identified above, (a) the Company does not intend to sell the investment securities, (b) it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the investment securities before recovery of the unrealized losses, and (c) the Company expects that the contractual principal and interest will be received on the investment securities. As a result, the Company recognized no other-than-temporary impairments during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 or the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
   
Supplemental Information
 
   
Gross realized gains on sales of investment securities, included in other non-interest revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, were nil and $1 million, respectively (there were no gross realized gains for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011). Gross realized losses on sales of investment securities, included in other non-interest revenues for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, were nil and $6 million (there were no gross realized losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011).
 
   
Contractual maturities of investment securities, excluding equity securities and other securities, as of September 30, 2011 were as follows:
 
               
 
            Estimated
(Millions)   Cost     Fair Value
Due within 1 year
  $ 2,641     $ 2,649
Due after 1 year but within 5 years
    728       741
Due after 5 years but within 10 years
    242       253
Due after 10 years
    5,263       5,255
 
         
Total
  $ 8,874     $ 8,898
 
         
 
       
   
The expected payments on state and municipal obligations and mortgage-backed securities may not coincide with their contractual maturities because the issuers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations.
7.  
Asset Securitizations
   
Charge Trust and Lending Trust
 
   
The Company periodically securitizes cardmember receivables and loans arising from its card business through the transfer of those assets to securitization trusts. The trusts then issue securities to third-party investors, collateralized by the transferred assets.
 
   
Cardmember receivables are transferred to the Charge Trust and cardmember loans are transferred to the Lending Trust. The Charge Trust and the Lending Trust are consolidated by American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (TRS), which is a consolidated subsidiary of the Company. The trusts are considered VIEs as they have insufficient equity at risk to finance their activities, which are to issue securities that are collateralized by the underlying cardmember receivables and loans.

20


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
   
TRS, in its role as servicer of the Charge Trust and the Lending Trust, has the power to direct the most significant activity of the trusts, which is the collection of the underlying cardmember receivables and loans in the trusts. In addition, TRS owns approximately $1.0 billion of subordinated securities issued by the Lending Trust as of September 30, 2011. These subordinated securities have the obligation to absorb losses of the Lending Trust and provide the right to receive benefits from the Lending Trust, both of which are significant to the VIE. TRS’ role as servicer for the Charge Trust does not provide it with a significant obligation to absorb losses or a significant right to receive benefits. However, TRS’ position as the parent company of the entities that transferred the receivables to the Charge Trust makes it the party most closely related to the Charge Trust. Based on these considerations, TRS was determined to be the primary beneficiary of both the Charge Trust and the Lending Trust.
 
   
The debt securities issued by the Charge Trust and the Lending Trust are non-recourse to the Company. Securitized cardmember receivables and loans held by the Charge Trust and the Lending Trust are available only for payment of the debt securities or other obligations issued or arising in the securitization transactions. The long-term debt of each trust is payable only out of collections on their respective underlying securitized assets.
 
   
There was approximately $10 million and $9 million of restricted cash held by the Charge Trust as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, and approximately $113 million and $3.7 billion of restricted cash held by the Lending Trust as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, included in other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts relate to collections of cardmember receivables and loans to be used by the trusts to fund future expenses, and obligations, including interest paid on investor certificates, credit losses and upcoming debt maturities.
 
   
Charge Trust and Lending Trust Triggering Events
 
   
Under the respective terms of the Charge Trust and the Lending Trust agreements, the occurrence of certain events could result in establishment of reserve funds, or in a worst-case scenario, early amortization of investor certificates. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the year ended December 31, 2010, no triggering events have occurred resulting in funding of reserve accounts or early amortization.
8.  
Customer Deposits
   
As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, customer deposits were categorized as interest-bearing or non-interest-bearing deposits as follows:
               
 
(Millions)   2011     2010
U.S.:
             
Interest-bearing
  $ 32,510     $ 29,053
Non-interest-bearing
    4       17
Non-U.S.:
             
Interest-bearing
    621       640
Non-interest-bearing
    7       17
 
         
Total customer deposits
  $ 33,142     $ 29,727
 
         
 
       

21


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
   
Customer deposits were aggregated by deposit type offered by the Company as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 as follows:
 
   
 
               
(Millions)   2011     2010
U.S. retail deposits:
             
Savings accounts — Direct
  $ 13,186     $ 7,725
Certificates of deposit
             
Direct
    901       1,052
Third party
    9,179       11,411
Sweep accounts — Third party
    9,244       8,865
Other deposits
    632       674
 
         
Total customer deposits
  $ 33,142     $ 29,727
 
         
 
       
   
The scheduled maturities of all certificates of deposit as of September 30, 2011 were as follows:
 
   
 
                       
(Millions)   U.S.     Non-U.S.     Total
2011
  $ 1,376     $ 309     $ 1,685
2012
    3,232       90       3,322
2013
    3,227       1       3,228
2014
    1,665             1,665
2015
    121             121
After 5 years
    459             459
 
               
Total
  $ 10,080     $ 400     $ 10,480
 
               
 
         
   
As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, certificates of deposit in denominations of $100,000 or more were as follows:
 
   
 
               
(Millions)   2011     2010
U.S.
  $ 583     $ 689
Non-U.S.
    316       291
 
         
Total
  $ 899     $ 980
 
         
 
       
9.  
Derivatives and Hedging Activities
 
   
The Company uses derivative financial instruments (derivatives) to manage exposure to various market risks. Market risk is the risk to earnings or value resulting from movements in market prices. The Company’s market risk exposure is primarily generated by:
   
Interest rate risk in its card, insurance and Travelers Cheque businesses, as well as its investment portfolios; and
 
   
Foreign exchange risk in its operations outside the United States.
   
General principles and the overall framework for managing market risk across the Company are defined in the Market Risk Policy, which is the responsibility of the Asset-Liability Committee (ALCO). Market risk limits and escalation triggers in that policy are approved by the ALCO and by the Enterprise-wide Risk Management Committee (ERMC). Market risk is centrally monitored for compliance with policy and limits by the Market Risk Committee, which reports into the ALCO and is chaired by the Chief Market Risk Officer. Market risk management is also guided by policies covering the use of derivatives, funding and liquidity and investments. Derivatives derive their value from an underlying variable or multiple variables, including interest rate, foreign exchange, and equity indices or prices. These instruments enable end users to increase, reduce or alter exposure to various market risks and, for that reason, are an integral component of the Company’s market risk management. The Company does not engage in derivatives for trading purposes.

22


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
   
The Company’s market exposures are in large part byproducts of the delivery of its products and services. Interest rate risk arises through the funding of cardmember receivables and fixed-rate loans with variable-rate borrowings as well as through the risk to net interest margin from changes in the relationship between benchmark rates such as Prime and LIBOR.
 
   
Interest rate exposure within the Company’s charge card and fixed-rate lending products is managed by varying the proportion of total funding provided by short-term and variable-rate debt and deposits compared to fixed-rate debt and deposits. In addition, interest rate swaps are used from time to time to synthetically convert fixed-rate debt obligations to variable-rate obligations or to convert variable-rate debt obligations to fixed rate obligations. The Company may change the mix between variable-rate and fixed-rate funding based on changes in business volumes and mix, among other factors.
 
   
Foreign exchange risk is generated by cardmember cross-currency charges, foreign currency balance sheet exposures, foreign subsidiary equity, and foreign currency earnings in units outside the United States. The Company’s foreign exchange risk is managed primarily by entering into agreements to buy and sell currencies on a spot basis or by hedging this market exposure to the extent it is economically justified through various means, including the use of derivatives such as foreign exchange forward and cross-currency swap contracts, which can help “lock in” the value of the Company’s exposure to specific currencies.
 
   
In addition to the exposures identified above, effective August 1, 2011, the Company entered into a total return contract (TRC) to hedge its exposure to changes in the fair value of its equity investment in ICBC. Under the terms of the TRC, the Company receives from the TRC counterparty an amount equivalent to any reduction in the fair value of its investment in ICBC, and in return the Company pays to the TRC counterparty an amount equivalent to any increase in the fair value of its investment, along with all dividends paid by ICBC, as well as on-going hedge costs.
 
   
Derivatives may give rise to counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that a derivative counterparty will default on, or otherwise be unable to perform pursuant to, an uncollateralized derivative exposure. The Company manages this risk by considering the current exposure, which is the replacement cost of contracts on the measurement date, as well as estimating the maximum potential value of the contracts over the next 12 months, considering such factors as the volatility of the underlying or reference index. To mitigate derivative credit risk, counterparties are required to be pre-approved and rated as investment grade. Counterparty risk exposures are monitored by the Company’s Institutional Risk Management Committee (IRMC). The IRMC formally reviews large institutional exposures to ensure compliance with the Company’s ERMC guidelines and procedures and determines the risk mitigation actions, when necessary. Additionally, in order to mitigate the bilateral counterparty credit risk associated with derivatives, the Company has in certain instances entered into master netting agreements with its derivative counterparties, which provide a right of offset for certain exposures between the parties. To further mitigate bilateral counterparty credit risk, during the third quarter of 2011 the Company exercised its rights under executed credit support agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties. These agreements require that, in the event the fair value change in the net derivatives position between the two parties exceeds certain dollar thresholds, the party in the net liability position post collateral to its counterparty.
 
   
In relation to the Company’s credit risk, under the terms of the derivative agreements it has with its various counterparties, the Company is not required to either immediately settle any outstanding liability balances or post collateral upon the occurrence of a specified credit risk-related event. As of September 30, 2011, and December 31, 2010, the counterparty credit risk associated with the Company’s derivatives was not significant.
 
   
The Company’s derivatives are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for changes in fair value depends on the instruments’ intended use and the resulting hedge designation, if any, as discussed below. Refer to Note 3 for a description of the Company’s methodology for determining the fair value of its derivatives.

23


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
   
The following table summarizes the total fair value, excluding interest accruals, of derivative assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
                                 
 
    Other Assets     Other Liabilities  
    Fair Value     Fair Value  
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
                               
Interest rate contracts
                               
Fair value hedges
  $ 1,075     $ 909     $ 2     $ 38  
Cash flow hedges
          2       1       13  
Total return contract
                               
Fair value hedge
    110                    
Foreign exchange contracts
                               
Net investment hedges
    468       66       23       272  
 
                       
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments
  $ 1,653     $ 977     $ 26     $ 323  
 
                       
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
                               
Interest rate contracts
  $ 1     $ 3     $ 3     $ 3  
Foreign exchange contracts, including certain embedded derivatives(a)
    136       109       189       91  
Equity-linked embedded derivative(b)
                3       2  
 
                       
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
    137       112       195       96  
 
                       
Total derivatives, gross
  $ 1,790     $ 1,089     $ 221     $ 419  
 
                       
Cash collateral netting(c)
    (713 )                  
Derivative asset and derivative liability netting(c)
    (13 )     (18 )     (13 )     (18 )
 
                       
Total derivatives, net
  $ 1,064     $ 1,071     $ 208     $ 401  
 
                       
 
 
(a)
 
Includes foreign currency derivatives embedded in certain operating agreements.
 
(b)
 
Represents an equity-linked derivative embedded in one of the Company’s investment securities.
 
(c)
 
As permitted under GAAP, balances represent the netting of cash collateral received and posted under credit support agreements, and the netting of derivative assets and derivative liabilities under master netting agreements.
   
Derivative Financial Instruments that Qualify for Hedge Accounting
 
   
Derivatives executed for hedge accounting purposes are documented and designated as such when the Company enters into the contracts. In accordance with its risk management policies, the Company structures its hedges with very similar terms to the hedged items. The Company formally assesses, at inception of the hedge accounting relationship and on a quarterly basis, whether derivatives designated as hedges are highly effective in offsetting the fair value or cash flows of the hedged items. These assessments usually are made through the application of a regression analysis method. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, the Company will discontinue the application of hedge accounting.
 
   
Fair Value Hedges
 
   
A fair value hedge involves a derivative designated to hedge the Company’s exposure to future changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability, or an identified portion thereof that is attributable to a particular risk.
 
   
Interest Rate Contracts
   
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk associated with its fixed-rate long-term debt. The Company uses interest rate swaps to synthetically convert certain fixed-rate long-term debt obligations to floating-rate obligations at the time of issuance. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company hedged $17.9 billion and $15.9 billion, respectively, of its fixed-rate debt to floating-rate debt using interest rate swaps.

24


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
To the extent the fair value hedge is effective, the gain or loss on the hedging instrument offsets the loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. Any difference between the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item is referred to as hedge ineffectiveness and is reflected in earnings as a component of other, net expenses. Hedge ineffectiveness may be caused by differences between the debt’s interest coupon and the benchmark rate, which are primarily due to credit spreads at inception of the hedging relationship that are not reflected in the valuation of the interest rate swap. Furthermore, hedge ineffectiveness may be caused by changes in the relationship between 3-month LIBOR and 1-month LIBOR rates, as these so-called basis spreads may impact the valuation of the interest rate swap without causing an offsetting impact in the value of the hedged debt. If a fair value hedge is de-designated or no longer considered to be effective, changes in fair value of the derivative continue to be recorded through earnings but the hedged asset or liability is no longer adjusted for changes in fair value due to changes in interest rates. The existing basis adjustment of the hedged asset or liability is then amortized or accreted as an adjustment to yield over the remaining life of that asset or liability.
Total Return Contract
The Company is exposed to changes in the fair value of its equity investment in ICBC due to changes in the price of the underlying shares. The Company uses a TRC to transfer this exposure to its derivative counterparty. Effective August 1, 2011, the Company hedged the full amount of its investment in ICBC of approximately 638.1 million shares. As of December 31, 2010, the Company’s investment in ICBC was not in a designated hedging relationship. To the extent the hedge is effective, the gain or loss on the TRC offsets the loss or gain on the investment in ICBC. Any difference between the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item results in hedge ineffectiveness and is recognized in other, net expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
The following table summarizes the impact on the Consolidated Statements of Income associated with the Company’s hedges of its fixed-rate long-term debt and its investment in ICBC:
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30:
 
                                                                 
(Millions)   Gains (losses) recognized in income  
    Derivative contract     Hedged item     Net hedge  
          Amount           Amount     ineffectiveness(a)  
Derivative relationship   Location     2011     2010     Location     2011     2010     2011     2010  
Interest rate contracts
  Other, net expenses   $ 219     $ 189     Other, net expenses   $ (191 )   $ (195 )   $ 28     $ (6 )
Total return contract
  Other revenues     166           Other revenues     (178 )           (12 )      
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30:
 
                                                                 
(Millions)   Gains (losses) recognized in income  
    Derivative contract     Hedged item     Net hedge  
          Amount           Amount     ineffectiveness(a)  
Derivative relationship   Location     2011     2010     Location     2011     2010     2011     2010  
Interest rate contracts
  Other, net expenses   $ 202     $ 602     Other, net expenses   $ (189 )   $ (562 )   $ 13     $ 40  
Total return contract
  Other revenues     166           Other revenues     (178 )           (12 )      
 
 
(a)
 
Net hedge ineffectiveness on the TRC is reclassified from other revenues to other, net expenses.
   
The Company also recognized a net reduction in interest expense on long-term debt and other of $127 million and $129 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, primarily related to the net settlements (interest accruals) on the Company’s interest rate derivatives designated as fair value hedges. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the impact on interest expense was a net reduction in interest expense on long-term debt and other of $377 million and $391 million, respectively.

25


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
   
Cash Flow Hedges
 
   
A cash flow hedge involves a derivative designated to hedge the Company’s exposure to variable future cash flows attributable to a particular risk. Such exposures may relate to either an existing recognized asset or liability or a forecasted transaction. The Company hedges existing long-term variable-rate debt, the rollover of short-term borrowings and the anticipated forecasted issuance of additional funding through the use of derivatives, primarily interest rate swaps. These derivative instruments synthetically convert floating-rate debt obligations to fixed-rate obligations for the duration of the instrument. As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company hedged $298 million and $1.3 billion of its floating-rate debt using interest rate swaps, respectively.
 
   
For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivatives is recorded in AOCI and reclassified into earnings when the hedged cash flows are recognized in earnings. The amount that is reclassified into earnings is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the same line item in which the hedged instrument or transaction is recognized, primarily in interest expense. Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivatives is reported as a component of other, net expenses. If a cash flow hedge is de-designated or terminated prior to maturity, the amount previously recorded in AOCI is recognized into earnings over the period that the hedged item impacts earnings. If a hedge relationship is discontinued because it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur according to the original strategy, any related amounts previously recorded in AOCI are recognized into earnings immediately.
 
   
In the normal course of business, as the hedged cash flows are recognized into earnings, the Company expects to reclassify $1 million of net pretax losses on derivatives from AOCI into earnings during the next 12 months.
 
   
Net Investment Hedges
 
   
A net investment hedge is used to hedge future changes in currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation. The Company primarily designates foreign currency derivatives, typically foreign exchange forwards, and on occasion foreign currency denominated debt, as hedges of net investments in certain foreign operations. These instruments reduce exposure to changes in currency exchange rates on the Company’s investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries. The effective portion of the gain or loss on net investment hedges is recorded in AOCI as part of the cumulative translation adjustment. Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss on net investment hedges is recognized in other, net expenses during the period of change.

