SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                WASHINGTON, D.C.

                                    FORM S-1

                      POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NUMBER 25 TO

                      REGISTRATION STATEMENT NUMBER 2-76193

                    AMERICAN EXPRESS INSTALLMENT CERTIFICATE

                                      UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             IDS CERTIFICATE COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

                                    DELAWARE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                      6725
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)

                                   41-6009975
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

               IDS Tower 10, Minneapolis, MN 55440, (612) 671-3131
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                  of registrant's principal executive offices)

    Bruce A. Kohn - IDS Tower 10, Minneapolis, MN 55440-0010, (612) 671-2221
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)






               CONTENTS OF THIS POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 25 TO
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 2-76193

Cover Page

Prospectus

Part II Information

Signatures




American Express Installment Certificate
Prospectus
April 26, 2000


Earn attractive rates while you build your savings.


American  Express  Certificate  Company  (AECC or AXP  Certificate  Company),  a
subsidiary of American Express  Financial  Corporation,  issues American Express
Installment Certificates. You may:


o        Purchase this certificate with monthly investments in any amount from
         $50 through $5,000.

o        Earn a fixed rate of interest declared every three months.

o        Receive bonus interest payments if you make regular investments for
         specified periods.

o        Keep your certificate for up to 10 years from its issue date.

Like all investment  companies,  the Securities and Exchange  Commission has not
approved or  disapproved  these  securities  or passed upon the adequacy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.


This  certificate  is backed solely by the assets of AECC. See "Risk factors" on
page 2p.

American Express Certificate Company is not a bank or financial institution, and
the  securities  it offers  are not  deposits  or  obligations  of, or backed or
guaranteed  or  endorsed  by, any bank or  financial  institution,  nor are they
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Reserve
Board or any other agency.


The distributor is not required to sell any specific amount of certificates.


Issuer:
American Express Certificate Company
American Express Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN  55440-0010
800-862-7919 (toll free)


Distributor:
American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
An American Express company



Initial interest rates


AECC guarantees a fixed rate of interest for each three-month  period during the
life of your certificate.  The rate for your first three months will be within a
specified range of the average rate for bank money market accounts  published in
the most recent BANK RATE MONITOR(R) (BRM) Top 25 Market  Average(R).  BANK RATE
MONITOR  and  National  Index are marks owned by  BANKRATE.COMsm,  a division of
Intelligent  Life  Corporation,   N.  Palm  Beach,  FL  33408.  See  "About  the
certificate" for more explanation.

Here are the interest rates in effect April 26, 2000:

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Simple interest rate                                  ________%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Effective annualized yield*                           ________%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Assuming monthly compounding.

These  rates  may or may not have  changed  when  you  apply  to  purchase  your
certificate.  Rates for later  three-month  periods are set at the discretion of
AECC  and may  also  differ  from the  rates  shown  here.  See  "Rates  for new
purchases" under "About the certificate" for further information.

American  Express  Certificate  Company may offer  different rates for different
distribution channels. For more information call 800 __________. Certificates of
deposits  (CDs) with  different  rates may be available  from  American  Express
Centurion Bank, an affiliate of AECC, including high rate CDs through Membership
Banking.

Risk factors

You should consider the following when investing in this certificate:


This  certificate is backed solely by the assets of AECC. Most of our assets are
debt securities  whose price  generally  falls as interest rates  increase,  and
rises as interest rates decrease. Credit ratings of the issuers of securities in
our  portfolio  vary.  See  "Invested  and  guaranteed  by AECC,"  "Regulated by
government,"  "Backed by our investments"  and "Investment  policies" under "How
your money is used and protected."





Table of Contents

Initial interest rates
Risk factors

About the certificate
Read and keep this prospectus                                       p
Investment amounts                                                  p
Face amount and principal                                           p
Value at maturity                                                   p
Receiving cash during the term                                      p
Interest                                                            p
Rates for new purchases                                             p
Promotions and pricing flexibility                                  p
Bonus payments                                                      p
Calculating your bonus                                              p

How to invest and withdraw funds                                    p
Buying your certificate                                             p
Two ways to make monthly investments                                p
Full and partial withdrawals                                        p
Transfers to other accounts                                         p
Two ways to request a withdrawal or transfer                        p
Three ways to receive payment when you withdraw funds               p
Retirement plans: special policies                                  p
Withdrawal at death                                                 p
Transfer of ownership                                               p
For more information                                                p

Taxes on your earnings                                              p
Retirement accounts                                                 p
Gifts to minors                                                     p
How to determine the correct TIN                                    p
Foreign investors                                                   p
Trusts                                                              p

How your money is used and protected                                p


Invested and guaranteed by AECC                                     p


Regulated by government                                             p
Backed by our investments                                           p
Investment policies                                                 p



How your money is managed                                           p


Relationship between AECC and American
   Express Financial Corporation                                    p


Capital structure and certificates issued                           p
Investment management and services                                  p
Distribution                                                        p


Transfer agent                                                      p
Employment of other American Express affiliates                     p
Directors and officers                                              p
Independent auditors                                                p


American Express Certificates                                       p


Appendix                                                            p

Annual financial information                                        p
Summary of selected financial information                           p
Management's discussion and analysis of financial
   condition and results of operations                              p
Report of independent auditors                                      p

Financial statements                                                p

Notes to financial statements                                       p



About the certificate

Read and keep this prospectus


This  prospectus  describes  terms  and  conditions  of  your  American  Express
Installment  Certificate.  It  contains  facts  that can help you  decide if the
certificate  is the right  investment  for you. Read the  prospectus  before you
invest and keep it for future reference.  No one has the authority to change the
terms  and  conditions  of  the  American  Express  Installment  Certificate  as
described in the prospectus, or to bind AECC by any statement not in it.


Investment amounts


AECC offers the American Express  Installment  Certificate for scheduled monthly
purchase  payment  installments in any amount from $50 through $5,000 payable in
U.S.  currency (unless you receive prior approval from AECC to invest more). You
may also make additional  lump-sum  investments in any amount,  as long as these
investments plus your scheduled payments over the life of the certificate do not
total more than $600,000. AECC guarantees your principal and interest.


The  certificate  may be used as an investment  for your  Individual  Retirement
Account (IRA),  401(k) plan account or other qualified  retirement plan account.
If so used, the amount of your contribution  (investment) will be subject to any
limitations of the plan and applicable federal law.

Face amount and principal


The face  amount  of your  certificate  is the total of your  scheduled  monthly
investments  during its 10-year  life.  The minimum face amount is $6,000 or the
total of 120 monthly  investments  of $50 each.  Your maximum face amount cannot
exceed $600,000.  Your principal is the amount you actually invest over the life
of the certificate,  less any withdrawals of your investments, and penalties and
fees. It is guaranteed by AECC.


Value at maturity

Your  certificate  matures 10 years from its issue date.  At maturity,  you will
receive a  distribution  for the value of your  certificate,  which  will be the
total of your actual investments, plus credited interest not paid to you in cash
and any bonus payments, less withdrawals, penalties and fees.

Receiving cash during the term

If you need your money before your  certificate term ends, you may withdraw part
or all of its value at any time,  less any penalties that apply.  Procedures for
withdrawing  money,  as well as  conditions  under which  penalties  apply,  are
described in "How to invest and withdraw funds".

Interest

Your  investments earn interest from the date they are credited to your account.
Interest is compounded and credited at the end of each certificate month (on the
monthly anniversary of the issue date).


AECC  declares  and  guarantees  a fixed rate of interest  for each  three-month
period during the life of your certificate.  We calculate the amount of interest
you earn each certificate month by:


o        applying the interest rate then in effect to your balance each day;

o        adding these daily amounts to get a monthly total; and

o        subtracting interest accrued on any amount you withdraw during the
         certificate month.



Interest is calculated on a 30-day month and 360-day year basis.

This certificate may be available  through other  distributors or selling agents
with  different  interest  rates  or  related  features  and  consequently  with
different  returns.  You may obtain information about other such distributors or
selling  agents by calling  the Client  Service  Organization  at the  telephone
numbers listed on the back cover.

Rates for new purchases

When your application is accepted, and we have received your initial investment,
we will send you a confirmation  showing the rate that your investment will earn
for the first three-month  period. AECC guarantees that this rate will be within
a range from 25 basis points  (0.25%) below to 75 basis points (0.75%) above the
average  interest rate for bank money market deposit  accounts  published in the
BRM Top 25 Market Average(R) on the first day of the period the rate is declared
for. For example, if the average rate most recently published is 2.75%, our rate
in  effect  for  a  one-week  period  beginning  on  the  Wednesday  after  that
publication would be between 2.50 and 3.50%. (Bank money market deposit accounts
are government insured.)

The BRM is a weekly  magazine  published by  Advertising  News Service  Inc., an
independent   national  news   organization   that  collects  and   disseminates
information  about bank products and interest  rates.  Advertising  News Service
Inc. has no connection with AECC, AEFC, or any of their affiliates.

The BRM Top 25  Market  Average(R)  is an index of rates  and  annual  effective
yields  offered on various  length  certificates  of deposit by large  banks and
thrifts in 25 metropolitan  areas. The frequency of compounding varies among the
banks and thrifts.  Certificates of deposit in the BRM Top 25 Market  Average(R)
are government insured fixed-rate time deposits.

The BRM may be available in your local  library.  To obtain  information  on the
current BRM Top 25 Market Average(R) rates, call the Client Service Organization
at the telephone numbers listed on the back cover between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. your
local time.

Rates for new purchases are reviewed and may change weekly.  Normally,  the rate
you receive will be the higher of:

o        the rate in effect on the date of your application, or


o        the rate in effect on the date your application is accepted by AECC.

However,  if your  application  bears a date more than  seven  days  before  its
receipt by AECC, the rate you receive will be the higher of:

o        the rate in effect on the date your application is accepted by AECC, or


o        the rate in effect seven days prior to receipt.


Active or retired American Express employees,  AECC directors,  American Express
financial  advisors,  their  immediate  families  and any U.S.  employee  of any
affiliated  company of AECC are guaranteed an initial rate 75 basis points above
the rate offered to the general public,  reflecting the lower distribution costs
associated  with such  sales.  Consequently,  the highest and lowest rate in the
range of rates for initial terms of such certificates  purchased at the employee
rate will be 75 basis points higher than the comparable  rates  described at the
beginning of this section for ranges of rates for initial terms.





