UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31,June 30, 2017

or

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from ____ to ____

Commission file number 1-7657

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York 13-4922250
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
200 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10285
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code                                         (212) 640-2000        

None
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
YesNo
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes       No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
         Large accelerated filer
                         Accelerated filer
         Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
                         Smaller reporting company
                         Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes       No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class  Outstanding at April 21,July 18, 2017
Common Shares (par value $0.20 per share)  893,779,186883,979,644 Shares


AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
FORM 10-Q
INDEX

 
       
Part I. Page No.
 Item 1.   
    1
    2
    3
   4
 45
    56
 Item 2.  2628
 Item 3.  5459
 Item 4.  5459
Part II.  
 Item 1.  5762
 Item 1A.  5762
 Item 2.  5863
 Item 5.  5964
 Item 6.  5964
 6065
 E-1



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
            
Three Months Ended March 31 (Millions, except per share amounts)
 2017  2016 
Three Months Ended June 30 (Millions, except per share amounts)
 2017  2016 
Revenues            
Non-interest revenues            
Discount revenue $4,519  $4,643  $4,815  $4,824 
Net card fees  748   699   771   715 
Other fees and commissions  713   680   752   702 
Other  409   486   439   545 
Total non-interest revenues  6,389   6,508   6,777   6,786 
Interest income                
Interest on loans  1,860   1,938   1,947   1,818 
Interest and dividends on investment securities  23   36   23   34 
Deposits with banks and other  60   31   82   33 
Total interest income  1,943   2,005   2,052   1,885 
Interest expense                
Deposits  149   150   176   150 
Long-term debt and other  294   275   346   286 
Total interest expense  443   425   522   436 
Net interest income  1,500   1,580   1,530   1,449 
Total revenues net of interest expense  7,889   8,088   8,307   8,235 
Provisions for losses                
Charge card  213   169   163   153 
Card Member loans  337   227   404   285 
Other  23   38   17   25 
Total provisions for losses  573   434   584   463 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses  7,316   7,654   7,723   7,772 
Expenses                
Marketing and promotion  700   727   830   788 
Card Member rewards  1,807   1,703   1,926   1,766 
Card Member services and other  321   282   349   281 
Salaries and employee benefits  1,264   1,338   1,293   1,451 
Other, net  1,407   1,420   1,376   470 
Total expenses  5,499   5,470   5,774   4,756 
Pretax income  1,817   2,184   1,949   3,016 
Income tax provision  580   758   609   1,001 
Net income $1,237  $1,426  $1,340  $2,015 
Earnings per Common Share (Note 15): (a)
                
Basic $1.34  $1.45  $1.47  $2.11 
Diluted $1.34  $1.45  $1.47  $2.10 
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:                
Basic  899   961   890   938 
Diluted  903   963   893   941 
Cash dividends declared per common share $0.32  $0.29  $0.32  $0.29 
(a)Represents net income less (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $10$11 million and $11$17 million for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $21$19 million for both the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016.

1

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
       
Six Months Ended June 30 (Millions, except per share amounts)
 2017  2016 
Revenues      
Non-interest revenues      
Discount revenue $9,334  $9,467 
Net card fees  1,519   1,414 
Other fees and commissions  1,465   1,382 
Other  848   1,031 
Total non-interest revenues  13,166   13,294 
Interest income        
Interest on loans  3,807   3,756 
Interest and dividends on investment securities  46   70 
Deposits with banks and other  142   64 
Total interest income  3,995   3,890 
Interest expense        
Deposits  325   300 
Long-term debt and other  640   561 
Total interest expense  965   861 
Net interest income  3,030   3,029 
Total revenues net of interest expense  16,196   16,323 
Provisions for losses        
Charge card  376   322 
Card Member loans  741   512 
Other  40   63 
Total provisions for losses  1,157   897 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses  15,039   15,426 
Expenses        
Marketing and promotion  1,530   1,515 
Card Member rewards  3,733   3,469 
Card Member services and other  670   563 
Salaries and employee benefits  2,557   2,789 
Other, net  2,783   1,890 
Total expenses  11,273   10,226 
Pretax income  3,766   5,200 
Income tax provision  1,189   1,759 
Net income $2,577  $3,441 
Earnings per Common Share (Note 15): (a)
        
Basic $2.81  $3.55 
Diluted $2.80  $3.54 
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:        
Basic  895   949 
Diluted  898   952 
Cash dividends declared per common share $0.64  $0.58 
(a)Represents net income less (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $21 million and $28 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $40 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.
 


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
12



AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31 (Millions)
 2017  2016 
 Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
 June 30,  June 30, 
(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
Net income $1,237  $1,426  $1,340  $2,015  $2,577  $3,441 
Other comprehensive income (loss):                        
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax  6   2      5   6   7 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax  316   4   33   (130)  349   (126)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit (losses) gains, net of tax  (8)  26 
Other comprehensive income  314   32 
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax  9   6   1   32 
Other comprehensive income (loss)  42   (119)  356   (87)
Comprehensive income $1,551  $1,458  $1,382  $1,896  $2,933  $3,354 
 
 


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
23

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
            
 March 31,  December 31,  June 30,  December 31, 
(Millions, except share data) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
Assets            
Cash and cash equivalents            
Cash and due from banks $2,459  $3,278  $2,709  $3,278 
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks (includes securities purchased under resale agreements: 2017, $74; 2016, $115)  25,497   20,779 
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks (includes securities purchased under resale agreements: 2017, $102; 2016, $115)  26,363   20,779 
Short-term investment securities  1,410   1,151   1,370   1,151 
Total cash and cash equivalents  29,366   25,208   30,442   25,208 
Accounts receivable                
Card Member receivables (includes gross receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2017, $7,810; 2016, $8,874), less reserves: 2017, $491; 2016, $467  47,154   46,841 
Other receivables, less reserves: 2017, $40; 2016, $45  2,812   3,232 
Card Member receivables (includes gross receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2017, $7,949; 2016, $8,874), less reserves: 2017, $475; 2016, $467  48,930   46,841 
Other receivables, less reserves: 2017, $32; 2016, $45  2,832   3,232 
Loans                
Card Member loans (includes gross loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2017, $24,438; 2016, $26,129), less reserves: 2017, $1,248; 2016, $1,223  62,320   64,042 
Other loans, less reserves: 2017, $51; 2016, $42  1,635   1,419 
Card Member loans (includes gross loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2017, $24,521; 2016, $26,129), less reserves: 2017, $1,320; 2016, $1,223  64,651   64,042 
Other loans, less reserves: 2017, $54; 2016, $42  1,855   1,419 
Investment securities  3,561   3,157   3,360   3,157 
Premises and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization: 2017, $5,405; 2016, $5,145  4,433   4,433 
Premises and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization: 2017, $5,596; 2016, $5,145  4,445   4,433 
Other assets (includes restricted cash of consolidated variable interest entities: 2017, $55; 2016, $38)  10,104   10,561   10,482   10,561 
Total assets $161,385  $158,893  $166,997  $158,893 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity                
Liabilities                
Customer deposits $53,790  $53,042  $57,726  $53,042 
Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products  2,706   2,812   2,503   2,812 
Accounts payable  11,700   11,190   12,106   11,190 
Short-term borrowings  3,600   5,581   3,426   5,581 
Long-term debt (includes debt issued by consolidated variable interest entities: 2017, $16,757; 2016, $15,113)  51,647   46,990 
Long-term debt (includes debt issued by consolidated variable interest entities: 2017, $16,002; 2016, $15,113)  51,945   46,990 
Other liabilities  17,007   18,777   18,116   18,777 
Total liabilities  140,450   138,392   145,822   138,392 
Contingencies (Note 8)                
Shareholders’ Equity                
Preferred shares, $1.662/3 par value, authorized 20 million shares; issued and outstanding 1,600 shares as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016
      
Common shares, $0.20 par value, authorized 3.6 billion shares; issued and outstanding 895 million shares as of March 31, 2017 and 904 million shares as of December 31, 2016  179   181 
Preferred shares, $1.662/3 par value, authorized 20 million shares; issued and outstanding 1,600 shares as of June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016
      
Common shares, $0.20 par value, authorized 3.6 billion shares; issued and outstanding 885 million shares as of June 30, 2017 and 904 million shares as of December 31, 2016  177   181 
Additional paid-in capital  12,593   12,733   12,456   12,733 
Retained earnings  10,633   10,371   10,970   10,371 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss                
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax of: 2017, $8; 2016, $5  13   7   13   7 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of: 2017, $(307); 2016, $24  (1,946)  (2,262)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit losses, net of tax of: 2017, $(195); 2016, $(186)  (537)  (529)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of: 2017, $(362); 2016, $24  (1,913)  (2,262)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax of: 2017, $(194); 2016, $(186)  (528)  (529)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss  (2,470)  (2,784)  (2,428)  (2,784)
Total shareholders’ equity  20,935   20,501   21,175   20,501 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $161,385  $158,893  $166,997  $158,893 
 
 


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
34

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31 (Millions)
 2017  2016 
Six Months Ended June 30 (Millions)
 2017  2016 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities            
Net income $1,237  $1,426  $2,577  $3,441 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Provisions for losses  573   434   1,157   897 
Depreciation and amortization  296   261   615   536 
Deferred taxes and other  8   218   2   (852)
Stock-based compensation  89   70   152   133 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:                
Other receivables  795   427   832   293 
Other assets  349   232   181   (107)
Accounts payable and other liabilities  (2,069)  (296)  (902)  (697)
Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products  (118)  (243)  (330)  (444)
Net cash provided by operating activities  1,160   2,529   4,284   3,200 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities                
Sales of available-for-sale investment securities     45   1   45 
Maturities and redemptions of available-for-sale investment securities  860   226   1,502   567 
Purchases of investments  (1,294)  (345)  (1,768)  (791)
Net decrease in Card Member receivables and loans, including held for sale  1,450   4,039 
Purchase of premises and equipment, net of sales: 2017, nil; 2016, $1  (277)  (302)
Net (increase) decrease in Card Member receivables and loans, including held for sale(a)
  (3,169)  13,002 
Purchase of premises and equipment, net of sales: 2017, $1; 2016, $2  (538)  (649)
Acquisitions/dispositions, net of cash acquired  (28)  (155)  (174)  (162)
Net (increase) decrease in restricted cash  (11)  132   (12)  126 
Net cash provided by investing activities  700   3,640 
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities  (4,158)  12,138 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities                
Net increase in customer deposits  735   773 
Net increase (decrease) in customer deposits  4,666   (594)
Net decrease in short-term borrowings  (1,941)  (2,217)  (2,124)  (2,520)
Issuance of long-term debt  8,420   35   17,124   3,778 
Principal payments on long-term debt  (3,801)  (1,036)  (12,349)  (1,558)
Issuance of American Express common shares  31   11   44   75 
Repurchase of American Express common shares  (926)  (1,188)  (1,767)  (2,914)
Dividends paid  (313)  (302)  (620)  (601)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  2,205   (3,924)  4,974   (4,334)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents  93   38   134   1 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents  4,158   2,283   5,234   11,005 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  25,208   22,762   25,208   22,762 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $29,366  $25,045  $30,442  $33,767 
(a)Refer to Note 2 for additional information.

 


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
45

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1.  Basis of Presentation

The Company

American Express Company (the Company) is a global services company that provides customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. The Company’s principal products and services are charge and credit payment card products and travel-related services offered to consumers and businesses around the world. Business travel-related services are offered through the non-consolidated joint venture, American Express Global Business Travel (the GBT JV). The Company’s various products and services are sold globally to diverse customer groups, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations. These products and services are sold through various channels, including direct mail, online applications, in-house and third-party sales forces and direct response advertising.

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the Annual Report). If not materially different, certain footnote disclosures included therein have been omitted from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

The interim consolidated financial information in this report has not been audited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the interim period consolidated financial information, have been made. Results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.

The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These accounting estimates reflect the best judgment of management, but actual results could differ.
Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made to conform to the current period presentation.


Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition. The accounting standard establishes the principles to apply to determine the amount and timing of revenue recognition, specifying the accounting for certain costs related to revenue, and requiring additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenues and related cash flows. The guidance, as amended, supersedes most of the current revenue recognition requirements, and is effective January 1, 2018.
Upon adoption of the new revenue recognition guidance, the Company anticipates using the full retrospective method, which applies the new standard to each prior reporting period presented. The Company has been working on the implementation of the standard since its issuance in 2014 and has made significant progress in evaluating the potential impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements. There will be changes to the recognition timing and classification of revenues and expenses; however,expenses, including potential changes to the presentation of certain credit and charge card related costs that are currently netted against discount revenue. The Company does not expect a significant impact to pretax income upon adoption. The Company is also in the process of implementing changes to its accounting policies, business processes, systems and internal controls to support the recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements under the new standard.
In January 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the recognition and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities. The guidance, which is effective January 1, 2018, makes targeted changes to current GAAP, specifically to the classification and measurement of equity securities, and to certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. In the ordinary course of business, the Company makes investments in non-public companies currently recognized under cost method accounting.  Under the new guidance, these investments will be prospectively adjusted for observable price changes upon identification of identical or similar transactions of the same issuer. The Company continues to evaluate the impact this guidance will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows, and in preparation for the implementation, is evaluating the impact the guidance will have on its cost method investments, as well as the impact the standard will have on its accounting policies, business processes, systems and internal controls.
5
6

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on leases. The guidance, which is effective January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted, requires virtually all leases to be recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company currently anticipates adopting the standard effective January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective approach, which requires recording existing operating leases on the Consolidated Balance Sheets upon adoption and in the comparative period. The Company is in the process of identifying changes toupgrading its existing lease administration software for new lease accounting policies,functionality, business processes systems, and internal controls in preparation for the implementation. Specifically, the Company is currently reviewing its lease portfolio and is evaluating and interpreting the requirements under the guidance, including the available accounting policy elections, in order to determine the impacts to the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.
In June 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance for recognition of credit losses on financial instruments, which is effective January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted on January 1, 2019. The guidance introduces a new credit reserving model known as the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model, which is based on expected losses, and differs significantly from the incurred loss approach used today. The CECL model requires measurement of expected credit losses not only based on historical experience and current conditions, but also by including reasonable and supportable forecasts incorporating forward-looking information and will likely result in earlier recognitioninformation. The guidance requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of credit reserves.the beginning of the reporting period of adoption. The Company does not intend to adopt the new standard early and is currently evaluating the impact the new guidance will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows; however, it is expected that the CECL model will alter the assumptions used in estimating credit losses on Card Member loans and receivables, among other financial instruments (e.g., investments in available-for-sale debt securities), and may result in material changesincreases to the Company’s credit reserves.reserves as the new guidance involves earlier recognition of expected losses for the life of the assets. The Company has established an enterprise-wide, cross-discipline governance structure to implement the new standard. The Company is currently identifying key interpretive issues, and is evaluating existing credit loss forecasting models and processes in relation to the new guidance to determine what modifications may be required.





2.  Business Events

During the fourth quarter of 2015, it was determined the Company would sell the Card Member loans and receivables related to its cobrand partnerships with JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco) in the United States (the HFS portfolios). As a result, the HFS portfolios were presented as held for sale (HFS) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets within Card Member loans and receivables HFS as of December 31, 2015.

During the first quarterhalf of 2016, the Company completed the salesales of substantially all of its JetBlueoutstanding Card Member loans and receivables HFS portfolio and recognized a gain of $127 milliongains, as an expense reduction, in Other expenses.expenses, of $127 million and $1.1 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016, respectively. The impact of the salesales, including the recognition of the proceeds received and the reclassification of the retained Card Member loans and receivables, is reported within the investing section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as a net decrease in Card Member receivables and loans, including held for sale.HFS.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company continued to reflect the Costco HFS portfolio within Card Member loans and receivables held for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company sold substantially all of the Costco HFS portfolio in the second quarter of 2016.

From the point of classification as HFS through the sale completion dates, the Company continued to recognize discount revenue, interest income, and other revenues and expenses related to the HFS portfolios in the respective line items on the Consolidated Statements of Income, with changes in the valuation of the HFS portfolios recognized in Other expenses.





67

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

3.  Loans and Accounts Receivable

The Company’s lending and charge payment card products result in the generation of Card Member loans and Card Member receivables, respectively. This Note is presented excluding amounts associated with the Card Member loans and receivables HFS as of March 31, 2016; the Company did not have any Card Member loans and receivables HFS as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Card Member loans by segment and Other loans as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consisted of:

(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
U.S. Consumer Services(a)
 $46,714  $48,758  $48,348  $48,758 
International Consumer and Network Services  6,814   6,971   7,245   6,971 
Global Commercial Services  10,040   9,536   10,378   9,536 
Card Member loans  63,568   65,265   65,971   65,265 
Less: Reserve for losses  1,248   1,223   1,320   1,223 
Card Member loans, net $62,320  $64,042  $64,651  $64,042 
Other loans, net(b)
 $1,635  $1,419  $1,855  $1,419 
(a)Includes approximately $24.4$24.5 billion and $26.1 billion of gross Card Member loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity (VIE) as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(b)Other loans primarily represent personal and commercial financing products. Other loans are presented net of reserves for losses of $51$54 million and $42 million as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

Card Member accounts receivable by segment and Other receivables as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consisted of:

(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
U.S. Consumer Services (a)
 $10,918  $12,302  $11,344  $12,302 
International Consumer and Network Services  5,543   5,966   5,988   5,966 
Global Commercial Services  31,184   29,040   32,073   29,040 
Card Member receivables  47,645   47,308   49,405   47,308 
Less: Reserve for losses  491   467   475   467 
Card Member receivables, net $47,154  $46,841  $48,930  $46,841 
Other receivables, net (b)
 $2,812  $3,232  $2,832  $3,232 
(a)Includes $7.8$7.9 billion and $8.9 billion of gross Card Member receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(b)
Other receivables primarily represent amounts related to (i) Global Network Services (GNS)(GNS) partner banks for items such as royalty and franchise fees, (ii) certain merchants for billed discount revenue, and (iii)(iii) loyalty coalition partners for points issued, as well as program participation and servicing fees. Other receivables are presented net of reservesreserves for losses of $40$32 million and $45 million as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

7
8

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Card Member Loans and Card Member Receivables Aging
Generally, a Card Member account is considered past due if payment is not received within 30 days after the billing statement date. The following table presents the aging of Card Member loans and receivables as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

2017 (Millions)
 Current  30-59 Days Past Due  60-89 Days Past Due  90+ Days Past Due  Total  Current  30-59 Days Past Due  60-89 Days Past Due  90+ Days Past Due  Total 
Card Member Loans:                              
U.S. Consumer Services $46,158  $160  $120  $276  $46,714  $47,797  $155  $119  $277  $48,348 
International Consumer and Network Services  6,698   37   25   54   6,814   7,124   38   25   58   7,245 
Global Commercial Services                                        
Global Small Business Services $9,850  $37  $28  $56  $9,971  $10,207  $35  $25  $57  $10,324 
Global Corporate Payments(a)
 (b)  (b)  (b)  $1  $69  (b)  (b)  (b)  $  $54 
Card Member Receivables:                                        
U.S. Consumer Services $10,778  $48  $32  $60  $10,918  $11,220  $42  $24  $58  $11,344 
International Consumer and Network Services  5,462   25   17   39   5,543   5,903   25   16   44   5,988 
Global Commercial Services                                        
Global Small Business Services $14,351  $84  $52  $104  $14,591  $14,967  $75  $41  $102  $15,185 
Global Corporate Payments(a)
 (b)  (b)  (b)  $122  $16,593  (b)  (b)  (b)  $136  $16,888 
                                        
2016 (Millions)
 Current  30-59 Days Past Due  60-89 Days Past Due  90+ Days Past Due  Total  Current  30-59 Days Past Due  60-89 Days Past Due  90+ Days Past Due  Total 
Card Member Loans:                                        
U.S. Consumer Services $48,216  $156  $119  $267  $48,758  $48,216  $156  $119  $267  $48,758 
International Consumer and Network Services  6,863   32   24   52   6,971   6,863   32   24   52   6,971 
Global Commercial Services                                        
Global Small Business Services $9,378  $34  $23  $49  $9,484  $9,378  $34  $23  $49  $9,484 
Global Corporate Payments(a)
 (b)  (b)  (b)  $  $52  (b)  (b)  (b)  $  $52 
Card Member Receivables:                                        
U.S. Consumer Services $12,158  $45  $30  $69  $12,302  $12,158  $45  $30  $69  $12,302 
International Consumer and Network Services  5,888   22   15   41   5,966   5,888   22   15   41   5,966 
Global Commercial Services                                        
Global Small Business Services $14,047  $77  $47  $102  $14,273  $14,047  $77  $47  $102  $14,273 
Global Corporate Payments(a)
 (b)  (b)  (b)  $135  $14,767  (b)  (b)  (b)  $135  $14,767 
(a)For Global Corporate Payments (GCP) Card Member loans and receivables in Global Commercial Services (GCS), delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A Card Member account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the Card Member’s billing statement date. In addition, if the Company initiates collection procedures on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing, the associated Card Member loan and receivable balance is classified as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes. See also (b).
(b)Delinquency data for periods other than 90 days past billing is not available due to system constraints. Therefore, such data has not been utilized for risk management purposes. The balances that are current to 89 days past due can be derived as the difference between the Total and the 90+ Days Past Due balances.

89

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Credit Quality Indicators for Card Member Loans and Receivables
The following tables present the key credit quality indicators as of or for the threesix months ended March 31:June 30:
  2017 2016   2017 2016 
  Net Write-Off Rate   Net Write-Off Rate     Net Write-Off Rate   Net Write-Off Rate   
  
Principal Only(a)
 
Principal, Interest & Fees(a)
 30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total 
Principal Only(a)
 
Principal, Interest & Fees(a)
 30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total   
Principal Only(a)
 
Principal, Interest & Fees(a)
 30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total 
Principal Only(a)
 
Principal, Interest & Fees(a)
 30+ Days Past Due as a % of Total 
Card Member Loans:Card Member Loans:             Card Member Loans:             
U.S. Consumer Services 1.7%2.0%1.2%1.5%1.7%1.0%U.S. Consumer Services 1.7%2.0%1.1%1.5%1.7%1.1%
International Consumer and Network Services 2.0%2.5%1.7%1.9%2.4%1.8%International Consumer and Network Services 2.0%2.5%1.7%2.0%2.4%1.7%
Global Small Business Services 1.6%1.8%1.2%1.4%1.6%1.0%Global Small Business Services 1.5%1.8%1.1%1.3%1.6%1.1%
Card Member Receivables:Card Member Receivables:             Card Member Receivables:             
U.S. Consumer Services 1.5%1.7%1.3%1.8%2.0%1.4%U.S. Consumer Services 1.4%1.5%1.1%1.5%1.8%1.2%
International Consumer and Network Services 2.1%2.3%1.5%2.2%2.4%1.5%International Consumer and Network Services 2.0%2.2%1.4%2.2%2.4%1.4%
Global Small Business Services 1.8%2.0%1.6%1.8%2.1%1.6%Global Small Business Services 1.7%1.9%1.4%1.7%2.0%1.4%
                            
      2017 2016       2017 2016 
      Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume 90+ Days Past Billing as a % of Receivables Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume 90+ Days Past Billing as a % of Receivables       Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume 90+ Days Past Billing as a % of Receivables Net Loss Ratio as a % of Charge Volume 90+ Days Past Billing as a % of Receivables 
Card Member Receivables:Card Member Receivables:         Card Member Receivables:         
 Global Corporate Payments0.11%0.7%0.08%0.7% Global Corporate Payments0.10%0.8%0.09%0.7%
(a)The Company presents a net write-off rate based on principal losses only (i.e., excluding interest and/or fees) to be consistent with industry convention. In addition, because the Company considers uncollectible interest and/or fees in estimating its reserves for credit losses, a net write-off rate including principal, interest and/or fees is also presented.