26


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The following table summarizes the impact of cash flow hedges and net investment hedges on the Consolidated Statements of Income:
 
For the Three Months Ended September 30:
 
                                               
(Millions)   Gains (losses) recognized in income
            Amount reclassified              
            from AOCI into             Net hedge
            income             ineffectiveness
    Location     2011     2010     Location     2011     2010
Cash flow hedges:(a)
                                             
Interest rate contracts
  Interest expense   $     $ (8 )   Other, net expenses   $     $
Net investment hedges:
                                             
Foreign exchange contracts
  Other, net expenses   $     $     Other, net expenses   $     $
 
 
For the Nine Months Ended September 30:
 
                                               
(Millions)   Gains (losses) recognized in income
            Amount reclassified              
            from AOCI into             Net hedge
            income             ineffectiveness
    Location     2011     2010     Location     2011     2010
Cash flow hedges:(a)
                                             
Interest rate contracts
  Interest expense   $ (13 )   $ (29 )   Other, net expenses   $     $
Net investment hedges:
                                             
Foreign exchange contracts
  Other, net expenses   $     $     Other, net expenses   $ (3 )   $
 
 
(a)
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, there were no forecasted transactions that were considered no longer probable to occur.
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
 
The Company has derivatives that act as economic hedges, but are not designated as such for hedge accounting purposes. Foreign currency transactions and non-U.S. dollar cash flow exposures from time to time may be partially or fully economically hedged through foreign currency contracts, primarily foreign exchange forwards, options and cross-currency swaps. These hedges generally mature within one year. Foreign currency contracts involve the purchase and sale of a designated currency at an agreed upon rate for settlement on a specified date. The changes in the fair value of the derivatives effectively offset the related foreign exchange gains or losses on the underlying balance sheet exposures. From time to time, the Company may enter into interest rate swaps to specifically manage funding costs related to its proprietary card business.
 
The Company has certain operating agreements whose payments may be linked to a market rate or price, primarily foreign currency rates. The payment components embedded in these agreements may meet the definition of a derivative, which is assessed to determine if it requires separate accounting and reporting. If so, the embedded derivative is accounted for separately and is classified as a foreign exchange contract based on its primary risk exposure. In addition, the Company also holds an investment security containing an embedded equity-linked derivative.
 
For derivatives that are not designated as hedges, changes in fair value are reported in current period earnings.

27


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The following table summarizes the impact of derivatives not designated as hedges on the Consolidated Statements of Income:
 
                         
    Gains (losses) recognized in income  
            Amount  
For the Three Months Ended September 30: (Millions)   Location     2011     2010  
Interest rate contracts
  Other, net expenses   $     $ 3  
Foreign exchange contracts(a)
  Interest and dividends on investment securities     2       1  
  Interest expense on short-term borrowings           2  
  Interest expense on long-term debt and other     33       24  
  Other, net expenses     (48 )     101  
Equity-linked contract
  Other non-interest revenues     (1 )     1  
 
                   
Total
          $ (14 )   $ 132  
 
                   
 
                         
    Gains (losses) recognized in income  
          Amount  
For the Nine Months Ended September 30: (Millions)   Location     2011     2010  
Interest rate contracts
  Other, net expenses   $ 2     $ (11 )
Foreign exchange contracts(a)
  Interest and dividends on investment securities     7       2  
 
  Interest expense on short-term borrowings     3       6  
 
  Interest expense on long-term debt and other     94       66  
 
  Other, net expenses     (97 )     49  
Equity-linked contract
  Other non-interest revenues     (1 )      
 
                   
Total
          $ 8     $ 112  
 
                   
 
 
(a)
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, foreign exchange contracts include embedded foreign currency derivatives. Gains (losses) on these embedded derivatives are included in other, net expenses.
10. Guarantees
   
The Company provides cardmember protection plans that cover losses associated with purchased products, as well as certain other guarantees in the ordinary course of business which are within the scope of GAAP governing the accounting for guarantees.
 
   
In relation to its maximum amount of undiscounted future payments as seen in the table that follows, to date the Company has not experienced any significant losses related to guarantees. The Company’s initial recognition of guarantees is at fair value, which has been determined in accordance with GAAP governing fair value measurement. In addition, the Company establishes reserves when an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

28


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The following table provides information related to such guarantees as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
                               
    Maximum amount of      
    undiscounted future     Amount of related
    payments(a)     liability(b)
    (Billions)     (Millions)
Type of Guarantee   2011     2010     2011     2010
Card and travel operations(c)
  $ 51     $ 67     $ 97     $ 114
Other(d)
    1       1       99       99
 
                     
Total
  $ 52     $ 68     $ 196     $ 213
 
                     
 
(a)
 
Represents the notional amounts that could be lost under the guarantees and indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed parties. The Merchant Protection guarantee is calculated using management’s best estimate of maximum exposure based on all eligible claims as measured against annual billed business volumes. The Company mitigates this risk by withholding settlement from the merchant or obtaining deposits and other guarantees from merchants considered higher risk due to various factors. The amounts being held by the Company are not significant when compared to the maximum potential amount of undiscounted future payments.
 
(b)
 
Included as part of other liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
(c)
 
Primarily includes Credit Card Registry, Return Protection, Account Protection and Merchant Protection, which the Company offers directly to cardmembers.
 
(d)
 
Other primarily includes guarantees related to the Company’s business dispositions and real estate, each of which are individually smaller indemnifications.
11. Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income includes net income and changes in AOCI, which is a balance sheet item in the Shareholders’ Equity section of the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. AOCI is comprised of items that have not been recognized in earnings but may be recognized in earnings in the future when certain events occur.
The components of comprehensive income, net of tax, were as follows:
 
                               
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
    September 30,     September 30,
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010
Net income
  $ 1,235     $ 1,093     $ 3,743     $ 2,995
Other comprehensive income gains (losses):
                             
Net unrealized securities gains
    113       104       205       113
Net unrealized derivative (losses) gains
    (1 )     4       6       16
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    (178 )     307       (116 )     242
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit gains
    14       4       19       39
 
                     
Total
  $ 1,183     $ 1,512     $ 3,857     $ 3,405
 
                     
 

29


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
12. Income Taxes
   
The Company is under continuous examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax authorities in other countries and states in which the Company has significant business operations. The tax years under examination and open for examination vary by jurisdiction. In June 2008, the IRS completed its field examination of the Company’s federal tax returns for the years 1997 through 2002. In July 2009, the IRS completed its field examination of the Company’s federal tax returns for the years 2003 and 2004. In April 2011, unagreed issues for 1997 through 2004 were resolved at IRS Appeals. Additional refund claims for those years continue to be reviewed by the IRS. In addition, the Company is currently under examination by the IRS for the years 2005 through 2007.
 
   
The Company believes it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits could decrease within the next 12 months by as much as $851 million principally as a result of potential resolutions of prior years’ tax items with various taxing authorities. The prior years’ tax items include unrecognized tax benefits relating to the deductibility of certain expenses or losses and the attribution of taxable income to a particular jurisdiction or jurisdictions. Of the $851 million of unrecognized tax benefits, approximately $606 million relates to amounts recorded to equity that, if recognized, would not impact the effective tax rate. With respect to the remaining $245 million, it is not possible to quantify the impact that the decrease could have on the effective tax rate and net income due to the inherent complexities and the number of tax years open for examination in multiple jurisdictions. Resolution of the prior years’ items that comprise this remaining amount could have an impact on the effective tax rate and on net income, either favorably (principally as a result of settlements that are less than the liability for unrecognized tax benefits) or unfavorably (if such settlements exceed the liability for unrecognized tax benefits).
 
   
The following table summarizes the Company’s effective tax rate from continuing operations:
 
                         
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended     Year Ended  
    September 30, 2011     September 30, 2011     December 31, 2010  
Effective tax rate(a)(b)
    28 %     29 %     32 %
 
 
(a)
 
Each of the periods reflects recurring, permanent tax benefits in relation to the level of pretax income.
 
(b)
 
The income tax provision from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 includes a $77 million tax benefit related to a distribution of foreign subsidiary earnings with associated foreign tax credits. The income tax provision from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 also includes the impact of a $102 million tax benefit related to the favorable resolution of certain prior years’ tax items.
   
Discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 included the impact of a $36 million tax benefit related to the favorable resolution of certain prior years’ tax items related to American Express Bank, Ltd., which was sold to Standard Chartered PLC during the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

30


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
13. Earnings Per Common Share (EPS)
   
The computations of basic and diluted EPS were as follows:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions, except per share amounts)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Numerator:
                               
Basic and diluted:
                               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 1,235     $ 1,093     $ 3,707     $ 2,995  
Earnings allocated to participating share awards and other items(a)
    (15 )     (13 )     (44 )     (38 )
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
                36        
 
                       
Net income attributable to common shareholders
  $ 1,220     $ 1,080     $ 3,699     $ 2,957  
 
                       
Denominator:
                               
Basic: Weighted-average common stock
    1,175       1,193       1,184       1,189  
Add: Weighted-average stock options (b)
    6       6       7       6  
 
                       
Diluted
    1,181       1,199       1,191       1,195  
 
                       
 
                               
Basic EPS:
                               
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders
  $ 1.04     $ 0.91     $ 3.09     $ 2.49  
Income from discontinued operations
                0.03        
 
                       
Net income attributable to common shareholders
  $ 1.04     $ 0.91     $ 3.12     $ 2.49  
 
                       
Diluted EPS:
                               
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders
  $ 1.03     $ 0.90     $ 3.08     $ 2.47  
Income from discontinued operations
                0.03        
 
                       
Net income attributable to common shareholders
  $ 1.03     $ 0.90     $ 3.11     $ 2.47  
 
                       
 
 
(a)
 
The Company’s unvested restricted stock awards, which include the right to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents, are considered participating securities. Calculations of EPS under the two-class method (i) exclude any dividends paid or owed on participating securities and any undistributed earnings considered to be attributable to participating securities from the numerator and (ii) exclude the participating securities from the denominator.
 
(b)
 
For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the dilutive effect of unexercised stock options excludes 19 million options. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the dilutive effect of unexercised stock options excludes 36 million and 37 million options, respectively. Such amounts for all periods were excluded from the computation of EPS because inclusion of the options would have been anti-dilutive.
   
Subordinated debentures of $750 million issued by the Company in 2006 would affect the EPS computation only in the unlikely event the Company fails to achieve specified performance measures related to the Company’s tangible common equity and consolidated net income. In that circumstance the Company would reflect the additional common shares in the EPS computation.

31


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
14. Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines
The following is a detail of other commissions and fees:
 
                               
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
    September 30,     September 30,
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010
Foreign currency conversion revenue
  $ 225     $ 221     $ 651     $ 614
Delinquency fees
    155       151       439       463
Service fees
    89       85       266       247
Other
    135       58       361       188
 
                     
Total other commissions and fees
  $ 604     $ 515     $ 1,717     $ 1,512
 
                     
 
The following is a detail of other revenues:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Global Network Services partner revenues
  $ 157     $ 145     $ 459     $ 391  
Gain (Loss) on investment securities
                      (5 )
Other
    377       358       1,087       1,028  
 
                       
Total other revenues
  $ 534     $ 503     $ 1,546     $ 1,414  
 
                       
 
The following is a detail of marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services:
 
                               
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
    September 30,     September 30,
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010
Marketing and promotion
  $ 757     $ 871     $ 2,261     $ 2,314
Cardmember rewards
    1,565       1,263       4,755       3,666
Cardmember services
    189       141       526       425
 
                     
Total marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services
  $ 2,511     $ 2,275     $ 7,542     $ 6,405
 
                     
 
The following is a detail of other, net expense:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Occupancy and equipment
  $ 433     $ 371     $ 1,218     $ 1,134  
Communications
    93       92       280       284  
Other non-income taxes
    53       77       164       172  
MasterCard and Visa settlements, net of legal fees
    (68 )     (213 )     (494 )     (639 )
Other
    301       303       786       633  
 
                       
Total other, net expense
  $ 812     $ 630     $ 1,954     $ 1,584  
 
                       
 

32


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
15. Contingencies
   
The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in a number of legal proceedings concerning matters arising in connection with the conduct of their respective business activities and are periodically subject to governmental examinations (including by regulatory authorities), information gathering requests, subpoenas, inquiries and investigations (collectively, “governmental examinations”). As of September 30, 2011, the Company and various of its subsidiaries were named as a defendant or were otherwise involved in numerous legal proceedings and governmental examinations in various jurisdictions, both in and outside the United States. The Company discloses or refers to certain of its more significant legal proceedings and governmental examinations under Item 1. Legal Proceedings in Part II. Other Information (Legal Proceedings).
 
   
The Company has recorded liabilities for certain of its outstanding legal proceedings and governmental examinations. A liability is accrued when it is both (a) probable that a loss with respect to the legal proceeding has occurred and (b) the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated although, as discussed below, there may be an exposure to loss in excess of the accrued liability. The Company evaluates, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings and governmental examinations that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the liability that has been previously accrued.
 
   
The Company’s legal proceedings range from cases brought by a single plaintiff to class actions with hundreds of thousands of putative class members. These legal proceedings, as well as governmental examinations, involve various lines of business of the Company and a variety of claims (including, but not limited to, common law tort, contract, antitrust and consumer protection claims), some of which present novel factual allegations and/or unique legal theories. While some matters pending against the Company specify the damages claimed by the plaintiff, many seek a not-yet-quantified amount of damages or are at very early stages of the legal process. Even when the amount of damages claimed against the Company are stated, the claimed amount may be exaggerated and/or unsupported. As a result, some matters have not yet progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or development of important factual information and legal issues to enable the Company to estimate a range of possible loss.
 
   
Other matters have progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or development of important factual information and legal issues such that the Company is able to estimate a range of possible loss. Accordingly, for those legal proceedings and governmental examinations disclosed or referred to in Legal Proceedings as to which a loss is reasonably possible in future periods, whether in excess of a related accrued liability or where there is no accrued liability, and for which the Company is able to estimate a range of possible loss, the current estimated range is zero to $470 million in excess of the accrued liability (if any) related to those matters. This aggregate range represents management’s estimate of possible loss with respect to these matters and is based on currently available information. This estimated range of possible loss does not represent the Company’s maximum loss exposure. The legal proceedings and governmental examinations underlying the estimated range will change from time to time and actual results may vary significantly from the current estimate.
 
   
Based on its current knowledge, and taking into consideration its litigation-related liabilities, the Company believes it is not a party to, nor are any of its properties the subject of, any pending legal proceeding or governmental examination that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or liquidity. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, the ultimate outcome of a particular matter could be material to the Company’s operating results for a particular period depending on, among other factors, the size of the loss or liability imposed and the level of the Company’s income for that period.

33


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
16. Reportable Operating Segments
   
The Company is a leading global payments and travel company that is principally engaged in businesses comprising four reportable operating segments: USCS, ICS, GCS and GNMS. Corporate functions and auxiliary businesses, including the Company’s publishing business, the Enterprise Growth Group (including the Global Prepaid Group), as well as other company operations are included in Corporate & Other.
 
   
Beginning in the first quarter of 2011, the Company changed its segment allocation methodology to better align segment reporting with the Company’s previously announced management reorganization, which has been implemented over the last several quarters. The reorganization included the formation of the Enterprise Growth Group, which is reported in the Corporate & Other segment. Starting in the first quarter of 2011, certain business activities such as Loyalty Edge and Global Foreign Exchange Services that were previously managed and reported in the USCS and GCS operating segments, respectively, are now managed by Enterprise Growth and reported in the Corporate & Other segment. The reorganization also included consolidation of certain corporate support functions into the Global Services organization. Greater centralization of activities has led to modifications in the costs being allocated from the Corporate & Other segment to the reported operating segments starting in the first quarter of 2011. Prior period segment results have been revised for these changes.

34


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The following table presents certain operating segment information:
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Non-interest revenues:
                               
USCS
  $ 2,710     $ 2,501     $ 7,892     $ 7,278  
ICS
    1,132       926       3,233       2,668  
GCS
    1,195       1,128       3,631       3,217  
GNMS
    1,188       1,048       3,459       2,986  
Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)
    167       186       541       510  
 
                       
Total
  $ 6,392     $ 5,789     $ 18,756     $ 16,659  
 
                       
 
                               
Interest income:
                               
USCS
  $ 1,329     $ 1,334     $ 3,886     $ 4,060  
ICS
    323       342       995       1,047  
GCS
    3       2       7       5  
GNMS
    2       1       4       3  
Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)
    97       115       317       382  
 
                       
Total
  $ 1,754     $ 1,794     $ 5,209     $ 5,497  
 
                       
 
                               
Interest expense:
                               
USCS
  $ 201     $ 210     $ 604     $ 604  
ICS
    108       105       322       310  
GCS
    68       58       196       162  
GNMS
    (60 )     (51 )     (163 )     (144 )
Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)
    258       288       786       886  
 
                       
Total
  $ 575     $ 610     $ 1,745     $ 1,818  
 
                       
 
                               
Total revenues, net of interest expense:
                               
USCS
  $ 3,838     $ 3,625     $ 11,174     $ 10,734  
ICS
    1,347       1,163       3,906       3,405  
GCS
    1,130       1,072       3,442       3,060  
GNMS
    1,250       1,100       3,626       3,133  
Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)
    6       13       72       6  
 
                       
Total
  $ 7,571     $ 6,973     $ 22,220     $ 20,338  
 
                       
 
                               
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
                               
USCS
  $ 733     $ 595     $ 1,953     $ 1,525  
ICS
    221       144       571       438  
GCS
    197       150       558       347  
GNMS
    332       252       969       766  
Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)
    (248 )     (48 )     (344 )     (81 )
 
                       
Total
  $ 1,235     $ 1,093     $ 3,707     $ 2,995  
 
                       
 
 
(a)
 
Corporate & Other includes adjustments and eliminations for intersegment activity.

