American Express 10-Q 2022-09-30

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 September 30, 2022

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)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 640-2000

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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.

Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).

Yes þ No o

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.

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. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐ No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

Throughout this report the terms “American Express,” “we,” “our” or “us,” refer to American Express Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, unless stated or the context implies otherwise. The use of the term “partner” or “partnering” in this report does not mean or imply a formal legal partnership, and is not meant in any way to alter the terms of American Express’ relationship with any third parties. Refer to the “MD&A― Glossary of Selected Terminology” for the definitions of other key terms used in this report.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Business Introduction

We are a globally integrated payments company that provides our customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Our principal products and services are credit and charge card products, along with travel and lifestyle related services, offered to consumers and businesses around the world. Our range of products and services includes:

• Credit card, charge card, banking and other payment and financing products

• Merchant acquisition and processing, servicing and settlement, and point-of-sale marketing and information products and services for merchants

• Network services

• Other fee services, including fraud prevention services and the design and operation of customer loyalty programs

• Expense management products and services

• Travel and lifestyle services

Our various products and services are offered globally to diverse customer groups, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations. These products and services are offered through various channels, including mobile and online applications, affiliate marketing, customer referral programs, third-party service providers and business partners, direct mail, telephone, in-house sales teams, and direct response advertising.

We compete in the global payments industry with card networks, issuers and acquirers, paper-based transactions (e.g., cash and checks), bank transfer models (e.g., wire transfers and Automated Clearing House (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, business models and customer relationships to create payment or financing solutions.

Effective for the first quarter of 2022, we made the following reporting presentation changes to our Consolidated Statements of Income:

Within Non-interest revenues:

• Processed revenue represents revenues earned from processed volumes, previously reported in Discount revenue, Other fees and commissions and Other revenue.

• Service fees and other revenue combines the remaining balances from Other fees and commissions and Other revenue.

Within Total expenses:

• Disaggregated Marketing and business development expense into Business development expense and Marketing expense.

Prior period amounts have been recast to conform with current period presentation; there was no impact to Total non-interest revenues or Total expenses.

Effective for the third quarter of 2022, we realigned our reportable segments to reflect organizational changes announced during the second quarter of 2022. Prior periods have been recast to conform to the new reportable operating segments, which are: U.S. Consumer Services (USCS), Commercial Services (CS), International Card Services (ICS) and Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS), with corporate functions and certain other businesses and operations included in Corporate & Other. Refer to Note 1 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information.

Refer to the “Glossary of Selected Terminology” for the definitions of certain key terms and related information appearing within this Form 10-Q.

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 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.

Table 1: Summary of Financial Performance

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(a)Represents net income less (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $14 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $14 million and $20 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and (iii) an equity-related adjustment of $9 million related to the redemption of preferred shares for the three months ended September 30, 2021.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

(a)Represents net income less (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $45 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $43 million and $49 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and (

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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. Since December 31, 2021, there have been no material changes in market risk exposures associated with foreign exchange risk.

We analyze a variety of interest rate scenarios to inform us of the potential impacts from interest rate changes on earnings and the value of assets, liabilities and the economic value of equity. Our interest rate exposure can vary over time as a result of, among other things, the proportion of our total funding provided by variable and fixed-rate debt and deposits compared to our Card Member loans and receivables. Interest rate swaps are used from time to time to effectively convert debt issuances to variable-rate from fixed-rate, or vice versa.

Compared to December 31, 2021, the adverse impact of changes in market interest rates on our net interest income decreased, primarily due to the issuance of fixed rate liabilities. As of September 30, 2022, a hypothetical, immediate 100 basis point increase in market interest rates would have a detrimental impact of approximately $101 million on our annual net interest income. A hypothetical immediate 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates would have a smaller but still detrimental impact on our annual net interest income. This measure first projects net interest income over the following twelve-month time horizon considering forecasted business growth and anticipated future market interest rates. The detrimental impact from rate changes is then measured by instantaneously increasing or decreasing the anticipated future interest rates by 100 basis points. Our estimated repricing risk assumes that our interest-rate sensitive assets and liabilities that reprice within the twelve-month horizon generally reprice by the same magnitude as benchmark rate changes. It is further assumed that, within our interest-rate sensitive liabilities, certain deposits reprice at lower magnitudes than benchmark rate movements, and the magnitude of this repricing in turn depends on, among other factors, the direction of rate movements. These assumptions are consistent with historical deposit repricing experience in the industry and within our own portfolio. Actual changes in our net interest income will depend on many factors, and therefore may differ from our estimated risk to changes in market interest rates.

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.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

For information that updates the disclosures set forth under Part I, Item 3. “Legal Proceedings” in our 2021 Form 10-K, refer to Note 7 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements” in this Form 10-Q.

For a discussion of our risk factors, see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the 2021 Form 10-K) and Part II, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 (the First Quarter Form 10-Q). The information included in the “Risk Factors” section of the First Quarter Form 10-Q is incorporated by reference herein. The risks and uncertainties that we face are not limited to those set forth in the 2021 Form 10-K, as supplemented and updated in the First Quarter Form 10-Q. 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.

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 September 30, 2022.

(a)On September 23, 2019, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 120 million common shares from time to time, subject to market conditions and in accordance with our capital plans. This authorization replaced the prior repurchase authorization and does not have an expiration date. See “MD&A – Consolidated Capital Resources and Liquidity” for additional information regarding share repurchases.

(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, 10b5-1 plans, privately negotiated transactions (including employee benefit plans) or other purchases, including block trades, accelerated share repurchase programs or any combination of such methods as market conditions warrant and at prices we deem appropriate.

On October 19, 2022, our Board of Directors amended our By-Laws, effective immediately, to enhance procedural mechanics and disclosure requirements in connection with shareholder nominations of directors, including by requiring: (i) a shareholder delivering a nomination notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act to certify that such shareholder has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a); (ii) a shareholder providing such a nomination notice to update and supplement such notice, if necessary, to be true and correct as of the record date for the shareholder meeting and the date that is 10 business days prior to the shareholder meeting; (iii) any proposed director nominee to submit to interviews with the Board of Directors or any committee thereof; and (iv) a shareholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other shareholders to use a proxy card color other than white.

The amendments to the By-Laws also incorporated gender neutral terms and included certain other modifications that provide clarification and consistency.

The foregoing description of the amendments to the By-Laws is qualified in its entirety by the text of the By-Laws, as amended, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.

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

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.