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AMERICAN EXPRESS CO - Quarter Report: 2017 September (Form 10-Q)

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, 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.
Yes       No
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 October 18, 2017
Common Shares (par value $0.20 per share)
   
867,996,250 Shares
 
 
 
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
FORM 10-Q
INDEX
 
Part I.
 
Page No.
 
Item 1.
     
       
1
       
2
       
3
       
4
       
5
       
6
 
Item 2.
   
30
 
Item 3.
   
61
 
Item 4.
   
61
Part II.
   
 
Item 1.
   
64
 
Item 1A.
   
65
 
Item 2.
   
66
 
Item 5.
   
67
 
Item 6.
   
67
       
68
       
E-1
 
 


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended September 30 (Millions, except per share amounts)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Revenues
           
Non-interest revenues
           
Discount revenue
 
$
4,772
   
$
4,516
 
Net card fees
   
786
     
747
 
Other fees and commissions
   
767
     
694
 
Other
   
436
     
483
 
Total non-interest revenues
   
6,761
     
6,440
 
Interest income
               
Interest on loans
   
2,129
     
1,690
 
Interest and dividends on investment securities
   
22
     
34
 
Deposits with banks and other
   
91
     
40
 
Total interest income
   
2,242
     
1,764
 
Interest expense
               
Deposits
   
213
     
150
 
Long-term debt and other
   
354
     
280
 
Total interest expense
   
567
     
430
 
Net interest income
   
1,675
     
1,334
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
8,436
     
7,774
 
Provisions for losses
               
Charge card
   
214
     
174
 
Card Member loans
   
531
     
319
 
Other
   
24
     
11
 
Total provisions for losses
   
769
     
504
 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
   
7,667
     
7,270
 
Expenses
               
Marketing and promotion
   
814
     
930
 
Card Member rewards
   
1,900
     
1,566
 
Card Member services and other
   
363
     
278
 
Salaries and employee benefits
   
1,265
     
1,263
 
Other, net
   
1,498
     
1,498
 
Total expenses
   
5,840
     
5,535
 
Pretax income
   
1,827
     
1,735
 
Income tax provision
   
471
     
593
 
Net income
 
$
1,356
   
$
1,142
 
Earnings per Common Share (Note 15): (a)
               
Basic
 
$
1.51
   
$
1.21
 
Diluted
 
$
1.50
   
$
1.20
 
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:
               
Basic
   
878
     
920
 
Diluted
   
881
     
923
 
Cash dividends declared per common share
 
$
0.35
   
$
0.32
 
(a)
Represents net income less (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $11 million and $9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $21 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.


 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30 (Millions, except per share amounts)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Revenues
           
Non-interest revenues
           
Discount revenue
 
$
14,106
   
$
13,983
 
Net card fees
   
2,305
     
2,161
 
Other fees and commissions
   
2,232
     
2,076
 
Other
   
1,284
     
1,514
 
Total non-interest revenues
   
19,927
     
19,734
 
Interest income
               
Interest on loans
   
5,936
     
5,446
 
Interest and dividends on investment securities
   
68
     
104
 
Deposits with banks and other
   
233
     
104
 
Total interest income
   
6,237
     
5,654
 
Interest expense
               
Deposits
   
538
     
450
 
Long-term debt and other
   
994
     
841
 
Total interest expense
   
1,532
     
1,291
 
Net interest income
   
4,705
     
4,363
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
24,632
     
24,097
 
Provisions for losses
               
Charge card
   
590
     
496
 
Card Member loans
   
1,272
     
831
 
Other
   
64
     
74
 
Total provisions for losses
   
1,926
     
1,401
 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
   
22,706
     
22,696
 
Expenses
               
Marketing and promotion
   
2,344
     
2,445
 
Card Member rewards
   
5,633
     
5,035
 
Card Member services and other
   
1,033
     
841
 
Salaries and employee benefits
   
3,822
     
4,052
 
Other, net
   
4,281
     
3,388
 
Total expenses
   
17,113
     
15,761
 
Pretax income
   
5,593
     
6,935
 
Income tax provision
   
1,660
     
2,352
 
Net income
 
$
3,933
   
$
4,583
 
Earnings per Common Share (Note 15): (a)
               