35


Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Business Introduction
American Express is a global service company that provides customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. The Company’s principal products and services are charge and credit payment card products and travel-related services offered to consumers and businesses around the world. The Company’s range of products and services include:
  charge and credit card products;
  expense management products and services;
  consumer and business travel services;
  stored value products such as Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products;
  network services;
 
merchant acquisition and processing, point-of-sale, servicing and settlement, and marketing and information products and services for merchants; and
 
fee services, including market and trend analyses and related consulting services, fraud prevention services, and the design of customized customer loyalty and rewards programs.
The Company’s products and services are sold globally to diverse customer groups, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations. These products and services are sold through various channels, including direct mail, online applications, targeted direct and third-party sales forces, and direct response advertising.
The Company recently created the Enterprise Growth Group, which focuses on generating alternative sources of revenue on a global basis, both organically and through acquisitions, in areas such as online and mobile payments and fee-based services.
The Company’s products and services generate the following types of revenue for the Company:
 
Discount revenue, which is the Company’s largest revenue source, represents fees charged to merchants when cardmembers use their cards to purchase goods and services on the Company’s network;
  Net card fees, which represent revenue earned for annual charge card memberships;
 
Travel commissions and fees, which are earned by charging a transaction or management fee for airline or other travel-related transactions;
 
Other commissions and fees, which are earned on foreign exchange conversions and card-related fees and assessments;
 
Other revenue, which represents insurance premiums earned from cardmember travel and other insurance programs, revenues arising from contracts with Global Network Services’ (GNS) partners (including royalties and signing fees), publishing revenues and other miscellaneous revenue and fees; and
 
Interest and fees on loans, which principally represents interest income earned on outstanding balances, and card fees related to the cardmember loans portfolio.
In addition to funding and operating costs associated with these types of revenue, other major expense categories are related to marketing and reward programs that add new cardmembers and promote cardmember loyalty and spending, and provisions for anticipated cardmember credit and fraud losses.

36


Table of Contents

Financial Targets
The Company will seek to achieve three financial targets, on average and over time:
  Revenues net of interest expense growth of at least 8 percent;
  Earnings per share (EPS) growth of 12 to 15 percent; and
  Return on average equity (ROE) of 25 percent or more.
If the Company achieves its EPS target as well as the ROE target, it would seek to return, on average and over time, approximately 50 percent of the capital it generates to shareholders as dividends or through repurchases of common stock.
Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Measures
Certain of the statements in this Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Refer to the “Forward-Looking Statements” section below. In addition, certain calculations included within this Form 10-Q constitute non-GAAP financial measures. The Company’s calculations of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the calculations of similarly titled measures by other companies.
Bank Holding Company
The Company is a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and the Federal Reserve Board (Federal Reserve) is the Company’s primary federal regulator. As such, the Company is subject to the Federal Reserve’s regulations, policies and minimum capital standards.

37


Table of Contents

Current Business Environment/Outlook
The Company’s results for the third quarter of 2011 continued to reflect strong spending growth and improved credit performance. During the quarter cardmember spending volumes grew both in the United States and internationally, and across all of the Company’s businesses, despite a challenging economic environment and when being compared to relatively strong prior year performance.
While the positive impacts of strong billings growth and modestly higher cardmember borrowing levels were partially offset by lower loan yields, the strong billings growth, improved credit trends and the benefit of a lower effective tax rate provided the Company with the opportunity to invest in the business at significant levels and also generate strong earnings. These investments continue to be focused both on driving near-term metrics and building capabilities that will benefit the medium to long-term success of the Company.
The Company’s improving credit trends mentioned above contributed to a reduction in loan write-offs and in loss reserve levels over the course of the third quarter of 2011 when compared to 2010. Reserve coverage ratios remain at appropriate levels after taking into consideration a reduction of approximately $450 million in loss reserve levels during the quarter. Going forward, the Company expects benefits to its results from reserve releases to diminish.
Net interest yield declined compared to the third quarter of 2010. The lower yield reflects lower revolving levels and lower balances at penalty rates due to the implementation of elements of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (the “CARD Act”), which were partially offset by the benefit of certain repricing initiatives effective during 2009 and 2010. Going forward, net interest yield will continue to be influenced by certain strategies the Company decides to employ, such as its current focus on premium lending, as well as other factors such as the credit quality of its portfolio, the percentage of the portfolio that is revolving, the cost of funds and potential pricing changes.
Despite the continued momentum across the Company’s businesses, the economic environment remains uncertain. The uncertain environment includes questions about the creditworthiness of sovereign issuers within Europe and the strength of the European banking system. Sovereign defaults or the continued concerns about European fiscal policy and unity could lead to disruptions in capital markets and increase borrowing costs for consumers and companies in Europe and the United States. In addition, the Company received the last settlement payment from MasterCard in the second quarter, will receive the last payment from Visa in the fourth quarter and faces more difficult year-over-year comparisons in light of strong 2010 and year-to-date 2011 volume and credit performance. In light of these factors, the Company is continuing to implement its plan to slow the year-over-year growth of its operating expenses as it exits this year and enters 2012.
Reengineering Initiatives
The Company expects to record additional restructuring charges in 2011 and 2012 related to employee severance obligations, other employee-related costs and lease termination costs resulting from the planned consolidation of facilities within the Company’s global servicing network, which was first announced in the fourth quarter of 2010. The expected aggregate amount of these additional charges is approximately $50 million to $60 million pretax (approximately $32 million to $38 million after-tax). During the first and second quarters of 2011, respectively, the Company recorded $11 million ($7 million after-tax) and $4 million ($2 million after-tax) of such expected additional charges. In the third quarter of 2011, the Company did not record additional charges and has lowered its estimated range of charges from a range of $60 million to $80 million to a range of $50 million to $60 million to reflect the fact that more employees than expected have chosen to relocate to other company locations.

38


Table of Contents

Substantially all of the reengineering activities described above are expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2012.
In the third quarter of 2011, the Company recorded $39 million ($28 million after-tax) of net additional severance related reengineering costs.
Acquisitions
During the first quarter of 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in Loyalty Partner (March 1, 2011) for total consideration of $616 million ($585 million plus $31 million in cash acquired). In addition, the Company may acquire the remaining noncontrolling equity interest over a three-year period beginning at the end of 2013 at a price based on business performance, which currently has an estimated fair value of $150 million. Loyalty Partner is a leading marketing services company best known for the loyalty programs it operates in Germany, Poland and India. Loyalty Partner also provides market analysis, operating platforms and consulting services that help merchants grow their businesses. The final purchase price allocation will be completed in a subsequent quarter.
Refer to Note 2 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

39


Table of Contents

American Express Company
Selected Statistical Information
Refer to “Glossary of Selected Terminology” for the definitions of certain key terms and related information appearing in the tables below.
                                 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Billions, except percentages and where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Card billed business:
                               
United States
  $ 136.4     $ 120.5     $ 397.3     $ 348.2  
Outside the United States
    71.3       58.8       205.9       167.4  
 
                       
Total
  $ 207.7     $ 179.3     $ 603.2     $ 515.6  
 
                       
Total cards-in-force: (millions)
                               
United States
    50.2       48.1       50.2       48.1  
Outside the United States
    45.6       40.9       45.6       40.9  
 
                       
Total
    95.8       89.0       95.8       89.0  
 
                       
Basic cards-in-force: (millions)(a)
                               
United States
    38.9       37.2       38.9       37.2  
Outside the United States
    36.4       32.6       36.4       32.6  
 
                       
Total
    75.3       69.8       75.3       69.8  
 
                       
Average discount rate
    2.54 %     2.56 %     2.54 %     2.56 %
Average basic cardmember spending (dollars)(b)
  $ 3,739     $ 3,330     $ 10,947     $ 9,628  
Average fee per card (dollars)(b)
  $ 40     $ 38     $ 39     $ 37  
Average fee per card adjusted (dollars)(b)
  $ 43     $ 41     $ 43     $ 41  
 
                               
 
 
(a)  
Prior to and including the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company did not have the data necessary to separately report Basic and Supplementary cards-in-force (CIF) for Global Network Services; therefore, all cards-in-force for Global Network Services was reported as Basic CIF. Beginning in the first quarter of 2011, as the necessary data became available, the Company began to separately report Basic and Supplementary CIF for Global Network Services. The Company has accordingly revised prior periods to conform with the current period presentation.
 
(b)  
Average basic cardmember spending and average fee per card are computed from proprietary card activities only. Average fee per card is computed based on net card fees, including the amortization of deferred direct acquisition costs, plus card fees included in interest and fees on loans (including related amortization of deferred direct acquisition costs), divided by average worldwide proprietary cards-in-force. The card fees related to cardmember loans included in interest and fees on loans were $66 million and $58 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $198 million and $157 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The adjusted average fee per card, which is a non-GAAP measure, is computed in the same manner, but excludes amortization of deferred direct acquisition costs (a portion of which is charge card related and included in net card fees and a portion of which is lending related and included in interest and fees on loans). The amount of amortization excluded was $52 million and $49 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $162 million and $156 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company presents adjusted average fee per card because the Company believes this metric presents a useful indicator of card fee pricing across a range of its proprietary card products.

40


Table of Contents

American Express Company
Selected Statistical Information
(continued)
                                 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Billions, except percentages and where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Worldwide cardmember receivables
                               
Total receivables
  $ 39.8     $ 35.1     $ 39.8     $ 35.1  
Loss reserves (millions)
                               
Beginning balance
  $ 415     $ 440     $ 386     $ 546  
Provision for losses on authorized transactions(a)
    125       53       404       292  
Net write-offs
    (146 )     (116 )     (406 )     (481 )
Other
    (6 )     (13 )     4       7  
 
                       
Ending balance
  $ 388     $ 364     $ 388     $ 364  
 
                       
% of receivables
    1.0 %     1.0 %     1.0 %     1.0 %
Net write-off rate — principal — USCS(b)
    1.8 %     1.6 %     1.7 %     1.7 %
Net write-off rate — principal and fees — USCS(b)
    1.9 %     1.8 %     1.8 %     1.8 %
30 days past due as a % of total — USCS
    2.0 %     1.7 %     2.0 %     1.7 %
Net loss ratio as a % of charge volume — ICS/GCS(c)
    0.10 %     0.09 %     0.09 %     0.18 %
90 days past billing as a % of total — ICS/GCS(c)
    0.8 %     0.8 %     0.8 %     0.8 %
 
                               
Worldwide cardmember loans
                               
Total loans
  $ 58.2     $ 57.2     $ 58.2     $ 57.2  
30 days past due as a % of total
    1.5 %     2.5 %     1.5 %     2.5 %
Loss reserves (millions)
                               
Beginning balance
  $ 2,560     $ 4,866     $ 3,646     $ 3,268  
Adoption of GAAP consolidation standard(d)
                      2,531  
Provision for losses on authorized transactions
    16       239       23       1,429  
Net write-offs — principal
    (383 )     (728 )     (1,375 )     (2,630 )
Net write-offs — interest and fees
    (44 )     (81 )     (159 )     (287 )
Other
    (10 )     22       4       7  
 
                       
Ending balance
  $ 2,139     $ 4,318     $ 2,139     $ 4,318  
 
                       
Ending Reserves — principal
  $ 2,080     $ 4,210     $ 2,080     $ 4,210  
Ending Reserves — interest and fees
  $ 59     $ 108     $ 59     $ 108  
% of loans
    3.7 %     7.5 %     3.7 %     7.5 %
% of past due
    238 %     302 %     238 %     302 %
Average loans
  $ 58.9     $ 57.4     $ 58.7     $ 58.2  
Net write-off rate — principal only(b)
    2.6 %     5.1 %     3.1 %     6.0 %
Net write-off rate — principal, interest and fees(b)
    2.9 %     5.6 %     3.5 %     6.7 %
Net interest income divided by average loans(e)(f)
    7.9 %     8.2 %     7.9 %     8.5 %
Net interest yield on cardmember loans(e)
    9.1 %     9.5 %     9.1 %     9.8 %
 
                               
 
 
(a)  
Represents loss provisions for cardmember receivables consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee reserve components.
 
(b)  
The Company presents a net write-off rate based on principal losses only (i.e., excluding interest and/or fees) to be consistent with industry convention. In addition, because the Company’s practice is to include uncollectible interest and/or fees as part of its total provision for losses, a net write-off rate including principal, interest and/or fees is also presented.
 
(c)  
Effective January 1, 2010, the Company revised the time period in which past due cardmember receivables in International Card Services and Global Commercial Services are written off to when they are 180 days past due or earlier, consistent with applicable bank regulatory guidance and the write-off methodology adopted for U.S. Card Services in the fourth quarter of 2008. Previously, receivables were written off when they were 360 days past billing or earlier. Therefore, the net write-offs for the first quarter of 2010 include net write-offs of approximately $60 million for International Card Services and approximately $48 million for Global Commercial Services resulting from this write-off methodology change, which increased the net loss ratios and decreased the 90 days past billing metrics for these segments, but did not have a substantial impact on provisions for losses.
 
(d)  
In accordance with GAAP governing accounting for consolidation of variable interest entities (VIE) effective January 1, 2010, which resulted in the consolidation of the American Express Credit Account Master Trust (the Lending Trust), $29.0 billion of additional cardmember loans along with a $2.5 billion loan loss reserve were recorded on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

41


Table of Contents

(e)  
See below for calculations of net interest yield on cardmember loans, a non-GAAP measure, and net interest income divided by average loans, a GAAP measure. The Company believes net interest yield on cardmember loans is useful to investors because it provides a measure of profitability of the Company’s cardmember loan portfolio.
 
(f)  
This calculation includes elements of total interest income and total interest expense that are not attributable to the cardmember loan portfolio, and thus is not representative of net interest yield on cardmember loans. The calculation includes interest income and interest expense attributable to investment securities and other interest-bearing deposits as well as to cardmember loans, and interest expense attributable to other activities, including cardmember receivables.
American Express Company
Selected Statistical Information
(continued)
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Cardmember Loans
                                 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Net interest income
  $ 1,179     $ 1,184     $ 3,464     $ 3,679  
Average loans (billions)
  $ 58.9     $ 57.4     $ 58.7     $ 58.2  
Adjusted net interest income
  $ 1,356     $ 1,381     $ 3,995     $ 4,258  
Adjusted average loans (billions)
  $ 58.8     $ 57.4     $ 58.4     $ 58.1  
Net interest income divided by average loans
    7.9 %     8.2 %     7.9 %     8.5 %
Net interest yield on cardmember loans
    9.1 %     9.5 %     9.1 %     9.8 %
 
                               
 
The following discussions regarding Consolidated Results of Operations and Consolidated Liquidity and Capital Resources are presented on a basis consistent with GAAP unless otherwise noted.
Beginning the first quarter of 2011, certain payments to business partners previously expensed in other, net expense have been reclassified as contra-revenue within discount revenue or as marketing and promotion expense. These partner payments are primarily related to certain co-brand contracts where upfront payments are amortized over the life of the contract. Amounts in prior periods for this item and certain other amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation and are insignificant to the affected line items.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
The Company’s consolidated net income for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $142 million or 13 percent to $1.2 billion and diluted EPS increased by $0.13 to $1.03.
The Company’s total revenues net of interest expense and total expenses increased by approximately 9 percent and 13 percent, respectively, while total provisions for losses decreased by 33 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2011, as compared to the same period in the prior year. Assuming no changes in foreign currency exchange rates from 2010 to 2011, total revenues net of interest expense and total expenses increased approximately 6 percent and 11 percent, respectively, while provisions for losses decreased approximately 35 percent in 2011.1
 
1  
The foreign currency adjusted information, a non-GAAP measure, assumes a constant exchange rate between the periods being compared for purposes of currency translation into U.S. dollars (i.e., assumes the foreign exchange rates used to determine results for the three months ended September 30, 2011 apply to the period against which such results are being compared). The Company believes the presentation of information on a foreign currency adjusted basis is helpful to investors by making it easier to compare the Company’s performance in one period to that of another period without the variability caused by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

42


Table of Contents

Total Revenues Net of Interest Expense
Consolidated total revenues net of interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011 of $7.6 billion increased $598 million or 9 percent from 2010. The increase in total revenues net of interest expense primarily reflects higher discount revenues, increased other commissions and fees, higher net card fees and higher other revenues, partially offset by slightly lower net interest income and slightly lower travel commissions and fees.
Discount revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $457 million or 12 percent as compared to 2010, to $4.2 billion as a result of 16 percent growth in billed business volumes, partially offset by a slight decline in the average discount rate. The lower revenue growth versus total billed business growth reflects the relatively faster growth in billed business related to GNS, where the Company shares the discount revenue with card issuing partners, and higher contra-revenue items, including corporate incentive payments and partner payments. The average discount rate was 2.54 percent and 2.56 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
U.S. billed business and billed business outside the United States increased 13 percent and 21 percent, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase in billed business within the United States reflected an increase in average spending per proprietary basic card and an increase in basic cards-in-force. The increase in billed business outside the United States reflected an increase in average spending per proprietary basic card and basic cards-in-force.
The table below summarizes selected statistics for billed business and average spend during the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year:
                 
 
    2011  
            Percentage Increase  
            (Decrease) Assuming  
                      Percentage     No Changes in  
    Increase     Foreign Exchange  
    (Decrease)     Rates (a) 
Worldwide(b)
               
Billed business
    16 %     13 %
Proprietary billed business
    14       12  
GNS billed business(c)
    30       23  
Average spending per proprietary basic card
    12       10  
Basic cards-in-force
    8          
United States(b)
               
Billed business
    13          
Average spending per proprietary basic card
    11          
Basic cards-in-force
    5          
Proprietary consumer card billed business(d)
    11          
Proprietary small business billed business(d)
    15          
Proprietary Corporate Services billed business(e)
    14          
Outside the United States(b)
               
Billed business
    21       14  
Average spending per proprietary basic card
    17       10  
Basic cards-in-force
    12          
Proprietary consumer and small business billed business(f)
    16       9  
Proprietary Corporate Services billed business(e)
    21       14  
 
               
 
 
(a)   Refer to footnote 1 on page 42 relating to changes in foreign exchange rates.
 