Impaired Card Member Loans and Receivables
Impaired Card Member loans and receivables are individual larger balance or homogeneous pools of smaller balance loans and receivables for which it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the Card Member agreement. In certain cases, these Card Member loans and receivables are included in one of the Company’s various Troubled Debt Restructuring (TDR) modification programs.

910

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

The following tables provide additional information with respect to the Company’s impaired Card Member loans and receivables. Impaired Card Member receivables are not significant for International Consumer and Network Services (ICNS) as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; therefore, this segment’s receivables are not included in the following tables.
 As of March 31, 2017  As of June 30, 2017 
                                          
       
Accounts Classified as a TDR(c)
                 
Accounts Classified as a TDR(c)
          
2017 (Millions)
 
Over 90 days Past Due & Accruing Interest(a)
  
Non-Accruals(b)
  
In Program(d)
  
Out of Program(e)
  Total Impaired Balance  Unpaid Principal Balance  Allowance for TDRs  
Over 90 days Past Due & Accruing Interest(a)
  
Non-Accruals(b)
  
In Program(d)
  
Out of Program(e)
  Total Impaired Balance  Unpaid Principal Balance  Allowance for TDRs 
Card Member Loans:                                          
U.S. Consumer Services $179  $150  $160  $132  $621  $565  $50  $175  $156  $153  $132  $616  $560  $47 
International Consumer and Network Services  54            54   53      58            58   57    
Global Commercial Services  33   34   26   27   120   111   10   33   34   26   27   120   110   9 
Card Member Receivables:                                                        
U.S. Consumer Services        11   7   18   18   8         10   8   18   18   4 
Global Commercial Services        29   13   42   42   20         25   15   40   40   9 
Total $266  $184  $226  $179  $855  $789  $88  $266  $190  $214  $182  $852  $785  $69 

 As of December 31, 2016  As of December 31, 2016 
                                          
       
Accounts Classified as a TDR(c)
                 
Accounts Classified as a TDR(c)
          
2016 (Millions)
 
Over 90 days Past Due & Accruing Interest(a)
  
Non-Accruals(b)
  
In Program(d)
  
Out of Program(e)
  Total Impaired Balance  Unpaid Principal Balance  Allowance for TDRs  
Over 90 days Past Due & Accruing Interest(a)
  
Non-Accruals(b)
  
In Program(d)
  
Out of Program(e)
  Total Impaired Balance  Unpaid Principal Balance  Allowance for TDRs 
Card Member Loans:                                          
U.S. Consumer Services $178  $139  $165  $129  $611  $558  $51  $178   139   165   129   611   558   51 
International Consumer and Network Services  52            52   51      52            52   51    
Global Commercial Services  30   30   26   26   112   103   9   30   30   26   26   112   103   9 
Card Member Receivables:                                                        
U.S. Consumer Services        11   6   17   17   7         11   6   17   17   7 
Global Commercial Services        28   10   38   38   21         28   10   38   38   21 
Total $260  $169  $230  $171  $830  $767  $88  $260  $169  $230  $171  $830  $767  $88 
(a)The Company’s policy is generally to accrue interest through the date of write-off (typically 180 days past due). The Company establishes reserves for interest that it believes will not be collected. Amounts presented exclude Card Member loans classified as a TDR.
(b)Non-accrual loans not in modification programs primarily include certain Card Member loans placed with outside collection agencies for which the Company has ceased accruing interest. Amounts presented exclude Card Member loans classified as a TDR.
(c)Accounts classified as a TDR include $20$18 million and $20 million that are over 90 days past due and accruing interest and $9$7 million and $11 million that are non-accruals as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(d)In Program TDRs include Card Member accounts that are currently enrolled in a modification program.
(e)Out of Program TDRs include $139 million and $132 million of Card Member accounts that have successfully completed a modification program and $40$43 million and $39 million of Card Member accounts that were not in compliance with the terms of the modification programs as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.


10
11

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

The following table provides information with respect to the Company’s average balances of, and interest income recognized from, impaired Card Member loans and the average balances of impaired Card Member receivables for the three and six months ended March 31:June 30:
 2017  2016 
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2017
 
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2017
 
            
(Millions) Average Balance  Interest Income Recognized  Average Balance  Interest Income Recognized 
Card Member Loans:            
U.S. Consumer Services $618  $16  $616  $32 
International Consumer and Network Services  56   4   55   8 
Global Commercial Services  120   4   117   8 
Card Member Receivables:                
U.S. Consumer Services  18      18    
Global Commercial Services  41      40    
Total $853  $24  $846  $48 
   Interest    Interest                 
 Average Income  Average Income 
Three Months Ended
June 30, 2016
 
Six Months Ended
June 30, 2016
 
(Millions) Balance Recognized  Balance Recognized  Average Balance  Interest Income Recognized  Average Balance  Interest Income Recognized 
Card Member Loans:                            
U.S. Consumer Services $616  $16  $505  $12  $551  $12  $555  $24 
International Consumer and Network Services  53   4   53   4   54   4   53   8 
Global Commercial Services  116   4   92   3   102   3   103   6 
Card Member Receivables:                                
U.S. Consumer Services  18      14      13      12    
Global Commercial Services  40      22      25      20    
Total $843  $24  $686  $19  $745  $19  $743  $38 

Card Member Loans and Receivables Modified as TDRs


The following table provides additional information with respect to the U.S. Consumer Services (USCS) and GCS Card Member loans and receivables modified as TDRs for the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016. The ICNS Card Member loans and receivables modifications were not significant; therefore, this segment is not included in the following TDR disclosures.

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017
 
Number of Outstanding Average Interest Average Payment  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
Accounts 
Balances(a)
 Rate Reduction Term Extensions  June 30, 2017  June 30, 2017 
(in thousands) ($ in millions) (% Points) (# of Months)  
Number of Accounts (in thousands)
 
Outstanding Balances
($ in millions)(a)
  
Average Interest Rate Reduction
(% Points)
  
Average Payment Term Extension (# of Months)
  
Number of Accounts (in thousands)
 
Outstanding Balances
($ in millions)(a)
  
Average Interest Rate Reduction (% Points)
  
Average Payment Term Extension (# of Months)
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings:                                    
Card Member Loans  8  $57   13  (b)   7  $46   10  (b)   15  $103   11  (b) 
Card Member Receivables  2   28  (c)   22   1   18  (c)   32   3   46  (c)   26 
Total  10  $85           8  $64           18  $149         
                                                
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2016
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
Number of Outstanding Average Interest Average Payment  June 30, 2016  June 30, 2016 
Accounts 
Balances(a)
 Rate Reduction Term Extensions  
Number of Accounts (in thousands)
 
Outstanding Balances
($ in millions)(a)
  
Average Interest Rate Reduction
(% Points)
  
Average Payment Term Extension (# of Months)
  
Number of Accounts (in thousands)
 
Outstanding Balances
($ in millions)(a)
  
Average Interest Rate Reduction (% Points)
  
Average Payment Term Extension (# of Months)
 
(in thousands) ($ in millions) (% Points) (# of Months) 
Troubled Debt Restructurings:                                                
Card Member Loans  8  $57   13  (b)   7  $50   10  (b)   15  $107   11  (b) 
Card Member Receivables  3   38  (c)   16   2   27  (c)   17   5   65  (c)   17 
Total  11  $95           9  $77           20  $172         
(a)Represents the outstanding balance immediately prior to modification. The outstanding balance includes principal, fees and accrued interest on Card Member loans and principal and fees on Card Member receivables.
(b)For Card Member loans, there have been no payment term extensions.
(c)The Company does not offer interest rate reduction programs for Card Member receivables as the receivables are non-interest bearing.

1112

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

The following table provides information with respect to the USCS and GCS Card Member loans and receivables modified as TDRs that subsequently defaulted within 12 months of modification, for the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016. A Card Member is considered in default of a modification program after one and up to two consecutive missed payments, depending on the terms of the modification program. For all Card Members that defaulted from a modification program, the probability of default is factored into the reserves for Card Member loans and receivables.
 2017  2016 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 
 
Number of
Accounts
  
Aggregated
Outstanding
Balances
Upon Default(a)
  
Number of
Accounts
  
Aggregated
Outstanding
Balances
Upon Default(a)
 June 30, 2017 June 30, 2017 
 (thousands) (millions)  (thousands) (millions)  
Number of Accounts
(in thousands)
 
Aggregated Outstanding Balances Upon Default
($ in millions)(a)
  
Number of Accounts
(in thousands)
 
Aggregated Outstanding Balances Upon Default
($ in millions)(a)
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings That Subsequently Defaulted:                         
Card Member Loans  2  $11   1  $9   2  $10   4  $21 
Card Member Receivables  1   1   1   1   1   2   2   3 
Total  3  $12   2  $10   3  $12   6  $24 
                
                
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 
June 30, 2016 June 30, 2016 
 
Number of Accounts
(in thousands)
 
Aggregated Outstanding Balances Upon Default
($ in millions)(a)
  
Number of Accounts
(in thousands)
 
Aggregated Outstanding Balances Upon Default
($ in millions)(a)
 
Troubled Debt Restructurings That Subsequently Defaulted:                
Card Member Loans  1  $9   2  $18 
Card Member Receivables  1   1   2   2 
Total  2  $10   4  $20 
(a)The outstanding balances upon default include principal, fees and accrued interest on Card Member loans, and principal and fees on Card Member receivables.


13

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

4.  Reserves for Losses

Reserves for losses relating to Card Member loans and receivables represent management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in the Company’s outstanding portfolio of loans and receivables as of the balance sheet date. Management’s evaluation process requires certain estimates and judgments.

This Note is presented excluding amounts associated with the Card Member loans and receivables HFS as of March 31, 2016; the Company did not have any Card Member loans and receivables HFS as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

Changes in Card Member Loans Reserve for Losses

The following table presents changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses for the threesix months ended March 31:June 30:

(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
Balance, January 1 $1,223  $1,028  $1,223  $1,028 
Provisions(a)
  337   227   741   512 
Net write-offs(b)
                
Principal  (272)  (214)  (557)  (437)
Interest and fees  (51)  (40)  (106)  (80)
Other(c)
  11   11   19   68 
Balance, March 31 $1,248  $1,012 
Balance, June 30 $1,320  $1,091 
(a)Provisions for principal, interest and fee reserve components.
(b)Principal write-offs are presented less recoveries of $100$205 million and $88$179 million, and include net write-offs from TDRs of $12$21 million and $13$17 million, for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Recoveries of interest and fees were de minimis.
(c)Includes foreign currency translation adjustments of $7$10 million and $2$(2) million and other adjustments of $4$9 million and $2$3 million for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2016 also includes reserves of $7 million in the first quarter and $60 million in the second quarter associated with $20 million and $245 million of retained Card Member loans, respectively, reclassified from HFS to held for investment.investment during those periods as a result of retaining certain loans in connection with the respective sales of JetBlue and Costco cobrand card portfolios.

12

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Card Member Loans Evaluated Individually and Collectively for Impairment
The following table presents Card Member loans evaluated individually and collectively for impairment and related reserves as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
Card Member loans evaluated individually for impairment(a)
 $345  $346  $338  $346 
Related reserves (a)
 $60  $60  $56  $60 
Card Member loans evaluated collectively for impairment(b)
 $63,223  $64,919  $65,633  $64,919 
Related reserves (b)
 $1,188  $1,163  $1,264  $1,163 
(a)Represents loans modified as a TDR and related reserves.
(b)Represents current loans and loans less than 90 days past due, loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest, and non-accrual loans. The reserves include the quantitative results of analytical models that are specific to individual pools of loans, and reserves for internal and external qualitative risk factors that apply to loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment.

14

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Changes in Card Member Receivables Reserve for Losses
The following table presents changes in the Card Member receivables reserve for losses for the threesix months ended March 31:June 30:

(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
Balance, January 1 $467  $462  $467  $462 
Provisions(a)
  213   169   376   322 
Net write-offs(b)
  (194)  (186)  (373)  (359)
Other(c)
  5   1   5   (2)
Balance, March 31 $491  $446 
Balance, June 30 $475  $423 
(a)Provisions for principal and fee reserve components.
(b)Principal and fee components are presented less recoveries of $93$181 million and $101$202 million, including net write-offs from TDRs of $6$7 million and $10$16 million, for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(c)
Includes foreign currency translation adjustments of $9$14 and $2$(1) million and other adjustments of $(4)$(9) million and $(1) million for the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Card Member Receivables Evaluated Individually and Collectively for Impairment
The following table presents Card Member receivables evaluated individually and collectively for impairment, and related reserves, as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
Card Member receivables evaluated individually for impairment(a)
 $60  $55  $58  $55 
Related reserves (a)
 $28  $28  $13  $28 
Card Member receivables evaluated collectively for impairment $47,585  $47,253  $49,347  $47,253 
Related reserves (b)
 $463  $439  $462  $439 
(a)Represents receivables modified as a TDR and related reserves.
(b)The reserves include the quantitative results of analytical models that are specific to individual pools of receivables, and reserves for internal and external qualitative risk factors that apply to receivables that are collectively evaluated for impairment.

13

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
5.  Investment Securities

Investment securities principally include debt securities the Company classifies as available-for-sale and carries at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (AOCI), net of income taxes. Realized gains and losses are recognized upon disposition of the securities using the specific identification method.

The following is a summary of investment securities as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 2017  2016  2017  2016 
    Gross  Gross  Estimated     Gross  Gross  Estimated     Gross  Gross  Estimated     Gross  Gross  Estimated 
    Unrealized  Unrealized  Fair     Unrealized  Unrealized  Fair     Unrealized  Unrealized  Fair     Unrealized  Unrealized  Fair 
Description of Securities (Millions)
 Cost  Gains  Losses  Value  Cost  Gains  Losses  Value  Cost  Gains  Losses  Value  Cost  Gains  Losses  Value 
State and municipal obligations $1,686  $24  $(4) $1,706  $2,019  $28  $(11) $2,036  $1,563  $20  $(2) $1,581  $2,019  $28  $(11) $2,036 
U.S. Government agency obligations  12         12   12         12   12         12   12         12 
U.S. Government treasury obligations  1,135   7   (6)  1,136   465   3   (8)  460   1,114   9  ��(4)  1,119   465   3   (8)  460 
Corporate debt securities  19         19   19         19               19         19 
Mortgage-backed securities (a)
  87   3      90   92   3      95   79   2      81   92   3      95 
Equity securities  1         1   1         1   1         1   1         1 
Foreign government bonds and obligations  549   1   (1)  549   486   1   (1)  486   518   1   (1)  518   486   1   (1)  486 
Other (b)
  50      (2)  48   50      (2)  48   50      (2)  48   50      (2)  48 
Total $3,539  $35  $(13) $3,561  $3,144  $35  $(22) $3,157  $3,337  $32  $(9) $3,360  $3,144  $35  $(22) $3,157 
(a)Represents mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae.
(b)Other comprises investments in various mutual funds.

15

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The following table provides information about the Company’s investment securities with gross unrealized losses and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
 2017  2016  2017  2016 
 Less than 12 months  12 months or more  Less than 12 months  12 months or more  Less than 12 months  12 months or more  Less than 12 months  12 months or more 
    Gross     Gross     Gross     Gross     Gross     Gross     Gross     Gross 
Description of Securities (Millions)
 Estimated Fair Value  Unrealized Losses  Estimated Fair Value  Unrealized Losses  Estimated Fair Value  Unrealized Losses  Estimated Fair Value  Unrealized Losses  Estimated Fair Value  Unrealized Losses  Estimated Fair Value  Unrealized Losses  Estimated Fair Value  Unrealized Losses  Estimated Fair Value  Unrealized Losses 
State and municipal obligations $98  $(4) $  $  $153  $(11) $  $  $99  $(2) $  $  $153  $(11) $  $ 
U.S. Government treasury obligations  299   (6)        298   (8)        366   (4)        298   (8)      
Other        32   (2)        32   (2)        32   (2)        32   (2)
Total $397  $(10) $32  $(2) $451  $(19) $32  $(2) $465  $(6) $32  $(2) $451  $(19) $32  $(2)

The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses due to temporary impairments by ratio of fair value to amortized cost as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 Less than 12 months  12 months or more  Total  Less than 12 months  12 months or more  Total 
Ratio of Fair Value to       Gross        Gross        Gross        Gross        Gross        Gross 
Amortized Cost Number of  Estimated  Unrealized  Number of  Estimated  Unrealized  Number of  Estimated  Unrealized  Number of  Estimated  Unrealized  Number of  Estimated  Unrealized  Number of  Estimated  Unrealized 
(Dollars in millions) Securities  Fair Value  Losses  Securities  Fair Value  Losses  Securities  Fair Value  Losses  Securities  Fair Value  Losses  Securities  Fair Value  Losses  Securities  Fair Value  Losses 
2017:                                                      
90%–100%  21  $397  $(10)  6  $32  $(2)  27  $429  $(12)  23  $465  $(6)  6  $32  $(2)  29  $497  $(8)
Total as of March 31, 2017  21  $397  $(10)  6  $32  $(2)  27  $429  $(12)
Total as of June 30, 2017  23  $465  $(6)  6  $32  $(2)  29  $497  $(8)
                                                                        
2016:                                                                        
90%–100%  33  $411  $(13)  6  $32  $(2)  39  $443  $(15)  33  $411  $(13)  6  $32  $(2)  39  $443  $(15)
Less than 90%  4   40   (6)           4   40   (6)  4   40   (6)           4   40   (6)
Total as of December 31, 2016  37  $451  $(19)  6  $32  $(2)  43  $483  $(21)  37  $451  $(19)  6  $32  $(2)  43  $483  $(21)

14

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
The gross unrealized losses are attributed to overall wider credit spreads for specific issuers, adverse changes in market benchmark interest rates, or a combination thereof, all compared to those prevailing when the investment securities were acquired.

Overall, for the investment securities in gross unrealized loss positions, (i) the Company does not intend to sell the investment securities, (ii) it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the investment securities before recovery of the unrealized losses, and (iii) the Company expects that the contractual principal and interest will be received on the investment securities. As a result, the Company recognized no other-than-temporary impairment during the periods presented.

Contractual maturities for investment securities with stated maturities as of March 31,June 30, 2017 were as follows:

    Estimated     Estimated 
(Millions) Cost  Fair Value  Cost  Fair Value 
Due within 1 year $689  $690  $623  $623 
Due after 1 year but within 5 years  990   992   979   984 
Due after 5 years but within 10 years  365   369   294   298 
Due after 10 years  1,446   1,462   1,390   1,406 
Total $3,490  $3,513  $3,286  $3,311 

The expected payments on state and municipal obligations and mortgage-backed securities may not coincide with their contractual maturities because the issuers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations.


16

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

6.  Asset Securitizations

The Company periodically securitizes Card Member loans and receivables arising from its card businesses through the transfer of those assets to securitization trusts. The trusts then issue debt securities collateralized by the transferred assets to third-party investors.

The following table provides information on the restricted cash held by the American Express Credit Account Master Trust (the Lending Trust) and the American Express Issuance Trust II (the Charge Trust, collectively the Trusts) as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
Lending Trust $52  $35  $53  $35 
Charge Trust  3   3   2   3 
Total $55  $38  $55  $38 

These amounts relate to collections of Card Member loans and receivables to be used by the Trusts to fund future expenses and obligations, including interest on debt securities, credit losses and upcoming debt maturities.

American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (TRS), in its role as servicer of the Trusts, has the power to direct the activities that most significant activity ofsignificantly impact the Trusts,Trusts’ economic performance, which isare the collection of the underlying Card Member loans and receivables. In addition, TRS directly and indirectly (through its consolidated subsidiaries) holds all of the variable interests in both Trusts, with the exception of the debt securities issued to third-party investors.  As of March 31,June 30, 2017, TRS’ direct and indirect ownership of variable interests was $10.5$9.8 billion for the Lending Trust and $4.8$6.5 billion for the Charge Trust. These variable interests held by TRS provide it with the right to receive benefits and the obligation to absorb losses, which could be significant to both the Lending Trust and the Charge Trust. Based on these considerations, TRS is the primary beneficiary of both Trusts and therefore consolidates both Trusts.

Under the respective terms of the Lending Trust and the Charge Trust agreements, the occurrence of certain triggering events associated with the performance of the assets of each Trust could result in payment of trust expenses, establishment of reserve funds, or, in a worst-case scenario, early amortization of debt securities. During the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, no such triggering events occurred.

