American Express : Prospectus

Section 1: 424B2 (424B2)

Use these links to rapidly review the document TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) Registration Number 333-223581

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell the notes nor do they seek an offer to buy the notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 19, 2019

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus Dated March 12, 2018)

$

American Express Company

$ $

% Notes due February , 2021 % Notes due February , 2024

We are offering $ principal amount of our % notes due February , 2021, or the 2021 fixed rate notes, and $ principal amount of our % notes due February , 2024, or the 2024 fixed rate notes. In this prospectus supplement, we refer to the 2021 fixed rate notes and the 2024 fixed rate notes collectively as the notes.

We will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on Februaryand August of each year, beginning August

, 2019. The 2021

fixed rate notes will mature on February , 2021 and the 2024 fixed rate notes will mature on February , 2024.

We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, on or after the date that is 31 days prior to the maturity date at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the notes being redeemed, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date fixed for redemption. We may not redeem the notes prior to the date that is 31 days prior to the maturity date except upon the occurrence of a Tax Event (as defined under the heading "Description of Notes-Optional Redemption-Redemption Upon a Tax Event"). The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank prior to all of our present and future subordinated indebtedness and on an equal basis with all of our other present and future senior unsecured indebtedness.

We will not list the notes on any exchange.

We will only issue the notes in book-entry form registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or DTC. Beneficial interests in the notes will be shown on, and transfers of such interests will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants, including Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, and Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as operator of the Euroclear system. Except as described in this prospectus supplement, we will not issue notes in definitive form.

The underwriters are offering the notes for sale in those jurisdictions both inside and outside the United States where it is lawful to make such offers.

Investing in the notes involves risks. You should carefully consider the information under "Risk Factors" included in this prospectus supplement, on page 2 of the accompanying prospectus and on page 15 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 incorporated herein by reference.

Per 2021 fixed rate note

Total for 2021 fixed rate notes Per 2024 fixed rate note

$

Underwriting
Discounts and	Proceeds to
Price to Public(1)	Commissions	the Company(1)(2)
%	%	%
%

$

$

%

%

Total for 2024 fixed rate notes

$

$

$

• (1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from February

• (2) Before offering expenses.

, 2019.

Delivery of the notes will be made on or about February

, 2019.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Citigroup

Joint Book-Running Managers
Credit	Goldman	Mizuho
Suisse	Sachs & Co. LLC	Securities

The date of this prospectus supplement is February

, 2019.

Table of Contents
Page
About this Prospectus Supplement	S-1
Summary	S-3
Risk Factors	S-6
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information	S-8
Use of Proceeds	S-9
Description of Notes	S-10
Taxation	S-15
Underwriting	S-16
Where You Can Find More Information	S-20
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference	S-20
Legal Matters	S-21
Experts	S-21
Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus SupplementProspectus

About this Prospectus	ii
Where You Can Find More Information	ii
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference	ii
Forward-Looking Statements	iv
The Company	1
Risk Factors	2
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends	7
Use of Proceeds	8
Description of Debt Securities	9
Description of Preferred Shares	31
Description of Depositary Shares	33
Description of Common Shares	34
Description of Securities Warrants	36
Description of Other Warrants	37
ERISA Considerations	38

Taxation 40

Plan of Distribution 50

Legal Matters 52

Experts 52

S-i

Table of Contents

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the notes that we are offering and other matters relating to us and our financial condition. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to the notes that we are offering. The description of the terms of the notes contained in this prospectus supplement supplements the description under "Description of Debt Securities" in the accompanying prospectus, and to the extent it is inconsistent with that description, the information in this prospectus supplement replaces the information in the accompanying prospectus. Generally, when we refer to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. If information in this prospectus supplement differs from information in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

When we use the terms "American Express," the "Company," "we," "us" or "our" in this prospectus supplement, we mean American Express Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, unless we state or the context implies otherwise.

We are responsible only for the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and any related free writing prospectus issued or authorized by us. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with any other information, and we and the underwriters take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. We and the underwriters are offering to sell the notes only under the circumstances and in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information incorporated by reference into or contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of those documents, regardless of the time of delivery of those documents or any sale of the notes.

To the extent the offer of the notes contemplated by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is made in any Member State of the European Economic Area ("EEA"), the offer is only addressed to qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive or has been or will be made otherwise in circumstances that do not require us or the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus Directive.

This prospectus supplement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the European Union will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. Accordingly any person making or intending to make any offer within the EEA of notes which are the subject of the offer contemplated in this prospectus supplement may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive, in each case, in relation to such offer. We have not authorized the making of any offer (other than Permitted Public Offers) of notes in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us to publish or supplement a prospectus for such offer.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are only being distributed to and are only directed at: (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom; or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such notes will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or any of their respective contents.

S-1