Rates for future periods:  Interest on your  certificate for future  three-month
periods may be greater or less than the rates you receive during the first three
months.  In setting future interest rates, a primary  consideration  will be the
prevailing  investment  climate,  including  bank money market  deposit  account
average rates as reflected in the BRM Top 25 Market Average(R). Nevertheless, we
have  complete  discretion  as to what  interest  shall be  declared  beyond the
initial  three-month  period.  At least six days in advance of each  three-month
period,  we will send you notice of the rate that your certificate will earn for
that period. If the BRM Top 25 Market Average(R) is no longer publicly available
or feasible to use,  AECC may use another,  similar index as a guide for setting
rates.


Promotions and pricing flexibility


AECC may sponsor or participate in promotions  involving the certificate and its
respective terms. For example,  we may offer different rates to new clients,  to
existing  clients,  or to  individuals  who purchase or use products or services
offered by American Express Company or its affiliates.


We also may  offer  different  rates  based  on the  amount  invested,  maturity
selected,  geographic  location and whether the  certificate is purchased for an
IRA or a qualified retirement account.

These promotions will generally be for a specified period of time. If we offer a
promotion,  rates will be within the range of rates  described  under "Rates for
new purchases," above.


Performance:  From  February  199__ through  February  199__,  American  Express
Installment  certificate  yields were  generally  higher than average bank money
market  deposit  accounts and Super Now accounts,  as measured by the BRM Top 25
Market  Average(R)  (prior to Jan.  13,  1993,  yields were  measured by the BRM
National Index (R), an average of 10 yields in 10 cities).

                Yields from February 199__ through February 199__

4%                  _________American Express Installment Certificate


3%                  .........Money Market Deposit Account

2%                  ---------Super NOW Account

                    Three  lines  comparing  the  yields  for  American  Express
                    Installment  Certificate  against  those of money market and
                    Super NOW accounts with Installment's  yield generally above
                    the other two lines.


`93          `94            `95            `96            `97               `98

The graph  compares  past yields and should not be  considered a  prediction  of
future  performance.  The  Installment  Certificate's  yields reflect its former
policy,  in effect  through  April  1992,  of  compounding  interest  rates each
calendar quarter.  Monthly  compounding is reflected from February 199__ through
February 199__.


Bonus payments


If you meet our requirements for your  investments,  AECC will pay you a monthly
bonus for a period of time.  Your bonus will be a  percentage  of your  weighted
average  monthly  investment  (WAMI).  This percentage may increase from time to
time if you continue to meet our requirements,  including  maintaining a minimum
balance.  These  requirements are set out in the table below. All the periods of
12 months  mentioned  in the table  must begin and end on the date we issue your
certificate or an annual anniversary of that date.




To be eligible for this bonus for 12   You must meet these requirements:



                                    
5% annualized bonus payment on your    During a 12-month period, you must make one or more payments
WAMI                                   totaling at least $600. In a subsequent 12-month period, you must
                                       make payments totaling at least an additional $600 for a total
                                       principal amount invested of $1,200, not including interest. The two
                                       12-month periods do not have to be consecutive. Further the first
                                       12-month period does not have to be the year beginning with your
                                       first investment. This bonus may be earned in any certificate year
                                       from your second through your ninth year.

8% annualized bonus payment on your    During a 12-month period subsequent to your qualification for the 5%
WAMI                                   annualized bonus payments, you must make one or more payments
                                       totaling at least $600 for a total principal amount invested of
                                       $1,800, not including interest. This bonus may be earned in any
                                       certificate year from your third through your ninth certificate year.

10% annualized bonus payment on your   During a 12-month period subsequent to your qualification for the 8%
WAMI                                   annualized bonus payments, you must make one or more payments
                                       totaling at least $600 for a total principal amount invested of
                                       $2,400, not including interest. This bonus may be earned in any
                                       certificate year from your fourth through your ninth certificate
                                       year.

20% annualized bonus payment on your   During a 12-month period subsequent to your qualification for the
WAMI                                   10% annualized bonus payments, you must make one or more payments
                                       totaling at least $600 for a total principal amount invested of
                                       $3,000, not including interest. This bonus may be earned in any
                                       certificate year from your fifth through your ninth certificate year.


The  rate in the  remaining  years  following  attainment  of the 20%  bonus  is
comparable  to a  fixed  rate  investment.  It may be  obtained  as soon as your
seventh certificate year or as late as your tenth certificate year.

Bonus  payments  are  credited  to your  account at the end of each  certificate
month. They immediately become part of your balance and begin to earn interest.

The  illustrations  below  show the  cumulative  effect of bonus  payments  on a
hypothetical investment.  Suppose you invest $100 per month, receive interest at
a constant rate of 2.48% (an effective annual yield of 2.50%,  assuming a Jan. 1
purchase) and make no additional lump-sum  investments and no withdrawals.  (The
rate and  yield  are for  illustration  only and may not be in  effect  when you
purchase your  certificate.)  Your  interest,  balance and average  annual yield
would increase as follows:


Installment Certificate Example


$8,000                                ***Amount Paid In
                                      .......Interest
$6,000                                -----Bonus

$4,000

$2,000              Graph shows the effect of cumulative interest and bonus
                    earned on an account from zero through 72 months

6    12    18    24    30     36     42     48    54     60     66     72



Installment Certificate example



                                   Without bonus                  Added by bonus                  Total with bonus
                      Cumulative   Cumulative   Balance     Cumulative   Cumulative  Balance      Average
                      investments  interest                 bonus        interest                 annual
                                   on                                    on bonus                 yield*
                                   investments
- --------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
                                                                               
1st 12-month period    $1,200.00     $ 16.27    $1,216.27     $  0.00      $ 0.00    $1,216.27      2.50%
- --------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
2nd 12-month period     2,400.00       63.03     2,463.06        0.00        0.00     2,463.03      2.50
- --------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
3rd 12-month period     3,600.00      141.05     3,741.05       60.00        0.78     3,801.83      3.57
- --------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
4th 12-month period     4,800.00      251.13     5,051.13      156.00        3.54     5,210.67      4.05
- --------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
5th 12-month period     6,000.00      394.06     6,394.06      276.00        9.11     6,679.17      4.24
- --------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
- --------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------
6th 12-month period     7,200.00      570.70     7,770.70      516.00       19.46     8,306.16      4.70
- --------------------- ------------ ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ------------ -----------


* Average from date of issue to end of year indicated.

Important:  The  increase in yield that you receive  from bonus  payments may be
more or less than in the example,  depending  upon interest rates during the six
years following issue of your  certificate.  If actual interest rates are higher
than in the example,  the effect of the bonus will be less.  For  example,  at a
7.00% interest rate, bonus payments would raise the certificate's average annual
yield from issue through year six by 2.06%, compared to 2.20% (4.70% - 2.50%) in
the  example.  If  actual  interest  rates are lower  than in the  example,  the
increase in the average annual yield would be somewhat more than 2.20%.

Calculating your bonus

To determine your bonus we:

o    first  calculate  your  average  monthly  investment  over the life of your
     certificate,  weighting  it to reflect  the amount of time each  dollar has
     been invested (your weighted  average monthly  investment).  Money invested
     early is given more weight than money invested later.

o    then  calculate  your  monthly  bonus  as a  specified  percentage  of your
     weighted average monthly investment.

Here is an example  to  illustrate  the two  calculations:  Suppose  you make 24
consecutive  monthly  investments  - $100 per month for the first six months and
$150 per month thereafter (a total of $3300).

                             Calculating your bonus



- ---------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
           Month                    Investment                 Months Held                 Weighted
                                                                                             Value
- ---------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
                                                                                    
           1                           100           x            24           =             $2,400
           2                           100                        23                          2,300
           3                           100                        22                          2,200
           4                           100                        21                          2,100
           5                           100                        20                          2,000
           6                           100                        19                          1,900
           7...                        150                        18...                       2,700
           24                          150                        1                             150
- ---------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
           Sum                  $3,300 Total amount               300                       $38,550
                              invested over 24 months
- ---------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------

1.       Calculate the weighted value of each month's investment.

         Multiply the amount invested ($100) by the number of months it is held - 24 months for the
         first $100, 23 months for the second, etc.
         Example: Amount invested in month 1 is $100. The investment will be held 24 months. $100 x 24
         months = $2,400 monthly weighted value.





2. Add the weighted values:

         $2,400 + $2,300 + $2,200 + ...$150 = $38,550 is the total weighted
         value of the investment.

3. Add the number of months held:

         24 + 23 + 22 + ...1 = 300.
         300 is the total number of months the investment is held.

4.       Divide the total weighted value of the investment (step 2) by the total
         number of months the investment is held (step 3):

         $38,550 / 300 = $128.50 is your weighted average monthly investment
         (WAMI) at the end of 24 months.

5. Multiply your WAMI by the applicable bonus percentage (5% in the third year):

         5% of $128.50 = $6.43. $6.43 is your bonus payment each month in year
         three, a total of $77 for the year.

Here is another  example:  Suppose you make one  investment of $600 in the first
month then your next investment is $600 in the 24th month (a total of $1,200).



- ----------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
                                                                                   
           Month                     Investment                 Months Held                 Weighted
                                                                                              Value
- ----------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
           1                             600          x            24           =            $14,400
           2                               0                       23                              0
           3                               0                       22                              0
           4                               0                       21                              0
           5                               0                       20                              0
           6                               0                       19                              0
           7...                            0                       18                              0
           24                            600                       1                             600
- ----------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------
           Sum                   $1,200 Total amount               300                       $15,000
                               invested over 24 months
- ----------------------------- -------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------


1.       Calculate the weighted value of each month's investment.

         Multiply the amount invested ($600) by the number of months it is held.
         Example: Amount invested in month 1 is $600. The investment will be
         held 24 months. $600 x 24 months = $14,400 monthly weighted value.

2.       Add the weighted values:

         $14,400 + 0 + $600 = $15,000.
         $15,000 is the total weighted value of the investment.