Basic
 
$
4.32
   
$
4.77
 
Diluted
 
$
4.30
   
$
4.76
 
Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:
               
Basic
   
889
     
940
 
Diluted
   
892
     
943
 
Cash dividends declared per common share
 
$
0.99
   
$
0.90
 
(a)
Represents net income less (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards of $32 million and $37 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $61 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net income
 
$
1,356
   
$
1,142
   
$
3,933
   
$
4,583
 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Net unrealized securities (losses) gains, net of tax
   
(2
)
   
(15
)
   
4
     
(8
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax
   
107
     
11
     
456
     
(115
)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax
   
7
     
7
     
8
     
39
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
   
112
     
3
     
468
     
(84
)
Comprehensive income
 
$
1,468
   
$
1,145
   
$
4,401
   
$
4,499
 
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited) 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
 (Millions, except share data)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
           
Cash and due from banks
 
$
2,820
   
$
3,278
 
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks (includes securities purchased under resale agreements: 2017, $86; 2016, $115)
   
22,059
     
20,779
 
Short-term investment securities
   
1,289
     
1,151
 
Total cash and cash equivalents
   
26,168
     
25,208
 
Accounts receivable
               
Card Member receivables (includes gross receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2017, $7,825; 2016, $8,874), less reserves: 2017, $512; 2016, $467
   
51,002
     
46,841
 
Other receivables, less reserves: 2017, $32; 2016, $45
   
2,701
     
3,232
 
Loans
               
Card Member loans (includes gross loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2017, $24,249; 2016, $26,129), less reserves: 2017, $1,502; 2016, $1,223
   
66,376
     
64,042
 
Other loans, less reserves: 2017, $64; 2016, $42
   
2,268
     
1,419
 
Investment securities
   
3,250
     
3,157
 
Premises and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization: 2017, $5,797; 2016, $5,145
   
4,367
     
4,433
 
Other assets (includes restricted cash of consolidated variable interest entities: 2017, $1,816; 2016, $38)
   
12,445
     
10,561
 
Total assets
 
$
168,577
   
$
158,893
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
Liabilities
               
Customer deposits
 
$
61,290
   
$
53,042
 
Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products
   
2,366
     
2,812
 
Accounts payable
   
12,240
     
11,190
 
Short-term borrowings
   
2,352
     
5,581
 
Long-term debt (includes debt issued by consolidated variable interest entities: 2017, $15,026; 2016, $15,113)
   
48,762
     
46,990
 
Other liabilities
   
20,482
     
18,777
 
Total liabilities
   
147,492
     
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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016
   
     
 
Common shares, $0.20 par value, authorized 3.6 billion shares; issued and outstanding 871 million shares as of September 30, 2017 and 904 million shares as of December 31, 2016
   
175
     
181
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
12,318
     
12,733
 
Retained earnings
   
10,908
     
10,371
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
               
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax of: 2017, $7; 2016, $5
   
11
     
7
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of: 2017, $(486); 2016, $24
   
(1,806
)
   
(2,262
)
Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax of: 2017, $(196); 2016, $(186)
   
(521
)
   
(529
)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(2,316
)
   
(2,784
)
Total shareholders’ equity
   
21,085
     
20,501
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
$
168,577
   
$
158,893
 
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30 (Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
           
Net income
 
$
3,933
   
$
4,583
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Provisions for losses
   
1,926
     
1,401
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
953
     
810
 
Deferred taxes and other
   
(61
)
   
(1,076
)
Stock-based compensation
   
212
     
190
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
               
Other receivables
   
1,043
     
485
 
Other assets
   
(137
)
   
115
 
Accounts payable and other liabilities
   
1,197
     
(963
)
Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products
   
(485
)
   
(594
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
8,581
     
4,951
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
               
Sales of available-for-sale investment securities
   
1
     
51
 
Maturities and redemptions of available-for-sale investment securities
   
2,198
     
1,209
 
Purchases of investments
   
(2,339
)
   
(1,355
)
Net (increase) decrease in Card Member receivables and loans, including held for sale(a)
   
(7,535
)
   
11,818
 
Purchase of premises and equipment, net of sales: 2017, $1; 2016, $2
   
(812
)
   
(975
)
Acquisitions/dispositions, net of cash acquired
   
(210
)
   