(b)   Captions in the table above not designated as “proprietary” or “GNS” include both proprietary and GNS data.
 
(c)   Included in the Global Network & Merchant Services (GNMS) segment.
 
(d)   Included in the U.S. Card Services (USCS) segment.
 
(e)   Included in the Global Commercial Services (GCS) segment.
 
(f)   Included in the International Card Services (ICS) segment.

43


Table of Contents

Assuming no changes in foreign exchange rates, total billed business outside the United States grew 19 percent in Japan, Asia Pacific and Australia, 14 percent in Latin America and Canada, and 8 percent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Total cards-in-force increased 8 percent worldwide due to a 21 percent increase in GNS, a 2 percent increase in USCS, and a 1 percent increase in ICS. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, total cards-in-force increased by 400,000 in the United States and increased by 1,400,000 outside the United States compared to the second quarter of 2011.
Travel commissions and fees decreased $3 million or 1 percent to $480 million, primarily due to a benefit in the prior year related to revenue recognized from the signing of supplier contracts, partially offset by a 13 percent increase in worldwide travel sales.
Other commissions and fees increased $89 million or 17 percent to $604 million, primarily driven by revenues related to Loyalty Partner operations.
Other revenues increased $31 million or 6 percent to $534 million, primarily reflecting higher GNS partner royalty revenues, higher foreign exchange fees and greater merchant-related fee revenues.
Interest income decreased $40 million or 2 percent to $1.8 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year. Interest and fees on loans decreased $22 million or 1 percent, driven by a lower net yield, which was partially offset by a 3 percent increase in average cardmember loans. The lower net yield reflects lower revolving levels and lower balances at penalty rates due to the implementation of elements of the CARD Act and improved credit performance. These reductions to yield were partially offset by the benefit of certain repricing initiatives effective during 2009 and 2010. Interest and dividends on investment securities decreased $35 million or 34 percent to $68 million, primarily reflecting decreased investment levels. Interest on deposits with banks and others increased $17 million to $33 million, primarily due to higher average deposit balances compared to the same period in 2010.
Interest expense decreased $35 million or 6 percent to $575 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. Interest on deposits decreased $14 million or 10 percent to $127 million, as an increase in balances was more than offset by a lower cost of funds. Interest on long-term debt and other decreased 6 percent, reflecting a lower average long-term debt balance, partially offset by a higher effective cost of funds.
Provisions for Losses
Provisions for losses of $249 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $124 million or 33 percent compared to the same period in 2010. Charge card provisions for losses increased $85 million or 96 percent, primarily driven by higher average receivable levels, higher write-offs and a release of reserves in the prior year. Cardmember loans provisions for losses decreased $214 million or 82 percent to $48 million, reflecting lower write-offs and a lower cardmember reserve requirement at the end of the third quarter of 2011 due to improving credit performance. Other provisions for losses increased $5 million or 23 percent.
Expenses
Consolidated expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2011 were $5.6 billion, an increase of $651 million or 13 percent from $5.0 billion in 2010. The increase reflects increased cardmember rewards expenses, increased cardmember services expenses, higher salaries and employee benefits expenses, and greater occupancy and equipment expenses, partially offset by lower marketing and promotion expenses.
Marketing and promotion expenses decreased $114 million or 13 percent to $757 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $871 million in 2010 due to lower product media and brand spending, in addition to slightly lower card acquisition and loyalty spending.

44


Table of Contents

Cardmember rewards expenses increased $302 million or 24 percent to $1.6 billion in 2011 from $1.3 billion in 2010, reflecting greater rewards-related spending volumes and higher co-brand expense. In addition, higher redemptions led to a slight increase in the ultimate redemption rate estimate.
Cardmember services expense increased $48 million or 34 percent to $189 million reflecting increased costs associated with new benefits made available to U.S. cardmembers.
Salaries and employee benefits expenses increased $244 million or 18 percent to $1.6 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2011 from $1.4 billion in 2010, reflecting higher employee levels, merit increases for existing employees, higher benefit-related costs, severance costs related to reengineering activities and higher incentive-related compensation.
Occupancy and equipment expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $62 million or 17 percent, primarily reflecting costs associated with Loyalty Partner and an increase in software purchasing expense.
Other, net expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $119 million or 71 percent compared to the same period in 2010, primarily reflecting a MasterCard settlement payment received in the third quarter of 2010 and expenses related to legal exposures, partially offset by benefits related to the hedging of fixed-rate debt and income statement foreign exchange exposures.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 28 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to 33 percent for the same period in 2010. The tax rates in both periods reflect the level of pretax income in relation to recurring permanent tax benefits. In addition, the tax rate in the third quarter of 2011 includes a $77 million tax benefit related to a distribution of foreign subsidiary earnings with associated foreign tax credits.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
The Company’s consolidated net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $748 million or 25 percent to $3.7 billion and diluted EPS, including discontinued operations, increased by $0.64 or 26 percent to $3.11.
The Company’s total revenues net of interest expense and total expenses increased by approximately 9 percent and 17 percent, respectively, while total provisions for losses decreased by 64 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in the prior year. Assuming no changes in foreign currency exchange rates from 2010 to 2011, total revenues net of interest expense and total expenses increased approximately 7 percent and 15 percent, respectively.2
Total Revenues Net of Interest Expense
Consolidated total revenues net of interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 of $22.2 billion were up $1.9 billion or 9 percent from 2010. The increase in total revenues net of interest expense primarily reflects higher discount revenue, increased other commissions and fees, greater travel commissions and fees, higher other revenues and higher net card fees, partially offset by lower net interest income.
 
2  
The foreign currency adjusted information, a non-GAAP measure, assumes a constant exchange rate between the periods being compared for purposes of currency translation into U.S. dollars (i.e., assumes the foreign exchange rates used to determine results for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 apply to the period against which such results are being compared). The Company believes the presentation of information on a foreign currency adjusted basis is helpful to investors by making it easier to compare the Company’s performance in one period to that of another period without the variability caused by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

45


Table of Contents

Discount revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $1.5 billion or 14 percent as compared to 2010 to $12.4 billion as a result of a 17 percent increase in billed business. The average discount rate was 2.54 percent and 2.56 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
U.S. billed business and billed business outside the United States were up 14 percent and 23 percent, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in billed business within the United States reflected an increase in average spending per proprietary basic card and a slight increase in basic cards-in-force. The increase in billed business outside the United States reflected an increase in average spending per proprietary basic card and basic cards-in-force.
The table below summarizes selected statistics for billed business and average spend during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year:
                 
 
    2011  
            Percentage Increase  
            (Decrease) Assuming  
                      Percentage     No Changes in  
    Increase     Foreign Exchange  
    (Decrease)     Rates  (a)
Worldwide(b)
               
Billed business
    17 %     14 %
Proprietary billed business
    15       13  
GNS billed business(c)
    32       24  
Average spending per proprietary basic card
    14       11  
Basic cards-in-force
    8          
United States(b)
               
Billed business
    14          
Average spending per proprietary basic card
    12          
Basic cards-in-force
    5          
Proprietary consumer card billed business(d)
    13          
Proprietary small business billed business(d)
    14          
Proprietary Corporate Services billed business(e)
    15          
Outside the United States(b)
               
Billed business
    23       14  
Average spending per proprietary basic card
    20       11  
Basic cards-in-force
    12          
Proprietary consumer and small business billed business(f)
    19       10  
Proprietary Corporate Services billed business(e)
    23       15  
 
               
 
 
(a)   Refer to footnote 2 on page 45 relating to changes in foreign exchange rates.
 
(b)   Captions in the table above not designated as “proprietary” or “GNS” include both proprietary and GNS data.
 
(c)   Included in the GNMS segment.
 
(d)   Included in the USCS segment.
 
(e)   Included in the GCS segment.
 
(f)   Included in the ICS segment.
Assuming no changes in foreign exchange rates, total billed business outside the United States grew 18 percent in Japan, Asia Pacific and Australia, 15 percent in Latin America and Canada, and 10 percent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Total cards-in-force increased 8 percent worldwide due to a 21 percent increase in GNS and a 2 percent increase in USCS. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, total cards-in-force increased by 2,100,000 in the United States and increased by 4,700,000 outside of the United States compared to the same period in 2010.

46


Table of Contents

Travel commissions and fees increased $155 million or 12 percent to $1.5 billion, primarily reflecting a 16 percent increase in worldwide travel sales, partially offset by a lower travel commission rate.
Other commissions and fees increased $205 million or 14 percent to $1.7 billion, driven primarily by revenues related to Loyalty Partner operations and greater foreign conversion revenues related to higher spending, partially offset by lower delinquency fees.
Other revenues increased $132 million or 9 percent to $1.5 billion, primarily reflecting higher GNS partner royalty revenues, higher foreign exchange related revenue, higher merchant-related fee revenues and higher global prepaid revenues and publishing revenues, partially offset by reduced insurance premium revenues.
Interest income decreased $288 million or 5 percent to $5.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in the prior year. Interest and fees on loans decreased $224 million or 4 percent to $4.9 billion, driven by a lower net yield on cardmember loans, partially offset by an increase in average cardmember loans. The lower net yield reflects lower revolving levels and lower balances at penalty rates due to the implementation of elements of the CARD Act and improved credit performance. These reductions to yield were partially offset by the benefit of certain repricing initiatives effective during 2009 and 2010. Interest and dividends on investment securities decreased $90 million or 26 percent to $255 million, primarily reflecting decreased average investment levels. Interest on deposits with banks and others increased $26 million or 58 percent to $71 million, primarily due to higher average deposit balances versus the prior year.
Interest expense decreased $73 million or 4 percent to $1.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. Interest on deposits decreased $11 million or 3 percent to $395 million, as a lower cost of funds was partially offset by an increase in average deposit balances. Interest on long-term debt and other decreased $66 million or 5 percent, reflecting a lower average long-term debt balance, partially offset by a higher effective cost of funds.
Provisions for Losses
Provisions for losses of $703 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $1.3 billion or 64 percent compared to the same period in 2010. Charge card provisions for losses increased $121 million or 29 percent, primarily driven by higher average receivable levels, higher write-offs and a lower reserve requirement in the prior year. Cardmember loans provisions for losses decreased $1.4 billion or 93 percent to $104 million, primarily reflecting lower write-offs and a lower cardmember loan reserve requirement as of September 30, 2011, due to improving credit performance. Other provisions for losses remained flat.
Expenses
Consolidated expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were $16.3 billion, up $2.4 billion or 17 percent from $13.9 billion in 2010. The increase reflects increased cardmember rewards expenses, higher salaries and employee benefits expenses, greater professional services expenses, higher other, net expenses, higher cardmember services expenses, and higher occupancy and equipment expenses.
Marketing and promotion expenses decreased $53 million or 2 percent to $2.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, due to lower product media and brand spending, as well as lower card acquisition and loyalty spending.

47


Table of Contents

Cardmember rewards expenses increased $1.1 billion or 30 percent to $4.8 billion in 2011 from $3.7 billion in 2010, reflecting higher rewards-related spending volumes and co-brand expense. In addition, higher redemptions led to an increase in the ultimate redemption rate; to a lesser extent, a shift in redemption mix also drove a slight increase in the weighted average cost per point. These increases in the ultimate redemption rate and weighted average cost per point, both of which impacted the expense related to points earned during the period as well as the Membership Rewards liability for unredeemed points at the beginning of the period, led to a more pronounced increase in rewards costs during this period than in previous periods.
Cardmember services expense increased $101 million or 24 percent to $526 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $425 million in 2010, driven by higher cost associated with new benefits made available to U.S. cardmembers and higher volume-related rewards costs.
Salaries and employee benefits expenses increased $719 million or 18 percent to $4.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 from $4.0 billion in 2010, reflecting higher employee levels, merit increases for existing employees, higher benefit-related costs, severance costs related to reengineering activities and higher incentive-related compensation.
Professional services expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $200 million or 11 percent compared to the same period in 2010, reflecting higher technology development expenditures including various initiatives related to digitizing the business, globalizing operating platforms, and enhancing analytical and data capabilities; higher legal costs; and greater third-party merchant sales-force commissions; partially offset by lower consulting fees and collection expenses.
Other, net expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $290 million compared to the same period in 2010, primarily reflecting lower MasterCard settlement payments in 2011, increased expenses related to legal exposures, higher employee-related activity and higher travel and entertainment costs, partially offset by a benefit related to accounting for hedging the Company’s fixed-rate debt.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 29 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to 33 percent for the same period in 2010. The tax rates in both periods reflect the level of pretax income in relation to recurring permanent tax benefits. In addition, the tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 includes a $77 million tax benefit related to a distribution of foreign subsidiary earnings with associated foreign tax credits and a $102 million tax benefit related to the favorable resolution of certain prior years’ tax items while the tax rate in 2010 included the impact of a $44 million valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets associated with certain of the Company’s non-U.S. travel operations.

48


Table of Contents

Consolidated Capital Resources and Liquidity
The Company’s balance sheet management objectives are to maintain:
  A solid and flexible equity capital profile;
  A broad, deep and diverse set of funding sources to finance its assets and meet operating requirements; and
  Liquidity programs that enable the Company to continuously meet expected future financing obligations and business requirements, even in the event it is unable to raise new funds under its regular funding programs.
Capital Strategy
The Company’s objective is to retain sufficient levels of capital generated through earnings and other sources to maintain a solid equity capital base and to provide flexibility to satisfy future business growth. The Company believes capital allocated to growing businesses with a return on risk-adjusted equity in excess of its costs will generate shareholder value.
The level and composition of the Company’s consolidated capital position are determined through the Company’s internal capital adequacy assessment process, which reflects its business activities, as well as marketplace conditions and credit rating agency requirements. They are also influenced by subsidiary capital requirements. The Company, as a bank holding company, is also subject to regulatory requirements administered by the U.S. federal banking agencies. The Federal Reserve has established specific capital adequacy guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items.
The Company currently calculates and reports its capital ratios under the measurement standards commonly referred to as Basel I. In June 2004, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (commonly referred to as Basel) published new international guidelines for determining regulatory capital (Basel II). In December 2007, the U.S. bank regulatory agencies jointly adopted a final rule based on Basel II. The Company has adopted Basel II in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions and is currently taking steps towards Basel II implementation in the U.S.
The Dodd-Frank Reform Act and a series of international capital and liquidity standards known as Basel III published by Basel on December 16, 2010 will in the future change these current quantitative measures. In general, these changes will involve, for the U.S. banking industry as a whole, a reduction in the types of instruments deemed to be capital along with an increase in the amount of capital that assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items require. These changes will generally serve to reduce reported capital ratios compared to current capital guidelines. The specific U.S. guidelines supporting the new standards and the Basel III capital standards have not been finalized, but are generally expected to be issued within the next twelve months. In addition to these measurement changes, international and U.S. banking regulators could increase the ratio levels at which banks would be deemed to be “well capitalized”.

49


Table of Contents

The following table presents the regulatory risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratio for the Company and its significant bank subsidiaries, as well as additional ratios widely utilized in the marketplace, as of September 30, 2011. As noted below, certain of these ratios are based on shareholders’ equity of $18.1 billion as of September 30, 2011.
                 
 
    Well-        
    Capitalized        
    Ratio     Actual  
Risk-Based Capital
               
Tier 1
    6 %        
American Express Company
            12.3 %
Centurion Bank
            20.6 %
FSB
            19.0 %
Total
    10 %        
American Express Company
            14.3 %
Centurion Bank
            21.9 %
FSB
            21.4 %
Tier 1 Leverage
    5 %        
American Express Company
            9.8 %
Centurion Bank
            20.2 %
FSB
            16.3 %
Tier 1 Common Risk-Based
               
American Express Company
            12.3 %
Common Equity to Risk-Weighted Assets
               
American Express Company
            15.8 %
Tangible Common Equity to Risk-Weighted Assets
               
American Express Company
            12.0 %
 
               
 
Basel III, when implemented by the U.S. banking agencies and fully phased-in, will require bank holding companies and their bank subsidiaries to maintain substantially more capital than prior requirements, with a greater emphasis on common equity. While final implementation of the rules related to capital ratios will be determined by the Federal Reserve, the Company estimates that had the new rules (as currently proposed) been in place during the third quarter of 2011, the reported Tier 1 risk-based capital and Tier 1 common risk-based ratios would decline by approximately 30 basis points. In addition, the impact of the new rules on the reported Tier 1 leverage ratio would be a decline of approximately 170 basis points. The estimated impact of the Basel III rules will change over time based upon changes in the size and composition of the Company’s balance sheet as well as based on the U.S. implementation of the Basel III rules; and the estimated impact for the third quarter of 2011 is not necessarily indicative of the impact in future periods.
The following provides definitions for the Company’s regulatory risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratio, all of which are calculated as per standard regulatory guidance:
Risk-Weighted Assets — Assets are weighted for risk according to a formula used by the Federal Reserve to conform to capital adequacy guidelines. On and off-balance sheet items are weighted for risk, with off-balance sheet items converted to balance sheet equivalents, using risk conversion factors, before being allocated a risk-adjusted weight. The off-balance sheet items comprise a minimal part of the overall calculation. Risk-weighted assets as of September 30, 2011 were $114.3 billion.