3.       Add the number of months held:

         24 + 23 + 22 + ...1 = 300.
         300 is the total number of months the investment is held.

4.       Divide the total weighted value of the investment (step 2) by the total
         number of months the investment is held (step 3):

         $15,000 / 300 = $50 is your weighted average monthly investment (WAMI)
         at the end of 24 months.



5. Multiply your WAMI by the applicable bonus percentage (5% in the third year):

         5% of $50 = $2.50. $2.50 is your bonus payment each month in year
         three, a total of $30 for the year.

This  procedure is repeated in months 36, 48 and 60 to calculate  your  weighted
average  monthly  investment  from issue  through  years  three,  four and five,
respectively assuming you maintain your regular monthly payments. These weighted
averages are then multiplied by the applicable  percentages - 8%, 10% and 20% to
determine monthly bonus payments for years four, five and six, respectively.

Effect of partial withdrawals:  If you withdraw part of your principal, you will
not receive  credit toward a bonus for the sum(s) you withdraw or at all,  since
you would not  qualify  for the bonus for the year if the value  drops below the
required  amount at the  required  time.  In effect,  you reduce the size of the
bonus you are  eligible  to receive.  This is because  removing  principal  will
reduce the weighted value of your  investment.  The weighted value will decrease
in proportion to the amount of principal you withdraw.  Using the example above,
if you withdrew $1,000 of the principal  before the end of the 24th month,  your
total  investment  would  decrease by 30.3%  ($1,000/3,300=.303);  therefore the
reduction  factor you will use to figure out the amount of your reduced bonus is
 .303.

To figure out how much your bonus will be, follow these steps:

1.       Multiply the original total  weighted  value (see original  example) of
         your investment by the reduction factor calculated above.

         $38,550 x .303 = $11,680.65.

2.       Subtract  the  number  calculated  in Step 1 from  the  original  total
         weighted value of your investment.

         $38,550 - 11,680.65 = $26,869.35.

         The new  weighted  value of your  investment  after  making  the $1,000
         withdrawal is $26,869.35.

3.       Divide the new weighted value of your investment by the total number of
         months held (300 in this example).

         $26,869/300 = $89.56.

         Your new weighted average monthly investment (WAMI) is $89.56.

4.       Multiply  the new  WAMI by the  applicable  bonus  percentage.  In this
         example,  5% is the bonus  because that is the amount on the third year
         bonus.

         $89.56 x .05 = $4.48, or $53.76 total bonus for the year.

Withdrawals  may also affect your  eligibility  for bonus  payments in the third
through  sixth years.  To remain  eligible your balance at the end of a relevant
12-month  period must be at least equal to the amount set out in the table under
"Bonus payments" above.  You will become  ineligible if withdrawals  reduce your
balance below this level at the end of a relevant 12-month period.

Other  eligibility   policies:  If  you  have  not  made  the  required  minimum
investments  specified  earlier,  you may not receive bonus payments in the year
bonuses would  otherwise be paid.  But you may become  eligible  during the next
bonus period by making the required  investments  in the next year. For example,
assume  that you make the  required  investments  for the  first 24  months  and
receive bonus  payments in the third year.  But during the third year,  you make
payments of only $400, so the total principal  invested is $1,600 instead of the
required  $1,800.  In that case,  you would not receive the bonus  payments that
would normally be made in the fourth year. However, if you make all your regular
monthly  investments  in the fourth  year,  and your account  principal  balance
reaches the required  equivalent of 36  investments  of $50 per month ($1,800 at
the end of the fourth



year),  then you would qualify for 8% bonus payments in year five,  based on the
new weighted average monthly investment.

Interest  rate from years seven through 10: This may be as soon as year seven or
as late as year ten. A rate will be declared  during the next month in which you
receive a bonus payment and will be guaranteed by IDSC for a three-month  period
starting in the next month.  Thereafter,  the rate will be declared  every three
months and guaranteed for three-month periods.

How to invest and withdraw funds

Buying your certificate


Your  American  Express  financial  advisor will help you fill out and submit an
application  to open an  account  with us and  purchase  a  certificate.  If you
purchase  your  certificate  other than  through an American  Express  financial
advisor - for  example,  through a direct  marketing  channel - you may be given
different  purchase  instructions.  We  will  process  the  application  at  our
corporate offices in Minneapolis.  When we have accepted your application and we
have received your initial  investment,  we will send you a confirmation of your
purchase,  indicating  your account  number and showing the rate of interest for
your first three months as described under "Rates for new purchases," above. See
"Purchase policies" below.

Important:  When you open an account,  you must  provide  AECC with your correct
Taxpayer  Identification  Number (TIN),  which is either your Social Security or
Employer  Identification number. See "Taxes on your earnings." Once your account
is set up, there are several convenient ways to make monthly investments.


Purchase policies:
o    Investments  must be received and accepted in the Minneapolis  headquarters
     on a business day before 3 p.m. Central time to be included in your account
     that day. Otherwise your purchase will be processed the next business day.

o    You have 15 days  from the  date of  purchase  to  cancel  your  investment
     without   penalty  by  either   writing  or  calling  the  Client   Service
     Organization at the address or phone number on the back of this prospectus.
     If you decide to cancel your  certificate  within this 15-day  period,  you
     will not earn any interest.

o    If you purchase a certificate with a personal check or other non-guaranteed
     funds,  AEFC will wait one day for the process of converting  your check to
     federal  funds (e.g.,  monies of member  banks  within the Federal  Reserve
     Bank) before your purchase will be accepted and you begin earning interest.


o    AECC has complete  discretion to determine whether to accept an application
     and sell a certificate.


o    If you make no investments for a period of at least six consecutive  months
     and your  principal  is less  than  $500,  we may send you a notice  of our
     intent to cancel the certificate. After the notice, if an investment is not
     made within 60 days, your  certificate  will be canceled,  and we will send
     you a check for its full value.

A number of special  policies  apply to  purchases,  withdrawals  and  exchanges
within IRAs, 401(k) plans and other qualified  retirement plans. See "Retirement
plans: special policies."

Two ways to make monthly investments

1
By scheduled investment plan

Contact your financial advisor to set up one of the following scheduled plans:


o        Bank authorization (automatic deduction from your bank account)




o        Automatic payroll deduction

o        Direct deposit of Social Security check

o        Other plan approved by AECC

To cancel a bank  authorization,  you must  instruct AECC in writing or over the
phone. We must receive notice at least three business days before the date funds
would  normally be withdrawn  from your bank account.  Bank  authorization  will
automatically be stopped at maturity or full withdrawal.

2
By mail

Send your check along with your name and account number to:


Regular mail:                                        Express mail:
American Express                                     American Express
Financial Advisors Inc.                              Financial Advisors Inc.
70250 AXP Financial Center                           Client Service Organization
Minneapolis, MN 55474                                733 Marquette Ave.
                                                     Minneapolis, MN 55402


Full and partial withdrawals

o    You may  withdraw  your  certificate  for its full  value or make a partial
     withdrawal of $100 or more at any time.  If you purchase  this  certificate
     for an IRA, (401(k), or other retirement plan account, early withdrawals or
     cash payments of interest taken  prematurely  may be subject to IRS penalty
     taxes.

o    Complete  withdrawal  of  your  certificate  is made by  giving  us  proper
     instructions.  To complete these  transactions,  see "Two ways to request a
     withdrawal or transfer."

o    If your withdrawal request is received in the Minneapolis headquarters on a
     business day before 3 p.m.  Central time, it will be processed that day and
     payment will be sent the next business day.
     Otherwise, your request will be processed one business day later.

o    Full and  partial  withdrawals  of  principal  in the first three years are
     subject to penalties, described below.

o    You may not make a partial  withdrawal if it would reduce your  certificate
     balance  to less than  $250.  If you  request  such a  withdrawal,  we will
     contact you for revised instructions.

o    As noted  earlier,  withdrawals  during the first six years will affect the
     amount of your bonus payments and may make you  ineligible for a bonus.  If
     you do not receive all your bonus  payments in the first six years,  future
     withdrawals  also may affect the amount of your bonus payments.  See "Bonus
     payments."


Penalties for early  withdrawal:  If you withdraw money within three years after
the  certificate  was  purchased,  you will pay a penalty of 2% of the principal
withdrawn.  Except to the extent  your  balance  would be less than  $250,  this
penalty will be taken from the remaining balance, not the amount withdrawn.  The
2% penalty is waived upon death of the certificate  owner. When this certificate
is owned by a revocable  trust,  this  penalty  also is waived upon death of any
grantor of the  revocable  trust.  We also will waive  withdrawal  penalties  on
withdrawals for IRA certificate  accounts for your required  distributions.  See
"Retirement plans: special policies" below.




When you request a full or partial withdrawal, we pay the amount you request:

o        first from interest and bonus payments credited to your account,

o        then from the principal of your certificate.

For example, suppose this is your balance at the end of the second year:

Total investments                                              $   7,200.00
Interest and bonus credited                                    $     488.61
Total balance                                                  $   7,688.61

If you request a $1,000 check, we would withdraw funds in this order:

Credited interest and bonus                                    $     488.61
Withdrawal of principal                                        $     511.39
Total requested withdrawal                                     $   1,000.00

In  addition,  we would  have to  withdraw  funds to cover  the full  withdrawal
penalty:

Principal withdrawn                                            $     511.39
Withdrawal penalty %                                                  2%
Withdrawal penalty                                             $      10.23

The total transaction would be:

Beginning balance                                              $   7,688.61
Credited interest and bonus withdrawn                          $    (488.61)
Principal withdrawn                                            $    (511.39)
Withdrawal penalty (also from principal)                       $     (10.23)
Remaining balance                                              $   6,678.38

Loss of interest:  If you make a withdrawal  at any time other than the last day
of the  certificate  month,  you will lose  interest  accrued on the  withdrawal
amount since the end of the last certificate month.

