Sec Form 4 Filing - Williams Anre D @ AMERICAN EXPRESS CO - 2021-03-05

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 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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Williams Anre 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) Group Pres., GMNS (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 VESEY STREET, AMERICAN EXPRESS TOWER 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 03/05/2021 (Street) NEW YORK, NY10285-5001 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 03/05/2021 M 13,495 A $ 49.23 85,521.661 D Common Stock 03/05/2021 M 11,322 A $ 59.45 96,843.661 D Common Stock 03/05/2021 M 7,563 A $ 86.64 104,406.661 D Common Stock 03/05/2021 M 8,444 A $ 83.3 112,850.661 D Common Stock 03/05/2021 M 21,668 A $ 55.09 134,518.661 D Common Stock 03/05/2021 M 18,303 A $ 77.43 152,821.661 D Common Stock 03/05/2021 S( 1 ) 59,352 D $ 145.88 ( 2 ) 93,469.661 D Common Stock 10.24 ( 3 ) I by 401(k) Trust

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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 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) $ 49.23 03/05/2021 M 13,495 01/24/2013( 4 ) 01/24/2022 Common Stock 13,495 $ 0 0 D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 59.45 03/05/2021 M 11,322 01/29/2016 01/29/2023 Common Stock 11,322 $ 0 0 D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 86.64 03/05/2021 M 7,563 01/28/2017 01/28/2024 Common Stock 7,563 $ 0 0 D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 83.3 03/05/2021 M 8,444 01/26/2018 01/26/2025 Common Stock 8,444 $ 0 0 D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 55.09 03/05/2021 M 21,668 01/26/2019 01/26/2026 Common Stock 21,668 $ 0 0 D Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 77.43 03/05/2021 M 18,303 01/28/2020 01/24/2027 Common Stock 18,303 $ 0 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Williams Anre D 200 VESEY STREET, AMERICAN EXPRESS TOWER NEW YORK, NY10285-5001 Group Pres., GMNS Signatures /s/ Kristina V. Fink, attorney-in-fact 03/09/2021 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )The reported disposition represents the sale of shares to cover the cost of exercise and withholding tax obligations arising from the exercise of employee stock options; the reporting person will retain all of the net shares. ( 2 )The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $145.57 to $146.09. The reporting person undertakes to provide to American Express Company, any security holder of American Express Company, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within this range. ( 3 )Shares held in reporting person's account under the Company's Retirement Savings Plan. This plan uses unit accounting, and the number of shares that a participant is deemed to hold varies with the unit price of the Company pooled stock fund. ( 4 )These shares became exercisable in four cumulative annual installments of 25% each beginn ing on date shown as "Date Exercisable."

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* 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).

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