50


Table of Contents

Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio — The Tier 1 capital ratio is calculated as Tier 1 capital divided by risk-weighted assets. Tier 1 capital is the sum of common shareholders’ equity, certain perpetual preferred stock (not applicable to the Company), and noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries, adjusted for ineligible goodwill and intangible assets, as well as certain other comprehensive income items as follows: net unrealized gains/losses on securities and derivatives, and net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit losses, all net of tax. Tier 1 capital as of September 30, 2011 was $14.0 billion. This ratio is commonly used by regulatory agencies to assess a financial institution’s financial strength and is the primary form of capital used to absorb losses beyond current loss accrual estimates.
Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio — The total risk-based capital ratio is calculated as the sum of Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital, divided by risk-weighted assets. Tier 2 capital is the sum of the allowance for receivable and loan losses (limited to 1.25 percent of risk-weighted assets) and 45 percent of the unrealized gains on equity securities, plus a $750 million subordinated hybrid security, for which the Company received approval from the Federal Reserve for treatment as Tier 2 capital. Tier 2 capital as of September 30, 2011 was $2.3 billion.
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio — The Tier 1 leverage ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by the Company’s average total consolidated assets for the most recent quarter. Average total consolidated assets as of September 30, 2011 were $143.3 billion.
The following provides definitions for capital ratios widely used in the marketplace, although they may be calculated differently by different companies:
Tier 1 Common Risk-Based Capital Ratio — The Tier 1 common risk-based capital ratio is calculated as Tier 1 common equity, a non-GAAP measure, divided by risk-weighted assets. Tier 1 common equity is calculated by reference to total shareholders’ equity as shown below:
         
 
    September 30,  
(Millions)   2011  
Total shareholders’ equity
  $ 18,100  
Effect of certain items in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) excluded from Tier 1 common equity
    185  
Less: Ineligible goodwill and intangible assets
    (4,083 )
Less: Ineligible deferred tax assets
    (162 )
 
     
Total Tier 1 common equity
  $ 14,040  
 
     
 
       
 
The Company believes the Tier 1 common risk-based capital ratio may be useful because it can be used to assess and compare the quality and composition of the Company’s capital with the capital of other financial services companies. Moreover, the proposed international banking capital standards known as Basel III include measures that rely on the Tier 1 common risk-based capital ratio.
Common Equity and Tangible Common Equity to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratios — Common equity equals the Company’s shareholders’ equity of $18.1 billion as of September 30, 2011, and tangible common equity, a non-GAAP measure, equals common equity less goodwill and other intangibles of $4.4 billion as of September 30, 2011. The Company believes presenting the ratio of tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets is a useful measure of evaluating the strength of the Company’s capital position.
The Company seeks to maintain capital levels and ratios in excess of the minimum regulatory requirements; failure to maintain minimum capital levels could affect the Company’s status as a financial holding company and cause the respective regulatory agencies to take actions that could limit the Company’s business operations.

51


Table of Contents

The Company’s primary source of equity capital has been through the generation of net income. Historically, capital generated through net income and other sources, such as the exercise of stock options by employees, has exceeded the growth in its capital requirements. To the extent capital has exceeded business, regulatory and rating agency requirements, the Company has returned excess capital to shareholders through its regular common share dividend and share repurchase program.
The Company maintains certain flexibility to shift capital across its businesses as appropriate. For example, the Company may infuse additional capital into subsidiaries to maintain capital at targeted levels in consideration of debt ratings and regulatory requirements. These infused amounts can affect the capital profile and liquidity levels at the American Express’ parent company (Parent Company) level.
Share Repurchases and Dividends
The Company has a share repurchase program to return excess capital to shareholders. These share repurchases reduce shares outstanding and offset, in whole or part, the issuance of new shares as part of employee compensation plans.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company returned $1.4 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, in dividends ($213 million and $646 million, respectively) and share repurchases ($1.2 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively), which represents approximately 105 percent and 60 percent of total capital generated, respectively.
During the third quarter of 2011, the Company continued share repurchase activities and repurchased 26 million common shares at an average price of $46.55. The Company repurchased 41 million shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The Company is executing its share repurchase program, subject to market conditions, pursuant to its capital plan to repurchase up to $2.3 billion of common shares in 2011.
Since the inception of repurchase programs in December 1994, 725 million shares have been acquired under cumulative Board authorizations to repurchase up to 770 million shares. On a cumulative basis, since 1994, the Company has distributed 64 percent of capital generated through share repurchases and dividends.
As discussed above, the objective is to return to shareholders, on average and over time, approximately 50 percent of the capital the Company generates through a combination of dividends and the repurchase of common shares.
Funding Strategy
The Company’s principal funding objective is to maintain broad and well-diversified funding sources to allow it to meet its maturing obligations, cost-effectively finance current and future asset growth in its global businesses as well as to maintain a strong liquidity profile. The diversity of funding sources by type of debt instrument, by maturity and by investor base, among other factors, provides additional insulation from the impact of disruptions in any one type of debt, maturity or investor. The mix of the Company’s funding in any period will seek to achieve cost-efficiency consistent with both maintaining diversified sources and achieving its liquidity objectives. The Company’s funding strategy and activities are integrated into its asset-liability management activities. The Company has in place a Funding Policy covering American Express Company and all of its subsidiaries.

52


Table of Contents

The Company’s proprietary card businesses are the primary asset-generating businesses, with significant assets in both domestic and international cardmember receivable and lending activities. The Company’s financing needs are in large part a consequence of its proprietary card-issuing businesses and the maintenance of a liquidity position to support all of its business activities, such as merchant payments. The Company generally pays merchants for card transactions prior to reimbursement by cardmembers and therefore funds the merchant payments during the period cardmember loans and receivables are outstanding. The Company also has additional financing needs associated with general corporate purposes, including acquisition activities.
The Company seeks to raise funds to meet all of its financing needs, including seasonal and other working capital needs, while also seeking to maintain sufficient cash and readily-marketable securities that are easily convertible to cash, in order to meet the scheduled maturities of all long-term funding obligations on a consolidated basis for a 12-month period. Management does not expect to make any major funding or liquidity strategy changes in order to meet Basel III’s Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) standard.
During the third quarter of 2011, the Company issued $1.3 billion of senior unsecured debt with maturity of five years and a coupon of 2.8 percent. Subsequent to September 30, 2011, the Company issued (i) an incremental C$200 million of senior unsecured debt as part of a reopening of an existing C$400 million note that was issued during the second quarter of 2011, raising the amount of the total note to C$600 million, with a maturity of five years and a coupon of 3.6 percent, (ii) $1.07 billion of asset-backed securities from the Lending Trust with a maturity of three years, which included $1 billion of Class A at one-month LIBOR plus 17 basis points and $73 million Class B at one-month LIBOR plus 70 basis points, and (iii) $33 million and $91 million of subordinated Class B asset-backed securities, which had been issued and retained as part of a securitized transaction in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
The Company’s equity capital and funding strategies are designed, among other things, to maintain appropriate and stable unsecured debt ratings from the major credit rating agencies, Moody’s Investor Services (Moody’s), Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Fitch Ratings (Fitch) and Dominion Bond Rating Services (DBRS). Such ratings help to support the Company’s access to cost-effective unsecured funding as part of its overall financing programs. Ratings for the Company’s asset-backed securitization (ABS) activities are evaluated separately.

53


Table of Contents

Unsecured Debt Ratings
                 
 
Credit Agency   Entity Rated   Short-Term
Ratings
  Long-Term
Ratings
  Outlook
DBRS
  All rated entities   R-1   A   Stable
        (middle)   (high)    
Fitch   All rated entities   F1   A+   Stable
    TRS and rated            
Moody’s   operating   Prime-1   A2   Stable
    subsidiaries            
Moody’s   American Express   Prime-2   A3   Stable
    Company            
S&P   All rated entities   A-2   BBB+   Stable
                 
 
Downgrades in the Company’s unsecured debt or asset securitization program’s securities ratings could result in higher interest expense on the Company’s unsecured debt and asset securitizations, as well as higher fees related to borrowings under its unused lines of credit. In addition to increased funding costs, declines in credit ratings could reduce the Company’s borrowing capacity in the unsecured debt and asset securitization capital markets. The Company believes the change in its funding mix, which now includes an increasing proportion of FDIC-insured (as defined below) U.S. retail deposits, should reduce the impact that credit rating downgrades would have on the Company’s funding capacity and costs. However, downgrades to certain of the Company’s unsecured debt ratings that have occurred over the last several years have not caused a permanent increase in the Company’s borrowing costs or a reduction in its borrowing capacity.
Deposit Programs
The Company offers deposits within its American Express Centurion Bank and American Express Bank, FSB subsidiaries (together, the Banks). These funds are currently insured up to $250,000 per account through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The Company’s ability to obtain deposit funding and offer competitive interest rates is dependent on the Banks’ capital levels. The Company, through FSB, has a direct deposit-taking program, Personal Savings from American Express, to supplement its distribution of deposit products through third-party distribution channels. This program makes FDIC-insured certificates of deposit (CDs) and high-yield savings account products available directly to consumers.
During the third quarter of 2011, within U.S. retail deposits the Company focused on continuing to grow both the number of accounts and the total balances outstanding on savings accounts and CDs that were sourced directly with consumers through Personal Savings from American Express. The account and balance growth of Personal Savings from American Express replaced the maturities of CDs issued through third-party distribution channels.

54


Table of Contents

The Company held the following deposits as of:
               
 
    September 30,     December 31,
(Billions)   2011     2010
U.S. retail deposits:
             
Savings accounts — Direct
  $ 13.2     $ 7.7
Certificates of deposit:(a)
             
Direct
    0.9       1.1
Third party
    9.2       11.4
Sweep accounts — Third party
    9.2       8.9
Other deposits
    0.6       0.6
 
         
Total customer deposits
  $ 33.1     $ 29.7
 
         
 
             
 
 
(a)   The weighted average remaining maturity and weighted average rate at issuance on the total portfolio of U.S. retail CDs, issued through direct and third-party programs, were 19.4 months and 2.5 percent, respectively.
Asset Securitization Programs
The Company periodically securitizes cardmember receivables and loans arising from its card business, as the securitization market provides the Company with cost-effective funding. Securitization of cardmember receivables and loans is accomplished through the transfer of those assets to a trust, which in turn issues certificates or notes (securities) collateralized by the transferred assets to third-party investors. The proceeds from issuance are distributed to the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, as consideration for the transferred assets.
The receivables and loans being securitized are reported as owned assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and the related securities issued to third-party investors are reported as long-term debt.
Under the respective terms of the securitization trust agreements, the occurrence of certain triggering events could result in payment of trust expenses, establishment of reserve funds, or in a worst-case scenario, early amortization of investor certificates. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, no triggering events occurred resulting in funding of reserve accounts or early amortization.
The ability of issuers of asset-backed securities to obtain necessary credit ratings for their issuances has historically been based, in part, on qualification under the FDIC’s safe harbor rule for assets transferred in securitizations. In 2009 and 2010, the FDIC issued a series of changes to its safe harbor rule, with its new final rule for its securitization safe harbor, issued in 2010, requiring issuers to comply with a new set of requirements in order to qualify for the safe harbor. Issuances out of the American Express Credit Account Master Trust (the Lending Trust) are grandfathered under the new FDIC final rule. The trust for the Company’s cardmember charge receivable securitization (the Charge Trust) does not satisfy the criteria required to be covered by the FDIC’s new safe harbor rule, nor did it meet the requirements to be covered by the safe harbor rule existing prior to 2009. It was structured and continues to be structured such that the financial assets transferred to the Charge Trust would not be deemed to be property of the originating banks in the event the FDIC is appointed as a receiver or conservator of the originating banks. The Company has received confirmation from Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, which rate issuances from the Charge Trust, that they will continue to rate issuances from such trust in the same manner as they have historically, even though the Charge Trust does not satisfy the requirements to be covered by the FDIC’s safe harbor rule. Nevertheless, one or more of the rating agencies may ultimately conclude that in the absence of compliance with the safe harbor rule, the highest rating a Charge Trust security could receive would be based on the originating bank’s unsecured debt rating. If one or more rating agencies come to this conclusion, it could adversely impact the Company’s capacity and cost of using its Charge Trust as a source of funding for its business.

55


Table of Contents

Liquidity Management
The Company’s liquidity objective is to maintain access to a diverse set of cash, readily-marketable securities and contingent sources of liquidity, such that the Company can continuously meet expected future financing obligations and business requirements, even in the event it is unable to raise new funds under its regular funding programs. The Company has in place a Liquidity Risk Policy that sets out the Company’s approach to managing liquidity risk on an enterprise-wide basis.
The Company incurs and accepts liquidity risk arising in the normal course of offering its products and services. The liquidity risks that the Company is exposed to can arise from a variety of sources, and thus its liquidity management strategy includes a variety of parameters, assessments and guidelines, including but not limited to:
  Maintaining a diversified set of funding sources (refer to Funding Strategy section for more details);
  Maintaining unencumbered liquid assets and off-balance sheet liquidity sources; and
  Projecting cash inflows and outflows from a variety of sources and under a variety of scenarios, including contingent liquidity exposures such as unused cardmember lines of credit and collateral requirements for derivative transactions.
The Company’s current liquidity target is to have adequate liquidity in the form of excess cash and readily-marketable securities that are easily convertible into cash to satisfy all maturing long-term funding obligations for a 12-month period. In addition to its cash and readily-marketable securities, the Company maintains a variety of contingent liquidity resources, such as access to secured borrowings through its undrawn amount under the conduit facility and the Federal Reserve discount window as well as committed bank credit facilities.
As of September 30, 2011, the Company’s excess cash and readily-marketable securities available to fund long-term maturities were as follows:
         
 
(Billions)   Total  
Cash
  $ 19.5 (a)
Readily-marketable securities
    2.9 (b)
 
     
Total Liquidity Portfolio
    22.4  
Less:
       
Short-term obligations outstanding
    0.8 (c)
 
     
Cash and readily-marketable securities available to fund maturities
  $ 21.6  
 
     
 
       
 
 
(a)   Includes $24.9 billion classified as cash and cash equivalents, less $5.4 billion of cash available to fund day-to-day operations. Cash also includes $26 million classified as other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, which is held against certain forthcoming asset-backed securitization maturities.
 
(b)   Consists of certain available-for-sale investment securities (U.S. Treasury and agency securities, and government-guaranteed debt) that are considered highly liquid.
 
(c)   Consists of commercial paper and U.S. retail CDs with original maturities of three and six months.
The upcoming approximate maturities of the Company’s long-term unsecured debt, debt issued in connection with asset-backed securitizations and long-term certificates of deposit are as follows:
                               
 
(Billions)   Debt Maturities
    Unsecured     Asset-Backed     Certificates of      
Quarter Ending:   Debt     Securitizations     Deposit     Total
December 31, 2011
  $ 6.9     $     $ 1.3     $ 8.2
March 31, 2012
    1.0       0.5       1.2       2.7
June 30, 2012
    1.2       2.0       0.8       4.0
September 30, 2012
    0.6       3.2       0.4       4.2
 
                     
Total
  $ 9.7     $ 5.7     $ 3.7     $ 19.1
 
                     
 
                             
 
The Company’s financing needs for the next 12 months are expected to arise from these debt and deposit maturities as well as changes in business needs, including changes in outstanding cardmember loans and receivables as well as acquisition activities.

56


Table of Contents

The Company considers various factors in determining the amount of liquidity it maintains, such as economic and financial market conditions, seasonality in business operations, growth in its businesses, potential acquisitions or dispositions, the cost and availability of alternative liquidity sources, and regulatory and credit rating agency considerations.
The yield the Company receives on its cash and readily-marketable securities is, generally, less than the interest expense on the sources of funding for these balances. Thus, the Company incurs substantial net interest costs on these amounts.
The level of net interest costs will be dependent on the size of the Company’s cash and readily-marketable securities holdings, as well as the difference between its cost of funding these amounts and their investment yields.
Securitized Borrowing Capacity
The Company maintained a $3.0 billion committed, revolving, secured financing facility sponsored by and with liquidity backup provided by a syndicate of banks as of September 30, 2011. The facility is used in the ordinary course of business to fund seasonal working capital needs, as well as further enhance the Company’s contingent funding resources.
Federal Reserve Discount Window
The Banks are insured depository institutions that have the capability of borrowing from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, subject to the amount of qualifying collateral that they may pledge. The Federal Reserve has indicated that both credit and charge card receivables are a form of qualifying collateral for secured borrowing made through the discount window. Whether specific assets will be considered qualifying collateral for secured borrowings made through the discount window, and the amount that may be borrowed against the collateral, remain in the discretion of the Federal Reserve.
The Company had approximately $34.5 billion in U.S. credit card loans and charge card receivables as of September 30, 2011 that could be sold over time through its existing securitization trusts, or pledged in return for secured borrowings to provide further liquidity, subject in each case to applicable market conditions and eligibility criteria.
Committed Bank Credit Facilities
The Company maintained committed bank credit facilities as of September 30, 2011, as follows:
                                   
 
(Billions)   Parent Company            Credco                   Total(a)       
Committed(b)
  $ 0.8     $ 6.6     $ 7.4
Outstanding
  $     $ 4.5     $ 4.5
 
                     
 
 
(a)   Does not include the $3.0 billion Secured Borrowing Capacity described above.
 
