UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 4
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
( ) Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instructions 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
   Daniel F. Akerson
   XO Communications, Inc.
11111 Sunset Hills Road, 5th Floor
   VA, Reston 20190
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   American Express Company (AXP)

3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)

4. Statement for Month/Day/Year
   4/28/2003
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)

6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   (X) Director ( ) 10% Owner ( ) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
   (specify below)

7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   (X) Form filed by One Reporting Person
   ( ) Form filed by More than One Reporting Person


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 Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                 |
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1. Title of Security|2.    |2A.   |3.    |4.Securities Acquired (A)         |5.Amount of        |6.Dir |7.Nature of Indirect       |
                    |Trans-|Exec- |Trans |  or Disposed of (D)              |  Securities       |ect   |  Beneficial Ownership     |
                    |action|ution |action|                                  |  Beneficially     |(D)or |                           |
                    |      |      |    | |                  | A/|           |  Owned Following  |Indir |                           |
                    |Date  | Date |Code|V|    Amount        | D |    Price  |  Reported Trans(s)|ect(I)|                           |
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Common Shares       |      |      |    | |                  |   |           |42676              |D     |                           |
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 Table II -- Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                   |
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1.Title of   |2.Con-  |3.     |3A.   |4.    |5.Number of De |6.Date Exer|7.Title and Amount  |8.Price|9.Number    |10.|11.Nature of|
  Derivative |version |Trans- |Deemed|Trans-| rivative Secu |cisable and|  of Underlying     |of Deri|of Deriva   |Dir|Indirect    |
  Security   |or Exer |action |      |action| rities Acqui  |Expiration |  Securities        |vative |tive        |ect|Beneficial  |
             |cise    |       |Execu-|      | red(A) or Dis |Date(Month/|                    |Secu   |Securities  |(D)|Ownership   |
             |Price of|       |ution |      | posed of(D)   |Day/Year)  |                    |rity   |Benefi      |or |            |
             |Deriva- |       |      |      |               |Date |Expir|                    |       |ficially    |Ind|            |
             |tive    |       |      |      |           | A/|Exer-|ation|   Title and Number |       |Owned Follow|ire|            |
             |Secu-   |(Month/|(Month|    | |           | D |cisa-|Date |   of Shares        |       |ing Reported|ct |            |
             |rity    |Day/   |/Day/ |Code|V|  Amount   |   |ble  |     |                    |       |Trans-      |(I)|            |
             |        |Year)  |Year) |    | |           |   |     |     |                    |       |action(s)   |   |            |
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Share Equival|1-for-1 |4/28/ 2|4/28/ |A   | |1000       |A  |1    |     |Common Share|1000   |       |1000        |D  |            |
ent Units    |        |003    |2003  |    | |           |   |     |     |s           |       |       |            |   |            |
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             |        |       |      |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Explanation of Responses:
1. The reported share equivalent units were acquired pursuant to the Company's
2003 Share Equivalent Unit Plan for Directors and will be settled in cash
following termination of service as a Director.
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
Daniel F. Akerson
Daniel F. Akerson