Other full and partial withdrawal policies:

o   If you  request a  partial  or full  withdrawal  of a  certificate  recently
    purchased or added to by a check or money order that is not  guaranteed,  we
    will wait for your check to clear.  Please  expect a minimum of 10 days from
    the date of your  payment  before  AECC mails a check to you.  We may mail a
    check earlier if the bank provides evidence that your check has cleared.

o   If your certificate is pledged as collateral, any withdrawal will be delayed
    until we get approval from the secured party.

o   Any payments to you may be delayed under  applicable  rules,  regulations or
    orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Transfers to other accounts


You may transfer part or all of your  certificate to any other American  Express
Certificate or into another new or existing American Express Financial  Advisors
Inc.  account that has the same  ownership  (subject to any terms and conditions
that may apply).




Two ways to request a withdrawal or transfer

1
By phone

Call the Client Service Organization at the telephone numbers listed on the back
cover.

o        Maximum phone request:  $50,000.

o        Transfers into an American Express Financial Advisors Inc. account with
         the same ownership.

o        A telephone withdrawal request will not be allowed within 30 days of a
         phoned-in address change.

o        We will honor any  telephone  withdrawal  or transfer  request and will
         use reasonable procedures to confirm authenticity.

You may request that telephone  withdrawals  not be authorized from your account
by writing the Client Service Organization.

2
By mail

Send your name, account number and request for a withdrawal or transfer to:


Regular mail:
American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
70250 AXP Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN  55474


Express mail:
American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
Client Service Organization
733 Marquette Ave.
Minneapolis, MN  55440-0010

Written requests are required for:

o    Transactions over $50,000.

o    Pension plans and custodial accounts where the minor has reached the age at
     which custodianship should terminate.

o    Transfers to another American Express Financial Advisors Inc. account with
     different ownership.(All current registered owners must sign the request.)

Three ways to receive payment when you withdraw funds

1
By regular or express mail

o        Mailed to address on record; please allow seven days for mailing.

o        Payable to name(s) you requested.



o    We will charge a fee if you request  express mail  delivery.  Cost for
     partial withdrawals  is deducted from the remaining  balance,  or from the
     proceeds for full withdrawals.

2
By wire

o    Minimum wire withdrawal:  $1,000.

o    Request that money be wired to your bank.


o    Bank account must be in same ownership as AECC account.


o    Pre-authorization required. Complete the bank wire authorization section in
     the application or use a form supplied by your American  Express  financial
     advisor. All registered owners must sign.

o    We may deduct a service fee from your balance (for partial  withdrawals) or
     from the proceeds of a full withdrawal.

3
By electronic transfer

o    Available only for pre-authorized  scheduled partial  withdrawals and other
     full or partial withdrawals.

o    No charge.

o    Deposited electronically in your bank account.

o    Allow two to five business days from request to deposit.

Retirement plans: special policies

o    If the  certificate  is  purchased  for a 401(k)  plan or  other  qualified
     retirement plan account,  the terms and conditions of the certificate apply
     to the plan as the  owner of this  certificate.  However,  the terms of the
     plan, as interpreted by the plan trustee or  administrator,  will determine
     how a  participant's  individual  account  under the plan is  administered.
     These terms may differ from the terms of the certificate.

o    If your certificate is held in a Custodial Retirement Plan (or Keogh plan),
     special rules may apply at maturity.  If no other  investment  instructions
     are provided directing how to handle your certificate at maturity, the full
     value of the certificate will  automatically  transfer to a new or existing
     cash  management  account  according  to rules  outlined  in the  Custodial
     Retirement Plan document.

o    The annual custodial fee for IRA or non-401(k)  qualified  retirement plans
     may be deducted  from your  certificate  account.  It may reduce the amount
     payable at maturity or the amount received upon an early withdrawal.

o    Retirement plan withdrawals may be subject to withdrawal  penalties or loss
     of interest even if they are not subject to federal tax penalties.

o    We will waive  withdrawal  penalties  on  withdrawals  for IRA  certificate
     accounts for your required distributions.

o    If you  withdraw  all funds from your last  account  in an IRA at  American
     Express  Trust  Company,  a  termination  fee will apply as set out in Your
     Guide to IRAs, the IRS disclosure information received when you opened your
     account.






o    The IRA termination fee will be waived if a withdrawal occurs after you
     have reached age 70 1/2 or upon the owner's death.

Withdrawal at death

If a  certificate  is  surrendered  upon  the  client's  death,  any  applicable
surrender  charge will be waived.  In  addition,  if an IRA  termination  fee is
applicable, it will also be waived.

Transfer of ownership

While this  certificate  is not  negotiable,  AECC will transfer  ownership upon
written  notification to our Client Service  Organization.  However, if you have
purchased your certificate for an IRA, 401(k) plan or other qualified retirement
plan, you may be unable to transfer or assign the certificate without losing the
account's favorable tax status. Please consult your tax advisor.

For more information

For information on purchases,  withdrawals,  exchanges,  transfers of ownership,
proper  instructions  and other service  questions  regarding your  certificate,
please  consult  your  American  Express  financial  advisor  or call the Client
Service Organization at the telephone numbers listed on the back cover.


If you purchase your certificate other than through a financial advisor, you may
be given different purchase and withdrawal instructions.


Taxes on your earnings


The bonus payments and interest on your certificate, including interest on bonus
payments,  are taxable when  credited to your  account.  Each  calendar  year we
provide the  certificate  account owner and the IRS with reports of all earnings
equal to and over $10 (Form 1099).  Withdrawals  are reported to the certificate
account owner and the IRS on Form 1099-B, "Proceeds from Broker Transactions."


Retirement accounts

If you are  using the  certificate  as an  investment  for an IRA,  401(k)  plan
account or other qualified  retirement  plan account,  income tax rules for your
IRA or  qualified  plan apply.  Generally,  you will pay no income taxes on your
investment's  earnings -- and, in many cases,  on part or all of the  investment
itself -- until you begin to make withdrawals.


AECC will withhold  federal  income taxes of 10% on IRA  withdrawals  unless you
tell us not to. AECC is required to withhold federal income taxes of 20% on most
other qualified plan  distributions,  unless the distribution is directly rolled
over to another qualified plan or IRA.


Withdrawals from retirement  accounts are generally  subject to a penalty tax of
10% by the IRS if you make them before age 59 1/2, unless you are disabled or if
they are made by your  beneficiary in the event of your death.  Other exceptions
may also apply. Also, withdrawals of principal during a certificate month may be
subject to the certificate's provision for loss of interest.

Consult  your tax advisor to see how these rules apply to you before you request
a distribution from your plan or IRA.

Gifts to minors

The  certificate  may be given to a minor  under  either  the  Uniform  Gifts or
Uniform  Transfers to Minors Act (UGMA/UTMA),  whichever  applies in your state.
UGMAs/UTMAs are irrevocable. Generally, under federal




tax laws,  income over  $1,400 for the year 2000 on  property  owned by children
under age 14 will be taxed at the parents'  marginal  tax rate,  while income on
property owned by children 14 or older will be taxed at the child's rate.


Your TIN and backup  withholding:  As with any financial  account you open,  you
must list your current and correct TIN, which is either your Social  Security or
Employer  Identification  number.  You must certify your TIN under  penalties of
perjury on your application when you open an account.

If you don't provide the correct TIN, you could be subject to backup withholding
of 31% of  your  interest  earnings.  You  could  also  be  subject  to  further
penalties, such as:

o        a $50 penalty for each failure to supply your correct TIN;

o        a civil penalty of $500 if you make a false statement that results in
         no backup withholding; and

o        criminal penalties for falsifying information.

You could  also be subject to backup  withholding  because  you failed to report
interest on your tax return as required.

To help you  determine  the  correct  TIN to use on various  types of  accounts,
please use this chart:

How to determine the correct TIN



                                                     
For this type of account:                               Use the Social Security or Employer Identification
                                                        Number of:

- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------


Individual or joint account                             The individual or one of the owners listed on the
                                                        joint account


- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------

Custodian account of a minor                            The minor
(Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act)

- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------


A revocable living trust                                The grantor-trustee
                                                        (the person who puts the money into the trust)


- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------

An irrevocable trust, pension trust or estate           The legal entity
                                                        (not the personal representative or trustee, unless
                                                        no legal entity is designated in the account title)

- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------

Sole proprietorship                                     The owner

- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------

Partnership                                             The partnership

- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------

Corporate                                               The corporation

- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------

Association, club or tax-exempt organization            The organization

- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------





For details on TIN  requirements,  ask your  financial  advisor or contact  your
local American Express Financial Advisors Inc.  office/financial  consultant for
federal   Form  W-9,   "Request   for   Taxpayer   Identification   Number   and
Certification."   You   also  may   obtain   the   form  on  the   Internet   at
(http://www.irs.gov/prod/forms_pubs/).


Foreign investors


If you are not a citizen or resident of the United States  (nonresident  alien),
you must  supply  AECC with Form W-8,  Certificate  of Foreign  Status  when you
purchase your  certificate.  You must also supply both a current mailing address
and an  address  of  foreign  residency,  if  different.  AECC  will not  accept
purchases  of  certificates  by  nonresident  aliens  without  an  appropriately
certified  Form W-8 (or  approved  substitute).  The Form W-8 in  effect  before
January 1, 2001, must be resupplied by you every three calendar years.


Interest on the certificate is "portfolio  interest" as defined in U.S. Internal
Revenue Code Section 871(h) if earned by a nonresident  alien.  Even though your
interest income is not taxed by the U.S. government, it will be reported at year
end to you and to the U.S.  government  on a Form 1042S,  Foreign  Person's U.S.
Source Income Subject to Withholding.  The United States participates in various
tax  treaties  with  foreign  countries,   which  provide  for  sharing  of  tax
information.

Changes in tax  regulation:  The U.S.  Internal  Revenue  Service has issued new
regulations changing the certification requirements for nonresident aliens. As a
result of the changes,  new Forms W-8 have been  designed and are  available for
use.  American Express  Certificate  Company will need the new forms on file for
all clients by January 1, 2001.  Depending  on your  status,  you may provide us
with  any one of four  new  Forms  W-8.  Most  clients  will  use  Form  W-8BEN,
Certificate  of  Foreign  Status of  Beneficial  Owner  for  United  States  Tax
Withholding,  but  consult  your tax  advisor  to ensure  that you are using the
correct form. The new Forms W-8 must be resupplied every four calendar years, up
from three years with the current form.