(191
)
Net increase in restricted cash
   
(1,773
)
   
(427
)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
   
(10,470
)
   
10,130
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
               
Net increase (decrease)  in customer deposits
   
8,219
     
(1,499
)
Net decrease in short-term borrowings
   
(3,232
)
   
(2,040
)
Issuance of long-term debt
   
19,875
     
5,926
 
Principal payments on long-term debt
   
(18,349
)
   
(9,349
)
Issuance of American Express common shares
   
82
     
78
 
Repurchase of American Express common shares
   
(3,087
)
   
(3,542
)
Dividends paid
   
(925
)
   
(892
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
2,583
     
(11,318
)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
   
266
     
(5
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
960
     
3,758
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
25,208
     
22,762
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
26,168
   
$
26,520
 
(a)
Refer to Note 2 for additional information.
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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 will use the full retrospective method, which applies the new standard to each prior reporting period presented. The Company has made significant progress in determining the impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and underlying operational processes. The most significant changes will be reclassifications from discount revenue to expenses related to Card Member cash-back reward costs and statement credits, as well as corporate incentive payments and net payments to third-party card issuing partners. These reclassifications will have a significant impact on the affected line items of the Consolidated Statements of Income, but will have no impact to net income. There will also be changes to the recognition timing of certain revenues; however, the impact of these changes to net income upon adoption will not be material. Similarly, upon adoption of the new standard, the impact on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows will not be material. The Company is 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 the cost method of accounting. Under the new guidance, these investments will be prospectively adjusted for observable price changes upon the identification of identical or similar transactions of the same issuer. The Company expects that adopting this guidance will have an immaterial impact on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows, as well as on its accounting policies, business processes, systems and internal controls.
 
 
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 will adopt 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 upgrading its existing lease administration software for new lease accounting functionality, business processes and internal controls in preparation for the adoption. 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. The guidance requires a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of 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 increases to the Company’s credit 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.
In August 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance providing targeted improvements to the accounting for hedging activities, which is effective January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted in any interim period or fiscal year before the effective date. The guidance introduces a number of amendments, several of which are optional, that are designed to simplify the application of hedge accounting, improve financial statement transparency and more closely align hedge accounting with an entity’s risk management strategies. The Company is evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows, as well as the impact the standard will have on its accounting policies, business processes, systems and internal controls.





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 half of 2016, the Company completed the sales of substantially all of its outstanding Card Member loans and receivables HFS and recognized gains, as an expense reduction, in Other 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 sales, 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 HFS.

From the point of classification as HFS through the sale completion dates, the Company continued to recognize discount revenue, interest income, 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.
 
 

 
 
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.

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

(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
U.S. Consumer Services(a)
 
$
49,326
   
$
48,758
 
International Consumer and Network Services
   
7,823
     
6,971
 
Global Commercial Services
   
10,729
     
9,536
 
Card Member loans
   
67,878
     
65,265
 
Less: Reserve for losses
   
1,502
     
1,223
 
Card Member loans, net
 
$
66,376
   
$
64,042
 
Other loans, net(b)
 
$
2,268
   
$
1,419
 
(a)
Includes approximately $24.2 billion and $26.1 billion of gross Card Member loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity (VIE) as of September 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 $64 million and $42 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

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

(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
U.S. Consumer Services (a)
 
$
11,192
   
$
12,302
 
International Consumer and Network Services
   
6,512
     
5,966
 
Global Commercial Services
   
33,810
     
29,040
 
Card Member receivables
   
51,514
     
47,308
 
Less: Reserve for losses
   
512
     
467
 
Card Member receivables, net
 
$
51,002
   
$
46,841
 
Other receivables, net (b)
 
$
2,701
   
$
3,232
 
(a)
Includes $7.8 billion and $8.9 billion of gross Card Member receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
(b)
Other receivables primarily represent amounts related to (i) Global Network Services partner banks for items such as royalty and franchise fees, (ii) tax-related receivables, (iii) certain merchants for billed discount revenue, and (iv) loyalty coalition partners for points issued, as well as program participation and servicing fees. Other receivables are presented net of reserves for losses of $32 million and $45 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
 
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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

2017  (Millions)
 
Current
   
30-59 Days Past Due
   
60-89 Days Past Due
   
90+ Days Past Due
   
Total
 
Card Member Loans:
                             