1517

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
7.  Customer Deposits

As of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, customer deposits were categorized as interest bearing or non-interest bearing as follows:

(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
U.S.:            
Interest bearing $53,123  $52,316  $57,012  $52,316 
Non-interest bearing (includes Card Member credit balances of: 2017, $286 million; 2016, $331 million)  322   367 
Non-interest bearing (includes Card Member credit balances of: 2017, $309 million; 2016, $331 million)  348   367 
Non-U.S.:                
Interest bearing  34   58   29   58 
Non-interest bearing (includes Card Member credit balances of: 2017, $299 million; 2016, $285 million)  311   301 
Non-interest bearing (includes Card Member credit balances of: 2017, $325 million; 2016, $285 million)  337   301 
Total customer deposits $53,790  $53,042  $57,726  $53,042 

Customer deposits by deposit type as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows:

(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
U.S. retail deposits:            
Savings accounts – Direct $31,420  $30,980  $30,276  $30,980 
Certificates of deposit:(a)
                
Direct  284   291   285   291 
Third-party (brokered)  11,617   11,925   14,997   11,925 
Sweep accounts – Third-party (brokered)  9,802   9,120   11,454   9,120 
Other retail deposits:                
Non-U.S. deposits and U.S. non-interest bearing deposits  82   110   80   110 
Card Member credit balances ― U.S. and non-U.S.  585   616   634   616 
Total customer deposits $53,790  $53,042  $57,726  $53,042 
(a)The weighted average remaining maturity and weighted average interest rate at issuance on the total portfolio of U.S. retail certificates of deposit issued through direct and third-party programs were 4746 months and 1.962.05 percent, respectively, as of March 31,June 30, 2017.
The scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit as of March 31,June 30, 2017 were as follows:
(Millions) U.S.  Non-U.S.  Total  U.S.  Non-U.S.  Total 
2017 $3,401  $8  $3,409  $2,400  $7  $2,407 
2018  3,445   8   3,453   4,463   9   4,472 
2019  2,398      2,398   3,447      3,447 
2020  2,543      2,543   3,069      3,069 
2021  107      107   917      917 
After 5 years  7      7   986      986 
Total $11,901  $16  $11,917  $15,282  $16  $15,298 

As of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, certificates of deposit in denominations of $250,000 or more, in the aggregate, were as follows:

(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
U.S. $106  $117  $103  $117 
Non-U.S.  7   7   5   7 
Total $113  $124  $108  $124 

1618

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

8.  Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various pending and potential legal actions, arbitration proceedings, claims, investigations, examinations, information gathering requests, subpoenas, inquiries and matters relating to compliance with laws and regulations (collectively, legal proceedings). The Company discloses its material legal proceedings under Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Part I, Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” in the Annual Report.


In addition to the matters disclosed under “Legal Proceedings,” the Company is being challenged in a number of countries regarding its application of value-added taxes (VAT) to certain of its international transactions, which are in various stages of audit, or are being contested in legal actions (collectively, VAT matters). While the Company believes it has complied with all applicable tax laws, rules and regulations in the relevant jurisdictions, the tax authorities may determine that the Company owes additional VAT. In certain jurisdictions where the Company is contesting the assessments, it was required to pay the VAT assessments prior to contesting.

The Company’s legal proceedings range from cases brought by a single plaintiff to class actions with millions of putative class members. These legal proceedings involve various lines of business of the Company and a variety of claims (including, but not limited to, common law tort, contract, application of tax laws, antitrust and consumer protection claims), some of which present novel factual allegations and/or unique legal theories. While some matters pending against the Company specify the damages claimed by the plaintiff or class, many seek an unspecified amount of damages or are at very early stages of the legal process. Even when the amount of damages claimed against the Company are stated, the claimed amount may be exaggerated and/or unsupported. As a result, some matters have not yet progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or development of important factual information and legal issues to enable the Company to estimate an amount of loss or a range of possible loss, while other matters have progressed sufficiently such that the Company is able to estimate an amount of loss or a range of possible loss.

The Company has recorded reserves for certain of its outstanding legal proceedings. A reserve is recorded when it is both (a) probable that a loss has occurred and (b) the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. There may be instances in which an exposure to loss exceeds the recorded reserve. The Company evaluates, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the reserve that has been previously recorded, or a revision to the disclosed estimated range of possible losses, as applicable.

For those disclosed material legal proceedings and VAT matters where a loss is reasonably possible in future periods, whether in excess of a related reserve for legal or tax contingencies or where there is no such reserve, and for which the Company is able to estimate a range of possible loss, the current estimated range is zero to $440$450 million in excess of any reserves related to those matters. This range represents management’s estimate based on currently available information and does not represent the Company’s maximum loss exposure; actual results may vary significantly. As such legal proceedings evolve, the Company may need to increase its range of possible loss or reserves.

Based on its current knowledge, and taking into consideration its litigation-related liabilities, the Company believes it is not a party to, nor are any of its properties the subject of, any legal proceeding that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or liquidity. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, it is possible that the outcome of legal proceedings, including the possible resolution of merchant claims, could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

1719

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

9.   Derivatives and Hedging Activities

The Company uses derivative financial instruments (derivatives) to manage exposures to various market risks. These instruments derive their value from an underlying variable or multiple variables, including interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and equity index or price, and are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These instruments enable end users to increase, reduce or alter exposure to various market risks and, for that reason, are an integral component of the Company’s market risk management. The Company does not transact in derivatives for trading purposes.

In relation to the Company’s credit risk, under the terms of the derivative agreements it has with its various counterparties, the Company is not required to either immediately settle any outstanding liability balances or post collateral upon the occurrence of a specified credit risk-related event. Based on its assessment of the credit risk of the Company’s derivative counterparties as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, no credit risk adjustment to the derivative portfolio was required.

The following table summarizes the total fair value, excluding interest accruals, of derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:2016:

 Other Assets Fair Value  Other Liabilities Fair Value  Other Assets Fair Value  Other Liabilities Fair Value 
(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016  2017  2016  2017  2016 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:                        
Fair value hedges - Interest rate contracts(a)
 $57  $111  $  $69  $39  $111  $  $69 
Net investment hedges - Foreign exchange contracts  53   347   196   35   28   347   265   35 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments  110   458   196   104   67   458   265   104 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:                                
Foreign exchange contracts, including certain embedded derivatives(b)
  120   308   216   176   144   308   170   176 
Total derivatives, gross  230   766   412   280   211   766   435   280 
Less: Cash collateral netting(c)(d)
  (30)  (54)     (68)  (20)  (54)  (1)  (68)
Derivative asset and derivative liability netting(e)
  (94)  (157)  (94)  (157)  (73)  (157)  (73)  (157)
Total derivatives, net(f)
 $106  $555  $318  $55  $118  $555  $361  $55 
(a)Effective January 2017, the Central Clearing Party (CCP) changed the legal characterization of variation margin payments for centrally cleared derivatives to be settlement payments, as opposed to collateral. As of March 31,June 30, 2017 centrally cleared derivatives are fully collateralized. The Company also maintained several bilateral interest rate contracts that are not subject to the CCP’s rule change and amounts related to such contracts are shown gross of any collateral exchanged.
(b)Includes foreign currency derivatives embedded in certain operating agreements.
(c)Primarily represents the offsetting of bilateral interest rate contracts and the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable) arising from derivatives executed with the same counterparty under an enforceable master netting arrangement.
(d)
The Company held no non-cash collateral as of March 31,June 30, 2017. As of December 31, 2016, thethe Company received non-cash collateral from a counterparty in the form of security interests in U.S. Treasury securities, with a fair value of $18 million, none of which was sold or repledged.  Such non-cash collateral economically reduced the Company’s risk exposure to $537 million as of December 31, 2016, but did not reduce the net exposure on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. Additionally, the Company posted $173$170 million and $169 million as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, as initial margin on its centrally cleared interest rate swaps; such amounts are recorded within Other receivables on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are not netted against the derivative balances.
(e)Represents the amount of netting of derivative assets and derivative liabilities executed with the same counterparty under an enforceable master netting arrangement.
(f)The Company has no individually significant derivative counterparties and therefore, no significant risk exposure to any single derivative counterparty. The total net derivative assets and net derivative liabilities are presented within Other assets and Other liabilities, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
A majority of the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are subject to master netting agreements with its derivative counterparties. The Company has no derivative amounts subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that are not offset on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Fair Value Hedges
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk associated with its fixed-rate long-term debt obligations. At the time of issuance, certain fixed-rate debt obligations are designated in fair value hedging relationships, using interest rate swaps, to economically convert the fixed interest rate to a floating interest rate. The Company has $19.9$19.5 billion and $17.7 billion of fixed-rate debt obligations designated asin fair value hedgeshedging relationships as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

1820

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

The following table summarizes the gains (losses) recognized in Other expenses associated with the Company’s fair value hedges for the three and six months ended March 31:June 30:

 Three Months Ended March 31,  
Three Months Ended
June 30,
  
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(Millions)2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 
Interest rate derivative contracts $75  $165  $6  $61  $(69) $226 
Hedged items  (50)  (171)  (25)  (53)  25   (224)
Net hedge ineffectiveness gains (losses) $25  $(6)
Net hedge ineffectiveness $(19) $8  $(44) $2 

The Company also recognized a net reduction in interest expense on long-term debt of $44$37  million and $59  million for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $81 million and $118 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, primarily related to the net settlements (interest accruals) on the Company’s interest rate derivatives designated as fair value hedges.

Net Investment Hedges

The effective portion of the gain or loss on net investment hedges, net of taxes, recorded in AOCI as part of the cumulative translation adjustment, was $229a loss of $102 million and $92a gain of $135 million for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. respectively, and a loss of $331 million and a gain of $43 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, with any ineffective portion recognized in Other expenses during the period. The net hedge ineffectiveness recognized was nil for each of the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016 thus no. Other amounts related to foreign exchange contracts were reclassified from AOCI into Other expenses included nil and a gain of $5 million for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016.2016, respectively, and nil and a gain of $5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges

The changes in the fair value of derivatives that are not designated as hedges are intended to offset the related foreign exchange gains or losses of the underlying foreign currency exposures. The changes in the fair value of the derivatives and the related underlying foreign currency exposures resulted in a net lossesloss of $17$4 million and $14a net gain of $6 million for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and net losses of $21 million and $8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are recognized in Other expenses.
The changes in the fair value of an embedded derivative resulted in gainsa loss of $1$3 million and $8 millionnil for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and a loss of $2 million and a gain of $6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which are recognized in Card Member services and other expense.




10.10. Fair Values


Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized by GAAP’s fair value hierarchy, as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 2017  2016  2017  2016 
(Millions) Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
Assets:                                                
Investment securities:(a)
                                                
Equity securities and other $49  $1  $48  $  $49  $1  $48  $  $49  $1  $48  $  $49  $1  $48  $ 
Debt securities  3,512   1,136   2,376      3,108   460   2,648      3,311   1,119   2,192      3,108   460   2,648    
Derivatives(a)
  230      230      765      765      211      211      765      765    
Total Assets  3,791   1,137   2,654      3,922   461   3,461      3,571   1,120   2,451      3,922   461   3,461    
Liabilities:                                                                
Derivatives(a)
  412      412      280      280      435      435      280      280    
Total Liabilities $412  $  $412  $  $280  $  $280  $  $435  $  $435  $  $280  $  $280  $ 
(a)Refer to Note 5 for the fair values of investment securities and to Note 9 for the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities, on a further disaggregated basis.

1921

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value
The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis, as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The fair values of these financial instruments are estimates based upon the market conditions and perceived risks as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and require management’s judgment. These figures may not be indicative of future fair values, nor can the fair value of the Company be estimated by aggregating the amounts presented.
 Carrying  Corresponding Fair Value Amount  Carrying  Corresponding Fair Value Amount 
2017 (Billions)
 Value  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Value  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
Financial Assets:                              
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value                              
Cash and cash equivalents(a)
 $29  $29  $27  $2  $  $30  $30  $28  $2  $ 
Other financial assets(b)
  50   50      50      52   52      52    
Financial assets carried at other than fair value                                        
Loans, net(c)
  64   65         65   67   67         67 
                    
Financial Liabilities:                                        
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value  65   65      65      67   67      67    
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value                                        
Certificates of deposit(d)
  12   12      12      15   15      15    
Long-term debt(c)
 $52  $53  $  $53  $  $52  $53  $  $53  $ 
                                        
 Carrying  Corresponding Fair Value Amount  Carrying  Corresponding Fair Value Amount 
2016 (Billions)
 Value  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3  Value  Total  Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
Financial Assets:                                        
Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value                                        
Cash and cash equivalents(a)
 $25  $25  $22  $3  $  $25  $25  $22  $3  $ 
Other financial assets(b)
  51   51      51      51   51      51    
Financial assets carried at other than fair value                                        
Loans, net(c)
  65   66         66   65   66         66 
                    
Financial Liabilities:                                        
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value  67   67      67      67   67      67    
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value                                        
Certificates of deposit(d)
  12   12      12      12   12      12    
Long-term debt(c)
 $47  $48  $  $48  $  $47  $48  $  $48  $ 
(a)Level 2 amounts reflect time deposits and short-term investments.
(b)Includes Card Member receivables (including fair values of Card Member receivables of $7.8$7.9 billion and $8.8 billion held by a consolidated VIE as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively), Other receivables, restricted cash and other miscellaneous assets.
(c)Balances include amounts held by a consolidated VIE for which the fair values of Card Member loans were $24.3$24.4 billion and $26.0 billion as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and the fair values of long-term debt were $16.8$16.1 billion and $15.2 billion as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(d)Presented as a component of customer deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements
The Company has certain assets that are subject to measurement at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. For these assets, measurement at fair value in periods subsequent to their initial recognition is applicable if determined to be impaired.  During the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and during the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company did not have any material assets that were measured at fair value due to impairment.


2022

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

11. Guarantees

The Company provides Card Member protection plans that cover losses associated with purchased products, as well as certain other guarantees and indemnifications in the ordinary course of business.

In relation to itsAs of June 30, 2017, the maximum potential undiscounted future payments and related liability resulting from these arrangements were $1 billion and $50 million, respectively, and related primarily to the Company’s real estate and business dispositions. As of December 31, 2016, the maximum potential undiscounted future payments and related liability were $48 billion and $86 million, respectively. Amounts related to the Company’s Card Member protection plans were included as shownof December 31, 2016, in the table that follows,addition to its real estate and business dispositions.

To date the Company has not experienced any significant losses related to guarantees or indemnifications. The Company’s initial recognition of these instruments is at fair value. In addition, the Company establishes reserves when a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

The following table provides information related to such guarantees and indemnifications as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 Maximum potential   
 undiscounted future       
 
payments(a)
 
Related liability(b)
 
 (Billions) (Millions) 
Type of Guarantee2017 2016 2017 2016 
Return and Merchant Protection $45  $42  $37  $37 
Other(c)
  6   6   49   49 
Total $51  $48  $86  $86 
(a)Represents the notional amounts that could be lost under the guarantees and indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed or indemnified parties. The maximum potential undiscounted future payments for Merchant Protection are measured using management’s best estimate of the maximum exposure, which is based on all eligible claims in relation to annual billed business volumes.
(b)Included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
(c)Primarily includes guarantees related to the Company’s purchase protection, real estate and business dispositions.

21

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)


12. Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

AOCI is comprised of items that have not been recognized in earnings but may be recognized in earnings in the future when certain events occur. Changes in each component for the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

2017 (Millions), net of tax
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Net Unrealized Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Gains (Losses) Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income 
Balances as of December 31, 2016 $7  $(2,262) $(529) $(2,784)
Net unrealized gains  6         6 
Decrease due to amounts reclassified into earnings            
Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations(a)
     545      545 
Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations     (229)     (229)
Pension and other postretirement benefit costs        (8)  (8)
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss  6   316   (8)  314 
Balances as of March 31, 2017 $13  $(1,946) $(537) $(2,470)
                 
(a) Includes $289 million of tax benefits recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2017 (Refer to Note 14). 
                 
2016 (Millions), net of tax
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Net Unrealized Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Gains (Losses) Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income 
Balances as of December 31, 2015 $58  $(2,044) $(548) $(2,534)
Net unrealized gains  4         4 
Decrease due to amounts reclassified into earnings  (2)        (2)
Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations     96      96 
Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations     (92)     (92)
Pension and other postretirement benefit gains        26   26 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss  2   4   26   32 
Balances as of March 31, 2016 $60  $(2,040) $(522) $(2,502)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Millions), net of tax
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Net Unrealized Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit (Losses) Gains Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income 
Balances as of March 31, 2017 $13  $(1,946) $(537) $(2,470)
Net unrealized gains (losses)            
Increase (decrease) due to amounts reclassified into earnings            
Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations     135      135 
Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations     (102)     (102)
Pension and other postretirement benefit        9   9 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss     33   9   42 
Balances as of June 30, 2017 $13  $(1,913) $(528) $(2,428)
                 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017 (Millions), net of tax
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Net Unrealized Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit (Losses) Gains Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income 
Balances as of December 31, 2016 $7  $(2,262) $(529) $(2,784)
Net unrealized gains  6         6 
Increase (decrease) due to amounts reclassified into earnings            
Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations(a)
     680      680 
Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations     (331)     (331)
Pension and other postretirement benefit        1   1 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss  6   349   1   356 
Balances as of June 30, 2017 $13  $(1,913) $(528) $(2,428)

(a)    Includes $289 million of recognized tax benefits (Refer to Note 14).



AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 (Millions), net of tax
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Net Unrealized Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit (Losses) Gains Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income 
Balances as of March 31, 2016 $60  $(2,040) $(522) $(2,502)
Net unrealized gains  5         5 
Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations     (265)     (265)
Net gains related to hedges of investments in foreign operations     135      135 
Pension and other postretirement benefit        6   6 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss  5   (130)  6   (119)
Balances as of June 30, 2016 $65  $(2,170) $(516) $(2,621)
                 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016 (Millions), net of tax
Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investment Securities Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Net Unrealized Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit (Losses) Gains Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income 
Balances as of December 31, 2015 $58  $(2,044) $(548) $(2,534)
Net unrealized gains  9         9 
Decrease due to amounts reclassified into earnings  (2)        (2)
Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations     (169)     (169)
Net gains related to hedges of investments in foreign operations     43      43 
Pension and other postretirement benefit        32   32 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss  7   (126)  32   (87)
Balances as of June 30, 2016 $65  $(2,170) $(516) $(2,621)

The following table shows the tax impact for the three and six months ended March 31June 30 for the changes in each component of AOCI presented above:
  Tax expense (benefit) 
(Millions) 2017  2016 
Investment securities $3  $(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments(a)
  (191)  15 
Net investment hedges  (140)  (53)
Pension and other postretirement benefits  (9)  19 
Total tax impact $(337) $(20)

(a)Includes $289 million of tax benefits recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2017 (Refer to Note 14).
 Tax expense (benefit) 
  Three Months Ended June 30, 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
(Millions)2017 2016 2017 2016 
Investment securities $  $2  $3  $2 
Foreign currency translation adjustments(a)
  12   22   (179)  37 
Net investment hedges  (67)  78   (207)  24 
Pension and other postretirement benefits  1   10   (8)  29 
Total tax impact $(54) $112  $(391) $92 
22
(a)    Includes $289 million of tax benefits recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2017 (Refer to Note 14).


24

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

The following table presents the effects of reclassifications out of AOCI and into the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:Income:

  Gains (losses) recognized in earnings 
  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
  Gains (losses) recognized in earnings  June 30,  June 30, 
  Amount  Amount  Amount 
Description (Millions)
Income Statement Line Item2017 2016 Income Statement Line Item2017 2016 2017 2016 
Available-for-sale securities                  
Reclassifications for previously unrealized net gains on investment securitiesOther non-interest revenues $  $4 Other non-interest revenues $  $  $  $4 
Related income tax expenseIncome tax provision     (2)Income tax provision           (2)
Reclassification to net income related to available-for-sale securities      2             2 
Total  $  $2   $  $  $  $2 




13.  Non-Interest Revenue and Expense Detail

The following is a detail of Other fees and commissions for the three months ended March 31:commissions:

 Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
 June 30,  June 30, 
(Millions) 2017  2016  2017  2016  2017  2016 
Delinquency fees $214  $200  $218  $192  $432  $392 
Foreign currency conversion fee revenue  199   196   212   207   411   403 
Loyalty coalition-related fees  102   94   114   104   216   198 
Travel commissions and fees  84   80   90   87   174   167 
Other(a)
  114   110   118   112   232   222 
Total Other fees and commissions $713  $680  $752  $702  $1,465  $1,382 
(a)Other primarily includes service fees and fees related to Membership Rewards programs.

The following is a detail of Other revenues for the three months ended March 31:revenues:
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 
June 30, June 30, 
(Millions) 2017  2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 
Global Network Services partner revenues $156  $145  $150  $197  $306  $342 
Other(a)
  253   341   289   348   542   689 
Total Other revenues $409  $486  $439  $545  $848  $1,031 
(a)Other includes revenues arising from net revenue earned on cross-border Card Member spending, insurance premiums earned from Card Member travel and other insurance programs, merchant-related fees, revenues related to the GBT JV transition services agreement, prepaidPrepaid card and Travelers Cheque-related revenues, earnings from equity method investments (including the GBT JV) and other miscellaneous revenue and fees.

The following is a detail of Other expenses for the three months ended March 31:expenses:

Three Months Ended Six Months Ended 
June 30, June 30, 
(Millions) 2017  2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 
Professional services $512  $604  $521  $628  $1,033  $1,232 
Occupancy and equipment  475   465   484   438   959   903 
Communications  63   83 
Gain on sale of JetBlue HFS portfolio(a)
     (127)
Gain on sale of HFS portfolios(a)
     (1,091)     (1,218)
Other(b)
  357   395   371   495   791   973 
Total Other expenses $1,407  $1,420  $1,376  $470  $2,783  $1,890 
(a)Refer to Note 2 for additional information.
(b)Other expense primarily includes general operating expenses, Card and merchant-related fraud losses, communication expenses, foreign currency-related gains and losses, certain loyalty coalition-related expenses and insurance costs. In addition, for the three months ended March 31, 2016, Other expenses includes the valuation allowance adjustment associated with loans and receivables HFS.

2325

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

14.  Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 31.931.2 percent and 34.733.2 percent for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 31.6 percent and 33.8 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The changes in tax rates primarily reflected the geographic mix of business and the level of pretax income in relation to recurring permanent tax benefits. In addition, the effective tax rate in the current year reflected the resolution of certain prior years’ tax items.

The Company is under continuous examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax authorities in other countries and states in which the Company has significant business operations. The tax years under examination and open for examination vary by jurisdiction.  In February 2017, the Company received notification that all matters outstanding with the IRS for tax years 1997-2007 were resolved.  The resolution of such matters did not have a material impact on the Company’s effective tax rate.  The Company is currently under examination with the IRS for tax years 2008 through 2014.
The Company believes it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease within the next 12 months by as much as $104$133 million, principally as a result of potential resolutions of prior years’ tax items with various taxing authorities. The prior years’ tax items include unrecognized tax benefits relating to the deductibility of certain expenses or losses and the attribution of taxable income to a particular jurisdiction or jurisdictions.  Of the $104$133 million of unrecognized tax benefits, approximately $71$90 million relates to amounts that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate in a future period. During the threesix months ended March 31,June 30, 2017, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits decreased by $331$280 million. The decrease was primarily due to the resolution with the IRS of an uncertain tax position in January 2017, andwhich resulted in the recognition of $289 million in shareholders’ equity, specifically within AOCI.