A few other  changes may affect you.  Foreign  trusts must apply for a permanent
U.S.  individual  tax  identification  number (ITIN).  Individuals  applying for
benefits under a tax treaty will have additional requirements.

Withholding taxes: If you fail to provide a Form W-8 as required above, you will
be subject to backup  withholding  on interest  payments  and  withdrawals  from
certificates.

Estate  tax:  If you  are a  nonresident  alien  and  you  die  while  owning  a
certificate,  then, depending on the circumstances,  AECC generally will not act
on instructions with regard to the certificate unless AECC first receives,  at a
minimum,  a statement  from persons AECC believes are  knowledgeable  about your
estate.  The statement  must be  satisfactory  to AECC and must tell us that, on
your date of death,  your  estate did not  include  any  property  in the United
States for U.S. estate tax purposes.  In other cases, we generally will not take
action regarding your certificate  until we receive a transfer  certificate from
the IRS or evidence  satisfactory to AECC that the estate is being  administered
by an executor  or  administrator  appointed,  qualified  and acting  within the
United States.  In general,  a transfer  certificate  requires the opening of an
estate in the United States and provides  assurance  that the IRS will not claim
your certificate to satisfy estate taxes.

Trusts: If the investor is a trust, the policies and procedures  described above
will apply with regard to each grantor who is a nonresident alien.

Important:  The information in this prospectus is a brief and selective  summary
of certain  federal  tax rules that  apply to this  certificate  and is based on
current  law and  practice.  Tax  matters  are highly  individual  and  complex.
Investors should consult a qualified tax advisor about their own position.



How your money is used and protected


Invested and guaranteed by AECC

AECC, a wholly owned  subsidiary  of AEFC,  issues and  guarantees  the American
Express Installment Certificate. We are by far the largest issuer of face amount
certificates in the United States,  with total assets of more than $____ billion
and a net worth in excess of $____ million on Dec. 31, 1999.


We back our  certificates  by  investing  the money  received  and  keeping  the
invested assets on deposit. Our investments generate interest and dividends, out
of which we pay:

o    interest to certificate owners,

o    and various expenses,  including taxes, fees to AEFC for advisory and other
     services,  distribution fees to American Express  Financial  Advisors Inc.,
     and selling agent fees to selling agents.

For a review of significant  events relating to our business,  see "Management's
discussion and analysis of financial  condition and results of  operations."  No
national rating agency rates our certificates.

Most banks and thrifts  offer  investments  known as CDs that are similar to our
certificates  in many  ways.  Early  withdrawals  of bank CDs  often  result  in
penalties.  Banks and thrifts generally have federal deposit insurance for their
deposits and lend much of the money  deposited to  individuals,  businesses  and
other enterprises. Other financial institutions and some insurance companies may
offer  investments  with  comparable   combinations  of  safety  and  return  on
investment.

Regulated by government

Because the American Express  Installment  Certificate is a security,  its offer
and sale are subject to regulation under federal and state securities laws. (The
American Express Installment Certificate is a face-amount certificate. It is not
a bank product, an equity investment,  a form of life insurance or an investment
trust.)

The federal  Investment  Company Act of 1940 requires us to keep  investments on
deposit in a  segregated  custodial  account to protect  all of our  outstanding
certificates.  These  investments  back the  entire  value  of your  certificate
account.  Their  amortized  cost must exceed the required  carrying value of the
outstanding  certificates  by at  least  $250,000.  As of  Dec.  31,  1999,  the
amortized cost of these investments  exceeded the required carrying value of our
outstanding  certificates by more than $___ million.  The law requires us to use
amortized  cost for these  regulatory  purposes.  Among  other  things,  the law
permits  Minnesota  statutes to govern  qualified assets of AECC as described in
Note 2 to the financial statements. In general,  amortized cost is determined by
systematically  increasing  the  carrying  value of a security  if acquired at a
discount,  or reducing the carrying value if acquired at a premium,  so that the
carrying value is equal to maturity value on the maturity date.

As a condition to  regulatory  relief from the SEC,  AECC has agreed to maintain
capital and surplus equal to 5% of outstanding  liabilities on certificates (not
including   loans  made  on  certificates  in  accordance  with  terms  of  some
certificates  that no longer are  offered  by AECC).  AECC is not  obligated  to
continue to rely on the relief and continue to comply with the conditions of the
relief.  Similarly, AECC has entered into a written, informal agreement with the
Minnesota  Commerce  Department to maintain capital equal to 5% of the assets of
AECC (less any loans on outstanding  certificates).  When computing its capital,
AECC  values  its  assets on the basis of  statutory  accounting  for  insurance
companies rather than generally accepted accounting principles.



Backed by our investments

Our investments are varied and of high quality.  This was the composition of our
portfolio as of Dec. 31, 1999:

Type of investment                                      Net amount invested

Corporate and other bonds
Government agency bonds
Preferred stocks
Mortgages
Municipal bonds

As of Dec. 31, 1999 about __% of our securities  portfolio  (including bonds and
preferred  stocks)  is  rated  investment  grade.  For  additional   information
regarding  securities  ratings,  please  refer  to  Note  3B  to  the  financial
statements.

Most of our  investments  are on deposit with American  Express  Trust  Company,
Minneapolis,  although we also maintain separate deposits as required by certain
states.  American  Express Trust  Company is a wholly owned  subsidiary of AEFC.
Copies  of  our  Dec.  31,  1999  schedule  of   Investments  in  Securities  of
Unaffiliated  Issuers are  available  upon request.  For comments  regarding the
valuation,   carrying  values  and  unrealized  appreciation  (depreciation)  of
investment securities, see Notes 1, 2 and 3 to the financial statements.

Investment policies


In deciding how to diversify the portfolio -- among what types of investments in
what  amounts -- the officers  and  directors  of AECC use their best  judgment,
subject  to  applicable  law.  The  following   policies  currently  govern  our
investment decisions:


Debt securities-
Most of our  investments  are in debt  securities  as referenced in the table in
"Backed by our investments" under "How your money is used and protected."


The price of bonds  generally  falls as interest  rates  increase,  and rises as
interest  rates  decrease.  The price of a bond also  fluctuates  if its  credit
rating is upgraded or downgraded.  The price of bonds below investment grade may
react more to whether a company can pay interest and principal  when due than to
changes in interest rates. They have greater price fluctuations, are more likely
to experience a default,  and  sometimes are referred to as junk bonds.  Reduced
market  liquidity  for these bonds may  occasionally  make it more  difficult to
value them. In valuing bonds,  AECC relies both on independent  rating  agencies
and the investment  manager's credit analysis.  Under normal  circumstances,  at
least 85% of the securities in AECC's portfolio will be rated investment  grade,
or in the  opinion  of  AECC's  investment  advisor  will be the  equivalent  of
investment  grade.  Under  normal  circumstances,  AECC  will not  purchase  any
security rated below B- by Moody's Investors Service,  Inc. or Standard & Poor's
Corporation. Securities that are subsequently downgraded in quality may continue
to be held by AECC and will be sold only when AECC  believes it is  advantageous
to do so.


As of Dec. 31, 1999, AECC held about __% of its investment  portfolio (including
bonds,  preferred  stocks and mortgages) in investments  rated below  investment
grade.

Purchasing securities on margin -
We will not purchase any securities on margin or participate on a joint basis or
a joint-and-several basis in any trading account in securities.

Commodities -
We have not and do not  intend to  purchase  or sell  commodities  or  commodity
contracts  except  to the  extent  that  transactions  described  in  "Financial
transactions  including  hedges" in this  section  may be  considered  commodity
contracts.



Underwriting -
We do not intend to engage in the public  distribution  of securities  issued by
others.  However, if we purchase unregistered  securities and later resell them,
we may be  considered  an  underwriter  (selling  securities  for others)  under
federal securities laws.

Borrowing money -
From time to time we have  established a line of credit with banks if management
believed borrowing was necessary or desirable.  We may pledge some of our assets
as security.  We may occasionally  use repurchase  agreements as a way to borrow
money.  Under these  agreements,  we sell debt  securities  to our  lender,  and
repurchase  them at the sales price plus an  agreed-upon  interest rate within a
specified period of time.


Real estate -
We may invest in limited  partnership  interests  in limited  partnerships  that
either directly,  or indirectly  through other limited  partnerships,  invest in
real estate.  We may invest directly in real estate.  We also invest in mortgage
loans secured by real estate. We expect that equity  investments in real estate,
either  directly or through a subsidiary of AECC, will be less than 5% of AECC's
assets.


Lending securities -
We may lend some of our securities to  broker-dealers  and receive cash equal to
the  market  value of the  securities  as  collateral.  We  invest  this cash in
short-term  securities.  If the  market  value of the  securities  goes up,  the
borrower pays us additional  cash.  During the course of the loan,  the borrower
makes  cash  payments  to  us  equal  to  all  interest,   dividends  and  other
distributions  paid  on  the  loaned  securities.  We  will  try to  vote  these
securities if a major event affecting our investment is under consideration.  We
expect that outstanding securities loans will not exceed 10% of AECC's assets.

When-issued securities-
Some of our  investments  in debt  securities  are purchased on a when-issued or
similar  basis.  It may take as long as 45 days or more before these  securities
are available for sale,  issued and delivered to us. We generally do not pay for
these  securities or start earning on them until delivery.  We have  established
procedures  to ensure that  sufficient  cash is  available  to meet  when-issued
commitments.  When-issued securities are subject to market fluctuations and they
may affect AECC's investment portfolio the same as owned securities.

Financial transactions including hedges-
We buy or sell various types of options  contracts for hedging  purposes or as a
trading  technique  to  facilitate  securities  purchases  or sales.  We may buy
interest rate caps for hedging purposes. These pay us a return if interest rates
rise above a specified  level.  If interest  rates do not rise above a specified
level, the interest rate caps do not pay us a return.  AECC may enter into other
financial transactions, including futures and other derivatives, for the purpose
of managing  the  interest  rate  exposures  associated  with  AECC's  assets or
liabilities. Derivatives are financial instruments whose performance is derived,
at least in part,  from the  performance  of an  underlying  asset,  security or
index.  A small change in the value of the underlying  asset,  security or index
may cause a sizable gain or loss in the fair value of the derivative.  We do not
use derivatives for speculative purposes.

