AMERICAN EXPRESS CO
AMERICAN EXPRESS TOWER
200 VESEY STREET, 49TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10285
(212) 640 - 2000
www.americanexpress.com
COMPANY  PROFILE
 

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY was founded in 1850 as a joint stock association and was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York in 1965. The Company is primarily engaged in the business of providing travel related services, financial advisory services and international banking services throughout the world.

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (TRS) provides a variety of products and services, including global card network; the American ExpressÒ Card, the OptimaÒ Card; other consumer and corporate lending and banking products; and corporate and consumer travel products and services. TRS offers products and services in more than 200 countries. In certain countries, partly owned affiliates and unaffiliated entities offer some of these products and services under licenses from TRS.

American Express Financial Corporation (AEFC) provides a variety of financial products and services to help individuals, businesses and institutions establish and achieve their financial goals. AEFC's products and services include financial planning and advice; insurance and annuities; a variety of investment products; personal auto and homeowner's insurance and retail securities brokerage services.

The Company's wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, American Express Bank Ltd. (AEB) offers products that meet the financial service needs of four client groups: corporations, financial institutions, wealthy individuals and retail customers.

AEB does not directly or indirectly do business in the United States except as an incident to its activities outside the United States.

AEB's five primary business lines are corporate banking; correspondent banking; private banking; personal financial services; and global trading:

· Corporate banking is provided to corporations principally in emerging markets and includes trade finance and working capital loans.

· Correspondent banking serves leading local banks primarily in emerging markets and includes transaction payments and a wide range of trade finance products such as letters of credit and payment guarantees, collections, check clearing and bankers' acceptances.

· Private banking focuses on wealthy individuals by providing such customers with investment management, trust and estate planning, deposit instruments and secured lending.

· Personal financial services ("PFS") provides consumer products in direct response to specific financial needs of retail customers and includes interest-bearing deposits, unsecured lines of credit, installment loans, money market funds, mortgage loans, and mutual fund and life insurance products.

· Through global trading, AEB provides treasury and capital market products and services, including foreign exchange, foreign exchange options, derivatives and trading, with a focus on emerging markets.