15.  Earnings Per Common Share (EPS)

The computations of basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31 were as follows:

 Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
 June 30,  June 30, 
(Millions, except per share amounts) 2017  2016  2017  2016  2017  2016 
Numerator:                  
Basic and diluted:                  
Net income $1,237  $1,426  $1,340  $2,015  $2,577  $3,441 
Preferred dividends  (21)  (21)  (19)  (19)  (40)  (40)
Net income available to common shareholders $1,216  $1,405   1,321   1,996   2,537   3,401 
Earnings allocated to participating share awards(a)
  (10)  (11)  (11)  (17)  (21)  (28)
Net income attributable to common shareholders $1,206  $1,394  $1,310  $1,979  $2,516  $3,373 
Denominator:(a)
                        
Basic: Weighted-average common stock  899   961   890   938   895   949 
Add: Weighted-average stock options (b)
  4   2   3   3   3   3 
Diluted  903   963   893   941   898   952 
Basic EPS $1.34  $1.45  $1.47  $2.11  $2.81  $3.55 
Diluted EPS $1.34  $1.45  $1.47  $2.10  $2.80  $3.54 
(a)The Company’s unvested restricted stock awards, which include the right to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents, are considered participating securities. Calculations of EPS under the two-class method exclude from the numerator any dividends paid or owed on participating securities and any undistributed earnings considered to be attributable to participating securities. The related participating securities are similarly excluded from the denominator.
(b)The dilutive effect of unexercised stock options excludes from the computation of EPS 1.2 million and 1.52.5 million of options for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 1.2 million and 1.7 million of options for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, because inclusion of the options would have been anti-dilutive.



2426

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

16.  Reportable Operating Segments

The Company is a global services company that is principally engaged in businesses comprising four reportable operating segments: USCS, ICNS, GCS and GMS. Corporate functions and certain other businesses and operations are included in Corporate & Other.

The following table presents certain selected financial information for the Company’s reportable operating segments and Corporate & Other as of or for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:Other:

             Corporate &                      
(Millions, except where indicated) USCS  ICNS  GCS  GMS  
Other(a)
  Consolidated 
2017                  
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
(Millions, except where indicated)
 USCS  ICNS  GCS  GMS  
Corporate & Other(a)
  Consolidated 
Non-interest revenues $1,857  $1,195  $2,271  $1,017  $49  $6,389  $1,999  $1,247  $2,368  $1,086  $77  $6,777 
Interest income  1,308   235   319      81   1,943   1,369   246   334   1   102   2,052 
Interest expense  146   53   109   (58)  193   443   171   60   129   (65)  227   522 
Total revenues net of interest expense  3,019   1,377   2,481   1,075   (63)  7,889   3,197   1,433   2,573   1,152   (48)  8,307 
Net income (loss) $469  $218  $418  $363  $(231) $1,237  $440  $209  $500  $430  $(239) $1,340 
Total assets (billions)
 $81  $36  $48  $25  $(29) $161  $87  $38  $51  $26  $(35) $167 
Total equity (billions)
 $7  $3  $7  $3  $1  $21  $7  $3  $7  $3  $1  $21 
2016                        
                        
                        
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
(Millions, except where indicated)
 USCS  ICNS  GCS  GMS  
Corporate & Other(a)
  Consolidated 
Non-interest revenues $2,029   1,140   2,190   1,041   108   6,508  $3,856  $2,442  $4,639  $2,103  $126  $13,166 
Interest income  1,391   227   321      66   2,005   2,677   481   653   1   183   3,995 
Interest expense  140   54   95   (59)  195   425   317   113   238   (123)  420   965 
Total revenues net of interest expense  3,280   1,313   2,416   1,100   (21)  8,088   6,216   2,810   5,054   2,227   (111)  16,196 
Net income (loss) $694  $188  $485  $357  $(298) $1,426  $909  $427  $918  $793  $(470) $2,577 
Total assets (billions)
 $86  $34  $47  $24  $(32) $159  $87  $38  $51  $26  $(35) $167 
Total equity (billions)
 $7  $3  $7  $2  $2  $21  $7  $3  $7  $3  $1  $21 
                        
                        
Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
(Millions, except where indicated)
 USCS  ICNS  GCS  GMS  
Corporate & Other(a)
  Consolidated 
Non-interest revenues $2,069  $1,242  $2,280  $1,087  $108  $6,786 
Interest income  1,278   234   310   1   62   1,885 
Interest expense  139   58   104   (61)  196   436 
Total revenues net of interest expense  3,208   1,418   2,486   1,149   (26)  8,235 
Net income (loss) $1,067  $228  $576  $373  $(229) $2,015 
Total assets (billions)
 $81  $35  $46  $24  $(26) $160 
Total equity (billions)
 $7  $3  $8  $2  $1  $21 
                        
                        
Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
(Millions, except where indicated)
 USCS  ICNS  GCS  GMS  
Corporate & Other(a)
  Consolidated 
Non-interest revenues $4,098  $2,382  $4,470  $2,128  $216  $13,294 
Interest income  2,669   461   631   1   128   3,890 
Interest expense  279   112   199   (120)  391   861 
Total revenues net of interest expense  6,488   2,731   4,902   2,249   (47)  16,323 
Net income (loss) $1,761  $416  $1,061  $730  $(527) $3,441 
Total assets (billions)
 $81  $35  $46  $24  $(26) $160 
Total equity (billions)
 $7  $3  $8  $2  $1  $21 
(a)Corporate & Other includes adjustments and eliminations for intersegment activity.
25
27

ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Business Introduction

When we use the terms “American Express,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” or “us,” we mean American Express Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, unless we state or the context implies otherwise.

We are a global services company with four reportable operating segments: U.S. Consumer Services (USCS), International Consumer and Network Services (ICNS), Global Commercial Services (GCS) and Global Merchant Services (GMS). Corporate functions and certain other businesses and operations are included in Corporate & Other. We provide our customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Our principal products and services are charge and credit payment card products and travel-related services offered to consumers and businesses around the world. Our range of products and services includes:


•     Charge card, credit card and other payment and financing products
•     Network services
•     Merchant acquisition and processing, servicing and settlement, marketing and point-of-sale marketing and information products and services for merchants
•     Other fee services, including fraud prevention services and the design and operation of customer loyalty programs
•     Expense management products and services
•     Travel-related services
•     Stored-value/prepaid products


Our various products and services are sold globally to diverse customer groups, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations. These products and services are sold through various channels, including online applications, direct mail, in-house teams, third-party vendors and direct response advertising. Business travel-related services are offered through our non-consolidated joint venture, American Express Global Business Travel (the GBT JV).

We compete in the global payments industry with charge, credit and debit card networks, issuers and acquirers, paper-based transactions (e.g., cash and checks), bank transfer models (e.g., wire transfers and ACH), as well as evolving and growing alternative payment and financing providers. As the payments industry continues to evolve, we face increasing competition from non-traditional players that leverage new technologies and customer relationships to create payment or financing solutions.

The following types of revenue are generated from our various products and services:

Discount revenue, our largest revenue source, represents fees generally charged to merchants for accepting our cards as payment for goods or services sold;
Interest on loans, principally represents interest income earned on outstanding balances;
Net card fees, represent revenue earned from annual card membership fees, which varies based on the type of card and the number of cards for each account;
Other fees and commissions, represent foreign currency conversion fees charged to Card Members, Card Member delinquency fees, loyalty coalition-related fees, travel commissions and fees, service fees and fees related to our Membership Rewards program; and
Other revenue, primarily represents revenues arising from contracts with partners of our Global Network Services (GNS) business (including commissions and signing fees), cross-border Card Member spending, insurance premiums earned from Card Members, ancillary merchant-related fees, revenues related to the GBT JV transition services agreement, prepaid card and Travelers Cheque-related revenue and earnings from equity method investments (including the GBT JV).



2628



Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Measures

Certain of the statements in this Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Refer to the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” section. We prepare our Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). However, certain information included within this Form 10-Q constitutes non-GAAP financial measures. Our calculations of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the calculations of similarly titled measures by other companies.
 
Bank Holding Company

American Express Company is a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Federal Reserve) is our primary federal regulator. As such, we are subject to the Federal Reserve’s regulations, policies and minimum capital standards.

Business Environment

DuringOur results for the second quarter we continuedcontinue to make steadyreflect solid progress onagainst our current priorities of accelerating revenue growth, optimizing investments and resetting the range of growth and cost initiatives that we have been focused on over the last couple of years, and we believe our first quarter performance reflects the benefits of those efforts.  While reported billedbase.  Billed business and revenue declined year-over-year as a result offor the end ofsecond quarter increased slightly, while net income was down. The prior year quarter included revenues and expenses related to the Costco Wholesale Corporation (Costco) relationship in the United States in June 2016, both billed businessU.S. that has since been discontinued, the gain from the sale of the related loan portfolio and revenue performance accelerated ina restructuring charge. During the first quarter. In addition,current quarter, our strong balance sheet position allowed us to continue to return a significant amount of capital to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.

Our worldwide billings adjusted for foreign currency exchange rates were flat year-over-year, but grewincreased and, after excluding Costco-related billings from the prior year.year, grew consistent with the first quarter, reflecting growth across our diverse customer segments and geographies. We continued to see strong performance from middle market and small business customers, while spending by large corporations was up only slightly compared to last year. Internationally, our consumer and small business billings growth rates remained strong.

Revenues net of interest expense declinedincreased slightly year-over-year on a reported basis, primarily reflectingbasis. Excluding Costco-related revenues in the prior year. After excluding Costco-related revenuesyear and the effect of foreign currency exchange rates, adjusted revenues net of interest expense grew driven by increasesprimarily due to an increase in net interest income and higher adjusted billed business, adjusted net interest income, as well as higher net card fees across our premium card portfolios.  Our net interest yield increased year-over-year, due in part to a mix shift towards non-cobrand lending products, where Card Members tend to revolve more of their loan balances.balances, as well as a lower percentage of loans at introductory rates, specific pricing actions, and a benefit from increases in benchmark interest rates.

Card Member loan and receivable growth was strong year-over-year, as we continue to grow loans from existing customers, as well as through the acquisition of new card members.Card Members. Provisions for losses increased, as expected, as a result of higher Card Member loans and receivables, as well as a slight increase in delinquencies and higher net write-off rates. These rates increased, primarily due to the seasoning of loans related to newer Card Members and a shift towards non-cobrand lending products, which have a slightly higher write-off rate.rates. We expect, as a result of these trends, provisions for losses will result in provisions growingcontinue to grow faster than loans during the balance of the year.

Spending on Card Member engagement (the aggregate of rewards, Card Member services and marketing and promotion expenses) was relatively consistent with the prior yearincreased year-over-year and primarily reflected the recent enhancements to rewards on our U.S. Platinum products, continued strong growth in our Delta cobrand portfolio and higher levels of engagement in many of our premium services and lower marketing and promotion expenses as we seek to utilize different categories of spend to retain and grow our Card Member spending and earn their loyalty.services.  Operating expenses decreased versusincreased, primarily as a result of the Costco cobrand portfolio sale gain in the prior year, driven bywhich was classified as an expense reduction in Other expenses.  Excluding the gain and the restructuring charge in the prior year, adjusted operating expenses decreased reflecting progress against our cost reduction initiatives.

CompetitionThe momentum in the first half of the year reflects the investments we have made in a variety of growth opportunities over the last several years. Although competition remains intense across our businesses. While our businesses are global and diversified, tothe regulatory environment is uncertain, we remain competitive we need to continue to demonstrate thefocused on delivering differentiated value we deliver to our merchants, customers and business partners, in all aspects of our relationships. More intense competition has and will continue to impact our cost of renewing and ability to win or extend cobrand and other relationships. Throughout our business, we are focused on those products, services and relationships that offer the best value to our customers while also providingdelivering appropriate returns to our business and shareholders.

See “Certain legislative, regulatory and other developments” in “Other Matters” for information on legislative and regulatory changes that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.


2729

American Express Company
Consolidated Results of Operations

Refer to the “Glossary of Selected Terminology” for the definitions of certain key terms and related information appearing within this section.

Effective December 1, 2015, we transferred the Card Member loans and receivables related to our cobrand partnerships with Costco and JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) (collectively, the HFS portfolios) to Card Member loans and receivables HFS on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. On March 18, 2016 and June 17, 2016, we completed the sales of the JetBlue and Costco cobrand card portfolios, respectively. For the periods from December 1, 2015, through the sale completion dates, the primary impacts beyond the HFS classification on the Consolidated Balance Sheets were to provisions for losses and credit metrics, which do not reflect amounts related to these HFS loans and receivables, as credit costs were reported in Other expenses through a valuation allowance adjustment. Other, non-credit related metrics (i.e., billed business, cards-in-force, net interest yield) reflect amounts related to the HFS portfolios through the sale completion dates. Additionally, for periods after the sale completion dates, activities associated with these cobrand partnerships and the HFS portfolios are no longer included in our Consolidated Results of Operations. Specifically, these impacts include: Discount revenue from Costco in the United States for spend on all American Express cards and from other merchants for spend on the Costco cobrand card; Other fees and commissions and Interest income from Costco cobrand Card Members; and Card Member rewards expense related to the Costco cobrand card, resulting in a lack of comparability between 2017 and 2016.
The discussions in both the Consolidated Results of Operations and Business Segment Results provide commentary on the variances for the three monthsand six month periods ended March 31,June 30, 2017 compared to same periodperiods in the prior year, as presented in the accompanying tables.

Table 1: Summary of Financial Performance

 Three Months Ended        Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended       
 March 31,  Change  June 30,  Change  June 30,  Change 
(Millions, except percentages and per share amounts) 2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016 
Total revenues net of interest expense $7,889  $8,088  $(199)  (2)% $8,307  $8,235  $72   1% $16,196  $16,323  $(127)  (1)%
Provisions for losses  573   434   139   32   584   463   121   26   1,157   897   260   29 
Expenses  5,499   5,470   29   1   5,774   4,756   1,018   21   11,273   10,226   1,047   10 
Net income  1,237   1,426   (189)  (13)  1,340   2,015   (675)  (33)  2,577   3,441   (864)  (25)
Earnings per common share — diluted(a)
 $1.34  $1.45  $(0.11)  (8)%
Earnings per common share - diluted(a)
 $1.47  $2.10  $(0.63)  (30)% $2.80  $3.54  $(0.74)  (21)%
Return on average equity(b)
  25.1%  23.6%          21.7%  26.4%          21.7%  26.4%        
(a)Earnings per common share — diluted was reduced by the impact of (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards and other items of $10$11 million and $11$17 million for the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $21 million and $28 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $21$19 million for both the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, and $40 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.
(b)Return on average equity (ROE) is computed by dividing (i) one-year period net income ($5.24.5 billion and $5.1$5.6 billion for March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively) by (ii) one-year average total shareholders’ equity ($20.820.9 billion and $21.5$21.2 billion for March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively).

Table 2: Total Revenue Net of Interest Expense Summary
 Three Months Ended     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended    
 March 31,  Change  June 30,  Change  June 30,  Change 
(Millions, except percentages) 2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016 
Discount revenue $4,519  $4,643  $(124)  (3)% $4,815  $4,824  $(9)  % $9,334  $9,467  $(133)  (1)%
Net card fees  748   699   49   7   771   715   56   8   1,519   1,414   105   7 
Other fees and commissions  713   680   33   5   752   702   50   7   1,465   1,382   83   6 
Other  409   486   (77)  (16)  439   545   (106)  (19)  848   1,031   (183)  (18)
Total non-interest revenues  6,389   6,508   (119)  (2)  6,777   6,786   (9)     13,166   13,294   (128)  (1)
Total interest income  1,943   2,005   (62)  (3)  2,052   1,885   167   9   3,995   3,890   105   3 
Total interest expense  443   425   18   4   522   436   86   20   965   861   104   12 
Net interest income  1,500   1,580   (80)  (5)  1,530   1,449   81   6   3,030   3,029   1    
Total revenues net of interest expense $7,889  $8,088  $(199)  (2)% $8,307  $8,235  $72   1% $16,196  $16,323  $(127)  (1)%

2830

Total Revenues Net of Interest Expense

Discount revenue was flat for the three month period and decreased slightly for the six month period, primarily driven by Costco-related revenue included in the prior year, as well as increases in contra-discount revenuessubstantially offset by billed business growth across other card products in the current year, including higher corporate client and cobrand partner incentives, as volumes in those categories increased.periods.
Worldwide billed business decreased marginally and was flat on an FX-adjusted basis.1for both the three and six month periods. U.S. billed business decreased by 64 percent and 5 percent for the three and six month periods respectively, primarily driven by Costco-related volumes in the prior year, and non-U.S.year. Non-U.S. billed business increased by 12 percent.9 percent and 11 percent for the three and six month periods, respectively. See Tables 5, 6 and 67 for more details on billed business performance.
The increase in the average discount rate for both the three and six month periods primarily reflectsreflected the absence of Costco merchant volumes in the current year, which were at a lower discount rate than the average, partially offset by rate pressure from merchant negotiations, including those resulting from the recent regulatory changes affecting competitor pricing in the European Union, changes in industry and regional mix and the continued growth of the OptBlue program. We expect the average discount rate will likely decline over time due to a greater shift of existing merchants into OptBlue, merchant negotiations and competition, volume related pricing discounts and certain pricing initiatives mainly driven by pricing regulation (including regulation of competitors’ interchange rates).
Net card fees increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by growth in the Platinum Gold and Delta portfolios as well as growth in certain key international markets, including Japan and Australia.markets.
Other fees and commissions increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by an increase in delinquency fees as a result of a change in the date on which late fees are assessed on our U.S. consumer charge cards, partially offset by Costco-related fees in the prior year.
Other revenues decreased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven in part by prior-yeara contractual payment from a GNS partner and revenues related to our Loyalty Edge business, which was soldboth in the fourth quarter of 2016.prior year.
Interest income decreased,increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by growth in average Card Member loans and higher yields in the current year, partially offset by Costco cobrand-related interest income included in the prior year, partially offset by modestly higher yields in the current year and an increase in average Card Member loans across other lending products.year.
Interest expense increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by marginally higher interest rates and higher average long-term debt and marginally higher interest rates.debt.

Table 3: Provisions for Losses Summary

 Three Months Ended    Three Months Ended    Six Months Ended   
 March 31, Change  June 30, Change  June 30, Change 
(Millions, except percentages) 2017  2016 2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016 2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016 2017 vs. 2016 
Charge card $213  $169  $44   26% $163  $153  $10   7% $376  $322  $54   17%
Card Member loans  337   227   110   48   404   285   119   42   741   512   229   45 
Other  23   38   (15)  (39)  17   25   (8)  (32)  40   63   (23)  (37)
Total provisions for losses(a)
 $573  $434  $139   32% $584  $463  $121   26% $1,157  $897  $260   29%
(a)Beginning December 1, 2015 through to the sale completion dates, does not reflect the HFS portfolios.

Provisions for Losses
Charge card provision for losses increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by growth in charge volume in the GCS segment and increasing delinquencies resulting in higher net write-offs.



1  The foreign currency adjusted information assumes a constant exchange rate between the periods being compared for purposes of currency translation into U.S. dollars (i.e., assumes the foreign exchange rates used to determine results for the current period apply to the corresponding period against which such results are being compared). FX-adjusted revenues and expenses constitute non-GAAP measures. We believe the presentation of information on a foreign currency adjusted basis is helpful to investors by making it easier to compare our performance in one period to that of another period without the variability caused by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

29


Card Member loans provision for losses increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by strong momentum in our lending growth initiatives, as well as a slight increase in delinquencies and higher net write-off rates, primarily due to the seasoning of loans related to newer Card Members and a shift towards non-cobrand lending products, which have slightly higher write-off rates.
31

Other provision for losses decreased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by improving credit performance in the commercial financing portfolio credit performance.portfolio.
Table 4: Expenses Summary
 Three Months Ended     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended    
 March 31,  Change  June 30,  Change  June 30,  Change 
(Millions, except percentages) 2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016 
Marketing and promotion $700  $727  $(27)  (4)% $830  $788  $42   5% $1,530  $1,515  $15   1%
Card Member rewards  1,807   1,703   104   6   1,926   1,766   160   9   3,733   3,469   264   8 
Card Member services and other  321   282   39   14   349   281   68   24   670   563   107   19 
Total marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other  2,828   2,712   116   4   3,105   2,835   270   10   5,933   5,547   386   7 
Salaries and employee benefits  1,264   1,338   (74)  (6)  1,293   1,451   (158)  (11)  2,557   2,789   (232)  (8)
Other, net(a)
  1,407   1,420   (13)  (1)  1,376   470   906   #   2,783   1,890   893   47 
Total expenses $5,499  $5,470  $29   1% $5,774  $4,756  $1,018   21% $11,273  $10,226  $1,047   10%
# Denotes a variance greater than 100 percent.
(a)Beginning December 1, 2015 through to the portfolio sale completion dates, includes the valuation allowance adjustment associated with the HFS portfolios.
Expenses
Marketing and promotion expenses decreased, driven by higher levels of spending on growth initiatives inincreased marginally during the prior year.three month period and were relatively flat during the six month period.
Card Member rewards expenses increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by an increase in Membership Rewards expense of $228$243 million and $472 million for the three and six month periods, respectively, partially offset by a reduction in cobrand rewards expense of $124 million.$84 million and $208 million for the same respective periods. The increaseincreases in Membership Rewards expense waswere primarily driven by recent enhancements to U.S. Consumer and Small Business Platinum rewards and higher spending volumes and an increase in the weighted average cost (WAC) per point.volumes. The decreasedecreases in cobrand rewards expense reflected Costco-related expenses in the prior year, partially offset by increased spending volumes across other cobrand card products in the current period.periods.
The Membership Rewards Ultimate Redemption Rate (URR) for current program participants was 95 percent (rounded down) at both March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016.
Card Member services and other expenses increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by higher usage of cobrand travel-related benefits and the enhanced Platinum card benefits.
Salaries and employee benefits expenses decreased for both the three and six month periods, reflecting restructuring charges in the prior year and benefits from our cost reduction initiatives and restructuring charges in the priorcurrent year.
Other expenses decreased, reflecting lower technology-related costs inincreased for both the current yearthree and six month periods, primarily driven by the prior-year gain on the sale of the Costco HFS portfolio and, in the prior year, Loyalty Edge related costs and the HFS valuation allowance adjustment, partially offset bysix month period, the gain on the sale of the JetBlue HFS portfolio, also in the prior year. The increases were partially offset by lower technology-related costs and a benefit in the current year from a change in the liability related to non-delivery of goods and services by merchants, as well as the HFS valuation allowance adjustment, Loyalty Edge-related costs and a contribution to the AXP Foundation in the prior year.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate decreased for both the three and six month periods, primarily reflecting the geographic mix of business and the level of pretax income in relation to recurring permanent tax benefits. In addition, the effective tax raterates in the current year periods reflected the resolution of certain prior years’ tax items.items in the six month period.