Illiquid securities -
A security  is  illiquid  if it cannot be sold in the normal  course of business
within seven days at  approximately  its current market value.  Some investments
cannot  be  resold  to the U.S.  public  because  of their  terms or  government
regulations. All securities,  however can be sold in private sales, and many may
be sold to other institutions and qualified buyers or on foreign markets. AECC's
investment advisor will follow guidelines  established by the board and consider
relevant  factors  such as the nature of the  security  and the number of likely
buyers  when  determining  whether a security is  illiquid.  No more than 15% of
AECC's  investment  portfolio will be held in securities  that are illiquid.  In
valuing its  investment  portfolio  to determine  this 15% limit,  AECC will use
statutory  accounting under an SEC order. This means that, for this purpose, the
portfolio will be valued in accordance with  applicable  Minnesota law governing
investments  of  life  insurance  companies,   rather  than  generally  accepted
accounting principles.



Restrictions -
There are no  restrictions  on  concentration  of  investments in any particular
industry or group of industries or on rates of portfolio turnover.

How your money is managed

Relationship between AECC and American Express Financial Corporation

AECC was  originally  organized  as  Investors  Syndicate  of America,  Inc.,  a
Minnesota corporation, on Oct. 15, 1940, and began business as an issuer of face
amount  investment  certificates  on Jan. 1, 1941. The company became a Delaware
corporation  on Dec. 31, 1977,  changed its name to IDS  Certificate  Company on
April 2, 1984, and to American Express Certificate Company on April 26, 2000.

AECC files  reports  on Form 10K and 10-Q with the SEC.  The public may read and
copy  materials we file with the SEC at the SEC's Public  Reference  Room at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on
the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
The SEC maintains an Internet site  (http://www.sec.gov)  that contains reports,
proxy and information  statements,  and other information regarding issuers that
file electronically with the SEC.

Before AECC was created, AEFC (formerly known as IDS Financial Corporation), our
parent company,  had issued similar certificates since 1894. As of Jan. 1, 1995,
IDS  Financial  Corporation  changed its name to AEFC.  AECC and AEFC have never
failed to meet their certificate payments.

During  its many  years in  operation,  AEFC has  become a  leading  manager  of
investments in mortgages and  securities.  As of Dec. 31, 1999,  AEFC managed or
administered investments, including its own, of more than $___ billion. American
Express Financial  Advisors Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AEFC,  provides a
broad range of  financial  planning  services  for  individuals  and  businesses
through  its  nationwide  network of more than 180  offices  and more than 9,000
financial  advisors.  American Express Financial  Advisors'  financial  planning
services are  comprehensive,  beginning with a detailed  written analysis that's
tailored  to your  needs.  Your  analysis  may  address  one or all of these six
essential areas: financial position,  protection planning,  investment planning,
income tax planning, retirement planning and estate planning.

AEFC  itself  is a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  American  Express  Company,  a
financial  services  company with executive  offices at American  Express Tower,
World  Financial  Center,  New York,  NY 10285.  American  Express  Company is a
financial  services  company  engaged through  subsidiaries in other  businesses
including:

o    travel related services (including American Express(R) Card operations
     through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. and its
     subsidiaries); and

o    international banking services (through American Express Bank Ltd. and its
     subsidiaries) and Travelers Cheque and related services.

Capital structure and certificates issued

AECC has authorized,  issued and has outstanding 150,000 shares of common stock,
par value of $10 per share. AEFC owns all of the outstanding shares.

As of the fiscal  year ended Dec.  31,  1999,  AECC had issued (in face  amount)
$__________  of  installment  certificates  and  $__________  of single  payment
certificates.  As of Dec. 31, 1999, AECC had issued (in face amount) $__________
of installment certificates and $__________ of single payment certificates since
its inception in 1941.



Investment management and services

Under an Investment Advisory and Services Agreement, AEFC acts as our investment
advisor and is responsible for:

o    providing investment research,

o    making specific investment recommendations,

o    and executing purchase and sale orders according to our policy of obtaining
     the best price and execution.


All these  activities  are  subject  to  direction  and  control by our board of
directors and officers.  Our agreement with AEFC requires  annual renewal by our
board,  including a majority of directors who are not interested persons of AEFC
or AECC as defined in the federal Investment Company Act of 1940.


For its  services,  we pay AEFC a monthly  fee,  equal on an  annual  basis to a
percentage of the total book value of certain assets (included assets).

Advisory and services fee computation

Included assets                        Percentage of total book value

First $250 million                     0.750%
Next 250 million                       0.650
Next 250 million                       0.550
Next 250 million                       0.500
Any amount over 1 billion              0.107


Included assets are all assets of AECC except mortgage loans,  real estate,  and
any other asset on which we pay an outside advisory or service fee.


Advisory and services fee for the past three years


                                                               Percentage of
Year                                     Total fees            included assets
1999                                      $_________                      ___%
1998                                    $  9,084,332                     0.24
1997                                     $17,232,602                     0.50




Estimated advisory and services fees for 2000 are $__________.

Other expenses payable by AECC: The Investment  Advisory and Services  Agreement
provides that we will pay:


o    costs incurred by us in connection with real estate and mortgages;

o    taxes;

o    depository and custodian fees;

o    brokerage commissions;

o    fees and expenses for services not covered by other agreements and provided
     to us at our request, or by requirement, by attorneys,  auditors, examiners
     and professional consultants who are not officers or employees of AEFC;



o    fees and expenses of our directors who are not officers or employees of
     AEFC;

o     provision for certificate reserves (interest accrued on certificate owner
      accounts); and

o     expenses of customer settlements not attributable to sales function.

Distribution

Under a Distribution Agreement with American Express Financial Advisors Inc., we
pay a fee every month of 2.5% of all payments  received  during the month.  This
fee is paid on all payments received on or after issue of your certificate until
the certificate's maturity date.

This fee is not assessed to your certificate account.


Total distribution fees paid to American Express Financial Advisors Inc. for all
series of  certificates  amounted to  $________  during the year ended Dec.  31,
1999. We expect to pay American  Express  Financial  Advisors Inc.  distribution
fees amounting to $________ during 2000.


See Note 1 to  financial  statements  regarding  deferral  of  distribution  fee
expense.


In addition,  AECC may pay distributors additional compensation for distribution
activities  under  certain  circumstances.  From  time to time,  AECC may pay or
permit other promotional incentives, in cash or credit or other compensation.

American  Express  Financial  Advisors  Inc. pays  commissions  to its financial
advisors and pays other selling  expenses in connection with services to us. Our
board of  directors,  including a majority of directors  who are not  interested
persons of American  Express  Financial  Advisors Inc., or AECC,  approved these
distribution agreements.


Transfer agent


Under a Transfer Agency Agreement,  American Express Client Service  Corporation
(AECSC), a wholly owned subsidiary of AEFC, maintains certificate owner accounts
and  records.  AECC pays  AECSC a monthly  fee of  one-twelfth  of  $10.353  per
certificate owner account for this service.


Employment of other American Express affiliates

AEFC may employ an affiliate of American Express Company as executing broker for
our portfolio transactions only if:

o    we receive  prices and executions at least as favorable as those offered by
     qualified independent brokers performing similar services;

o    the affiliate charges us commissions consistent with those charged to
     comparable unaffiliated customers for similar transactions; and

o    the  affiliate's  employment  is  consistent  with the terms of the current
     Investment Advisory and Services Agreement and federal securities laws.



Directors and officers


AECC's sole  shareholder,  AEFC,  elects the board of  directors  that  oversees
AECC's operations. The board annually elects the directors,  chairman, president
and  controller  for a term  of one  year.  The  president  appoints  the  other
executive officers.

We paid a total of $______ during 1999 to directors not employed by AEFC.


Board of directors

Rodney P. Burwell
Born  in  1939.  Director  beginning  in  1999.  Chairman,   Xerxes  Corporation
(fiberglass storage tanks). Director, Fairview Corporation.


Charles W. Johnson
Born in 1929.  Director  since 1989.  Director,  Communications  Holdings,  Inc.
Acting president of Fisk University from 1998 to 1999. Former vice president and
group executive, Industrial Systems, with Honeywell, Inc. Retired 1989.

Jean B. Keffeler
Born in 1945. Director beginning in 1999. Independent management consultant.


Richard W. Kling
Born in 1940.  Director since 1996. Chairman of the board of directors from 1996
to 2000.  Director of IDS Life  Insurance  Company since 1984;  president  since
1994.  Executive  vice  president of Marketing and Products of AEFC from 1988 to
1994.  Senior vice  president  of AEFC since  1994.  Director of IDS Life Series
Fund,  Inc.  and member of the board of  managers of IDS Life  Variable  Annuity
Funds A and B..


Thomas R. McBurney
Born in  1938.  Director  beginning  in  1999.  President,  McBurney  Management
Advisors.  Director,  The  Valspar  Corporation  (paints),  Wenger  Corporation,
Allina, Space Center Enterprises and Greenspring Corporation.


Paula R. Meyer*
Born in 1954.  President since 1998.  Piper Capital  Management  (PCM) President
from 1997 to 1998.  PCM Director of Marketing from 1995 to 1997. PCM Director of
Retail Marketing from 1993 to 1995.

Pamela J. Moret*
Born in 1956.  Director  since  December  1999.  Chair of the board of directors
since January 2000.  Senior vice president - Investment  Products since November
1999.  Vice  president  -  Variable  Assets & Services  from 1997 to 1999.  Vice
president  -  Retail   Services   Group  from  1996  to  1997.   Vice  president
Communications  from  1992  to  1996.  Various  attorney  positions  in  General
Counsel's Office from 1982 to 1992.


*"Interested  Person" of AECC as that term is defined in Investment  Company Act
of 1940.

Executive officers


Paula R. Meyer
Born in 1954. President since 1998.

Jeffrey S. Horton
Born in 1961.  Vice  president  and  treasurer  since 1997.  Vice  president and
corporate   treasurer  of  AEFC  since  1997.   Controller,   American   Express
Technologies-Financial  Services  of AEFC  from 1997 to 1997.  Controller,  Risk
Management Products of AEFC from 1994 to 1997. Director of finance and analysis,
Corporate Treasury of AEFC from 1990 to 1994.