  U.S. Consumer Services
 
$
48,707
   
$
183
   
$
128
   
$
308
   
$
49,326
 
  International Consumer and Network Services
   
7,698
     
39
     
27
     
59
     
7,823
 
  Global Commercial Services
                                       
      Global Small Business Services
   
10,556
     
36
     
24
     
59
     
10,675
 
      Global Corporate Payments(a)
 
(b)
   
(b)
   
(b)
     
     
54
 
Card Member Receivables:
                                       
  U.S. Consumer Services
   
11,055
     
51
     
26
     
60
     
11,192
 
  International Consumer and Network Services
   
6,424
     
28
     
18
     
42
     
6,512
 
  Global Commercial Services
                                       
      Global Small Business Services
 
$
15,651
   
$
75
   
$
50
   
$
102
   
$
15,878
 
      Global Corporate Payments(a)
 
(b)
   
(b)
   
(b)
   
$
153
   
$
17,932
 
                                         
2016  (Millions)
 
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
 
  International Consumer and Network Services
   
6,863
     
32
     
24
     
52
     
6,971
 
  Global Commercial Services
                                       
      Global Small Business Services
   
9,378
     
34
     
23
     
49
     
9,484
 
      Global Corporate Payments(a)
 
(b)
   
(b)
   
(b)
     
     
52
 
Card Member Receivables:
                                       
  U.S. Consumer Services
   
12,158
     
45
     
30
     
69
     
12,302
 
  International Consumer and Network Services
   
5,888
     
22
     
15
     
41
     
5,966
 
  Global Commercial Services
                                       
      Global Small Business Services
 
$
14,047
   
$
77
   
$
47
   
$
102
   
$
14,273
 
      Global Corporate Payments(a)
 
(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.

 
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 nine months ended September 30:
     
2017
 
2016
 
     
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
 
Card Member Loans:
                         
 
U.S. Consumer Services
 
1.7
%
2.0
%
1.3
%
1.5
%
1.8
%
1.1
%
 
International Consumer and Network Services
 
2.1
%
2.6
%
1.6
%
2.0
%
2.5
%
1.7
%
 
Global Small Business Services
 
1.6
%
1.9
%
1.1
%
1.4
%
1.7
%
1.1
%
Card Member Receivables:
                         
 
U.S. Consumer Services
 
1.3
%
1.5
%
1.2
%
1.4
%
1.6
%
1.4
%
 
International Consumer and Network Services
 
2.1
%
2.2
%
1.4
%
2.1
%
2.3
%
1.5
%
 
Global Small Business Services
 
1.6
%
1.8
%
1.4
%
1.6
%
1.8
%
1.5
%
                             
             
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
 
Card Member Receivables:
                 
 
 Global Corporate Payments
0.10
%
0.9
%
0.09
%
0.8
%
(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.

 
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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016; therefore, this segment’s receivables are not included in the following tables.
   
As of September 30, 2017
 
                                           
               
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
 
Card Member Loans:
                                         
U.S. Consumer Services
 
$
206
   
$
158
   
$
162
   
$
131
   
$
657
   
$
593
   
$
48
 
International Consumer and Network Services
   
59
     
     
     
     
59
     
58
     
 
Global Commercial Services
   
37
     
32
     
28
     
26
     
123
     
113
     
9
 
Card Member Receivables:
                                                       
U.S. Consumer Services
   
     
     
12
     
9
     
21
     
21
     
4
 
Global Commercial Services
   
     
     
31
     
16
     
47
     
47
     
8
 
Total
 
$
302
   
$
190
   
$
233
   
$
182
   
$
907
   
$
832
   
$
69
 

   
As of December 31, 2016
 
                                           
               
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
 
Card Member Loans:
                                         
U.S. Consumer Services
 
$
178
    $
139
    $
165
    $
129
    $
611
    $
558
    $
51
 
International Consumer and Network Services
   
52
     
     
     
     
52
     
51
     
 
Global Commercial Services
   
30
     
30
     
26
     
26
     
112
     
103
     
9
 
Card Member Receivables:
                                                       
U.S. Consumer Services
   
     
     
11
     
6
     
17
     
17
     
7
 
Global Commercial Services
   
     
     
