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                                                                  EXHIBIT 32.1

                           CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                            18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                            AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                 SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of American Express
Company (the "Company") for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), Kenneth I. Chenault, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and
Gary L. Crittenden, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby
certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     (1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Company.


/s/ Kenneth I. Chenault
- -------------------------------------
Name: Kenneth I. Chenault
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Date: November 9, 2006


/s/ Gary L. Crittenden
- -------------------------------------
Name: Gary L. Crittenden
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Date: November 9, 2006

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, and is not being "filed" as part of the Form 10-Q or as a separate
disclosure document for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to liability
under that section. This certification shall not be deemed to be incorporated
by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
the Exchange Act except to the extent that this Exhibit 32.1 is expressly and
specifically incorporated by reference in any such filing.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to
the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.