Timothy S. Meehan
Born in 1957.  Secretary  since 1995.  Secretary  of AEFC and  American  Express
Financial  Advisors Inc. since 1995. Senior counsel to AEFC since 1995.  Counsel
from 1990 to 1995.

Lorraine R. Hart
Born in 1951.  Vice  president  -  Investments  since  1994.  Vice  president  -
Insurance  Investments  of AEFC since 1989.  Vice president - Investments of IDS
Life Insurance Company since 1992.

Jay C. Hatlestad
Born in 1957.  Vice  president  and  controller  of AECC since 1994.  Manager of
Investment Accounting of IDS Life Insurance Company from 1986 to 1994.

Bruce A. Kohn
Born in 1951. Vice president and general  counsel since 1993.  Senior counsel to
AEFC since 1996. Counsel to AEFC from 1992 to 1996.  Associate counsel from 1987
to 1992.



Philip C. Wentzel
Born in 1961.  Vice  president and  controller of AECC since January 2000.  Vice
president - Finance,  Insurance  Products of AEFC since 1997. Vice president and
controller of IDS Life since 1998. Director,  Financial Reporting and Analysis -
IDS Life from 1992 to 1997.


The  officers  and  directors  as a group  beneficially  own less than 1% of the
common stock of American Express Company.


AECC  has  provisions  in its  bylaws  relating  to the  indemnification  of its
officers and  directors  against  liability,  as  permitted  by law.  Insofar as
indemnification  for  liabilities  arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
1933 Act) may be permitted to  directors,  officers or persons  controlling  the
registrant  pursuant  to the  foregoing  provisions,  the  registrant  has  been
informed that in the opinion of the SEC such  indemnification  is against public
policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is therefore unenforceable.


Independent auditors

A firm of independent  auditors audits our financial  statements at the close of
each fiscal year (Dec. 31). Copies of our annual financial  statements (audited)
and semiannual financial statements (unaudited) are available to any certificate
owner upon request.


Ernst & Young LLP, Minneapolis, has audited our financial statements for each of
the years in the  three-year  period ended Dec. 31, 1999.  These  statements are
included in this prospectus.  Ernst & Young LLP is also the auditor for American
Express Company, the parent company of AEFC and AECC.

American Express Certificates

Other  certificates  issued by AECC: Your American Express financial advisor can
give you more  information  on five  other  certificates  issued by AECC.  These
certificates offer a wide range of investment terms and features.

American  Express Cash Reserve  Certificate - A single payment  certificate that
permits additional  investments on which AECC guarantees interest in advance for
a three-month term.

American  Express Flexible  Savings  Certificate - A single payment  certificate
that permits  additional  investments and on which AECC  guarantees  interest in
advance for a term of six, 12, 18, 24, 30 or 36 months.

American Express Market Strategy Certificate-A certificate that pays interest at
a fixed rate or linked to one-year  stock market  performance,  as measured by a
broad market index,  for a series of one-year  terms  starting every month or at
other intervals the client selects.



American Express Preferred Investors  Certificate - A single payment certificate
that  combines a  competitive  fixed rate of return  with  AECC's  guarantee  of
principal for large investments of $250,000 to $5 million.

American  Express Stock Market  Certificate - A single payment  certificate that
calculates  all or part of your interest based on stock market  performance,  as
measured by a broad market index, with AECC's guarantee of return of principal.




Appendix

Description of corporate bond ratings

Bond  ratings  concern the quality of the issuing  corporation.  They are not an
opinion of the market  value of the  security.  Such  ratings  are  opinions  on
whether the principal and interest will be repaid when due. A security's  rating
may change which could affect its price.  Ratings by Moody's Investors  Service,
Inc.  are Aaa,  Aa, A, Baa,  Ba, B, Caa, Ca and C.  Ratings by Standard & Poor's
Corporation are AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D.

Aaa/AAA - Judged to be of the best  quality  and  carry the  smallest  degree of
investment risk. Interest and principal are secure.

Aa/AA - Judged to be high-grade  although margins of protection for interest and
principal may not be quite as good as Aaa or AAA rated securities.

A - Considered  upper-medium  grade.  Protection  for interest and  principal is
deemed adequate but may be susceptible to future impairment.

Baa/BBB -  Considered  medium-grade  obligations.  Protection  for  interest and
principal is adequate over the short-term;  however,  these obligations may have
certain speculative characteristics.

Ba/BB - Considered to have speculative elements.  The protection of interest and
principal payments may be very moderate.

B - Lack  characteristics  of more  desirable  investments.  There  may be small
assurance over any long period of time of the payment of interest and principal.

Caa/CCC - Are of poor  standing.  Such  issues may be in default or there may be
risk with respect to principal or interest.

Ca/CC - Represent obligations that are highly speculative. Such issues are often
in default or have other marked shortcomings.

C - Are obligations  with a higher degree of speculation.  These securities have
major risk exposures to default.

D - Are in  payment  default.  The D rating is used when  interest  payments  or
principal payments are not made on the due date.

Non-rated  securities  will be considered  for  investment.  When assessing each
non-rated security,  AECC will consider the financial condition of the issuer or
the protection afforded by the terms of the security.



(Back Cover)

Quick telephone reference*

800-862-7919               American Express Easy Access Line
                           Account value, cash transaction information,  current
                           rate information (automated response for Touchtone(R)
                           phones only)

800-862-7919               Client Service Organization
                           Withdrawals, transfers, inquiries

800-846-4852               TTY Service For the hearing impaired

*You may experience delays when call volumes are high

American Express Installment Certificate
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN  55440-0010

Web site address: http://www.americanexpress.com/advisors

Distributed by American Express Financial Advisors Inc.

6000



PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item
Number

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

                  The expenses in connection with the issuance and  distribution
                  of the  securities  being  registered  are to be  borne by the
                  registrant.

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

                  The By-Laws of IDS  Certificate  Company provide that it shall
                  indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to
                  be made a party,  by  reason  of the fact  that he was or is a
                  director,  officer, employee or agent of the company, or is or
                  was  serving  at  the   direction  of  the  company,   or  any
                  predecessor  corporation as a director,  officer,  employee or
                  agent of  another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,
                  trust or  other  enterprise,  to any  threatened,  pending  or
                  completed action, suit or proceeding, wherever brought, to the
                  fullest extent permitted by the laws of the state of Delaware,
                  as now existing or hereafter amended.

                  The By-Laws  further  provide that  indemnification  questions
                  applicable  to a  corporation  which has been  merged into the
                  company relating to causes of action arising prior to the date
                  of such merger shall be governed exclusively by the applicable
                  laws of the state of incorporation  and by the by-laws of such
                  merged corporation then in effect.
                  See also Item 17.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

(a)             Securities Sold

1996            IDS Special Deposits*                              41,064,846.74
1997            American Express Special Deposits                 182,788,631.00
1998            American Express Special Deposits                  91,416,078.00
1999            American Express Special Deposits                  50,132,542.00

* Renamed American Express Special Deposits in April 1996.

(b)               Underwriters and other purchasers

American  Express  Special  Deposits are marketed by American  Express Bank Ltd.
(AEB),  an affiliate of IDS Certificate  Company,  to private banking clients of
AEB in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.

(c)               Consideration

All American Express Special Deposits were sold for cash. The aggregate offering
price was the same as the amount sold in the table  above.  Aggregate  marketing
fees to AEB were $301,946.44 in 1996,  $592,068.70 in 1997,  $967,791.95 in 1998
and $877,981.60 in 1999.





(d)               Exemption from registration claimed

American  Express  Special  Deposits are marketed,  pursuant to the exemption in
Regulation S under the  Securities Act of 1933, by AEB in the United Kingdom and
Hong Kong to persons who are not U.S. persons, as defined in Regulation S.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)      Exhibits

         1.         (a)  Copy of Distribution Agreement dated November 18, 1988,
                         between  Registrant  and IDS Financial  Services  Inc.,
                         filed   electronically   as   Exhibit   1(a)   to   the
                         Registration  Statement No. 33-26844,  for the American
                         Express  International   Investment   Certificate  (now
                         called, the IDS Investors  Certificate) is incorporated
                         herein by reference.

                    (b)  Copy of  Distribution  Agreement  dated  March 29, 1996
                         between   Registrant  and  American   Express   Service
                         Corporation  filed  electronically  as Exhibit  1(b) to
                         Post-Effective   Amendment   No.  17  to   Registration
                         Statement  No.  2-95577  is   incorporated   herein  by
                         reference.

         2.              Not Applicable.

         3.         (a)  Certificate of Incorporation,  dated December 31, 1977,
                         filed  electronically as Exhibit 3(a) to Post-Effective
                         Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement No. 2-89507,
                         is incorporated herein by reference.

                    (b)  Certificate  of  Amendment,  dated  April 2, 1984 filed
                         electronically   as  Exhibit  3(b)  to   Post-Effective
                         Amendment No. 10 to Registration Statement No. 2-89507,
                         is incorporated herein by reference.

                    (c)  Certificate  of  Amendment,  dated  September 12, 1995,
                         filed  electronically as Exhibit 3(c) to Post-Effective
                         Amendment No. 44 to Registration Statement No. 2-55252,
                         is incorporated herein by reference.

                    (d)  Certificate of Amendment,  dated April 30, 1999,  filed
                         electronically  as Exhibit 3(a) to  Registrant's  March
                         31, 1999 Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q is incorporated
                         herein by reference.

                    (e)  Current By-Laws,  filed  electronically as Exhibit 3(e)
                         to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  19 to  Registration
                         Statement  No.  33-26844,  are  incorporated  herein by
                         reference.

         4.              Not Applicable.

         5.              An opinion and consent of counsel as to the legality of
                         the securities being registered,  filed  electronically
                         as Exhibit 16(a)5 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 24 to
                         Registration  Statement No. 2-95577 is  incorporated by
                         reference.

         6. through 9. --  None.

         10.        (a)  Investment  Advisory  and  Services  Agreement  between
                         Registrant and IDS/American  Express Inc. dated January
                         12,  1984,  filed  electronically  as Exhibit  10(b) to
                         Registrant's   Post-Effective   Amendment   No.   3  to
                         Registration  Statement No.  2-89507,  is  incorporated
                         herein by reference.




