EXHIBIT 12


                                      AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
                   COMPUTATION IN SUPPORT OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                                      (Dollars in millions)



                            Nine Months        Years Ended December 31,
                           Ended Sept 30,-------------------------------------
                               1999
                            (Unaudited)  1998    1997     1996    1995    1994
                             ---------   ----    ----     ----    ----    ----
                                                      
Earnings:
    Pretax income from
     continuing operations   $2,593    $2,925   $2,750  $2,664   $2,183  $1,891
    Interest expense          1,566     2,224    2,122   2,160    2,343   1,925
    Other adjustments           105       124      127     139       95     103
                              -----     -----    -----   -----    -----   -----
Total earnings (a)           $4,264    $5,273   $4,999  $4,963   $4,621  $3,919
                              -----     -----    -----   -----    -----   -----
Fixed charges:
    Interest expense         $1,566    $2,224   $2,122  $2,160   $2,343  $1,925
    Other adjustments           107       129      129     130      135     142
                              -----     -----    -----   -----    -----   -----
Total fixed charges (b)      $1,673    $2,353   $2,251  $2,290   $2,478  $2,067
                              -----     -----    -----   -----    -----   -----
Ratio of earnings to
    fixed charges (a/b)        2.55      2.24     2.22    2.17     1.86    1.90



Included in interest expense in  the above computation  is interest expense
related to the international banking operations of American Express Company
(the  Company) and Travel Related Services'  Cardmember lending activities,
which is netted  against interest and dividends and Cardmember lending  net
finance charge  revenue, respectively, in  the Consolidated  Statements  of
Income

For purposes of  the  "earnings"  computation,  other  adjustments  include
adding the amortization of capitalized interest, the net loss of affiliates
accounted for at equity whose debt  is not guaranteed  by the Company,  the
minority interest in the earnings of majority-owned subsidiaries with fixed
charges,  and  the interest component of  rental  expense  and  subtracting
undistributed net income of affiliates accounted for at equity.

For purposes of the "fixed charges" computation,  other adjustments include
capitalized  interest costs and the interest component of  rental  expense.

On May 31, 1994,  the  Company completed  the spin-off of  Lehman  Brothers
through a dividend to American Express common  shareholders.   Accordingly,
Lehman Brothers'  results are reported as a discontinued operation and  are
excluded from the above computation.   In the fourth quarter of  1995,  the
Company's  ownership in  First  Data  Corporation  ("FDC")  was reduced  to
approximately 10 percent as a result of shares issued by FDC  in connection
with a merger transaction.   Accordingly, as  of  December  31,  1995,  the
Company's investment in FDC is accounted for as Investments - Available for
Sale.