3032


Table 5: Selected Card-Related Statistical Information
 As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change 
 Three Months Ended  2017  Three Months Ended  2017  Six Months Ended  2017 
 March 31,  vs.  June 30,  vs.  June 30,  vs. 
 2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016 
Card billed business: (billions)
                           
United States $165.4  $176.3   (6)% $177.6  $185.1   (4)% $343.0  $361.4   (5)%
Outside the United States  86.9   77.5   12   92.0   84.2   9   178.9   161.7   11 
Worldwide $252.3  $253.8   (1) $269.6  $269.3     $521.9  $523.1    
Total cards-in-force: (millions)
                                    
United States  48.2   57.9   (17)  48.9   47.0   4   48.9   47.0   4 
Outside the United States  63.0   60.7   4   63.3   61.2   3   63.3   61.2   3 
Worldwide  111.2   118.6   (6)  112.2   108.2   4   112.2   108.2   4 
Basic cards-in-force: (millions)
                                    
United States  38.1   45.1   (16)  38.6   37.0   4   38.6   37.0   4 
Outside the United States  52.2   50.0   4   52.6   50.5   4   52.6   50.5   4 
Worldwide  90.3   95.1   (5)  91.2   87.5   4   91.2   87.5   4 
Average basic Card Member spending: (dollars)(a)
                                    
United States $4,859  $4,249   14  $5,128  $4,672   10  $9,989  $8,941   12 
Outside the United States  3,283   3,082   7   3,468   3,319   4   6,752   6,404   5 
Worldwide Average $4,387  $3,952   11   4,633   4,313   7   9,022   8,280   9 
Card Member loans: (billions)
                                    
United States $56.6  $50.7   12   58.5   53.2   10   58.5   53.2   10 
Outside the United States  7.0   6.7   4   7.5   6.7   12   7.5   6.7   12 
Worldwide $63.6  $57.4   11  $66.0  $59.9   10  $66.0  $59.9   10 
Average discount rate  2.45%  2.44%      2.44%  2.43%      2.44%  2.43%    
Average fee per card (dollars)(a)
 $48  $40   20% $49  $42   17% $49  $41   20%
(a)Average basic Card Member spending and average fee per card are computed from proprietary card activities only. Average fee per card is computed based on net card fees divided by average worldwide proprietary cards-in-force.

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Table 6: Billed Business Growth
 Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended 
 March 31, 2017  June 30, 2017 
   Percentage Increase    Percentage Increase 
 Percentage  (Decrease) Assuming  Percentage  (Decrease) Assuming 
 Increase No Changes in  Increase No Changes in 
 (Decrease) 
FX Rates(a)
  (Decrease) 
FX Rates(a)
 
Worldwide(b)
          
Total billed business (1)%% %1%
Proprietary billed business (2) (2)  (1)  
GNS billed business(c)
 7 6  5 5 
Airline-related volume (9% of worldwide billed business) 1 2 
Airline-related volume (8% of worldwide billed business) 1 1 
United States(b)
          
Billed business (6)    (4)   
Proprietary consumer card billed business(d)
 (13)    (9)   
Proprietary small business and corporate services billed business(e)
 2    4   
T&E-related volume (27% of U.S. billed business) (5)   
Non-T&E-related volume (73% of U.S. billed business) (7)   
Airline-related volume (8% of U.S. billed business) (4)   
T&E-related volume (26% of U.S. billed business) (3)   
Non-T&E-related volume (74% of U.S. billed business) (4)   
Airline-related volume (7% of U.S. billed business) (1)   
Outside the United States(b)
          
Billed business 12 13  9 11 
Japan, Asia Pacific & Australia (JAPA) billed business 16 14  12 13 
Latin America & Canada (LACC) billed business 10 9  8 9 
Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EMEA) billed business 7 12  7 10 
Proprietary consumer card billed business(c)
 8 11  9 12 
Proprietary small business and corporate services billed business(e)
 13%14% 8%10%
(a)The foreign currency adjusted information assumes a constant exchange rate between the periods being compared for purposes of currency translation into U.S. dollars (i.e., assumes the foreign exchange rates used to determine results for the current period apply to the corresponding prior year period against which such results are being compared).
(b)Captions in the table above not designated as “proprietary” or “GNS” include both proprietary and GNS data.
(c)Included in the ICNS segment.
(d)Included in the USCS segment.
(e)Included in the GCS segment.

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34

Table 7: Billed Business Growth
  Six Months Ended 
  June 30, 2017 
    Percentage Increase 
  Percentage  (Decrease) Assuming 
  Increase No Changes in 
  (Decrease) 
FX Rates(a)
 
Worldwide(b)
     
Total billed business %%
Proprietary billed business (1) (1) 
GNS billed business(c)
 6 6 
Airline-related volume (9% of worldwide billed business) 1 2 
United States(b)
     
Billed business (5)   
Proprietary consumer card billed business(d)
 (11)   
Proprietary small business and corporate services billed business(e)
 3   
T&E-related volume (26% of U.S. billed business) (4)   
Non-T&E-related volume (74% of U.S. billed business) (6)   
Airline-related volume (8% of U.S. billed business) (3)   
Outside the United States(b)
     
Billed business 11 12 
     Japan, Asia Pacific & Australia billed business 14 14 
     Latin America & Canada billed business 9 9 
     Europe, the Middle East & Africa billed business 7 11 
Proprietary consumer card billed business(c)
 8 12 
Proprietary small business and corporate services billed business(e)
 11%12%
(a)Refer to Note (a) in Table 6.
(b)Captions in the table above not designated as “proprietary” or “GNS” include both proprietary and GNS data.
(c)Included in the ICNS segment.
(d)Included in the USCS segment.
(e)Included in the GCS segment.

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Table 7:8: Selected Credit RelatedCredit-Related Statistical Information
 As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change 
 Three Months Ended  2017  Three Months Ended  2017  Six Months Ended  2017 
 March 31,  vs.  June 30,  vs.  June 30,  vs. 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated) 2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016 
Worldwide Card Member loans: (a)
                           
Total loans (billions)
 $63.6  $57.4   11% $66.0  $59.9   10  $66.0  $59.9   10 
Loss reserves:                                    
Beginning balance $1,223  $1,028   19  $1,248  $1,012   23  $1,223  $1,028   19 
Provisions (b)
  337   227   48   404   285   42   741   512   45 
Net write-offs — principal only (c)
  (272)  (214)  27   (285)  (223)  28   (557)  (437)  27 
Net write-offs — interest and fees (c)
  (51)  (40)  28   (55)  (40)  38   (106)  (80)  33 
Other(d)  11   11      8   57   (86)  19   68   (72)
Ending balance $1,248  $1,012   23  $1,320  $1,091   21  $1,320  $1,091   21 
Ending reserves — principal $1,179  $959   23  $1,247  $1,037   20  $1,247  $1,037   20 
Ending reserves — interest and fees $69  $53   30  $73  $54   35  $73  $54   35 
% of loans  2.0%  1.8%      2.0%  1.8%      2.0%  1.8%    
% of past due  158%  161%      167%  160%      167%  160%    
Average loans (billions)(a)
 $63.9  $57.4   11  $65.1  $58.8   11% $64.6  $58.2   11%
Net write-off rate — principal only (d)(e)
  1.7%  1.5%      1.8%  1.5%      1.7%  1.5%    
Net write-off rate — principal, interest and fees (d)(e)
  2.0%  1.8%      2.1   1.8       2.1   1.8     
30+ days past due as a % of total (d)(e)
  1.2%  1.1%      1.2%  1.1%      1.2%  1.1%    
                                    
Worldwide Card Member receivables: (a)
                                    
Total receivables (billions)
 $47.6  $44.5   7  $49.4  $45.2   9% $49.4  $45.2   9%
Loss reserves:                                    
Beginning balance $467  $462   1  $491  $446   10  $467  $462   1 
Provisions (b)
  213   169   26   163   153   7   376   322   17 
Net write-offs (c)
  (194)  (186)  4   (179)  (173)  3   (373)  (359)  4 
Other  5   1   #      (3)  #   5   (2)  # 
Ending balance $491  $446   10% $475  $423   12  $475  $423   12 
% of receivables  1.0%  1.0%      1.0%  0.9%      1.0%  0.9%    
Net write-off rate — principal only (d)(e)
  1.7%  1.9%      1.5   1.6       1.6   1.7     
Net write-off rate — principal and fees (d)(e)
  2.0%  2.1%      1.7   1.8       1.8   2.0     
30+ days past due as a % of total (d)(e)
  1.5%  1.5%      1.3   1.3       1.3   1.3     
Net loss ratio as a % of charge volume — GCP  0.11%  0.08%      0.10   0.09       0.10   0.09     
90+ days past billing as a % of total — GCP  0.7%  0.7%      0.8%  0.7%      0.8%  0.7%    
# Denotes a variance greater than 100 percent.
(a)Beginning December 1, 2015 through to the sale completion dates, does not reflect the HFS portfolios.
(b)Reflects provisions for principal, interest and/or fees on Card Member loans and receivables. Refer to Table 3 footnote (a).
(c)Write-offs, less recoveries.
(d)Includes reserves associated with Card Member loans reclassified from HFS to held for investment. Refer to Changes in Card Member loans reserve for losses under Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
(e)We present a net write-off rate based on principal losses only (i.e., excluding interest and/or fees) to be consistent with industry convention. In addition, because we consider uncollectible interest and/or fees in our reserves for credit losses, a net write-off rate including principal, interest and/or fees is also presented. The net write-off rates and 30+ days past due as a percentage of total for Card Member receivables relate to USCS, ICNS and Global Small Business Services (GSBS) Card Member receivables.

3336


Table 8:9: Net Interest Yield on Card Member Loans
 Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended 
 March 31,  June 30,  June 30, 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated) 2017  2016  2017  2016  2017  2016 
Net interest income $1,500  $1,580  $1,530  $1,449  $3,030  $3,029 
Exclude:                        
Interest expense not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio  252   238   302   247   554   485 
Interest income not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio  (130)  (103)  (155)  (102)  (285)  (205)
Adjusted net interest income (a)
 $1,622  $1,715  $1,677  $1,594  $3,299  $3,309 
Average loans including HFS loan portfolios (billions)(b)
 $63.9  $70.8  $65.1  $67.6  $64.6  $69.2 
Net interest income divided by average loans  9.4%  8.9%  9.4%  8.6%  9.4%  8.8%
Net interest yield on Card Member loans (a)
  10.3%  9.7%  10.3%  9.5%  10.3%  9.6%
(a)Adjusted net interest income and net interest yield on Card Member loans are non-GAAP measures. Refer to “Glossary of Selected Terminology” for definitions of these terms. We believe adjusted net interest income is useful to investors because it is a component of net interest yield on Card Member loans, which provides a measure of profitability of our Card Member loan portfolio.
(b)Beginning December 1, 2015 through to the sale completion dates, for the purposes of the calculation of net interest yield on Card Member loans, average loans included the HFS loan portfolios.
34
37

Business Segment Results

U.S. Consumer Services


Table 9:10: USCS Selected Income Statement Data

 Three Months Ended        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended    
 March 31,  Change  June 30,  Change  June 30,  Change 
(Millions, except percentages) 2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016 
Revenues                                    
Non-interest revenues $1,857  $2,029  $(172)  (8)% $1,999  $2,069  $(70)  (3)% $3,856  $4,098   (242)  (6)%
Interest income  1,308   1,391   (83)  (6)  1,369   1,278   91   7   2,677   2,669   8    
Interest expense  146   140   6   4   171   139   32   23   317   279   38   14 
Net interest income  1,162   1,251   (89)  (7)  1,198   1,139   59   5   2,360   2,390   (30)  (1)
Total revenues net of interest expense  3,019   3,280   (261)  (8)  3,197   3,208   (11)     6,216   6,488   (272)  (4)
Provisions for losses  294   190   104   55   345   237   108   46   639   427   212   50 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses  2,725   3,090   (365)  (12)  2,852   2,971   (119)  (4)  5,577   6,061   (484)  (8)
Expenses                                                
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other  1,297   1,348   (51)  (4)  1,469   1,369   100   7   2,766   2,717   49   2 
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses  728   655   73   11   714   (96)  810   #   1,442   559   883   # 
Total expenses  2,025   2,003   22   1   2,183   1,273   910   71   4,208   3,276   932   28 
Pretax segment income  700   1,087   (387)  (36)  669   1,698   (1,029)  (61)  1,369   2,785   (1,416)  (51)
Income tax provision  231   393   (162)  (41)  229   631   (402)  (64)  460   1,024   (564)  (55)
Segment income $469  $694  $(225)  (32)% $440  $1,067  $(627)  (59)% $909  $1,761   (852)  (48)%
Effective tax rate  33.0%  36.2%          34.2%  37.2%          33.6%  36.8%        

# Denotes a variance greater than 100 percent.


USCS issues a wide range of proprietary consumer cards and provides services to consumers in the United States, including consumer travel services.


Non-interest revenues decreased for both the three and six month periods, primarily due to lower discount revenue, which decreased $201$124 million and $325 million for the three and six month periods, respectively, reflecting Costco-related revenuesdecreases in billed business of 9 percent and 11 percent for the prior year. Billedthree and six month periods, respectively. The decreases in both discount revenue and billed business decreased 13 percent,were driven by Costco-related volumes included in the prior year. The decreasedecreases in discount revenue waswere partially offset, in both the three and six month periods, by an increase in net card fees, resultingprimarily from growth in the Platinum Gold and Delta portfolios, as well as higher delinquency fees.
Net interest income decreased,increased for the three month period and was relatively flat for the six month period, primarily driven by growth in average Card Member loans and higher yields in the current year, offset (partially in the case of the three month period) by Costco cobrand-related interest income included in the prior year and higher interest expense in the current year, primarily driven by higher cost of funds in the current year, partially offset by an increase in average Card Member loans across other lending products and higher yields.

funds.
Provisions for losses increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by Card Member loans provision, which increased $80$97 million and $177 million in the three and six month periods, respectively, due to strong momentum in our lending growth initiatives, as well as a slight increaseincreases in delinquencies and higher net write-off rates primarily due to the seasoning of loans related to newer Card Members and a shift towards non-cobrand lending products, which have slightly higher write-off rates.

38

Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other expenses decreased,increased for both the three and six month periods, reflecting lowerhigher marketing and promotion and Card Member rewardsservices and other expenses in both periods, partially offset in the six month period by an increasea decrease in Card Member rewards expenses. Marketing and promotion expenses increased $59 million and $38 million for the three and six month periods, respectively, due to continued spending on growth initiatives. Card Member services and other expenses. Marketingexpenses increased $37 million and promotion expenses decreased $21$56 million due tofor the three and six month periods, respectively, driven by higher levelsusage of spending on growth initiatives in the prior year.cobrand travel-related benefits and enhanced Platinum card benefits.  Card Member rewards expense increased $4 million for the three month period and decreased $49$45 million for the six month period, reflecting Costco-related expenses in the prior year, partiallywhich were more than offset in the three month period by recent enhancements to Platinum rewards and increased spending volumes. Card Member services and other expenses increased $19 million, driven by higher usage of travel-related benefits.
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by the prior yearprior-year gain on the sale of the JetBlueCostco HFS portfolio, partially offset by lower technology and other servicing-related costs in the current year and the prior year HFS valuation allowance adjustment.adjustment and restructuring charges.
The effective tax rate was lower for both the three and six month periods, primarily reflecting the level of pretax income in relation to recurring permanent tax benefits and the resolution of certain prior years’ tax items.items in the six month period.

3539



Table 10:11: USCS Selected Statistical Information

 As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change 
 Three Months Ended  2017  Three Months Ended  2017  Six Months Ended  2017 
 March 31,  vs.  June 30,  vs.  June 30,  vs. 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated) 2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016 
Card billed business (billions)
 $77.5  $89.0   (13)% $84.8  $93.4   (9)% $162.2  $182.4   (11)%
Total cards-in-force  33.2   40.9   (19)  33.8   31.8   6   33.8   31.8   6 
Basic cards-in-force  23.7   28.8   (18)  24.2   22.6   7   24.2   22.6   7 
Average basic Card Member spending (dollars)
 $3,297  $3,092   7  $3,538  $3,417   4  $6,837  $6,523   5 
Total segment assets (billions)
 $81.2  $86.3   (6) $86.8  $81.3   7  $86.8  $81.3   7 
Segment capital (billions)
 $7.1  $7.4   (4) $7.1  $6.8   4  $7.1  $6.8   4 
Return on average segment capital (a)
  31.9%  31.8%      23.3%  38.9%      23.3%  38.9%    
Card Member loans: (b)
                                    
Total loans (billions)
 $46.7  $42.4   10  $48.3  $44.6   8  $48.3  $44.6   8 
Average loans (billions)
 $47.2  $42.5   11  $47.7  $43.5   10  $47.6  $43.1   10 
Net write-off rate – principal only (c)
  1.7%  1.5%      1.8%  1.5%      1.7%  1.5%    
Net write-off rate – principal, interest and fees (c)
  2.0%  1.7%      2.1%  1.7%      2.0%  1.7%    
30+ days past due loans as a % of total  1.2%  1.0%      1.1%  1.1%      1.1%  1.1%    
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Card Member loans:            
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on                        
Card Member loans:                        
Net interest income $1,162  $1,251      $1,198  $1,139      $2,360  $2,390     
Exclude:                                    
Interest expense not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio  23   19       28   20       51   39     
Interest income not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio  (18)  (5)      (23)  (5)      (41)  (10)    
Adjusted net interest income (d)
 $1,167  $1,265      $1,203  $1,154      $2,370  $2,419     
                        
Average loans including HFS loan portfolios (billions)(e)
 $47.2  $53.8      $47.7  $50.8      $47.6  $52.3     
                        
Net interest income divided by average loans  9.8%  9.3%      10.0%  9.0%      9.9%  9.1%    
Net interest yield on Card Member loans(d)
  10.0%  9.5%      10.1%  9.1%      10.0%  9.3%    
Card Member receivables: (b)
                                    
Total receivables (billions)
 $10.9  $10.3   6% $11.3  $10.6   7% $11.3  $10.6   7%
Net write-off rate – principal only (c)
  1.5%  1.8%      1.2%  1.3%      1.4%  1.5%    
Net write-off rate – principal and fees (c)
  1.7%  2.0%      1.4%  1.6%      1.5%  1.8%    
30+ days past due as a % of total  1.3%  1.4%      1.1%  1.2%      1.1%  1.2%    
(a)Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($2.31.7 billion and $2.4$2.8 billion for the twelve months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($7.27.1 billion and $7.5$7.3 billion for the twelve months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively).
(b)Refer to Table 78 footnote (a).
(c)Refer to Table 78 footnote (d)(e).
(d)Adjusted net interest income and net interest yield on Card Member loans are non-GAAP measures. Refer to “Glossary of Selected Terminology” for the definitions of these terms. We believe adjusted net interest income is useful to investors because it is a component of net interest yield on Card Member loans, which provides a measure of profitability of our Card Member loan portfolio.
(e)Refer to Table 89 footnote (b).

3640


International Consumer and Network Services


Table 11:12: ICNS Selected Income Statement Data

 Three Months Ended        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended    
 March 31,  Change  June 30,  Change  June 30,  Change 
(Millions, except percentages) 2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016 
Revenues                                    
Non-interest revenues $1,195  $1,140  $55   5% $1,247  $1,242  $5   % $2,442  $2,382  $60   3%
Interest income  235   227   8   4   246   234   12   5   481   461   20   4 
Interest expense  53   54   (1)  (2)  60   58   2   3   113   112   1   1 
Net interest income  182   173   9   5   186   176   10   6   368   349   19   5 
Total revenues net of interest expense  1,377   1,313   64   5   1,433   1,418   15   1   2,810   2,731   79   3 
Provisions for losses  66   71   (5)  (7)  84   78   6   8   150   149   1   1 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses  1,311   1,242   69   6   1,349   1,340   9   1   2,660   2,582   78   3 
Expenses                                                
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other  505   481   24   5   561   500   61   12   1,066   981   85   9 
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses  514   506   8   2   513   567   (54)  (10)  1,027   1,073   (46)  (4)
Total expenses  1,019   987   32   3   1,074   1,067   7   1   2,093   2,054   39   2 
Pretax segment income  292   255   37   15   275   273   2   1   567   528   39   7 
Income tax provision  74   67   7   10   66   45   21   47   140   112   28   25 
Segment income $218  $188  $30   16% $209  $228  $(19)  (8)% $427  $416  $11   3%
Effective tax rate  25.3%  26.3%          24.0%  16.5%          24.7%  21.2%        


ICNS issues a wide range of proprietary consumer cards outside the United States and enters into partnership agreements with third-party card issuers and acquirers, licensing the American Express brand and extending the reach of the global network. It also provides travel services to consumers outside the United States.
Non-interest revenues were flat for the three month period and increased for the six month period, primarily driven by higher discount revenue in both periods, due to an increase in both proprietary and non-proprietary (i.e., GNS) billed business, as well as higher net card fees.fees, offset in the three month period by a prior-year contractual payment from a GNS partner. Total billed business increased, due to increases infor both the three and six months, reflecting higher cards-in-force and average spend per card. Refer to Tables 6, 7 and 1213 for additional information on billed business.
Net interest income increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by higher average loan balances.
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other expenses increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by higher Card Member rewards expense due to higher spending volumes.
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses increased,decreased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by higher servicing-related costs, partially offset by lower salaries and employee benefits costs, including restructuring charges in the prior year, partially offset by higher technology and other servicing-related costs.
The effective tax rate in bothall periods reflects the impact of recurring permanent tax benefits both in relation to the segment’s ongoing funding activities outside the United States, which is allocated to ICNS under our internal tax allocation process, and on varying levels of pretax income. The effective tax rates for the prior year periods also reflects the allocated share of tax benefits related to the resolution of certain prior years’ tax items.