                    (b)  Depositary and Custodial  Agreement dated September 30,
                         1985  between  IDS  Certificate  Company  and IDS Trust
                         Company,  filed  electronically  as  Exhibit  10(b)  to
                         Registrant's   Post-Effective   Amendment   No.   3  to
                         Registration  Statement No.  2-89507,  is  incorporated
                         herein by reference.

                    (c)  Foreign  Deposit  Agreement  dated  November  21, 1990,
                         between IDS  Certificate  Company and IDS Bank & Trust,
                         filed electronically as Exhibit 10(h) to Post-Effective
                         Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No. 33-26844,
                         is incorporated herein by reference.

                    (d)  Selling  Agent  Agreement  dated June 1, 1990,  between
                         American Express Bank  International  and IDS Financial
                         Services  Inc. for the American  Express  Investors and
                         American  Express  Stock  Market  Certificates,   filed
                         electronically  as Exhibit  1(c) to the  Post-Effective
                         Amendment No. 5 to Registration Statement No. 33-26844,
                         is incorporated herein by reference.

                    (e)  Marketing  Agreement  dated  October 10, 1991,  between
                         Registrant  and  American   Express  Bank  Ltd.,  filed
                         electronically   as  Exhibit  1(d)  to   Post-Effective
                         Amendment No. 31 to Registration  Statement 2-55252, is
                         incorporated herein by reference.

                    (f)  Amendment to the Selling Agent Agreement dated December
                         12,  1994,  between IDS  Financial  Services  Inc.  and
                         American    Express    Bank    International,     filed
                         electronically   as  Exhibit  1(d)  to   Post-Effective
                         Amendment No. 9 to Registration Statement No. 33-26844,
                         is incorporated herein by reference.

                    (g)  Selling  Agent   Agreement  dated  December  12,  1994,
                         between IDS  Financial  Services  Inc. and Coutts & Co.
                         (USA)  International,  filed  electronically as Exhibit
                         1(e) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 13 to Registration
                         Statement  No.  2-95577,   is  incorporated  herein  by
                         reference.

                    (h)  Consulting  Agreement dated December 12, 1994,  between
                         IDS Financial  Services Inc. and American  Express Bank
                         International, filed electronically as Exhibit 16(f) to
                         Post-Effective   Amendment   No.  13  to   Registration
                         Statement  No.  2-95577  is   incorporated   herein  by
                         reference.

                    (i)  Letter amendment dated January 9, 1997 to the Marketing
                         Agreement  dated October 10, 1991,  between  Registrant
                         and American Express Bank Ltd. filed  electronically as
                         Exhibit  10(j) to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 40 to
                         Registration  Statement No.  2-55252,  is  incorporated
                         herein by reference.

                    (j)  Form of  Letter  amendment  dated  April 7, 1997 to the
                         Selling  Agent  Agreement  dated  June 1, 1990  between
                         American Express  Financial  Advisors Inc. and American
                         Express Bank  International,  filed  electronically  as
                         Exhibit 10 (j) to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 14 to
                         Registration Statement 33-26844, is incorporated herein
                         by reference.




                    (k)  Letter  Agreement  dated  July 28,  1999  amending  the
                         Selling  Agent  Agreement  dated  June  1,  1990,  or a
                         schedule thereto, as amended,  between American Express
                         Financial   Advisors   Inc.   (formerly  IDS  Financial
                         Services Inc.) and American Express Bank International,
                         filed  electronically  to  Registrant's  June 30,  1999
                         Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q, is incorporated  herein
                         by reference.

                    (l)  Letter  Agreement  dated July 28,  1999,  amending  the
                         Marketing  Agreement  dated  October  10,  1991,  or  a
                         schedule thereto,  as amended,  between IDS Certificate
                         Company  and   American   Express   Bank  Ltd.,   filed
                         electronically  to Registrant's June 30, 1999 Quarterly
                         Report  on  Form  10-Q,  is   incorporated   herein  by
                         reference.

                    (m)  Selling Agent  Agreement,  dated March 10, 1999 between
                         American Express Financial Advisors Inc. and Securities
                         America,  Inc., filed  electronically as Exhibit 10 (l)
                         to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  18 to  Registration
                         Statement   33-26844,   is   incorporated   herein   by
                         reference.

         11. through 22. -- None.

         23.             Consent  of  Independent  Auditors'  Report to be filed
                         with a  subsequent  post-effective  amendment  to  this
                         registration statement.

         24.        (a)  Officers'  Power of Attorney,  dated September 8, 1998,
                         filed electronically as Exhibit 24(a) to Post-Effective
                         Amendment   No.  22  to   Registration   Statement  No.
                         33-22503, is incorporated herein by reference.

                    (b)  Directors'  Power of  Attorney,  dated April 26,  1999,
                         filed  electronically  as Exhibit 24(a) to Registrant's
                         March 31, 1999 Quarterly Report is incorporated  herein
                         by reference.

                    (c)  Director's Power of Attorney,  dated December 21, 1999,
                         filed electronically as Exhibit 24(c) to Post-Effective
                         Amendment   No.  19  to   Registration   Statement  No.
                         33-26844, is incorporated herein by reference.

         25. through 27. -- None.

                    (b)  The financial  statement  schedules for IDS Certificate
                         Company will be filed with a subsequent  post-effective
                         amendment to  Registration  Statement  No.  2-55252 for
                         Series D-1 Investment Certificate.

         Item 17. Undertakings.

                  Without  limiting or restricting  any liability on the part of
                  the other, American Express Financial Advisors Inc. (formerly,
                  IDS Financial  Services Inc.), as underwriter  will assume any
                  actionable  civil  liability which may arise under the Federal
                  Securities Act of 1933, the Federal Securities Exchange Act of
                  1934  or  the  Federal  Investment  Company  Act of  1940,  in
                  addition  to any such  liability  arising at law or in equity,
                  out of any untrue  statement  of a  material  fact made by its
                  agents  in the due  course of their  business  in  selling  or
                  offering for sale, or soliciting  applications for, securities
                  issued  by the  Company  or any  omission  on the  part of its
                  agents to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
                  statements so made, in the light of the circumstances in which
                  they were made, not  misleading (no such untrue  statements or
                  omissions, however, being





                  admitted or contemplated), but such liability shall be subject
                  to the  conditions  and  limitations  described  in said Acts.
                  American Express Financial  Advisors Inc. will also assume any
                  liability  of the Company for any amount or amounts  which the
                  Company legally may be compelled to pay to any purchaser under
                  said Acts because of any untrue statements of a material fact,
                  or any omission to state a material  fact,  on the part of the
                  agents of  American  Express  Financial  Advisors  Inc. to the
                  extent of any actual  loss to, or expense  of, the  Company in
                  connection therewith.  The By-Laws of the Registrant contain a
                  provision   relating  to   Indemnification   of  Officers  and
                  Directors as permitted by applicable law.





                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has
duly  caused  this  amendment  to be  signed on its  behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minneapolis and State of Minnesota, on
the 19th day, of January, 2000.

IDS CERTIFICATE COMPANY



By: /s/ Paula R. Meyer*
Paula R. Meyer, President


Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment has
been signed below by the following persons in the capacities on the 19th day, of
January, 2000.


Signature                                         Capacity

/s/ Paula R. Meyer* **                            President and Director
Paula R. Meyer                                    (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Jeffrey S. Horton*                            Vice President and Treasurer
Jeffrey S. Horton                                 (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Jay C. Hatlestad*                             Vice President and Controller
Jay C. Hatlestad                                  (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Rodney P. Burwell**                           Director
Rodney P. Burwell

/s/ Charles W. Johnson**                          Director
Charles W. Johnson

/s/ Jean B. Keffeler**                            Director
Jean B. Keffeler

/s/ Richard W. Kling**                            Director
Richard W. Kling

/s/ Pamela J. Moret***                            Director
Pamela J. Moret

/s/ Thomas R. McBurney**                          Director
Thomas R. McBurney






*Signed  pursuant to Officers'  Power of Attorney dated  September 8, 1998 filed
electronically  as  Exhibit  24(a)  to   Post-Effective   Amendment  No.  22  to
Registration Statement No. 33-22503, incorporated herein by reference.



/s/Bruce A. Kohn
Bruce A. Kohn



**Signed  pursuant to  Directors'  Power of Attorney  dated April 26, 1999 filed
electronically as Exhibit 24(a) to Registrant's March 31, 1999 Quarterly Report,
incorporated herein by reference.



/s/Bruce A. Kohn
Bruce A. Kohn



***Signed pursuant to Director's Power of Attorney dated December 21, 1999 filed
electronically  as  Exhibit  24(c)  to   Post-Effective   Amendment  No.  19  to
Registration Statement No. 33-26844, incorporated herein by reference.



/s/Bruce A. Kohn
Bruce A. Kohn



January 19, 2000



Securities and Exchange Commission
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20549-1004

Attn:    Document Control -EDGAR
         Ms. Patsy Mengiste

RE:      IDS Certificate Company (IDSC)
         Post-Effective Amendment No. 25
                American Express Installment Certificate: 2-76193
Dear Ms. Mengiste:

Enclosed and filed  electronically  is  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 25 to the
above  referenced  registration  statement.  This  amendment  is filed under the
Securities Act of 1933 for IDSC.

As you may recall,  we have filed this prospectus in the past as part of a joint
filing  for which we used  registration  statement  no.  2-95577,  IDS  Flexible
Savings Certificate.  The most recent  post-effective  amendment number for that
registration  statement  was  no.  24,  which  was  filed  on  April  19,  1999.
Consequently,  this filing uses no. 25 as the initial  post-effective  amendment
number.

The changes that have been made since  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 24 filed on
April 19, 1999 are redlined.  Please note that we contemplate  changing the name
of the company to American Express Certificate Company in April. Please also
note that we have removed from the second page of this and other  prospectuses a
description of the Year 2000 risk factor.

Please direct your  questions or comments on this filing to Terry  Vestermark at
(612) 678-2132 or me at (612) 671-2221.

Thank you.


/s/Bruce Kohn
Bruce Kohn
Vice President and General Counsel
IDS Certificate Company



BK/TV/lal