(b)   Committed lines were supplied by 31 financial institutions as of September 30, 2011.
The Company’s committed facilities expire as follows:
       
 
(Billions)      
2012
  $ 2.9
2014 (a)
    2.0
2016 (a)
    2.5
 
   
Total
  $ 7.4
 
   
 
     
 
 
(a)   On August 3, 2011, the Company repaid AUD $4.1 billion on its Australian Syndicated Credit Facility and on the same day entered into a new Credit Facility agreement for AUD $4.5 billion, which was fully drawn.

57


Table of Contents

Certain Other Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of September 30, 2011, the Company had approximately $238 billion of unused credit available to cardmembers as part of established lending product agreements. Total unused credit available to cardmembers does not represent potential future cash requirements, as a significant portion of this unused credit will likely not be drawn. The Company’s charge card products have no pre-set limit and, therefore, are not reflected in unused credit available to cardmembers.
Cash Flows
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Cash flows from operating activities primarily include net income adjusted for (i) non-cash items included in net income, including provisions for losses, depreciation and amortization, deferred taxes, and stock-based compensation and (ii) changes in the balances of operating assets and liabilities, which can vary significantly in the normal course of business due to the amount and timing of various payments.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, net cash provided by operating activities of $7.0 billion decreased $239 million compared to $7.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 due to lower provisions for losses and changes in accounts payable and other liabilities, partially offset by higher net income and deferred taxes and other in 2011 and changes in other receivables and other assets.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
The Company’s investing activities primarily include funding cardmember loans and receivables and the Company’s available-for-sale investment portfolio.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, net cash provided by investing activities of $4.9 billion decreased $352 million compared to $5.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 due to a reduction in maturities, redemptions and sales of investments and a net increase in cardmember loans and receivables, partially offset by lower purchases of investments and a higher change in restricted cash in 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
The Company’s financing activities primarily include issuing and repaying debt, taking customer deposits, issuing and repurchasing its common shares, and paying dividends.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, net cash used in financing activities of $3.3 billion decreased $4.6 billion compared to $7.9 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 due to an increase in the issuance of long-term debt, an increase in customer deposits and higher net changes in short-term borrowings, partially offset by an increase in principal payments on long-term debt and cash outflows related to the repurchase of common shares in 2011 as compared to the same period in 2010.

58


Table of Contents

Certain Legislative, Regulatory and Other Developments
As a participant in the financial services industry, the Company is subject to a wide array of regulations applicable to its businesses. As a bank holding company and a financial holding company, the Company is subject to comprehensive examination and supervision by the Federal Reserve and to a range of laws and regulations that impact its business and operations. In addition, the extreme disruptions in the capital markets that commenced in mid-2007 and the resulting instability and failure and near failure of numerous financial institutions, as well as reports of widespread consumer abuse, have led to a number of changes in the financial services industry, including more intense supervision, enhanced enforcement activity, significant additional regulation and the formation of additional regulatory bodies. Although the long-term impact on the Company of much of the recent and pending legislative and regulatory initiatives remains uncertain, the Company expects that compliance requirements and expenditures will continue to rise for financial services firms, including the Company, as the legislation and rules become effective and implemented over the course of the next several years.
The CARD Act
The Company is subject to the provisions of the legislation known as the CARD Act, which was enacted in May 2009 to fundamentally reform credit card billing practices, pricing and disclosure requirements. This legislation accelerated the effective date and expanded the scope of amendments to the rules regarding Unfair or Deceptive Acts or Practices (UDAP) and the Truth in Lending Act that restrict certain credit and charge card practices and require expanded disclosures to consumers, which were adopted in December 2008 in the United States. Together, the legislation and the regulatory amendments include, among other matters, rules relating to the imposition by card issuers of interest rate increases on outstanding balances and the allocation of payments in respect of outstanding balances with different interest rates. Certain other provisions of the CARD Act require penalty fees to be reasonable and proportional in relation to the circumstances for which such fees are levied and require issuers to evaluate past interest rate increases twice per year to determine whether it is appropriate to reduce such increases.
The Company has made changes to its product terms and practices that are designed to comply with the CARD Act, while mitigating the impact on Company revenue of the changes required by the CARD Act and the regulatory amendments. These changes include instituting product-specific increases in pricing on purchases and cash advances, modifying the criteria pursuant to which the penalty rate of interest is imposed on a cardmember and assessing late fees on certain charge products at an earlier date than previously assessed. Although the Company believes its actions to mitigate the impact of the CARD Act have, to date, been largely effective (as evidenced in part by the net interest yield for its U.S. lending portfolio), the impacts of certain other provisions of the CARD Act are still subject to some uncertainty (such as the requirement to periodically reevaluate annual percentage rate (APR) increases). Accordingly, in the event the actions undertaken by the Company to date to offset the impact of the new legislation and regulations are not ultimately effective, they could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, including its revenue and net income.
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
In July 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Reform Act). The Dodd-Frank Reform Act is comprehensive in scope and contains a wide array of provisions intended to govern the practices and oversight of financial institutions and other participants in the financial markets. Among other matters, the law creates a new independent Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the Bureau), which has broad rulemaking authority over providers of credit, savings, payment and other consumer financial products and services with respect to certain federal consumer financial laws. Moreover, the Bureau has examination and enforcement authority with respect to certain federal consumer financial laws for some providers of consumer financial products and services, including the Company and its insured depository institution subsidiaries. The Bureau is directed to prohibit “unfair, deceptive or abusive” practices, and to ensure that all consumers have access to fair, transparent and competitive markets for consumer financial products and services.

59


Table of Contents

The Dodd-Frank Reform Act prohibits payment card networks from restricting a merchant from offering discounts or incentives to customers in order to encourage them to use a particular form of payment, or from restricting a merchant from setting certain minimum and maximum transaction amounts for credit cards, as long as any such discounts or incentives or any minimum or maximum transaction amounts do not discriminate among issuers or networks and comply with applicable federal or state disclosure requirements.
Under the Dodd-Frank Reform Act, the Federal Reserve is also authorized to regulate interchange fees paid to banks on debit card and certain general-use prepaid card transactions to ensure that they are “reasonable and proportional” to the cost of processing individual transactions, and to prohibit payment card networks and issuers from requiring transactions to be processed on a single payment network or fewer than two unaffiliated networks. The Federal Reserve issued its final rule on June 29, 2011, which provides that the regulations on interchange and routing do not apply to a three-party network like American Express when it acts as both the issuer and the network for its prepaid cards, and is therefore not a “payment card network” as that term is defined and used for the specific purposes of this final rule.
The Dodd-Frank Reform Act also authorizes the Federal Reserve to establish heightened capital, leverage and liquidity standards, risk management requirements, concentration limits on credit exposures, mandatory resolution plans (so-called “living wills”) and stress tests for, among others, large bank holding companies, such as the Company, that have greater than $50 billion in assets. In addition, certain derivative transactions will be required to be centrally cleared, which may create or increase collateral posting requirements for the Company.
Many provisions of the Dodd-Frank Reform Act require the adoption of rules for implementation. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Reform Act mandates multiple studies, which could result in additional legislative or regulatory action. These new rules and studies will be implemented and undertaken over a period of several years. Accordingly, the ultimate consequences of the Dodd-Frank Reform Act and its implementing regulations on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition are uncertain at this time.
Other Legislative and Regulatory Initiatives
The credit and charge card sector also faces continuing scrutiny in connection with the fees merchants pay to accept cards. Regulators and legislators outside the United States have focused on the way bankcard network members collectively set the “interchange” (that is, the fee paid by the bankcard merchant acquirer to the card issuing bank in “four party” payment networks, like Visa and MasterCard) and legislation was previously introduced in Congress designed to give merchants antitrust immunity to negotiate interchange collectively with card networks and to regulate certain card network practices. Although, unlike the Visa and MasterCard networks, the American Express network does not collectively set fees, antitrust actions and government regulation relating to merchant pricing could ultimately affect all networks. In certain countries, such as Australia, and in Europe where merchants in some member states are permitted by law to surcharge card purchases, regulators are investigating excessive surcharging by merchants, a practice which, if it becomes widespread, could have a material adverse effect on American Express’ business. In the European Union (the EU), the Consumer Rights Directive, which was adopted by the EU Council of Ministers in October 2011, would prohibit merchants from surcharging card purchases more than the merchants’ cost of acceptance. The EU member states have two years to adopt this legislation.
In addition to the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Reform Act regarding merchants’ ability to offer discounts or incentives to encourage customers’ use of a particular form of payment, a number of U.S. states are also considering legislation that would prohibit card networks from imposing similar conditions and restrictions on merchants.

60


Table of Contents

Also, other countries in which the Company operates have been considering and in some cases adopting similar legislation and rules that would impose changes on certain practices of card issuers, merchant acquirers and bankcard networks.
Any or all of the above changes to the legal and regulatory environment in which the Company operates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.
Refer to “Consolidated Capital Resources and Liquidity” for a discussion of the series of international capital and liquidity standards published by Basel.

61


Table of Contents

Business Segment Results
Beginning in the first quarter of 2011, the Company changed its segment allocation methodology to better align segment reporting with the Company’s previously announced management reorganization, which has been implemented over the last several quarters. The reorganization included the formation of the Enterprise Growth Group, which is reported in the Corporate & Other segment. Starting in the first quarter of 2011, certain business activities such as Loyalty Edge and Global Foreign Exchange Services that were previously managed and reported in the USCS and GCS operating segments, respectively, are now managed by Enterprise Growth and reported in the Corporate & Other segment. The reorganization also included consolidation of certain corporate support functions into the Global Services organization. Greater centralization of activities has led to modifications in the costs being allocated from the Corporate & Other segment to the reported operating segments starting in the first quarter of 2011. Prior period segment results have been revised for these changes.
In addition, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company completed its conversion to a new general ledger platform. This conversion enabled the Company to streamline its ledger reporting unit structure, resulting in a reconfiguration of intercompany accounts. These changes have the effect of altering intercompany balances among segments, thus altering reported total segment assets. Total segment assets presented since the first quarter of 2011 reflect the changes described above. This conversion had no impact on segment results, segment capital or return on segment capital metrics.
U.S. Card Services
Selected Income Statement Data
                               
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
    September 30,     September 30,
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010
Revenues
                             
Discount revenue, net card fees and other
  $ 2,710     $ 2,501     $ 7,892     $ 7,278
 
                     
Interest income
    1,329       1,334       3,886       4,060
Interest expense
    201       210       604       604
 
                     
Net interest income
    1,128       1,124       3,282       3,456
 
                     
Total revenues net of interest expense
    3,838       3,625       11,174       10,734
Provisions for losses
    143       274       418       1,480
 
                     
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
    3,695       3,351       10,756       9,254
 
                     
Expenses
                             
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services
    1,646       1,477       5,053       4,211
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses
    898       903       2,742       2,598
 
                     
Total
    2,544       2,380       7,795       6,809
 
                     
Pretax segment income
    1,151       971       2,961       2,445
Income tax provision
    418       376       1,008       920
 
                     
Segment income
  $ 733     $ 595     $ 1,953     $ 1,525
 
                     
 

62


Table of Contents

U.S. Card Services
Selected Statistical Information
                                 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Billions, except percentages and where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Card billed business
  $ 106.8     $ 95.2     $ 309.7     $ 274.7  
Total cards-in-force (millions)
    40.7       39.9       40.7       39.9  
Basic cards-in-force (millions)
    30.2       29.7       30.2       29.7  
Average basic cardmember spending (dollars)*
  $ 3,542     $ 3,219     $ 10,343     $ 9,313  
U.S. Consumer Travel:
                               
Travel sales (millions)
  $ 920     $ 828     $ 2,769     $ 2,403  
Travel commissions and fees/sales
    8.5 %     8.6 %     8.3 %     8.1 %
Total segment assets
  $ 87.9     $ 81.1     $ 87.9     $ 81.1  
Segment capital (millions)
  $ 8,233     $ 7,011     $ 8,233     $ 7,011  
Return on average segment capital (a)
    34.2 %     32.5 %     34.2 %     32.5 %
Return on average tangible segment capital (a)
    36.2 %     35.1 %     36.2 %     35.1 %
 
                       
Cardmember receivables:
                               
Total receivables
  $ 19.0     $ 16.5     $ 19.0     $ 16.5  
30 days past due as a % of total
    2.0 %     1.7 %     2.0 %     1.7 %
Average receivables
  $ 19.1     $ 16.9     $ 18.5     $ 16.9  
Net write-off rate — principal only (b)
    1.8 %     1.6 %     1.7 %     1.7 %
Net write-off rate — principal and fees (b)
    1.9 %     1.8 %     1.8 %     1.8 %
 
                       
Cardmember loans:
                               
Total loans
  $ 49.9     $ 48.7     $ 49.9     $ 48.7  
30 days past due loans as a % of total
    1.5 %     2.5 %     1.5 %     2.5 %
Average loans
  $ 50.2     $ 49.1     $ 49.9     $ 49.7  
Net write-off rate — principal only (b)
    2.6 %     5.2 %     3.2 %     6.2 %
Net write-off rate — principal, interest and fees (b)
    2.9 %     5.7 %     3.5 %     6.8 %
Net interest income divided by average loans (c)(d)
    8.9 %     9.1 %     8.8 %     9.3 %
Net interest yield on cardmember loans (c)
    9.0 %     9.3 %     9.0 %     9.5 %
 
 
*   Proprietary cards only.
 
(a)   Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($2.7 billion and $1.9 billion for the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($7.8 billion and $6.0 billion for the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively). Return on average tangible segment capital is computed in the same manner as return on average segment capital except the computation of average tangible segment capital, a non-GAAP measure, excludes from average segment capital average goodwill and other intangibles of $436 million and $454 million as of September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company believes return on average tangible segment capital is a useful measure of the profitability of its business.
 
(b)   Refer to “Selected Statistical Information”, footnote (b) on page 41.
 
(c)   See table on the following page for calculations of net interest yield on cardmember loans, a non-GAAP measure, and net interest income divided by average loans, a GAAP measure.
 
(d)   Refer to “Selected Statistical Information”, footnote (f) on page 42.

63


Table of Contents

U.S. Card Services
Selected Statistical Information
(continued)
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Cardmember Loans
                                 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions, except percentages or where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Net interest income
  $ 1,128     $ 1,124     $ 3,282     $ 3,456  
Average loans (billions)
  $ 50.2     $ 49.1     $ 49.9     $ 49.7  
Adjusted net interest income
  $ 1,142     $ 1,150     $ 3,334     $ 3,541  
Adjusted average loans (billions)
  $ 50.2     $ 49.2     $ 49.7     $ 49.7  
Net interest income divided by average loans
    8.9 %     9.1 %     8.8 %     9.3 %
Net interest yield on cardmember loans
    9.0 %     9.3 %     9.0 %     9.5 %
 
Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010
U.S. Card Services reported segment income increased $138 million or 23 percent and $428 million or 28 percent to $733 million and $2.0 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods a year ago.
Total revenues net of interest expense increased $213 million or 6 percent and $440 million or 4 percent to $3.8 billion and $11.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, primarily driven by higher discount revenue, higher travel commissions and fees, partially offset by lower other commissions and fees and decreased net interest income.
Discount revenue, net card fees and other revenues increased $209 million or 8 percent and $614 million or 8 percent to $2.7 billion and $7.9 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, primarily due to higher discount revenue resulting from billed business growth and higher travel commissions and fees due to an increase in travel sales, partially offset by lower other commissions and fees due to reduced conversion revenues. Billed business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased 12 percent and 13 percent, primarily driven by a 10 percent and 11 percent higher average spending per proprietary basic cards-in-force, as compared to the same periods in the prior year.
Interest income of $1.3 billion and $3.9 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, decreased $5 million or less than 1 percent and $174 million or 4 percent, respectively, primarily due to a lower yield that was partially offset by higher average cardmember loans.
Provisions for losses of $143 million and $418 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, decreased $131 million or 48 percent and $1.1 billion or 72 percent, respectively, primarily reflecting improved cardmember loan credit trends, partially offset by a higher charge card provision resulting from higher cardmember receivable balances and a higher net write-off rate. The lending net write-off rate decreased to 2.6 percent and 3.2 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 5.2 percent and 6.2 percent for the same periods in the prior year. The charge card net write-off rate was 1.8 percent and 1.7 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 1.6 percent and 1.7 percent for the same periods in the prior year.
Expenses of $2.5 billion and $7.8 billion increased $164 million or 7 percent and $986 million or 14 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, mainly due to increased marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services expenses, and, to a lesser extent, higher salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses.