28
     
10
     
38
     
38
     
21
 
Total
 
$
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 $15 million and $20 million that are over 90 days past due and accruing interest and $6 million and $11 million that are non-accruals as of September 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 $43 million and $39 million of Card Member accounts that were not in compliance with the terms of the modification programs as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
 

 
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 nine months ended September 30:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2017
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2017
 
(Millions)
 
Average Balance
   
Interest Income Recognized
   
Average Balance
   
Interest Income Recognized
 
Card Member Loans:
                       
U.S. Consumer Services
 
$
636
   
$
17
   
$
626
   
$
49
 
International Consumer and Network Services
   
59
     
4
     
56
     
12
 
Global Commercial Services
   
122
     
5
     
119
     
13
 
Card Member Receivables:
                               
U.S. Consumer Services
   
20
     
     
19
     
 
Global Commercial Services
   
44
     
     
42
     
 
Total
 
$
881
   
$
26
   
$
862
   
$
74
 
                                 
 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2016
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2016
 
(Millions)
 
Average Balance
   
Interest Income Recognized
   
Average Balance
   
Interest Income Recognized
 
Card Member Loans:
                               
U.S. Consumer Services
 
$
587
   
$
14
   
$
555
   
$
38
 
International Consumer and Network Services
   
53
     
4
     
52
     
12
 
Global Commercial Services
   
111
     
4
     
102
     
10
 
Card Member Receivables:
                               
U.S. Consumer Services
   
13
     
     
13
     
 
Global Commercial Services
   
29
     
     
24
     
 
Total
 
$
793
   
$
22
   
$
746
   
$
60
 
 
 
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
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 nine months ended September 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
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2017
   
September 30, 2017
 
   
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
     
9
   
(b)
     
23
   
$
160
     
10
   
(b)
 
Card Member Receivables
   
1
     
18
   
(c)
     
31
     
4
     
64
   
(c)
     
27
 
Total
   
9
   
$
75
                     
27
   
$
224
                 
                                                                 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2016
   
September 30, 2016
 
   
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
   
$
56
     
9
   
(b)
     
23
   
$
163
     
10
   
(b)
 
Card Member Receivables
   
2
     
29
   
(c)
     
19
     
7
     
94
   
(c)
     
17
 
Total
   
10
   
$
85
                     
30
   
$
257
                 
(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.

 
 
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 nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. A Card Member is considered in default of a modification program after one and up to two 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.
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2017
 
   
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
   
$
9
     
5
   
$
30
 
Card Member Receivables
   
1
     
2
     
3
     
4
 
Total
   
3
   
$
11
     
8
   
$
34
 
                                 
                                 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30, 2016
 
September 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
   
3
   
$
12
     
5
   
$
30
 
Card Member Receivables
   
1
     
1
     
3
     
3
 
Total
   
4
   
$
13
     
8
   
$
33
 
(a)
The outstanding balances upon default include principal, fees and accrued interest on Card Member loans, and principal and fees on Card Member receivables.



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.

Changes in Card Member Loans Reserve for Losses

The following table presents changes in the Card Member loans reserve for losses for the nine months ended September 30:

(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Balance, January 1
 
$
1,223
   
$
1,028
 
Provisions(a)
   
1,272
     
831
 
Net write-offs(b)
               
Principal
   
(856
)
   
(687
)
Interest and fees
   
(163
)
   
(128
)
Other(c)
   
26
     
70
 
Balance, September 30
 
$
1,502
   
$
1,114
 
(a)
Provisions for principal, interest and fee reserve components.
(b)
Principal write-offs are presented less recoveries of $307 million and $280 million, and include net write-offs from TDRs of $25 million and $24 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Recoveries of interest and fees were de minimis.
(c)
Includes foreign currency translation adjustments of $14 million and $(3) million and other adjustments of $12 million and $6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The nine months ended September 30, 2016 also includes reserves of $67 million associated with $265 million of retained Card Member loans reclassified from HFS to held for investment as a result of retaining certain loans in connection with the respective sales of JetBlue and Costco cobrand card portfolios.

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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Card Member loans evaluated individually for impairment(a)
 
$
347
   
$
346
 
Related reserves (a)
 
$
57
   
$
60
 
Card Member loans evaluated collectively for impairment(b)
 
$
67,531
   
$
64,919
 
Related reserves (b)
 
$
1,445
   
$
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.
 
