Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
HAYES JOHN D
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO [AXP]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP, Advertising
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
3 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER, 200 VESEY ST, AMERICAN EXPRESS TOWER
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/13/2006
(Street)

NEW YORK, NY 10285
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 02/13/2006   M   34,272 A $ 19.385 103,847 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   M   123,379 A $ 25.649 227,226 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   M   123,379 A $ 30.892 350,605 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   117,518 D $ 53.2 233,087 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   100 D $ 53.19 232,987 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   4,500 D $ 53.17 228,487 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   1,200 D $ 53.16 227,287 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   10,100 D $ 53.15 217,187 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   300 D $ 53.14 216,887 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   2,000 D $ 53.13 214,887 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   5,200 D $ 53.12 209,687 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   5,700 D $ 53.11 203,987 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   17,900 D $ 53.1 186,087 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   2,900 D $ 53.09 183,187 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   3,000 D $ 53.08 180,187 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   8,200 D $ 53.07 171,987 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   3,600 D $ 53.06 168,387 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   15,500 D $ 53.05 152,887 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   4,800 D $ 53.04 148,087 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   3,400 D $ 53.03 144,687 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   49,900 D $ 53 94,787 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   4,200 D $ 53.01 90,587 D  
Common Stock 02/13/2006   S   11,400 D $ 53.02 79,187 D  
Common Stock               2,192 I By Isp Trust

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 19.385 02/13/2006   M     34,272 02/23/2000 02/23/2007 Common Stock 34,272 $ 0 0 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 25.649 02/13/2006   M     123,379 02/23/1999(1) 02/22/2008 Common Stock 123,379 $ 0 0 D  
Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 30.892 02/13/2006   M     123,379 02/22/2001(1) 02/21/2009 Common Stock 123,379 $ 0 0 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
HAYES JOHN D
3 WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
200 VESEY ST, AMERICAN EXPRESS TOWER
NEW YORK, NY 10285
      EVP, Advertising  

Signatures

 /s/ Stephen P. Norman, attorney-in-fact   02/15/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) These options vested in three equal annual installments beginning on the date shown as "Date Exercisable."

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

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