64


Table of Contents

Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services expenses of $1.6 billion and $5.1 billion increased $169 million or 11 percent and $842 million or 20 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, driven by increased rewards costs, which reflect greater rewards-related spending volumes, higher co-brand expense and an increase in the ultimate redemption rate estimate. In addition, cardmember service costs increased as a result of new benefits offered to cardmembers. These increases were partially offset by lower marketing and promotion costs due to lower product media spending and slightly lower card acquisition and loyalty spending.
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses of $898 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $5 million or 1 percent, reflecting lower collections costs from outside agencies and a benefit related to hedging the Company’s fixed-rate debt, partially offset by higher salaries and benefits costs and higher data processing costs. Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses of $2.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, increased $144 million or 6 percent, reflecting investments in various customer service initiatives, reduced benefits related to hedging the Company’s fixed-rate debt, as well as an expense for the reduction of amounts previously capitalized related to software developed by third-party vendors.
The effective tax rate was 36 percent and 34 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflects the favorable resolution of certain prior years’ tax items. The effective tax rate was 39 percent and 38 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.
International Card Services
Selected Income Statement Data
                               
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
    September 30,     September 30,
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010
Revenues
                             
Discount revenue, net card fees and other
  $ 1,132     $ 926     $ 3,233     $ 2,668
 
                     
Interest income
    323       342       995       1,047
Interest expense
    108       105       322       310
 
                     
Net interest income
    215       237       673       737
 
                     
Total revenues net of interest expense
    1,347       1,163       3,906       3,405
Provisions for losses
    101       64       184       312
 
                     
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
    1,246       1,099       3,722       3,093
 
                     
Expenses
                             
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services
    460       428       1,360       1,154
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses
    597       540       1,737       1,452
 
                     
Total
    1,057       968       3,097       2,606
 
                     
Pretax segment income
    189       131       625       487
Income tax provision
    (32 )     (13 )     54       49
 
                     
Segment income
  $ 221     $ 144     $ 571     $ 438
 
                     
 

65


Table of Contents

International Card Services
Selected Statistical Information
                                 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Billions, except percentages and where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Card billed business
  $ 31.6     $ 27.1     $ 91.4     $ 77.0  
Total cards-in-force (millions)
    15.2       15.0       15.2       15.0  
Basic cards-in-force (millions)
    10.4       10.4       10.4       10.4  
Average basic cardmember spending (dollars)*
  $ 3,032     $ 2,609     $ 8,798     $ 7,397  
International Consumer Travel:
                               
Travel sales (millions)
  $ 346     $ 291     $ 989     $ 814  
Travel commissions and fees/sales
    7.5 %     7.9 %     7.6 %     7.7 %
Total segment assets
  $ 27.8     $ 21.9     $ 27.8     $ 21.9  
Segment capital (millions)
  $ 2,927     $ 2,077     $ 2,927     $ 2,077  
Return on average segment capital (a)
    25.3 %     23.6 %     25.3 %     23.6 %
Return on average tangible segment capital (a)
    45.5 %     32.1 %     45.5 %     32.1 %
 
                       
Cardmember receivables:
                               
Total receivables
  $ 6.7     $ 6.2     $ 6.7     $ 6.2  
90 days past billing as a % of total
    0.9 %     1.0 %     0.9 %     1.0 %
Net loss ratio (as a % of charge volume) (b)
    0.16 %     0.14 %     0.15 %     0.27 %
 
                       
Cardmember loans:
                               
Total loans
  $ 8.3     $ 8.5     $ 8.3     $ 8.5  
30 days past due loans as a % of total
    1.9 %     2.8 %     1.9 %     2.8 %
Average loans
  $ 8.7     $ 8.3     $ 8.8     $ 8.5  
Net write-off rate — principal only (c)
    2.5 %     4.3 %     2.9 %     4.9 %
Net write-off rate — principal, interest and fees (c)
    3.1 %     5.1 %     3.5 %     5.8 %
Net interest income divided by average loans (d)(e)
    9.8 %     11.3 %     10.2 %     11.6 %
Net interest yield on cardmember loans (d)
    9.9 %     11.1 %     10.1 %     11.3 %
 
 
*   Proprietary cards only.
 
(a)   Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($670 million and $507 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($2.6 billion and $2.1 billion for the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively). Return on average tangible segment capital is computed in the same manner as return on average segment capital except the computation of average tangible segment capital, a non-GAAP measure, excludes from average segment capital average goodwill and other intangibles of $1.2 billion and $567 million as of September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company believes return on average tangible segment capital is a useful measure of the profitability of its business.
 
(b)   Effective January 1, 2010, the Company revised the time period in which past due cardmember receivables in ICS are written off to when they are 180 days past due or earlier, consistent with applicable bank regulatory guidance and the write-off methodology adopted for USCS in the fourth quarter of 2008. Previously, receivables were written off when they were 360 days past billing or earlier. Therefore, the net write-offs for the first quarter of 2010 include net write-offs of approximately $60 million for ICS resulting from this write-off methodology change, which increased the net loss ratio and decreased the 90 days past billing metric for this segment, but did not have a substantial impact on provisions for losses.
 
(c)   Refer to “Selected Statistical Information”, footnote (b) on page 41.
 
(d)   See table on the following page for calculations of net interest yield on cardmember loans, a non-GAAP measure, and net interest income divided by average loans, a GAAP measure.
 
(e)   Refer to “Selected Statistical Information”, footnote (f) on page 42.

66


Table of Contents

International Card Services
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Cardmember Loans
                                 
 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions, except percentage and where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Net interest income
  $ 215     $ 237     $ 673     $ 737  
Average loans (billions)
  $ 8.7     $ 8.3     $ 8.8     $ 8.5  
Adjusted net interest income
  $ 214     $ 231     $ 661     $ 718  
Adjusted average loans (billions)
  $ 8.6     $ 8.2     $ 8.7     $ 8.4  
Net interest income divided by average loans
    9.8 %     11.3 %     10.2 %     11.6 %
Net interest yield on cardmember loans
    9.9 %     11.1 %     10.1 %     11.3 %
 
Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
International Card Services reported segment income increased $77 million or 53 percent and $133 million or 30 percent to $221 million and $571 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods a year ago. Both the revenues and expenses were impacted by a weaker dollar compared to the same periods last year.
Total revenues net of interest expense increased $184 million or 16 percent and $501 million or 15 percent to $1.3 billion and $3.9 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods a year ago, primarily due to increased discount revenue, net card fees and other.
Discount revenue, net card fees and other revenues increased $206 million or 22 percent and $565 million or 21 percent, to $1.1 billion and $3.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods in prior year, primarily driven by higher discount revenue due to billed business growth, the inclusion of Loyalty Partner’s revenues following the closing of the acquisition in the first quarter of 2011 and higher net card fees due to growth in charge cards compared to the same periods a year ago. Billed business for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased 17 percent and 19 percent, respectively, reflecting a 16 percent and 19 percent increase in average spending per proprietary basic cards-in-force, as compared to the same periods in the prior year.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, adjusting for the impacts of foreign currency exchange translation3, billed business increased 9 percent and 10 percent, respectively, and average spending per proprietary basic cards-in-force increased 8 percent and 10 percent. Billed business outside the United States increased 9 percent in Latin America and Canada, 10 percent in Japan, Asia Pacific and Australia, and 7 percent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the three months ended September 30, 2011, and 10 percent in Latin America and Canada, 10 percent in Japan, Asia Pacific and Australia, and 9 percent in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.
Interest income of $323 million and $995 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, decreased $19 million or 6 percent and $52 million or 5 percent, as compared to the same period a year ago, reflecting a lower yield on cardmember loans, partially offset by higher average cardmember loans.
 
3   The foreign currency adjusted information assumes a constant exchange rate between the periods being compared for purposes of currency translation into U.S. dollars (i.e., assumes the foreign exchange rates used to determine results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 apply to the periods against which such results are being compared). The Company believes the presentation of information on a foreign currency adjusted basis is helpful to investors by making it easier to compare the Company’s performance in one period to that of another period without the variability caused by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

67


Table of Contents

Interest expense of $108 million and $322 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, increased $3 million or 3 percent and $12 million or 4 percent, respectively, as compared to the same periods a year ago, driven by an increase in funding requirements due to increased cardmember receivables balances.
Provisions for losses of $101 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, increased $37 million or 58 percent as compared to the same period a year ago, primarily reflecting higher charge card provision expense related to higher receivable balances and slightly higher cardmember lending provision expense related to a higher reserve release in the prior year. Provision for losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, decreased $128 million or 41 percent to $184 million, as compared to the same period a year ago, primarily reflecting lower cardmember lending provision expense due to improved credit performance. The charge card net loss ratio (as a percentage of charge volume) was 0.16 percent and 0.15 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 0.14 and 0.27 percent for the same periods in the prior year. The lending net write-off rate was 2.5 percent and 2.9 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 4.3 percent and 4.9 percent for the same periods in the prior year.
Expenses of $1.1 billion and $3.1 billion increased $89 million or 9 percent and $491 million or 19 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods a year ago, due to higher marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services costs and increased salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses.
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services expenses of $460 million and $1.4 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, increased $32 million or 7 percent and $206 million or 18 percent, respectively, as compared to the same periods in the prior year, primarily due to greater volume-related rewards costs and co-brand expenses and the inclusion of Loyalty Partner following the closing of the acquisition in the first quarter of 2011.
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses of $597 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011, increased $57 million or 11 percent as compared to the same period a year ago, reflecting the inclusion of Loyalty Partner expenses and severance-related costs, partially offset by a benefit in the current period related to hedging income statement foreign exchange exposures versus a loss in the prior year. Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses of $1.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, increased $285 million or 20 percent as compared to the same period a year ago, reflecting the inclusion of Loyalty Partner expenses and severance-related costs, greater technology development expenditures and increased investments in the sales force, partially offset by a lower loss in the current period as compared to the prior period related to hedging income statement foreign exchange exposures.
The effective tax rate was (17) percent and 9 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus (10) percent and 10 percent for the same periods in 2010. The tax rates in each of the periods primarily reflect the impact of recurring tax benefits on varying levels of pretax income. This segment reflects the favorable impact of the consolidated tax benefit related to its ongoing funding activities outside the United States, which is allocated to ICS under the Company’s internal tax allocation process. In addition, the current year reflects the allocated share of a tax benefit related to a distribution of foreign subsidiary earnings with associated foreign tax credits.

68


Table of Contents

Global Commercial Services
Selected Income Statement Data
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Revenues
                               
Discount revenue, net card fees and other
  $ 1,195     $ 1,128     $ 3,631     $ 3,217  
 
                       
Interest income
    3       2       7       5  
Interest expense
    68       58       196       162  
 
                       
Net interest expense
    (65 )     (56 )     (189 )     (157 )
 
                       
Total revenues net of interest expense
    1,130       1,072       3,442       3,060  
Provisions for losses
    (17 )     21       41       127  
 
                       
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
    1,147       1,051       3,401       2,933  
 
                       
Expenses
                               
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services
    157       109       420       327  
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses
    721       716       2,182       2,023  
 
                       
Total
    878       825       2,602       2,350  
 
                       
Pretax segment income
    269       226       799       583  
Income tax provision
    72       76       241       236  
 
                       
Segment income
  $ 197     $ 150     $ 558     $ 347  
 
                       
 

69


Table of Contents

Global Commercial Services
Selected Statistical Information
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Billions, except percentages and where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Card billed business
  $ 38.7     $ 33.2     $ 114.6     $ 96.9  
Total cards-in-force (millions)
    7.0       7.0       7.0       7.0  
Basic cards-in-force (millions)
    7.0       7.0       7.0       7.0  
Average basic cardmember spending (dollars)*
  $ 5,520     $ 4,734     $ 16,245     $ 13,842  
Global Corporate Travel:
                               
Travel sales
  $ 4.8     $ 4.2     $ 14.9     $ 12.9  
Travel commissions and fees/sales
    7.8 %     9.3 %     7.7 %     8.1 %
Total segment assets
  $ 20.3     $ 18.4     $ 20.3     $ 18.4  
Segment capital (millions)
  $ 3,529     $ 3,633     $ 3,529     $ 3,633  
Return on average segment capital (a)
    18.2 %     12.3 %     18.2 %     12.3 %
Return on average tangible segment capital (a)
    37.7 %     26.6 %     37.7 %     26.6 %
Cardmember receivables:
                               
Total receivables
  $ 13.9     $ 12.2     $ 13.9     $ 12.2  
90 days past billing as a % of total
    0.7 %     0.8 %     0.7 %     0.8 %
Net loss ratio (as a % of charge volume) (b)
    0.06 %     0.06 %     0.06 %     0.13 %
 
 
*   Proprietary cards only.
 
(a)   Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($661 million and $442 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($3.6 billion for both the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively). Return on average tangible segment capital is computed in the same manner as return on average segment capital except the computation of average tangible segment capital, a non-GAAP measure, excludes from average segment capital average goodwill and other intangibles of $1.9 billion for both periods as of September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company believes return on average tangible segment capital is a useful measure of the profitability of its business.
 
(b)   Effective January 1, 2010, the Company revised the time period in which past due cardmember receivables in GCS are written off to when they are 180 days past due or earlier, consistent with applicable bank regulatory guidance and the write-off methodology adopted for USCS in the fourth quarter of 2008. Previously, receivables were written off when they were 360 days past billing or earlier. Therefore, the net write-offs for the first quarter of 2010 include net write-offs of approximately $48 million for GCS resulting from this write-off methodology change, which increased the net loss ratio and decreased the 90 days past billing metric for this segment, but did not have a substantial impact on provisions for losses.
Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
Global Commercial Services reported segment income of $197 million and $558 million, an increase of $47 million or 31 percent and $211 million or 61 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods a year ago.
Total revenues net of interest expense increased $58 million or 5 percent and $382 million or 12 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, to $1.1 billion and $3.4 billion, respectively, due to increased discount revenue, net card fees and other, partially offset by higher interest expense.
Discount revenue, net card fees and other revenues of $1.2 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2011, increased $67 million or 6 percent, primarily due to higher discount revenue resulting from 17 percent billed business growth, partially offset by larger client incentive payments and lower travel commissions and fees due to a benefit in the prior year associated with revenue recognized upon the signing of certain supplier contracts. The 17 percent increase in billed business reflects a 17 percent increase in average spending per proprietary basic cards-in-force. Discount revenue, net card fees and other revenues of $3.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, increased $414 million or 13 percent, primarily due to higher discount revenue resulting from 18 percent billed business growth. The 18 percent increase in billed business reflects a 17 percent increase in average spending per proprietary basic cards-in-force.

70


Table of Contents

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, adjusting for the impacts of foreign currency exchange translation4, billed business increased 14 percent and 15 percent, respectively, and average spending per proprietary basic cards-in-force increased 14 percent for both periods. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, billed business volume increased 14 percent and 15 percent both within the United States and outside the United States.
Travel commissions and fees decreased $15 million or 4 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2011, due to a benefit in the prior year associated with revenue recognized upon the signing of certain supplier contracts. Travel commissions and fees increased $106 million or 10 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, due to greater travel sales.
Interest expense increased $10 million or 17 percent and $34 million or 21 percent to $68 million and $196 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, primarily driven by higher funding requirements due to increased average cardmember receivables balances.
Provisions for losses decreased $38 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 to $(17) million primarily driven by changes in estimates for certain credit reserves. Provisions for losses decreased $86 million or 68 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 to $41 million primarily driven by lower write-offs and lower reserve requirements as of September 30, 2011. The charge card net loss ratio (as a percentage of charge volume) was 0.06 percent for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 0.06 percent and 0.13 percent for the same periods in the prior year.
Expenses were $878 million and $2.6 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, an increase of $53 million or 6 percent and $252 million or 11 percent, respectively, mainly due to increased marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services expenses, and salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses.
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services expenses increased $48 million or 44 percent and $93 million or 28 percent to $157 million and $420 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, primarily reflecting higher volume-related rewards costs and higher redemption levels, which led to an increase in the ultimate redemption rate estimate.
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses increased $5 million or 1 percent and $159 million or 8 percent to $721 million and $2.2 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, reflecting increased salary and other employee benefit costs, reengineering costs and technology investments.
The effective tax rate was 27 percent and 30 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, which includes the allocated share of a tax benefit related to a distribution of foreign subsidiary earnings with associated foreign tax credits. The effective tax rate was 34 percent and 40 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, which includes the impact of a valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets associated with certain of the Company’s non-U.S. travel operations.
 
4   Refer to footnote 3 on page 67 under ICS results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 relating to changes in foreign exchange rates.