3741



Table 12:13: ICNS Selected Statistical Information

 As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change 
 Three Months Ended  2017  Three Months Ended  2017  Six Months Ended  2017 
 March 31,  vs.  June 30,  vs.  June 30,  vs. 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated) 2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016 
Card billed business (billions)
                           
Proprietary $26.6  $24.7   8% $28.9  $26.5   9% $55.5  $51.2   8%
GNS  43.4   40.5   7   45.8   43.8   5   89.2   84.3   6 
Total $70.0  $65.2   7  $74.7  $70.3   6  $144.7  $135.5   7 
Total cards-in-force                                    
Proprietary  15.3   14.8   3   15.4   15.0   3   15.4   15.0   3 
GNS  49.0   47.7   3   49.2   48.0   3   49.2   48.0   3 
Total  64.3   62.5   3   64.6   63.0   3   64.6   63.0   3 
Proprietary basic cards-in-force  10.5   10.1   4   10.6   10.3   3   10.6   10.3   3 
Average proprietary basic Card Member spending (dollars)
 $2,542  $2,455   4  $2,726  $2,609   4  $5,269  $5,066   4 
Total segment assets (billions)
 $36.1  $34.3   5  $37.6  $35.0   7  $37.6  $35.0   7 
Segment capital (billions)
 $2.7  $2.5   8  $2.8  $2.6   8  $2.8  $2.6   8 
Return on average segment capital (a)
  26.4%  23.6%      25.2%  25.5%      25.2%  25.5%    
Card Member loans: (b)
                                    
Total loans (billions)
 $6.8  $6.6   3  $7.2  $6.6   9  $7.2  $6.6   9 
Average loans (billions)
 $6.9  $6.8   1  $7.1  $6.8   4  $7.0  $6.8   3%
Net write-off rate – principal only (c)
  2.0%  1.9%      2.0%  2.1%      2.0%  2.0%    
Net write-off rate – principal, interest and fees (c)
  2.5%  2.4%      2.5%  2.5%      2.5%  2.4%    
30+ days past due loans as a % of total  1.7%  1.8%      1.7%  1.7%      1.7%  1.7%    
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Card Member loans:                                    
Net interest income $182  $173      $186  $176      $368  $349     
Exclude:                                    
Interest expense not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio  10   11       14   10       24   21     
Interest income not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio  (3)  (3)      (3)  (4)      (6)  (7)    
Adjusted net interest income (d)
 $189  $181      $197  $182      $386  $363     
                        
Average loans (billions)
 $6.9  $6.8      $7.1  $6.8      $7.0  $6.8     
                        
Net interest income divided by average loans  10.6%  10.3%      10.5%  10.4%      10.5%  10.3%    
Net interest yield on Card Member loans (d)
  11.1%  10.8%      11.2%  10.8%      11.1%  10.8%    
Card Member receivables: (b)
                                    
Total receivables (billions)
 $5.5  $5.6   (2)% $6.0  $5.6   7% $6.0  $5.6   7%
Net write-off rate – principal only (c)
  2.1%  2.2%      1.9%  2.2%      2.0%  2.2%    
Net write-off rate – principal and fees(c)
  2.3%  2.4%      2.0%  2.3%      2.2%  2.4%    
30+ days past due loans as a % of total  1.5%  1.5%    
30+ days past due as a % of total  1.4%  1.4%      1.4%  1.4%    
(a)Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($685666 million and $676$711 million for the twelve months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($2.6 billion and $2.9$2.8 billion for the twelve months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively).
(b)Refer to Table 78 footnote (a).
(c)Refer to Table 78 footnote (d)(e).
(d)Adjusted net interest income and net interest yield on Card Member loans are non-GAAP measures. Refer to “Glossary of Selected Terminology” for the definitions of these terms. We believe adjusted net interest income is useful to investors because it is a component of net interest yield on Card Member loans, which provides a measure of profitability of our Card Member loan portfolio.

3842

Global Commercial Services


Table 13:14: GCS Selected Income Statement Data

 Three Months Ended        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended    
 March 31,  Change  June 30,  Change  June 30,  Change 
(Millions, except percentages) 2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016 
Revenues                                    
Non-interest revenues $2,271  $2,190  $81   4% $2,368  $2,280  $88   4% $4,639  $4,470  $169   4%
Interest income  319   321   (2)  (1)  334   310   24   8   653   631   22   3 
Interest expense  109   95   14   15   129   104   25   24   238   199   39   20 
Net interest income  210   226   (16)  (7)  205   206   (1)     415   432   (17)  (4)
Total revenues net of interest expense  2,481   2,416   65   3   2,573   2,486   87   3   5,054   4,902   152   3 
Provisions for losses  208   160   48   30   154   139   15   11   362   299   63   21 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses  2,273   2,256   17   1   2,419   2,347   72   3   4,692   4,603   89   2 
Expenses                                                
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other  938   766   172   22   949   841   108   13   1,887   1,607   280   17 
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses  705   729   (24)  (3)  697   596   101   17   1,402   1,325   77   6 
Total expenses  1,643   1,495   148   10   1,646   1,437   209   15   3,289   2,932   357   12 
Pretax segment income  630   761   (131)  (17)  773   910   (137)  (15)  1,403   1,671   (268)  (16)
Income tax provision  212   276   (64)  (23)  273   334   (61)  (18)  485   610   (125)  (20)
Segment income $418  $485  $(67)  (14)% $500  $576  $(76)  (13)% $918  $1,061  $(143)  (13)%
Effective tax rate  33.7%  36.3%          35.3%  36.7%          34.6%  36.5%        

GCS issues a wide range of proprietary corporate and small business cards and provides payment and expense management services globally. In addition, GCS provides commercial financing products.
Non-interest revenues increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by higher discount revenue due to an increaseincreases in billed business, partially offset by Costco-related revenues in the prior year.year and increased contra-discount revenue in the current year, driven by higher client incentives due to increased billed business. The increase in Non-interestnon-interest revenues was also driven by higher net card fees for both the three and six month periods, primarily due to growth in the U.S. small business Platinum and Gold portfolios.portfolio.
Net interest income was relatively flat for the three month period and decreased for the six month period, primarily driven by higher interest expense, reflecting an increase in the cost of funds, and Costco cobrand interest income in the prior year, partiallysubstantially offset by an increase in average Card Member loans across other lending products.and higher net interest yield.
Provisions for losses increased for both the three and six month periods due to strong growth in both Card Member receivables and loans, leading to higher net write-offs and a slight increase in delinquencies, partially offset by lower write-offs and delinquenciesimproving credit performance in the commercial financing portfolio.
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other expenses increased for both the three and six month periods, driven by modestly higher marketing and promotion expenses, as a result of spending on growth initiatives in our Global Corporate Payments business, and higher Card Member rewards expenses, which increased $127$119 million and $246 million for the three and six month periods, respectively. The higher Card Member rewards expenses were primarily driven by recent enhancements to Platinum rewards and higher spending volumes, and an increase in the WAC per point, partially offset by Costco-related expenses in the prior year. Marketing and promotion expenses decreased in the three month period, but increased in the six month period reflecting spending on growth initiatives.


Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses decreased,increased for both the three and six month periods, primarily due todriven by the prior-year gain on the sale of the Costco HFS portfolio, partially offset by lower technology-related expenses and the HFS valuation allowance in the prior year, partially offset by the prior year gain on the sale of the JetBlue HFS portfolio.year.
The effective tax rate was lower for both the three and six months, primarily reflecting the geographic mix of business and the resolution of certain prior years’ tax items.items in the six month period.

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Table 14:15: GCS Selected Statistical Information

 As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change 
 Three Months Ended  2017  Three Months Ended  2017  Six Months Ended  2017 
 March 31,  vs.  June 30,  vs.  June 30,  vs. 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated) 2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016 
Card billed business (billions)
 $102.8  $98.5   4% $109.0  $104.3   5% $211.9  $202.8   4%
Total cards-in-force  13.7   15.2   (10)  13.8   13.4   3   13.8   13.4   3 
Basic cards-in-force  13.7   15.2   (10)  13.8   13.4   3   13.8   13.4   3 
Average basic Card Member spending (dollars)
 $7,533  $6,509   16  $7,920  $7,060   12  $15,455  $13,592   14 
Total segment assets (billions)
 $48.3  $46.7   3  $51.0  $46.2   10  $51.0  $46.2   10 
Segment capital (billions)
 $7.2  $7.2     $7.4  $7.7   (3) $7.4  $7.7   (3)
Return on average segment capital (a)
  25.4%  28.0%      24.2%  28.1%      24.2%  28.1%    
Card Member loans (billions)
 $10.0  $8.3   20  $10.4  $8.7   20  $10.4  $8.7   20 
Card Member receivables (billions)
 $31.2  $28.6   9  $32.1  $29.1   10  $32.1  $29.1   10 
Card Member loans: (b)
                                    
Total loans - GSBS (billions)
 $10.0  $8.3   20  $10.3  $8.6   20  $10.3  $8.6   20 
Average loans - GSBS (billions)
 $9.6  $8.1   19  $10.1  $8.5   19  $9.8  $8.3   18 
Net write-off rate (principal only) - GSBS (c)
  1.6%  1.4%      1.5%  1.3%      1.5%  1.3%    
Net write-off rate (principal, interest and fees) - GSBS (c)
  1.8%  1.6%      1.8%  1.6%      1.8%  1.6%    
30+ days past due as a % of total - GSBS  1.2%  1.0%      1.1%  1.1%      1.1%  1.1%    
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Card Member loans:                                    
Net interest income $210  $226      $205  $206      $415  $432     
Exclude:                                    
Interest expense not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio  83   72       99   80       182   152     
Interest income not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio  (27)  (28)      (27)  (29)      (54)  (57)    
Adjusted net interest income(d)
 $266  $270      $277  $257      $543  $527     
                        
Average loans including HFS loan portfolios (billions)(e)
 $9.7  $10.3      $10.2  $10.0      $10.0  $10.1     
                        
Net interest income divided by average loans  8.7%  8.8%      8.0%  8.2%      8.3%  8.5%    
Net interest yield on Card Member loans (d)
  11.1%  10.5%      10.9%  10.3%      11.0%  10.5%    
Card Member receivables: (b)
                                    
Total receivables - GCP (billions)
 $16.6  $15.4   8  $16.9  $15.3   10  $16.9  $15.3   10 
90+ days past billing as a % of total - GCP (f)
  0.7%  0.7%      0.8%  0.7%      0.8%  0.7%    
Net loss ratio (as a % of charge volume) - GCP  0.11%  0.08%      0.10%  0.09%      0.10%  0.09%    
Total receivables - GSBS (billions)
 $14.6  $13.2   11% $15.2  $13.7   11% $15.2  $13.7   11%
Net write-off rate (principal only) - GSBS (c)
  1.8%  1.8%      1.6%  1.6%      1.7%  1.7%    
Net write-off rate (principal and fees) - GSBS (c)
  2.0%  2.1%      1.8%  1.9%      1.9%  2.0%    
30+ days past due as a % of total - GSBS  1.6%  1.6%      1.4%  1.4%      1.4%  1.4%    
(a)Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($1.8 billion and $2.0 billion for the twelve months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($7.3 billion and $7.1$7.2 billion for the twelve months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively).
(b)Refer to Table 78 footnote (a).
(c)Refer to Table 78 footnote (d)(e).
(d)Adjusted net interest income and net interest yield on Card Member loans are non-GAAP measures. Refer to “Glossary of Selected Terminology” for the definitions of these terms. We believe adjusted net interest income is useful to investors because it is a component of net interest yield on Card Member loans, which provides a measure of profitability of our Card Member loan portfolio.
(e)Refer to Table 89 footnote (b).
(f)For GCP Card Member receivables, delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A Card Member account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the Card Member’s billing statement date. In addition, if we initiate collection procedures on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing, the associated Card Member receivable balance is classified as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes.

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Global Merchant Services


Table 15:16: GMS Selected Income Statement Data

 Three Months Ended        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended    
 March 31,  Change  June 30,  Change  June 30,  Change 
(Millions, except percentages) 2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016  2017  2016  2017 vs. 2016 
Revenues                                    
Non-interest revenues $1,017  $1,041  $(24)  (2)% $1,086  $1,087  $(1)  % $2,103  $2,128  $(25)  (1)%
Interest income  1   1         1   1       
Interest expense  (58)  (59)  1   (2)  (65)  (61)  (4)  7   (123)  (120)  (3)  3 
Net interest income  58   59   (1)  (2)  66   62   4   6   124   121   3   2 
Total revenues net of interest expense  1,075   1,100   (25)  (2)  1,152   1,149   3      2,227   2,249   (22)  (1)
Provisions for losses  3   8   (5)  (63)     5   (5)  #   3   13   (10)  (77)
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses  1,072   1,092   (20)  (2)  1,152   1,144   8   1   2,224   2,236   (12)  (1)
Expenses                                                
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other  32   58   (26)  (45)  37   58   (21)  (36)  69   116   (47)  (41)
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses  473   463   10   2   435   489   (54)  (11)  908   952   (44)  (5)
Total expenses  505   521   (16)  (3)  472   547   (75)  (14)  977   1,068   (91)  (9)
Pretax segment income  567   571   (4)  (1)  680   597   83   14   1,247   1,168   79   7 
Income tax provision  204   214   (10)  (5)  250   224   26   12   454   438   16   4 
Segment income $363  $357  $6   2% $430  $373  $57   15% $793  $730  $63   9%
Effective tax rate  36.0%  37.5%          36.8%  37.5%          36.4%  37.5%        

# Denotes a variance greater than 100 percent.


GMS operates a global payments network that processes and settles proprietary and non-proprietary card transactions. GMS acquires merchants and provides multi-channel marketing programs and capabilities, services and data analytics, leveraging our global closed-loop network. GMS also operates loyalty coalition businesses in certain countries around the world.


Non-interest revenues decreased,were relatively flat for both the three and six month periods, primarily due to lower discount revenue driven by Costco cobrand-related revenues in the prior year as well as higher contra-revenues in the current year.year, offset by billed business growth across other card products and an increase in loyalty coalition revenues.
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other expenses decreased for both the three and six month periods, reflecting higher levels of spending on growth initiatives in the prior year.

Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses increased,decreased for both the three and six month periods, primarily driven by higher allocated servicing-related costs, partially offseta benefit in the current year from a change in the liability related to non-delivery of goods and services by merchants and growth of the OptBlue program, which does not entail merchant acquirer payments, and lower salaries and employee benefits costs.payments.



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Table 16:17: GMS Selected Statistical Information

 As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change  As of or for the  Change 
 Three Months Ended  2017  Three Months Ended  2017  Six Months Ended  2017 
 March 31,  vs.  June 30,  vs.  June 30,  vs. 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated) 2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016  2017  2016  2016 
Loyalty Coalition revenue $102  $94   9% $114  $104   10% $216  $198   9%
Average discount rate  2.45%  2.44%      2.44%  2.43%      2.44%  2.43%    
Total segment assets (billions)
 $24.5  $23.7   3% $25.5  $24.1   6% $25.5  $24.1   6%
Segment capital (billions)
 $2.7  $2.4   13% $2.7  $2.4   13% $2.7  $2.4   13%
Return on average segment capital(a)
  59.1%  62.7%      59.8%  61.9%      59.8%  61.9%    
(a)Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($1.5 billion for both the twelve months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($2.5 billion and $2.4 billion for the twelve months ended March 31,June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively).
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Corporate & Other

Corporate functions and certain other businesses, including our Prepaid Services business and other operations, are included in Corporate & Other.
Corporate & Other net expense decreasedincreased to $231$239 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017,month period, compared to $298$229 million in the same period a year ago and decreased to $470 million for the six month period compared to $527 million in the same period a year ago. The decrease for the six month period was primarily driven by prior yearprior-year restructuring charges.
Results for both periods included net interest expense related to maintaining the liquidity requirements discussed in “Consolidated Capital Resources and Liquidity – Liquidity Management,” as well as interest expense related to other corporate indebtedness.


CONSOLIDATED CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY

Our balance sheet management objectives are to maintain:

A solid and flexible equity capital profile;

A broad, deep and diverse set of funding sources to finance our assets and meet operating requirements; and

Liquidity programs that enable us to continuously meet expected future financing obligations and business requirements for at least a twelve-month period, even in the event we are unable to continue to raise new funds under our traditional funding programs during a substantial weakening in economic conditions.


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Transitional Basel III

The following table presents our regulatory risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratios and those of our significant bank subsidiaries, American Express Centurion Bank (Centurion Bank) and American Express Bank, FSB (American Express Bank), as of March 31,June 30, 2017.
Table 17:18: Regulatory Risk-Based Capital and Leverage Ratios

    Basel III Ratios as of 
    Standards March 31,June 30, 
    
2017(a)
 2017 
Risk-Based Capital     
 Common Equity Tier 1 5.8%  
     American Express Company   12.712.3%
     American Express Centurion Bank   17.716.9 
     American Express Bank, FSB   14.313.9 
  Tier 1 7.3   
     American Express Company   13.913.5 
     American Express Centurion Bank   17.716.9 
     American Express Bank, FSB   14.313.9 
 Total 9.3   
     American Express Company   15.615.2 
     American Express Centurion Bank   19.018.2 
     American Express Bank, FSB   15.615.2 
Tier 1 Leverage 4.0   
     American Express Company   11.511.0 
     American Express Centurion Bank   17.416.5 
     American Express Bank, FSB   12.212.0 
Supplementary Leverage Ratio(b)
 3.0%  
     American Express Company   9.99.4 
     American Express Centurion Bank   13.312.7 
     American Express Bank, FSB   10.19.9%
(a)Transitional Basel III minimum capital requirement and additional capital conservation buffer as defined by the Federal Reserve for calendar year 2017 for advanced approaches institutions.
(b)The minimum supplementary leverage ratio (SLR) requirement of 3 percent is effective January 1, 2018.

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Table 18:19: Regulatory Risk-Based Capital Components and Risk Weighted Assets
American Express Company March 31,  June 30, 
($ in Billions) 2017  2017 
Risk-Based Capital      
Common Equity Tier 1 $16.3  $16.4 
Tier 1 Capital  17.8   18.0 
Tier 2 Capital(a)
  2.2   2.3 
Total Capital  20.0   20.3 
        
Risk-Weighted Assets  128.6   133.5 
Average Total Assets to calculate the Tier 1 Leverage Ratio  155.0   164.2 
Total Leverage Exposure to calculate SLR $180.5  $190.4 
(a)Tier 2 capital is the sum of the allowance for loan and receivable losses (limited to 1.25 percent of risk-weighted assets) and $600 million of subordinated notes adjusted for capital held by insurance subsidiaries.

We seek to maintain capital levels and ratios in excess of the minimum regulatory requirements and finance such capital in a cost efficient manner; failure to maintain minimum capital levels could affect our status as a financial holding company and cause the regulatory agencies with oversight of American Express, Centurion Bank and American Express Bank to take actions that could limit our business operations.

Our primary source of equity capital has been the generation of net income. Historically, capital generated through net income and other sources, such as the exercise of stock options by employees, has exceeded the annual growth in our capital requirements. To the extent capital has exceeded business, regulatory and rating agency requirements, we have historically returned excess capital to shareholders through our regular common share dividend and share repurchase program.
47


We maintain certain flexibility to shift capital across our businesses as appropriate. For example, we may infuse additional capital into subsidiaries to maintain capital at targeted levels in consideration of debt ratings and regulatory requirements. These infused amounts can affect the capital profile and liquidity levels at the American Express parent company level. We do not currently intend or foresee a need to shift capital from non-U.S. subsidiaries with permanently reinvested earnings to a U.S. parent company.

The following are definitions for our regulatory risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratio, which are calculated as per standard regulatory guidance:

Risk-Weighted Assets — Assets are weighted for risk according to a formula used by the Federal Reserve to conform to capital adequacy guidelines. On- and off-balance sheet items are weighted for risk, with off-balance sheet items converted to balance sheet equivalents, using risk conversion factors, before being allocated a risk-adjusted weight. Off-balance sheet exposures comprise a minimal part of the total risk-weighted assets.

Common Equity Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio — Calculated as Common Equity Tier 1 capital (CET1), divided by risk-weighted assets. CET1 is the sum of common shareholders’ equity, adjusted for ineligible goodwill and intangible assets, certain deferred tax assets, as well as certain other comprehensive income items as follows: net unrealized gains/losses on securities and derivatives, and net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit/losses, all net of tax and subject to transition provisions.

Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio — Calculated as Tier 1 capital divided by risk-weighted assets. Tier 1 capital is the sum of CET1, our perpetual preferred stock and third-party non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries adjusted for capital to be held by insurance subsidiaries and deferred tax assets from net operating losses not deducted from CET1. The minimum requirement for the Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is 1.5 percent higher than the minimum for the CET1 risk-based capital ratio. We have $1.6 billion of preferred shares outstanding to help address a portion of the Tier 1 capital requirements in excess of common equity requirements.

Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio — Calculated as the sum of Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital, divided by risk-weighted assets. Tier 2 capital is the sum of the allowance for loan and receivable losses (limited to 1.25 percent of risk-weighted assets), a portion of the unrealized gains on equity securities and $600 million of subordinated notes, adjusted for capital held by insurance subsidiaries.

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Tier 1 Leverage Ratio — Calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by our average total consolidated assets for the most recent quarter.

Supplementary Leverage Ratio — Calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by total leverage exposure under Basel III. Leverage exposure, which reflects average total consolidated assets with adjustments for Tier 1 capital deductions, average off-balance sheet derivatives exposures, securities purchased under agreements to resell and credit equivalents of undrawn commitments that are both conditionally and unconditionally cancellable.

Fully Phased-in Basel III
Basel III, when fully phased in, will require bank holding companies and their bank subsidiaries to maintain more capital than prior requirements, with a greater emphasis on common equity. The following table presents our estimates for our regulatory risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratios had Basel III been fully phased in as of March 31,June 30, 2017. These ratios are calculated using the standardized approach for determining risk-weighted assets. As noted previously, weWe are currently taking steps toward Basel III advanced approaches implementation in the United States. We believe the presentation of these ratios is helpful to investors by showing the impact of future regulatory capital standards on our capital and leverage ratios.