 
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 nine months ended September 30:

(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Balance, January 1
 
$
467
   
$
462
 
Provisions(a)
   
590
     
496
 
Net write-offs(b)
   
(548
)
   
(518
)
Other(c)
   
3
     
(3
)
Balance, September 30
 
$
512
   
$
437
 
(a)
Provisions for principal and fee reserve components.
(b)
Principal and fee write-offs are presented less recoveries of $271 million and $301 million, including net write-offs from TDRs of $2 million and $16 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
(c)
Includes foreign currency translation adjustments of $18 million and nil and other adjustments of $(15) million and $(3) million for the nine months ended September 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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Card Member receivables evaluated individually for impairment(a)
 
$
68
   
$
55
 
Related reserves (a)
 
$
12
   
$
28
 
Card Member receivables evaluated collectively for impairment
 
$
51,446
   
$
47,253
 
Related reserves (b)
 
$
500
   
$
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.


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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

   
2017
   
2016
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
   
Estimated
         
Gross
   
Gross
   
Estimated
 
         
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
         
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
Description of Securities (Millions)
 
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
 
State and municipal obligations
 
$
1,412
   
$
17
   
$
(2
)
 
$
1,427
   
$
2,019
   
$
28
   
$
(11
)
 
$
2,036
 
U.S. Government agency obligations
   
12
     
     
     
12
     
12
     
     
     
12
 
U.S. Government treasury obligations
   
1,115
     
8
     
(5
)
   
1,118
     
465
     
3
     
(8
)
   
460
 
Corporate debt securities
   
28
     
     
     
28
     
19
     
     
     
19
 
Mortgage-backed securities (a)
   
74
     
2
     
     
76
     
92
     
3
     
     
95
 
Equity securities
   
1
     
     
     
1
     
1
     
     
     
1
 
Foreign government bonds and obligations
   
539
     
1
     
     
540
     
486
     
1
     
(1
)
   
486
 
Other (b)
   
50
     
     
(2
)
   
48
     
50
     
     
(2
)
   
48
 
Total
 
$
3,231
   
$
28
   
$
(9
)
 
$
3,250
   
$
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.
 
 
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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
   
2017
   
2016
 
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or more
   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or more
 
         
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
 
State and municipal obligations
 
$
101
   
$
(2
)
 
$
   
$
   
$
153
   
$
(11
)
 
$
   
$
 
U.S. Government treasury obligations
   
366
     
(5
)
   
     
     
298
     
(8
)
   
     
 
Other
   
     
     
32
     
(2
)
   
     
     
32
     
(2
)
Total
 
$
467
   
$
(7
)
 
$
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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

   
Less than 12 months
   
12 months or more
   
Total
 
Ratio of Fair Value to
             
Gross
               
Gross
               
Gross
 
Amortized Cost
 
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
 
2017:
                                                     
90%–100%
   
22
   
$
467
   
$
(7
)
   
6
   
$
32
   
$
(2
)
   
28
   
$
499
   
$
(9
)
Total as of September 30, 2017
   
22
   
$
467
   
$
(7
)
   
6
   
$
32
   
$
(2
)
   
28
   
$
499
   
$
(9
)
                                                                         
2016:
                                                                       
90%–100%
   
33
   
$
411
   
$
(13
)
   
6
   
$
32
   
$
(2
)
   
39
   
$
443
   
$
(15
)
Less than 90%
   
4
     
40
     
(6
)
   
     
     
     
4
     
40
     
(6
)
Total as of December 31, 2016
   
37
   
$
451
   
$
(19
)
   
6
   
$
32
   
$
(2
)
   
43
   
$
483
   
$
(21
)

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 September 30, 2017 were as follows:

         
Estimated
 
(Millions)
 
Cost
   
Fair Value
 
Due within 1 year
 
$
648
   
$
648
 
Due after 1 year but within 5 years
   
998
     
1,000
 
Due after 5 years but within 10 years
   
268
     
272
 
Due after 10 years
   
1,267
     
1,282
 
Total
 
$
3,181
   
$
3,202
 

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.
 
 
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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Lending Trust
 
$
1,814
   
$
35
 
Charge Trust
   
2
     
3
 
Total
 
$
1,816
   
$
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.