71


Table of Contents

Global Network & Merchant Services
Selected Income Statement Data
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Millions)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Revenues
                               
Discount revenue, fees and other
  $ 1,188     $ 1,048     $ 3,459     $ 2,986  
 
                       
Interest income
    2       1       4       3  
Interest expense
    (60 )     (51 )     (163 )     (144 )
 
                       
Net interest income
    62       52       167       147  
 
                       
Total revenues net of interest expense
    1,250       1,100       3,626       3,133  
Provisions for losses
    21       13       55       46  
 
                       
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
    1,229       1,087       3,571       3,087  
 
                       
Expenses
                               
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services
    196       208       575       583  
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses
    519       469       1,519       1,296  
 
                       
Total
    715       677       2,094       1,879  
 
                       
Pretax segment income
    514       410       1,477       1,208  
Income tax provision
    182       158       508       442  
 
                       
Segment income
  $ 332     $ 252     $ 969     $ 766  
 
                       
 
Global Network & Merchant Services
Selected Statistical Information
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
(Billions, except percentages and where indicated)   2011     2010     2011     2010  
Global Card billed business
  $ 207.7     $ 179.3     $ 603.2     $ 515.6  
Global Network & Merchant Services:
                               
Total segment assets
  $ 16.0     $ 12.3     $ 16.0     $ 12.3  
Segment capital (millions)
  $ 1,979     $ 1,831     $ 1,979     $ 1,831  
Return on average segment capital(a)
    64.4 %     61.2 %     64.4 %     61.2 %
Return on average tangible segment capital(a)
    70.8 %     62.7 %     70.8 %     62.7 %
Global Network Services:(b)
                               
Card billed business
  $ 30.1     $ 23.1     $ 85.4     $ 64.8  
Total cards-in-force (millions)
    32.9       27.1       32.9       27.1  
 
 
(a)   Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($1.2 billion and $966 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($1.9 billion and $1.6 billion for the twelve months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively). Return on average tangible segment capital is computed in the same manner as return on average segment capital except the computation of average tangible segment capital, a non-GAAP measure, excludes from average segment capital average goodwill and other intangibles of $174 million and $37 million as of September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company believes return on average tangible segment capital is a useful measure of the profitability of its business.
 
(b)   Since the third quarter of 2010, for non-proprietary retail co-brand partners, Global Network Services metrics exclude cardmember accounts which have no out-of-store spend activity during the prior 12-month period.

72


Table of Contents

Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
Global Network & Merchant Services reported segment income of $332 million and $969 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, a $80 million or 32 percent and $203 million or 27 percent increase from the same periods a year ago.
Total revenues net of interest expense increased $150 million or 14 percent and $493 million or 16 percent to $1.3 billion and $3.6 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010, primarily due to increased discount revenue, net card fees and other.
Discount revenue, fees and other increased $140 million or 13 percent and $473 million or 16 percent to $1.2 billion and $3.5 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010, reflecting an increase in merchant-related revenues, driven by a 16 percent increase in global card billed business, as well as higher volume driven GNS-related revenues.
Expenses increased $38 million or 6 percent and $215 million or 11 percent to $715 million and $2.1 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010, due to higher salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses.
Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services expenses decreased $12 million or 6 percent and $8 million or 1 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, reflecting lower merchant advertising expense and lower brand media spending.
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses increased $50 million or 11 percent and $223 million or 17 percent to $519 million and $1.5 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2010, reflecting increased salary and other employee benefit costs and higher third-party merchant sales-force commissions.
The effective tax rate was 35 percent and 34 percent for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 versus 39 percent and 37 percent for the same periods in 2010.
Corporate & Other
Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010
Corporate & Other had net expense of $248 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to net expense of $48 million for the same period in the prior year. Results for the three months ended September 30, 2011 reflected $43 million of after-tax income related to the Visa litigation settlements. Results for the three months ended September 30, 2010 reflected $93 million and $43 million of after-tax income related to the MasterCard and Visa litigation settlements, respectively. The Company no longer receives payments on the MasterCard litigation settlement and after the three months ending December 31, 2011, the Company will no longer receive payments on the Visa litigation settlement. Net expense for the three months ended September 30, 2011 reflected costs related to various investments in Enterprise Growth initiatives, expenses related to legal exposures, higher Global Prepaid income and $16 million of after-tax expense related to the Company’s reengineering activities. Net expense for the three months ended September 30, 2010 reflected higher investments in the Global Prepaid business and Enterprise Growth initiatives, and $5 million of after-tax expense related to the Company’s reengineering efforts.

73


Table of Contents

Corporate & Other had net expense of $344 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to net expense of $81 million for the same period in the prior year. Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflected $186 million and $129 million of after-tax income related to the MasterCard and Visa litigation settlements, respectively. Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 reflected $279 million and $129 million of after-tax income related to the MasterCard and Visa litigation settlements, respectively. Net expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 reflected costs related to various investments in Enterprise Growth initiatives, higher Global Prepaid income and $32 million of after-tax expense related to the Company’s reengineering activities.

74


Table of Contents

OTHER REPORTING MATTERS
Glossary of Selected Terminology
Adjusted average loans — Represents average cardmember loans excluding the impact of deferred card fees, net of deferred direct acquisition costs of cardmember loans.
Adjusted net interest income — Represents net interest income allocated to the Company’s cardmember loans portfolio excluding the impact of card fees on loans and balance transfer fees attributable to the Company’s cardmember loans.
Asset securitizations — Asset securitization involves the transfer and sale of receivables or loans to a special purpose entity created for the securitization activity, typically a trust. The trust, in turn, issues securities, commonly referred to as asset-backed securities, that are secured by the transferred receivables or loans. The trust uses the proceeds from the sale of such securities to pay the purchase price for the underlying receivables or loans.
Average discount rate — This calculation is designed to reflect pricing at merchants accepting general purpose American Express cards. It represents the percentage of billed business (both proprietary and Global Network Services) retained by the Company from merchants it acquires, prior to payments to third parties unrelated to merchant acceptance.
Basic cards-in-force — Proprietary basic consumer cards-in-force includes basic cards issued to the primary account owner and does not include additional supplemental cards issued on that account. Proprietary basic small business and corporate cards-in-force include basic and supplemental cards issued to employee cardmembers. Non-proprietary basic cards-in-force includes cards that are issued and outstanding under network partnership agreements, except for supplemental cards and retail co-brand cardmember accounts which have no out-of-store spend activity during the prior 12-month period.
Billed business — Includes activities (including cash advances) related to proprietary cards, cards issued under network partnership agreements (non-proprietary billed business), and certain insurance fees charged on proprietary cards. In-store spend activity within retail co-brand portfolios in Global Network Services, from which the Company earns no revenue, is not included in non-proprietary billed business. Card billed business is reflected in the United States or outside the United States based on where the cardmember is domiciled.
Capital ratios — Represents the minimum standards established by the regulatory agencies as a measure to determine whether the regulated entity has sufficient capital to absorb on and off-balance sheet losses beyond current loss accrual estimates.
Card acquisition — Primarily represents the issuance of new cards to either new or existing cardmembers through marketing and promotion efforts.
Cardmember — The individual holder of an issued American Express branded charge or credit card.
Cardmember loans — Represents the outstanding amount due from cardmembers for charges made on their American Express credit cards, as well as any interest charges and card-related fees. Cardmember loans also include balances with extended payment terms on certain charge card products and are net of unearned revenue.
Cardmember receivables — Represents the outstanding amount due from cardmembers for charges made on their American Express charge cards as well as any card-related fees.

75


Table of Contents

Charge cards — Represents cards that generally carry no pre-set spending limits and are primarily designed as a method of payment and not as a means of financing purchases. Charge cardmembers generally must pay the full amount billed each month. No finance charges are assessed on charge cards. Each charge card transaction is authorized based on its likely economics reflecting a customer’s most recent credit information and spend patterns.
Credit cards — Represents cards that have a range of revolving payment terms, grace periods, and rate and fee structures.
Discount revenue — Represents revenue earned from fees charged to merchants with whom the Company has entered into a card acceptance agreement for processing cardmember transactions. The discount fee generally is deducted from the Company’s payment reimbursing the merchant for cardmember purchases. Such amounts are reduced by contra-revenue such as payments to third-party card issuing partners, cash-back reward costs and corporate incentive payments.
Interest expense — Interest expense includes interest incurred primarily to fund cardmember loans, charge card product receivables, general corporate purposes, and liquidity needs, and is recognized as incurred. Interest expense is divided principally into three categories: (i) deposits, which primarily relates to interest expense on deposits taken from customers and institutions, (ii) short-term borrowings, which primarily relates to interest expense on commercial paper, federal funds purchased, bank overdrafts and other short-term borrowings, and (iii) long-term debt, which primarily relates to interest expense on the Company’s long-term debt.
Interest income — Interest income includes (i) interest and fees on loans, (ii) interest and dividends on investment securities and (iii) interest income on deposits with banks and others.
Interest and fees on loans includes interest on loans, which is assessed using the average daily balance method for loans owned. These amounts are recognized based upon the principal amount outstanding in accordance with the terms of the applicable account agreement until the outstanding balance is paid or written-off. Loan fees are deferred and recognized in interest income on a straight-line basis over the 12-month card membership period, net of deferred direct card acquisition costs and a reserve for projected membership cancellation.
Interest and dividends on investment securities primarily relates to the Company’s performing fixed-income securities. Interest income is accrued as earned using the effective interest method, which adjusts the yield for security premiums and discounts, fees and other payments, so that the related investment security recognizes a constant rate of return on the outstanding balance throughout its term. These amounts are recognized until these securities are in default or when it is likely that future interest payments will not be made as scheduled.
Interest income on deposits with banks and other is recognized as earned, and primarily relates to the placement of cash in excess of near-term funding requirements in interest-bearing time deposits, overnight sweep accounts, and other interest bearing demand and call accounts.
Merchant acquisition — Represents the signing of merchants to accept American Express-branded cards.
Net card fees — Represents the charge card membership fees earned during the period. These fees are recognized as revenue over the covered card membership period (typically one year), net of provision for projected refunds for cancellation of card membership.

76


Table of Contents

Net interest yield on cardmember loans — Net interest yield on cardmember loans is computed by dividing adjusted net interest income by adjusted average loans, computed on an annualized basis. The calculation of net interest yield on cardmember loans includes interest that is deemed uncollectible. For all presentations of net interest yield on cardmember loans, reserves and net write-offs related to uncollectible interest are recorded through provisions for losses — cardmember loans; therefore, such reserves and net write-offs are not included in the net interest yield calculation.
Net loss ratio — Represents the ratio of charge card write-offs consisting of principal (resulting from authorized and unauthorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries, on cardmember receivables expressed as a percentage of gross amounts billed to cardmembers.
Net write-off rate principal only — Represents the amount of cardmember loans or USCS cardmember receivables written off consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), less recoveries, as a percentage of the average loan balance or USCS average receivables during the period.
Net write-off rate principal, interest and/or fees — Includes, in the calculation of the net write-off rate, amounts for interest and fees in addition to principal for cardmember loans, and fees in addition to principal for cardmember receivables.
Return on average equity — Calculated by dividing one-year period net income by one-year average total shareholders’ equity.
Return on average segment capital — Calculated by dividing one-year period segment income by one-year average segment capital.
Return on average tangible segment capital — Computed in the same manner as return on average segment capital except the computation of average tangible segment capital excludes from average segment capital average goodwill and other intangibles.
Risk-weighted assets — Refer to Capital Strategy section for definition.
Segment capital — Represents capital allocated to a segment based upon specific business operational needs, risk measures, and regulatory capital requirements.
Stored value and prepaid products — Includes Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products such as gift cheques and cards as well as reloadable Travelers Cheque cards. These products are sold as safe and convenient alternatives to currency for purchasing goods and services.
Tier 1 leverage ratio — Refer to Capital Strategy section for definition.
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio — Refer to Capital Strategy section for definition.
Total cards-in-force —Represents the number of cards that are issued and outstanding. Non-proprietary cards-in-force includes all cards that are issued and outstanding under network partnership agreements, except for retail co-brand cardmember accounts which have no out-of-store spend activity during the prior 12-month period.
Total risk-based capital ratio — Refer to Capital Strategy section for definition.
Travel sales — Represents the total dollar amount of travel transaction volume for airline, hotel, car rental, and other travel arrangements made for consumers and corporate clients. The Company earns revenue on these transactions by charging a transaction or management fee.

77


Table of Contents

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Market risk is the risk to earnings or value resulting from movements in market prices. The Company’s market risk exposure is primarily generated by interest rate risk in its card, insurance and Travelers Cheque businesses, as well as its investment portfolios and foreign exchange risk in its operations outside the United States. As described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (refer to “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”), the detrimental effect on the Company’s pretax earnings of:
    a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates would be approximately $149 million ($97 million related to the U.S. dollar);
 
    a hypothetical 10 percent strengthening of the U.S. dollar related to anticipated overseas operating results for the next 12 months would be approximately $152 million.
These sensitivities are based on the 2010 year-end positions, and assume that all relevant maturities and types of interest rates and foreign exchange rates that affect the Company’s results would increase instantaneously and simultaneously and to the same degree. There were no material changes in these market risks since December 31, 2010.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective and designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There have not been any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

78


Table of Contents

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements, which address the Company’s expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the following:
   
changes in global economic and business conditions, including consumer and business spending, the availability and cost of credit, unemployment and political conditions, all of which may significantly affect spending on American Express cards, delinquency rates, loan balances and other aspects of our business and results of operations;
 
   
changes in capital and credit market conditions, including sovereign credit worthiness, which may significantly affect the Company’s ability to meet its liquidity needs, access to capital and cost of capital, including changes in interest rates; changes in market conditions affecting the valuation of the Company’s assets; or any reduction in the Company’s credit ratings or those of its subsidiaries, which could materially increase the cost and other terms of the Company’s funding, restrict its access to the capital markets or result in contingent payments under contracts;
 
   
litigation, such as class actions or proceedings brought by governmental and regulatory agencies (including the lawsuit filed against the Company by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and certain state attorneys general), that could result in (i) the imposition of behavioral remedies against the Company or the Company voluntarily making certain changes to its business practices, the effects of which in either case could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial performance; (ii) the imposition of substantial monetary damages in private actions against the Company; and/or (iii) damage to the Company’s global reputation and brand;
 
   
legal and regulatory developments wherever the Company does business, including legislative and regulatory reforms in the United States, such as the Dodd-Frank Reform Act’s stricter regulation of large, interconnected financial institutions, changes in requirements relating to securitization and the establishment of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, which could make fundamental changes to many of the Company’s business practices or materially affect its capital requirements, results of operations, or ability to pay dividends or repurchase its stock; actions and potential future actions by the FDIC and credit rating agencies applicable to securitization trusts, which could impact the Company’s ABS program; or potential changes in the federal tax system that could substantially alter, among other things, the taxation of the Company’s international businesses, the allowance of deductions for significant expenses, or the incidence of consumption taxes on the Company’s transactions, products and services;
 
   
the Company’s net interest yield on U.S. cardmember loans not remaining at historical levels, which will be influenced by, among other things, the effects of the CARD Act (including the regulations requiring the Company to periodically reevaluate APR increases), interest rates, changes in consumer behavior that affect loan balances, such as paydown rates, the credit quality of the Company’s portfolio and the Company’s cardmember acquisition strategy, product mix, cost of funds, credit actions, including line size and other adjustments to credit availability, and potential pricing changes;

79


Table of Contents

   
changes in the substantial and increasing worldwide competition in the payments industry, including competitive pressure that may impact the prices the Company charges merchants that accept the Company’s cards and the success of marketing, promotion or rewards programs;
 
   
changes in technology or in the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property (such as copyrights, trademarks, patents and controls on access and distribution), and invest in and compete at the leading edge of technological developments across the Company’s businesses, including technology and intellectual property of third parties on whom the Company relies, all of which could materially affect the Company’s results of operations;
 
   
data breaches and fraudulent activity, which could damage the Company’s brand, increase the Company’s costs or have regulatory implications, and changes in regulation affecting privacy and data security under federal, state and foreign law, which could result in higher compliance and technology costs to the Company or the Company’s vendors;
 
   
changes in the Company’s ability to attract or retain qualified personnel in the management and operation of the Company’s business, including any changes that may result from increasing regulatory supervision of compensation practices;
 
   
changes in the financial condition and creditworthiness of the Company’s business partners, such as bankruptcies, restructurings or consolidations, involving merchants that represent a significant portion of the Company’s business, such as the airline industry, or the Company’s partners in Global Network Services or financial institutions that the Company relies on for routine funding and liquidity, which could materially affect the Company’s financial condition or results of operations;
 
   
uncertainties associated with business acquisitions, including the ability to realize anticipated business retention, growth and cost savings, accurately estimate the value of goodwill and intangibles associated with individual acquisitions, effectively integrate the acquired business into the Company’s existing operations or implement or remediate controls, procedures and policies at the acquired company;
 
   
changes affecting the success of the Company’s reengineering and other cost control initiatives, such as the ability to execute plans during the year with respect to certain of the Company’s facilities, which may result in the Company not realizing all or a significant portion of the benefits that the Company intends;
 
   
the actual amount to be spent by the Company on investments in the business, including on marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services and certain other operating expenses, which will be based in part on management’s assessment of competitive opportunities and the Company’s performance and the ability to control and manage operating, infrastructure, advertising, promotion and rewards expenses as business expands or changes, including the changing behavior of cardmembers;
 
   
the effectiveness of the Company’s risk management policies and procedures, including credit risk relating to consumer debt, liquidity risk in meeting business requirements and operational risk;
 
   
the Company’s lending write-off rates for the remainder of 2011 and into 2012 not remaining below the average historical levels of the last ten years, which will depend in part on changes in the level of the Company’s loan balances, delinquency rates of cardmembers, unemployment rates, the volume of bankruptcies and recoveries of previously written-off loans;

80


Table of Contents

   
changes affecting the Company’s ability to accept or maintain deposits due to market demand or regulatory constraints,