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Table 19:20: Estimated Fully Phased-in Basel III Capital and Leverage Ratios

 March 31,  June 30, 
($ in Billions) 2017  2017 
Estimated Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio under Fully Phased-In Basel III(a)
  12.3%  12.0%
Estimated Tier 1 Capital Ratio under Fully Phased-In Basel III (a)
  13.5   13.1 
        
Estimated Tier 1 Leverage Ratio under Fully Phased-In Basel III(b)
  11.3   10.8 
Estimated Supplementary Leverage Ratio under Fully Phased-In Basel III  9.7%  9.3%
        
Estimated Risk-Weighted Assets under Fully Phased-In Basel III(c)
 $130.3  $135.0 
Estimated Average Total Assets to calculate the Tier 1 Leverage Ratio(b)
  154.8   164.0 
Estimated Total Leverage Exposure to calculate SLR under Fully Phased-In Basel III (d)
 $180.4  $190.2 
(a)The Fully Phased-in Basel III Common Equity Tier 1 and Tier 1 risk-based capital ratios, non-GAAP measures, are calculated as Common Equity Tier 1 or Tier 1 capital under Fully Phased-in Basel III rules, as applicable, divided by risk-weighted assets under Fully Phased-in Basel III rules. Refer to Table 2021 for a reconciliation of Common Equity Tier 1 and Tier 1 capital under Fully Phased-in Basel III rules to Common Equity Tier 1 and Tier 1 capital under Transitional Basel III rules.
(b)The Fully Phased-in Basel III Tier 1 and supplementary leverage ratios, non-GAAP measures, are calculated by dividing Fully Phased-in Basel III Tier 1 capital by our average total assets and Fully Phased-in total leverage exposure for supplementary leverage ratio purposes under Fully Phased-in Basel III, respectively.
(c)Estimated Fully Phased-in Basel III risk-weighted assets, a non-GAAP measure, reflect our Basel III risk-weighted assets, with all transition provisions fully phased in. This includes incremental risk weighting applied to deferred tax assets and significant investments in unconsolidated financial institutions, as well as exposures to past due accounts, equities and sovereigns.
(d)Estimated Fully Phased-in Basel III Leverage Exposure, a non-GAAP measure, reflects average total consolidated assets with adjustments for Tier 1 capital deductions on a fully phased-in basis, off-balance sheet derivatives, undrawn conditionally and unconditionally cancellable commitments and other off-balance sheet liabilities.

The following table presents a comparison of our CET1 and Tier 1 risk-based capital under Transitional Basel III rules to our estimated CET1 and Tier 1 risk-based capital under Fully Phased-in Basel III rules as of March 31,June 30, 2017.

Table 20:21: Transitional Basel III versus Fully Phased-in Basel III
(Billions) CET1  Tier 1 
Risk-Based Capital under Transitional Basel III $16.3  $17.8 
Adjustments related to:        
AOCI  (0.1)  (0.1)
Transition provisions for intangible assets  (0.2)  (0.2)
Other      
Estimated CET1 and Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital under Fully Phased-in Basel III $16.0  $17.5 

(Billions) CET1  Tier 1 
Risk-Based Capital under Transitional Basel III $16.4  $18.0 
Adjustments related to:        
AOCI  (0.1)  (0.1)
Transition provisions for intangible assets  (0.2)  (0.2)
Other      
Estimated CET1 and Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital under Fully Phased-in Basel III $16.1  $17.7 

Fully Phased-in Basel III Risk-Weighted Assets — Reflects our Basel III risk-weighted assets, with all transition provisions fully phased in. This includes incremental risk weighting applied to deferred tax assets and significant investments in unconsolidated financial institutions, as well as exposures to past due accounts, equities and sovereigns.

Fully Phased-in Basel III Tier 1 Leverage Ratio — Calculated by dividing Fully Phased-in Basel III Tier 1 capital by our average total consolidated assets.

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Fully Phased-in Basel III Supplementary Leverage Ratio — Calculated by dividing Fully Phased-in Basel III Tier 1 capital by our Fully Phased-in total leverage exposure for supplementary leverage ratio purposes under Fully Phased-in Basel III.

Share Repurchases and Dividends
We return capital to common shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. The share repurchases reduce common shares outstanding and more than offset the issuance of new shares as part of employee compensation plans.

During the three and six months ended March 31,June 30, 2017, we returned $1.1 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively, to our shareholders in the form of common stock dividends ($0.3 billion)billion and $0.6 billion, respectively) and share repurchases ($0.8 billion)billion and $1.7 billion, respectively). We repurchased 11 million common shares at an average price of $77.93$79.72 in the firstsecond quarter of 2017. These dividend and share repurchase amounts collectively represent approximately 9183 percent and 87 percent of total capital generated during the quarter.three and six-month periods, respectively.
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In addition, during the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017, we had $750 million of non-cumulative perpetual preferred shares (the “Series B Preferred Shares”) and $850 million of non-cumulative perpetual preferred shares (the “Series C Preferred Shares”) outstanding. Dividends declared and paid on Series CB Preferred Shares during the firstsecond quarter of 2017 were $21$19 million.

Bank holding companies with $50.0 billion or more in total consolidated assets, includingOn June 28, 2017, we were informed that the Company, are requiredFederal Reserve did not object to develop and maintain a capital plan, and to submit theour capital plan to return capital to shareholders through share repurchases of up to $4.4 billion during the Federal Reserve for review under its Comprehensive Capital Analysisperiod beginning with the third quarter of 2017 through and Review (CCAR) process. All such bank holding companies were required to submit their capital plans and stress testing results to the Federal Reserve by April 5, 2017. The Federal Reserve is expected to publish the decisions for all the bank holding companies participating in CCAR 2017, including the reasons for any objectionsecond quarter of 2018, as well as an increase in our quarterly dividend to $0.35 per share, from $0.32 per share, beginning with the third quarter 2017 dividend declaration, subject to approval by our Board of Directors. The timing and amount of common shares purchased under our authorized capital plan will depend on various factors, including our business plans, by June 30, 2017. In addition,financial performance and market conditions. To facilitate repurchases, we may, from time to time, make purchases pursuant to one or more trading plans under Rule 10b5-1 under the Federal Reserve will separately publish the resultsSecurities Exchange Act of its supervisory stress test1934, as amended, which allows us to repurchase common shares during periods when we might otherwise be prevented from doing so under both the supervisory severely adverse and adverse scenarios. The information to be released will include, among other things, the Federal Reserve’s projectionapplicable law or because of company-specific information, including post-stress capital ratios and the minimum value of these ratios over the planning horizon.self-imposed trading blackout periods.

Funding Strategy
Our principal funding objective is to maintain broad and well-diversified funding sources to allow us to meet our maturing obligations, cost-effectively finance current and future asset growth in our global businesses as well as to maintain a strong liquidity profile.
Summary of Consolidated Debt
We had the following consolidated debt and customer deposits outstanding as of March 31,June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

Table 21:22: Summary of Consolidated Debt and Customer Deposits

(Billions) March 31, 2017  December 31, 2016  June 30, 2017  December 31, 2016 
Short-term borrowings $3.6  $5.6  $3.4  $5.6 
Long-term debt  51.6   47.0   51.9   47.0 
Total debt  55.2   52.6   55.3   52.6 
Customer deposits  53.8   53.0   57.7   53.0 
Total debt and customer deposits $109.0  $105.6  $113.0  $105.6 

Management does not currently expect to make any significant changes to our funding programs in order to satisfy Basel III’s Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) standard based upon our current understanding of the requirements, which may be subject to change as we receive additional clarification and implementation guidance from regulators relating to the requirements and as the interpretation of requirements evolves over time.
During the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017, we issued (i) $3.1$3.3 billion of asset-backed securities from the American Express Credit Account Master Trust (the Lending Trust) consisting of $2.3$1.7 billion of three year Class A Certificates at a fixed rate of 1.93%1.77%, $700 millionand $1.6 billion of fivetwo year Class A Certificates at a floating rate of 1-month LIBOR plus 45 basis points, and $99 million of three year Class B Certificates at a fixed rate of 2.10%1.64%, and (ii) $4.5$4.0 billion of senior unsecured notes from American Express Credit Corporation consisting of $2.0$1.5 billion of threetwo year notes at a fixed rate of 2.20%1.88%, $1.7 billion of five year notes at a fixed rate of 2.70%, $450$500 million of threetwo year notes at a  floating rate of  3-month LIBOR plus 4333 basis points, and $300 million$2.0 billion of fiveten year notes at a floatingfixed rate of 3-month LIBOR plus 70 basis points.
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3.30%.
Our equity capital and funding strategies are designed, among other things, to maintain appropriate and stable unsecured debt ratings from the major credit rating agencies: Moody’s Investor Services (Moody’s), Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Fitch Ratings (Fitch) and Dominion Bond Rating Services (DBRS). Such ratings help support our access to cost-effective unsecured funding as part of our overall funding strategy. Our asset securitization activities are rated separately.


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Table 22:23: Unsecured Debt Ratings

Credit Agency American Express Entity Short-Term Ratings Long-Term Ratings Outlook
DBRS  All rated entities  R-1 (middle) A (high) Stable
Fitch  All rated entities  F1 A Negative
Moody’s 
TRS and rated operating subsidiaries (a)
 Prime 1 A2 Stable
Moody's  American Express Company  Prime 2 A3 Stable
S&P 
TRS (a)
 N/A A- Stable
S&P Other rated operating subsidiaries A-2 A- Stable
S&P  American Express Company  A-2 BBB+ Stable
(a)American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

Downgrades in the ratings of our unsecured debt or asset securitization program securities could result in higher funding costs, as well as higher fees related to borrowings under our unused lines of credit. Declines in credit ratings could also reduce our borrowing capacity in the unsecured debt and asset securitization capital markets. We believe our funding mix, including the proportion of U.S. retail deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), should reduce the impact that credit rating downgrades would have on our funding capacity and costs.

Liquidity Management
We incur liquidity risk that arises in the course of offering our products and services. Our liquidity objective is to maintain access to a diverse set of on- and off-balance sheet liquidity sources. We seek to maintain liquidity sources, even in the event we are unable to raise new funds under our regular funding programs during a substantial weakening in economic conditions, in amounts sufficient to meet our expected future financial obligations and business requirements for liquidity for a period of at least twelve months. Our liquidity risk policy sets out our objectives and approach to managing liquidity risk.


The liquidity risks that we are exposed to could arise from a wide variety of scenarios. Our liquidity management strategy thus includes a number of elements, including, but not limited to:


Maintaining diversified funding sources (refer to the “Funding Strategy” section for more details);
Maintaining unencumbered liquid assets and off-balance sheet liquidity sources;
Projecting cash inflows and outflows under a variety of economic and market scenarios;
Establishing clear objectives for liquidity risk management, including compliance with regulatory requirements;
Incorporating liquidity risk management as appropriate into our capital adequacy framework.


The amount and type of liquidity resources we maintain can vary over time, based upon the results of stress scenarios required under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) and other various regulatory liquidity requirements, such as the LCR, as well as additional stress scenarios required under our liquidity risk policy.

The investment income we receive on liquidity resources, such as cash, is less than the interest expense on the sources of funding for these balances. The net interest costs to maintain these resources have been substantial. The level of future net interest costs depends on the amount of liquidity resources we maintain and the difference between our cost of funding these amounts and their investment yields.
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Securitized Borrowing Capacity
As of March 31,June 30, 2017, we maintained our committed, revolving, secured borrowing facility, with a maturity date of July 16, 2018, that gives us the right to sell up to $3.0 billion face amount of eligible AAA notes from the American Express Issuance Trust II (the Charge Trust). On July 14, 2017, we extended the Charge Trust’s $3.0 billion facility by two years to mature on July 15, 2020. We also maintained our committed, revolving, secured borrowing facility, with a maturity date of September 17, 2018, that gives us the right to sell up to $2.0 billion face amount of eligible AAA certificates from the Lending Trust. Both facilities are used in the ordinary course of business to fund seasonal working capital needs, as well as to further enhance our contingent funding resources. As of March 31,June 30, 2017, $1.6 billion wasno amounts were drawn on the Charge Trust facility. No amounts were drawn on theor Lending Trust facility.facilities.


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Federal Reserve Discount Window
As insured depository institutions, Centurion Bank and American Express Bank may borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, subject to the amount of qualifying collateral that they may pledge. The Federal Reserve has indicated that both credit and charge card receivables are a form of qualifying collateral for secured borrowings made through the discount window. Whether specific assets will be considered qualifying collateral and the amount that may be borrowed against the collateral, remain at the discretion of the Federal Reserve.

We had approximately $58.2$61.1 billion as of March 31,June 30, 2017 in U.S. credit card loans and charge card receivables that could be sold over time through our securitization trusts or pledged in return for secured borrowings to provide further liquidity, subject in each case to applicable market conditions and eligibility criteria.

Committed Bank Credit Facility
In addition to the secured borrowing facilities described earlier in this section, we maintained a committed syndicated bank credit facility as of March 31,June 30, 2017 of $3.0 billion, which expires on December 9, 2018. As of March 31,June 30, 2017, no amounts were drawn on this facility.


Unused Credit Outstanding
As of March 31,June 30, 2017, we had approximately $252$259 billion of unused credit outstanding as part of established lending product agreements. Total unused credit does not represent potential future cash requirements, as a significant portion of this unused credit will likely not be drawn. Our charge card products generally have no pre-set limit, and therefore are not reflected in unused credit available to Card Members.



Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flow activity for the threesix months ended March 31:June 30:

Table 23:24: Cash Flows

(Billions) 2017  2016  2017  2016 
Total cash provided by (used in):            
Operating activities $1.2  $2.5  $4.3  $3.2 
Investing activities  0.7   3.7   (4.2)  12.1 
Financing activities  2.2   (3.9)  5.0   (4.3)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents and other  0.1    
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents  0.1    
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $4.2  $2.3  $5.2  $11.0 


Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities primarily include net income adjusted for (i) non-cash items included in net income and (ii) changes in the balances of operating assets and liabilities, which can vary significantly in the normal course of business due to the amount and timing of payments.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, netNet cash provided by operating activities was $1.2 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively, driven by net income of $1.2$2.6 billion and $1.4$3.4 billion for the current and prior periods, respectively, adjusted for non-cash items including changes in provisions for losses, depreciation and amortization, deferred taxes, and stock-based compensation. The prior period net income includes gains of $1.2 billion on the sales of the HFS portfolios, which are presented in Net (increase) decrease in Card Member receivables and loans, including held for sale, within cash flows from investing activities. The increase during the periods of comparison was driven primarily by impacts from movements in Accounts payableOther receivables and other liabilitiesOther assets as a result of normal business operating activities.

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Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Our cash flows from investing activities primarily include changes in Card Member receivables and loans, including Card Member loans and receivables HFS, along with gains on sales related thereto, as well as changes in our available for sale investment securities portfolio.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016,The decrease in net cash provided by investing activities was $0.7 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively. The decrease in the current period, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016, primarily reflected the sale of the JetBlue HFS portfolio and a decrease in the remaining HFS portfolio balancesportfolios in the prior period as well as growth in Card Member loans in the current period.


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Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Our cash flows from financing activities primarily include issuing and repaying debt, changes in customer deposits, issuing and repurchasing our common shares, and paying dividends.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016,The increase in net cash provided by (used in) financing activities was $2.2 billion and ($3.9) billion, respectively. The increase in the current period, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016, primarily resulted from a lowerhigher net decreaseincrease in short-term borrowingscustomer deposits and higher net long-term debt issuanceissuances in the current year as compared towell as higher share repurchases in the prior year.


period.
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OTHER MATTERS

Certain Legislative, Regulatory and Other Developments
We are subject to comprehensive government regulation and supervision in jurisdictions around the world, and the costs of compliance are substantial. In recent years, the financial services industry has been subject to rigorous scrutiny, high regulatory expectations, and a stringent and unpredictable regulatory enforcement environment.
Please see the “Supervision and Regulation” and “Risk Factors” sections of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the 2016 Form 10-K) for further information.
Payments Regulation
Legislators and regulators in various countries in which we operate have focused on the operation of card networks, including through antitrust actions, legislation and regulations to change certain practices or pricing of card issuers, merchant acquirers and payment networks, and, in some cases, to establish broad and ongoing regulatory oversight regimes for payment systems.
The European Union, Australia and other jurisdictions have focused on the fees merchants pay to accept cards, including the way bankcard network members collectively set the “interchange” (that is, the fee paid by the bankcard merchant acquirer to the card issuer in payment“four party” networks like Visa and MasterCard), as well as the rules, contract terms and practices governing merchant card acceptance. Although, unlikeEven where we are not directly regulated, regulation of bankcard fees can significantly negatively impact the Visa and MasterCard networks,discount revenue derived from our business, including as a result of downward pressure on our discount rate from decreases in competitor pricing in connection with caps on interchange fees. In some cases, such regulation extends to certain aspects of our business. For example, the American Express network does not have interchange fees or collectively set fees or rules, antitrust actions and governmentEU regulation relating to merchant pricing or terms of merchant rules and contracts affect all networks directly or indirectly,might apply price caps as well as adversely impact consumersother regulatory measures in circumstances where three-party networks issue cards with a cobrand partner or through an agent. We have brought a legal challenge and merchants. Among other things, lower interchange and/or merchant discount revenueseek a ruling from the EU Court of Justice to clarify the interpretation and validity of that part of the regulation. As a precursor to the Court’s final ruling, an advisory opinion was issued on July 6, 2017 advising the Court that (a) the case should be declared inadmissible and (b) if the Court determines to treat the case as admissible, the law should be considered valid and applicable. The advisory opinion is not binding on the Court and there can be expectedno assurance as to lead card issuers either to look to reduce costs by scaling back or eliminating rewards, services or benefits to cardholders and other customers or to look for other sourcesthe outcome of revenue from consumers such as higher annual card fees or interest charges.our legal challenge. For more information on the European Union payments legislation, our related legal challenge and the Australia payments regulation, as well as the potential impacts on our results of operations and business, please see the “Supervision and Regulation” and “Risk Factors” sections of the 2016 Form 10-K.
Broad regulatory oversight over payment systems can also include, in some cases, requirements for international card networks to localize aspects of their operations, such as processing infrastructure, which could increase our costs and diminish the value of our closed loop. The development and enforcement of payment system regulatory regimes generally continue to grow and may adversely affect our ability to compete effectively and maintain and extend our global network.
Surcharging
In certain countries, such as certain Member States in the European Union and Australia, merchants are permitted by law to surcharge card purchases. While surcharging continues to be actively considered in certain jurisdictions, the benefits to customers have not been apparent in countries that have allowed it, and in some cases regulators are addressing concerns about excessive surcharging by merchants. For example, the Reserve Bank of Australia amended its rules to limit surcharging in Australia to the actual cost of card acceptance paid to the merchant acquirer.
Surcharging, particularly where it disproportionately impacts American Express Card Members, which is known as differential surcharging, as well as other steering practices that are permitted by regulation in some countries, could have a material adverse effect on us if it becomes widespread. As revisions to the Payment Services Directive in the European Union are transposed into national law by each Member State, there may be increased instances of differential surcharging of our cards, customer and merchant confusion as to which transactions may be surcharged and Card Member dissatisfaction. On July 19, 2017, the U.K. indicated it would ban surcharging on consumer cards starting January 2018. In addition, the laws of a number of states in the United States that prohibit surcharging are being challenged in litigation brought by merchant groups.
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For more information on the potential impacts of surcharging and other actions that could impair the Card Member experience, please see the “Risk Factors” section of the 2016 Form 10-K.
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Consumer Financial Products Regulation


In the United States, our marketing and sale of consumer financial products and our compliance with certain federal consumer financial laws are supervised and examined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which has broad rulemaking and enforcement authority over providers of credit, savings and payment services and products and authority to prevent “unfair, deceptive or abusive” acts or practices. In addition, a number of U.S. states have significant consumer credit protection and disclosure laws (in certain cases more stringent than U.S. federal laws). U.S. federal law also regulates abusive debt collection practices, which along with bankruptcy and debtor relief laws, can affect our ability to collect amounts owed to us.
The review of productsInternal and practicesregulatory reviews to assess compliance with such laws and regulations and to prevent unfair, deceptive or abusive conduct will be a continuing focus of the CFPB and regulators more broadly, as well as our own internal reviews. For example, federal banking regulators have recently announced they are conducting horizontal reviews of banking sales practices and we are cooperating with regulators in those reviews.
Internal and regulatory reviews have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, changes to our practices, products and procedures, substantial restitution to our Card Members and increased costs related to regulatory oversight, supervision and examination. Such reviews may also result in additional regulatory actions, including civil money penalties.
These types of reviews will be a continuing focus for the CFPB and regulators more broadly, as well as for the company itself. As an example, federal banking regulators announced they are conducting horizontal reviews of banking sales practices and we are cooperating with regulators in those reviews. Also, in prior years, certain cards issued in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other U.S. Territories, largely through our international business, did not uniformly carry the same terms, conditions and features as the cards we offered to Card Members in the continental U.S. We conducted an internal review beginning in 2012, voluntarily provided customer remediation in prior periods and reported this matter to our regulators. We have been cooperating with the CFPB’s review as to whether this discontinued practice complied with applicable laws and regulations. We do not believe this matter will have a material adverse impact on our operations or results.
On July 10, 2017, the CFPB issued a final rule that, among other changes, would prohibit providers of certain consumer financial products and services from using a pre-dispute arbitration agreement to bar consumers from filing or participating in a class action. The rule would apply to agreements entered into on or after March 19, 2018. As a result of the rule, we may face increased class claims and therefore be subject to the complexities and costs associated with class action litigation. Given the inherent uncertainties involved in litigation, and the very large or indeterminate damages sought in some class action matters, there is significant uncertainty as to the ultimate impact of this rule.
For more information on CFPB proposed rules,consumer financial products regulation, as well as the potential impacts on our results of operations and business, please see the “Supervision and Regulation” and “Risk Factors” sections of the 2016 Form 10-K.
Antitrust Litigation
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and certain states’ attorneys general brought an action against us in 2010 alleging that the provisions in our card acceptance agreements with merchants that prohibit merchants from engaging in various actions to discriminate against our card products violate the U.S. antitrust laws. The trial court ruled that the challenged provisions violate U.S. antitrust laws and issued an injunction. Following our appeal of this judgment, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the trial court decision and directed the trial court to enter a judgment for American Express, which occurred on January 25, 2017. We continue to vigorously defend similar antitrust claims initiated by merchants in other court and arbitration proceedings. See the “Legal Proceedings” section in our 2016 Form 10-K for descriptions of the DOJ and related cases. It is possible that significantly increased merchant steering or other actions impairing the Card Member experience, or the resolution of one or any combination of these merchant claims for damages, could have a material adverse effect on our business. For more information on the potential impacts of an adverse decision in the merchant litigations on our business, please see the “Risk Factors” section of the 2016 Form 10-K.

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Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Refer to the Recently Issued Accounting Standards section of Note 1 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements.”

Glossary of Selected Terminology

Adjusted net interest income — A non-GAAP measure that represents net interest income attributable to our Card Member loans and loans HFS (which includes, on a GAAP basis, interest that is deemed uncollectible), excluding the impact of interest expense and interest income not attributable to our Card Member loans. We believe adjusted net interest income is useful to investors because it is a component of net interest yield on Card Member loans.
Asset securitizations — Asset securitization involves the transfer and sale of loans or receivables to a special-purpose entity created for the securitization activity, typically a trust. The trust, in turn, issues securities, commonly referred to as asset-backed securities that are secured by the transferred loans and receivables. The trust uses the proceeds from the sale of such securities to pay the purchase price for the underlying loans or receivables. The loans and receivables of our Lending Trust and Charge Trust securitized are reported as assets and the securities issued by the Trusts are reported as liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Average discount rate — This calculation is generally designed to reflect pricing at merchants accepting general-purpose American Express cards. It represents the percentage of billed business (generated from both proprietary and GNS Card Member spending) retained by us from merchants we acquire, or for merchants acquired by a third party on our behalf, net of amounts retained by such third party.
Basic cards-in-force — Proprietary basic consumer cards-in-force includes basic cards issued to the primary account owner, (i.e., not including additional supplemental cards issued on accounts). Proprietary basic small business and corporate cards-in-force includes both basic and supplemental cards issued. Non-proprietary basic cards-in-force includes cards that are issued and outstanding under network partnership agreements, except for supplemental cards and retail cobrand Card Member accounts which have had no out-of-store spending activity during the prior twelve-month period.
Billed business — Includes activities (including cash advances) related to proprietary cards, cards issued under network partnership agreements (non-proprietary billed business), corporate payment services and certain insurance fees charged on proprietary cards. In-store spending activity within retail cobrand portfolios in GNS, from which we earn no revenue, is not included in non-proprietary billed business. Card billed business is included in the United States or outside the United States based on where the issuer is located.
Capital ratios — Represents the minimum standards established by the regulatory agencies as a measure to determine whether the regulated entity has sufficient capital to absorb on- and off-balance sheet losses beyond current loss accrual estimates. Refer to the Capital Strategy section under “Consolidated Capital Resources and Liquidity” for further related definitions under Transitional Basel III and Fully Phased-in Basel III.
Card Member — The individual holder of an issued American Express-branded charge, credit and certain prepaid cards.
Card Member loans — Represents the outstanding amount due from Card Members for charges made on their American Express credit cards, as well as any interest charges and card-related fees. Card Member loans also include revolving balances on certain American Express charge card products.
Card Member loans and receivables HFS — Beginning as of December 1, 2015 and continuing until the sales were completed, represents Card Member loans and receivables related to our cobrand partnerships with Costco in the United States and JetBlue. The JetBlue and Costco portfolio sales were completed on March 18 and June 17, 2016, respectively.
Card Member receivables — Represents the outstanding amount due from Card Members for charges made on their American Express charge cards, as well as any card-related fees.
Charge cards — Represents cards that generally carry no pre-set spending limits and are primarily designed as a method of payment and not as a means of financing purchases. Charge Card Members generally must pay the full amount billed each month. No finance charges are assessed on charge cards. Each charge card transaction is authorized based on its likely economics reflecting a Card Member’s most recent credit information and spend patterns. Some charge card accounts have additional Pay“Pay Over TimeTime” feature(s) that allow revolving of certain balances.
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Cobrand cards — Cards issued under cobrand agreements with selected commercial firms. Pursuant to the cobrand agreements, we make payments to our cobrand partners, which can be significant, based primarily on the amount of Card Member spending and corresponding rewards earned on such spending and, under certain arrangements, on the number of accounts acquired and retained. In some cases, the partner is liable for providing rewards to the Card Member under the cobrand partner’s own loyalty program.
Credit cards — Represents cards that have a range of revolving payment terms, grace periods, and rate and fee structures.

Discount revenue — Represents revenue earned from fees generally charged to merchants who have entered into a card acceptance agreement. The discount fee generally is deducted from our payment for Card Member purchases. Discount revenue is reduced by incentive payments made to merchants, payments to third-party card issuing partners, cash-back reward costs and statement credits, corporate incentive payments and other similar items.

Interest expense — Includes interest incurred primarily to fund Card Member loans and receivables, general corporate purposes and liquidity needs, and is recognized as incurred. Interest expense is divided principally into two categories: (i) deposits, which primarily relates to interest expense on deposits taken from customers and institutions, and (ii) debt, which primarily relates to interest expense on our long-term financing and short-term borrowings, (e.g., commercial paper, federal funds purchased, bank overdrafts and other short-term borrowings), as well as the realized impact of derivatives hedging interest rate risk on our long-term debt.
Interest income — Includes (i) interest on loans, (ii) interest and dividends on investment securities and (iii) interest income on deposits with banks and other.
Interest on loans — Assessed using the average daily balance method for Card Member loans and loans HFS. Unless the loan is classified as non-accrual, interest is recognized based upon the principal amount outstanding in accordance with the terms of the applicable account agreement until the outstanding balance is paid or written off.
Interest and dividends on investment securities — Primarily relates to our performing fixed-income securities. Interest income is recognized as earned using the effective interest method, which adjusts the yield for security premiums and discounts, fees and other payments, so a constant rate of return is recognized on the outstanding balance of the related investment security throughout its term. Amounts are recognized until securities are in default or when it is likely that future interest payments will not be made as scheduled.
Interest income on deposits with banks and other — Recognized as earned, and primarily relates to the placement of cash in excess of near-term funding requirements in interest-bearing time deposits, overnight sweep accounts, and other interest-bearing demand and call accounts.
Liquidity Coverage Ratio — Represents the minimum standards established by the regulatory agencies as a measure to determine whether the regulated entity has sufficient liquidity to meet liquidity needs in periods of financial and economic stress.
Merchant acquisition — Represents our process of entering into agreements with merchants to accept American Express-branded cards.
Net card fees — Represents the card membership fees earned during the period. These fees are recognized as revenue over the covered card membership period (typically one year), net of the provision for projected refunds for Card Membership cancellation and deferred acquisition costs.
Net interest yield on Card Member loans —A non-GAAP measure that is computed by dividing adjusted net interest income by average loans, computed on an annualized basis. Reserves and net write-offs related to uncollectible interest are recorded through provisions for losses, and are thus not included in the net interest yield calculation. We believe net interest yield on Card Member loans is useful to investors because it provides a measure of profitability of our Card Member loan portfolio.
Net loss ratio — Represents the ratio of GCP charge card write-offs, consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries, on Card Member receivables expressed as a percentage of gross amounts billed to corporate Card Members.
Net write-off rate principal only — Represents the amount of proprietary consumer or small business  Card Member loans or receivables written off, consisting of principal (resulting from authorized transactions), less recoveries, as a percentage of the average loan or receivables balance during the period.
Net write-off rate principal, interest and fees — Includes, in the calculation of the net write-off rate, amounts for interest and fees in addition to principal for Card Member loans and fees in addition to principal for Card Member receivables.
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Operating expenses — Represents salaries and employee benefits, professional services, occupancy and equipment, and other expenses.
Return on average equity — Calculated by dividing one-year period net income by one-year average total shareholders’ equity.
Return on average segment capital — Calculated by dividing one-year period segment income by one-year average segment capital.
Segment capital — Represents the capital allocated to a segment based upon specific business operational needs, risk measures, and regulatory capital requirements.
Total cards-in-force — Represents the total number of charge and credit cards that are issued and outstanding and accepted on our network. Non-proprietary cards-in-force includes all charge and credit cards that are issued and outstanding under network partnership agreements, except for retail cobrand Card Member accounts which have no out-of-store spending activity during the prior twelve-month period.


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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk is the risk to earnings or asset and liability values resulting from movements in market prices. Our market risk exposures include (i) interest rate risk due to changes in the relationship between the interest rates on our assets (such as loans, receivables and investment securities) and the interest rates on our liabilities (such as debt and deposits); and (ii) foreign exchange risk related to transactions, funding, investments and earnings in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. There were no material changes in these market risks since December 31, 2016.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective and designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements, which address our expected business and financial performance, among other matters, contain words such as “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “likely,” and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the following:
our ability to grow in the future, which will depend in part on the following: revenues growing consistently with current expectations, which could be impacted by, among other things, weakening economic conditionsthe factors identified in the United States or internationally, a decline in consumer confidence impacting the willingness and ability of Card Members to sustain and grow spending, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, a greater erosion of the average discount rate than expected, a greater impact on discount revenue from cash back and cobrand partner and client incentive payments, more cautious spending by large and global corporate Card Members and lower spending on new cards acquired than estimated; our success in addressing competitive pressures and implementing strategies and business initiatives, including growing profitable spending from new and existing Card Members, increasing penetration among middle market and small business clients, expanding our international footprint and increasing merchant acceptance;subsequent bullet; the level of spend in bonus categories on rewards-based and/or cash-back cards and redemptions of Card Member rewards and offers; the impact of any future contingencies, including, but not limited to, litigation-related settlements, judgments or expenses, impairments, the imposition of fines or civil money penalties, an increase in Card Member reimbursements, restructurings, impairments and changes in reserves; write-downs of deferred tax assets as a result of tax law or other changes; credit performance remaining consistent with current expectations; continued growth of Card Member loans; the ability to continue to realize benefits from restructuring actions and operating leverage at levels consistent with current expectations; the amount we spend on Card Member engagement and our ability to drive growth from such investments; changes in interest rates beyond current expectations (including the impact of hedge ineffectiveness and potential deposit rate increases); the impact of regulation and litigation, which could affect the profitability of our business activities, limit our ability to pursue business opportunities, require changes to business practices or alter our relationships with partners, merchants and Card Members; our tax rate remaining in line with current expectations, which could be impacted by, among other things, our geographic mix of income being weighted more to higher tax jurisdictions than expected, changes in tax laws and regulation and unfavorable tax audits and other unanticipated tax items; the impact of accounting changes and reclassifications; and our ability to continue executing the share repurchase program;
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our ability to grow revenues net of interest expense, which could be impacted by, among other things, weakening economic conditions in the United States or internationally, a decline in consumer confidence impacting the willingness and ability of Card Members to sustain and grow spending, continued growth of Card Member loans, a greater erosion of the average discount rate than expected, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, a greater impact on discount revenue from cash back and cobrand partner and client incentive payments, more cautious spending by large and global corporate Card Members, the willingness of Card Members to pay higher card fees, and lower spending on new cards acquired than estimated; and will depend on factors such as our success in addressing competitive pressures and implementing our strategies and business initiatives, including growing profitable spending from existing  and new Card Members, increasing penetration among middle market and small business clients, expanding our international footprint and increasing merchant acceptance;
changes in the substantial and increasing worldwide competition in the payments industry, including competitive pressure that may impact the prices we charge merchants that accept our cards, competition for cobrand relationships and the success of marketing, promotion or rewards programs;
the actual amount to be spent on marketing and promotion, as well as the timing of any such spending, which will be based in part on management’s assessment of competitive opportunities; overall business performance; contractual obligations with business partners and other fixed costs and prior commitments; management’s ability to identify attractive investment opportunities and make such investments, which could be impacted by business, regulatory or legal complexities; and our ability to realize efficiencies, optimize investment spending and control expenses to fund such spending;
rewards expense and cost of Card Member services growing inconsistently from expectations, which will depend in part on Card Member behavior as it relates to their spending patterns and actual usage and redemption of rewards, as well as the degree of interest of Card Members in the value proposition we offer; increasing competition, which could result in greater rewards offerings; our ability to enhance card products and services to make them attractive to Card Members and to continue to expand our global lounge collection;Members; and the amount we spend on the promotion of enhanced services and rewards categories and the success of such promotion;
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competitive opportunities; overall business performance and changes in macroeconomic conditions; the actual amount of advertising and Card Member acquisition costs; competitive pressures that may require additional expenditures; our ability to continue to shift Card Member acquisition to digital channels; contractual obligations with business partners and other fixed costs and prior commitments; management’s ability to identify attractive investment opportunities and make such investments, which could be impacted by business, regulatory or legal complexities; and our ability to realize efficiencies, optimize investment spending and control expenses to fund such spending;
our ability to reduce our overall cost base, which will depend in part on the timing and financial impact of reengineering plans, which could be impacted by factors such as our inability to mitigate the operational and other risks posed by potential staff reductions, our inability to develop and implement technology resources to realize cost savings and underestimating hiring and other employee needs; our ability to reduce annual operating expenses, which could be impacted by, among other things, the factors identified below; our ability to optimize marketing and promotion expenses, which could be impacted by higher advertising and Card Member acquisition costs, competitive pressures that may require additional expenditures or limit our ability to reduce costs and an inability to continue to shift Card Member acquisition to digital channels; and the availability of opportunities to invest at a higher level due to favorable business results and changesfactors identified in macroeconomic conditions;the preceding bullet;
the ability to reduce annual operating expenses, which could be impacted by the need to increase significant categories of operating expenses, such as consulting or professional fees, including as a result of increased litigation, compliance or regulatory-related costs, or fraud costs; our ability to develop, implement and achieve substantial benefits from reengineering plans; higher than expected employee levels; the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on costs; the payment of civil money penalties, disgorgement, restitution, non-income tax assessments and litigation-related settlements; impairments of goodwill or other assets; management’s decision to increase or decrease spending in such areas as technology, business and product development and sales forces depending on overall business performance;forces; greater than expected inflation; our ability to balance expense control and investments in the business; the impact of accounting changes and reclassifications; and the level of M&A activity and related expenses;
our delinquency and write-off rates and growth of provision expenseprovisions for losses being higher than current expectations, which will depend in part on changes in the level of loan balances and delinquencies, mix of loan balances, loans and receivables related to new Card Members and other borrowers performing as expected, credit performance of new and enhanced lending products, unemployment rates, the volume of bankruptcies and recoveries of previously written-off loans;
our ability to execute against our lending strategy to grow loans, which may be affected by increasing competition, brand perceptions and reputation, our ability to manage risk in a growing Card Member loan portfolio, and the behavior of Card Members and their actual spending and borrowing patterns, which in turn may be driven by our ability to issue new and enhanced card products, offer attractive non-card lending products, capture a greater share of existing Card Members’ spending and borrowings, reduce Card Member attrition and attract new customers;
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the possibility that we will not execute on our plans to significantly increase merchant coverage, which will depend in part on the success of OptBlue merchant acquirers in signing merchants to accept American Express, which could be impacted by the pricing set by the merchant acquirers, the value proposition offered to small merchants and the efforts of OptBlue merchant acquirers to sign merchants for American Express acceptance, as well as the awareness and willingness of Card Members to use American Express cards at small merchants and of those merchants to accept American Express cards;
changes affecting our ability or desire to return capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, which will depend on factors such as approval of our capital plans by our primary regulators, the amount we spend on acquisitions of companies and our results of operations and capital needs and economic environment in any given period;
deposit rates increasing faster or slower than current expectations due to changes in our funding mix, market pressures, regulatory constraints or changes in benchmark interest rates, which could affect net interest yield and our funding costs;
net interest yield on Card Member loans remaining consistent with current expectations, which will be influenced by, among other things, interest rates, changes in consumer behavior that affect loan balances, such as paydown rates, Card Member acquisition strategy, product mix, cost of funding;funds, credit actions, including line size and other adjustments to credit availability, potential pricing changes and deposit rates, which could be impacted by, among other things, the factors identified in the preceding bullet;
changes in global economic and business conditions, consumer and business spending, the availability and cost of capital, unemployment rates, geopolitical conditions (including potential impacts resulting from the U.S. Administration and the proposed exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union), foreign currency rates and interest rates, all of which may significantly affect demand for and spending on American Express cards, delinquency rates, loan balances and other aspects of our business and results of operations;
changes in capital and credit market conditions, including sovereign creditworthiness, which may significantly affect our ability to meet our liquidity needs, expectations regarding capital and liquidity ratios, access to capital and cost of capital, including changes in interest rates; changes in market conditions affecting the valuation of our assets; or any reduction in our credit ratings or those of our subsidiaries, which could materially increase the cost and other terms of our funding, restrict our access to the capital markets or result in contingent payments under contracts;
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legal and regulatory developments, including with regard to broad payment system regulatory regimes, actions by the CFPB and other regulators and the stricter regulation of financial institutions, which could require us to make fundamental changes to many of our business practices;practices, including our ability to continue certain GNS and other partnerships; exert further pressure on the average discount rate and GNS volumes; result in increased costs related to regulatory oversight, litigation-related settlements, judgments or expenses, restitution to Card Members or the imposition of fines or civil money penalties; materially affect our capital or liquidity requirements, results of operations or ability to pay dividends or repurchase our stock; or result in harm to the American Express brand;
potential actions by the FDIC and credit rating agencies applicable to securitization trusts, which could impact our asset securitization program; or
potential changes to the taxation of our businesses, the allowance of deductions for significant expenses, or the incidence of consumption taxes on our transactions, products and services;
changes in the financial condition and creditworthiness of our business partners, such as bankruptcies, restructurings or consolidations, including merchants that represent a significant portion of our business, such as the airline industry, or our partners in GNS or financial institutions that we rely on for routine funding and liquidity, which could materially affect our financial condition or results of operations; and
factors beyond our control such as fire, power loss, disruptions in telecommunications, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, health pandemics, terrorism, cyberattacks or fraud, all of which could significantly affect demand for and spending on American Express cards, delinquency rates, loan balances and other aspects of our business and results of operations or disrupt our global network systems and ability to process transactions.
A further description of these uncertainties and other risks can be found in the 2016 Form 10-K and our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In the ordinary course of business, we are subject to various pending and potential legal actions, arbitration proceedings, claims, investigations, examinations, information gathering requests, subpoenas, inquiries and matters relating to compliance with laws and regulations (collectively, legal proceedings).
We do not believe we are a party to, nor are any of our properties the subject of, any legal proceeding that would have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition or liquidity. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, including the fact that some pending legal proceedings are at preliminary stages andor seek an indeterminate amount of damages, it is possible that the outcome of legal proceedings, including the possible resolution of merchant claims, could have a material impact on our results of operations. In addition, it is possible that significantly increased merchant steering or other actions impairing the Card Member experience could have a material adverse effect on our business. Certain legal proceedings involving us or our subsidiaries are described in this section and others, for which there have been no subsequent material developments since the filing of our 2016 Form 10-K.10-K, are described in such report. For additional information, see Note 8 to our “Consolidated Financial Statements.”
 In 2010, the DOJ, along with Attorneys General from Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii (Hawaii has since withdrawn its claim), Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Vermont filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against us, MasterCard International Incorporated and Visa, Inc., alleging a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act (the DOJ case). The complaint included allegations that provisions in our merchant agreements prohibiting merchants from steering a customer to use another network’s card or another type of general-purpose card (“anti-steering” and “non-discrimination” contractual provisions) violate the antitrust laws. The complaint sought a judgment permanently enjoining us from enforcing our non-discrimination contractual provisions. The complaint did not seek monetary damages.
Following a non-jury trial in the DOJ case, the trial court found that the challenged provisions were anticompetitive and on April 30, 2015, the court issued a final judgment entering a permanent injunction. Following our appeal of this judgment, on September 26, 2016, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed the trial court decision and directed the trial court to enter a judgment for American Express. Following denial of rehearing en banc by the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, the trial court entered judgment for American Express on January 25, 2017. On June 2, 2017, the DOJ announced it would not petition the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Second Circuit’s decision in favor of American Express. At the same time, 11 of the 17 states that are party to the case filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking such a review.


ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

For a discussion of our risk factors, see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the 2016 Form 10-K. There are no material changes from the risk factors set forth in the 2016 Form 10-K. However, the risks and uncertainties that we face are not limited to those set forth in the 2016 Form 10-K. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business and the trading price of our securities.


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ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(c)   ISSUER PURCHASES OF SECURITIES

The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases of our common stock made by or on behalf of us during the three months ended March 31,June 30, 2017.

 Total Number of Shares Purchased  Average Price Paid Per Share  
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(c)
  Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs  Total Number of Shares Purchased  Average Price Paid Per Share  
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(c)
  Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs 
                        
January 1-31, 2017            
April 1-30, 2017            
Repurchase program(a)
  3,999,747  $76.07   3,999,747   131,388,031   2,360,576  $78.69   2,360,576   122,161,288 
Employee transactions(b)
        N/A   N/A         N/A   N/A 
                                
February 1-28, 2017                
May 1-31, 2017                
Repurchase program(a)
  1,749,740  $78.85   1,749,740   129,638,291   2,983,000  $77.62   2,983,000   119,178,288 
Employee transactions(b)
  855,075  $76.86   N/A   N/A   25,353  $79.25   N/A   N/A 
                                
March 1-31, 2017                
June 1-30, 2017                
Repurchase program(a)
  5,116,427  $79.07   5,116,427   124,521,864   5,266,678  $81.36   5,266,678   113,911,610 
Employee transactions(b)
  7,322  $76.85   N/A   N/A   1,018  $76.85   N/A   N/A 
                                
Total                                
Repurchase program(a)
  10,865,914  $77.93   10,865,914   124,521,864   10,610,254  $79.72   10,610,254   113,911,610 
Employee transactions(b)
  862,397  $76.86   N/A   N/A   26,371  $79.16   N/A   N/A 
(a)On September 26, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 150 million shares of common stock from time to time, subject to market conditions and the Federal Reserve’s non-objection to our capital plans. This authorization replaced the prior repurchase authorization and does not have an expiration date.
(b)Includes: (i) shares surrendered by holders of employee stock options who exercised options (granted under our incentive compensation plans) in satisfaction of the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligation of such holders and (ii) restricted shares withheld (under the terms of grants under our incentive compensation plans) to offset tax withholding obligations that occur upon vesting and release of restricted shares. Our incentive compensation plans provide that the value of the shares delivered or attested to, or withheld, be based on the price of our common stock on the date the relevant transaction occurs.
(c)Share purchases under publicly announced programs are made pursuant to open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions (including employee benefit plans) as market conditions warrant and at prices we deem appropriate.



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ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Pursuant to Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, which added Section 13(r) to the Exchange Act, an issuer is required to disclose in its annual or quarterly reports, as applicable, whether it or any of its affiliates knowingly engaged in certain activities, transactions or dealings relating to Iran or with individuals or entities designated pursuant to certain Executive Orders. Disclosure is generally required even where the activities, transactions or dealings were conducted outside the United States by non-U.S. affiliates in compliance with applicable law, and whether or not the activities are sanctionable under U.S. law.

American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) and certain entities that may be considered affiliates of GBT have informed us that during the firstsecond quarter of 2017 approximately 8095 visas were obtained from Iranian embassies and consulates around the world in connection with certain travel arrangements on behalf of clients. GBT had negligible gross revenues and net profits attributable to these transactions and intends to continue to engage in these activities on a limited basis so long as such activities are permitted under U.S. law.


ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The list of exhibits required to be filed as exhibits to this report are listed on page E-1 hereof, under “Exhibit Index” which is incorporated herein by reference.
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

       
    AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
      (Registrant)
    
      Date: April 27,July 25, 2017   By /s/ Jeffrey C. Campbell
      Jeffrey C. Campbell
      Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
    
      Date: April 27,July 25, 2017   By /s/ Linda Zukauckas
      Linda Zukauckas
      Executive Vice President and
      Corporate Controller
      (Principal Accounting Officer)

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EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report:

Exhibit 
Description 
12
31.1
31.2
32.1
32.2
101.INSXBRL Instance Document
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
  






E-1