The Company performs the servicing and key decision making for the Trusts, and therefore has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Trusts’ economic performance, which are the collection of the underlying Card Member loans and receivables. In addition, the Company holds all of the variable interests in both Trusts, with the exception of the debt securities issued to third-party investors. As of September 30, 2017, the Company’s ownership of variable interests was $10.7 billion for the Lending Trust and $6.5 billion for the Charge Trust. These variable interests held by the Company 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, the Company 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 nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, no such triggering events occurred.
 
 
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
7.  Customer Deposits

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

(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
U.S.:
           
Interest bearing
 
$
60,573
   
$
52,316
 
Non-interest bearing (includes Card Member credit balances of: 2017, $300 million; 2016, $331 million)
   
337
     
367
 
Non-U.S.:
               
Interest bearing
   
32
     
58
 
Non-interest bearing (includes Card Member credit balances of: 2017, $334 million; 2016, $285 million)
   
348
     
301
 
Total customer deposits
 
$
61,290
   
$
53,042
 

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

(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
U.S. retail deposits:
           
Savings accounts – Direct
 
$
30,780
   
$
30,980
 
Certificates of deposit:(a)
               
Direct
   
290
     
291
 
Third-party (brokered)
   
17,229
     
11,925
 
Sweep accounts – Third-party (brokered)
   
12,274
     
9,120
 
Other deposits:
               
U.S. non-interest bearing deposits
   
37
     
36
 
Non-U.S. deposits
   
46
     
74
 
Card Member credit balances ― U.S. and non-U.S.
   
634
     
616
 
Total customer deposits
 
$
61,290
   
$
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 44 months and 2.10 percent, respectively, as of September 30, 2017.
The scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit as of September 30, 2017 were as follows:
(Millions)
 
U.S.
   
Non-U.S.
   
Total
 
2017
 
$
1,450
   
$
3
   
$
1,453
 
2018
   
5,160
     
16
     
5,176
 
2019
   
4,252
     
     
4,252
 
2020
   
3,511
     
     
3,511
 
2021
   
1,234
     
     
1,234
 
After 5 years
   
1,912
     
     
1,912
 
Total
 
$
17,519
   
$
19
   
$
17,538
 

As of September 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
 
U.S.
 
$
113
   
$
117
 
Non-U.S.
   
8
     
7
 
Total
 
$
121
   
$
124
 

 
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 $500 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.

 
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 September 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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

   
Other Assets Fair Value
   
Other Liabilities Fair Value
 
(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
                       
Fair value hedges - Interest rate contracts(a)
 
$
26
   
$
111
   
$
15
   
$
69
 
Net investment hedges - Foreign exchange contracts
   
41
     
347
     
210
     
35
 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments
   
67
     
458
     
225
     
104
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
                               
Foreign exchange contracts, including certain embedded derivatives(b)
   
168
     
308
     
102
     
176
 
Total derivatives, gross
   
235
     
766
     
327
     
280
 
Less: Cash collateral netting(c)(d)
   
(17
)
   
(54
)
   
(8
)
   
(68
)
Derivative asset and derivative liability netting(e)
   
(92
)
   
(157
)
   
(92
)
   
(157
)
Total derivatives, net(f)
 
$
126
   
$
555
   
$
227
   
$
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. Accordingly, the amounts disclosed for 2017 related to centrally cleared derivatives are based on gross assets of $11 million and liabilities of $87 million net of variation margin of $11 million and $79 million, respectively. 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)
Represents the offsetting of the fair value of bilateral interest rate contracts and certain foreign exchange contracts with the right to reclaim cash collateral or the obligation to return cash collateral.
(d)
The Company held no non-cash collateral as of September 30, 2017. As of December 31, 2016, the 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 $152 million and $169 million as of September 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 September 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 $20.7 billion and $17.7 billion of fixed-rate debt obligations designated in fair value hedging relationships as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
 
 
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 nine months ended September 30:

   
Three Months Ended
September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(Millions)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Interest rate derivative contracts
 
$
(31
)
 
$
(123
)
 
$
(100
)
 
$
103
 
Hedged items
   
39
     
134
     
64
     
(90
)
Net hedge ineffectiveness
 
$
8
   
$
11
   
$
(36
)
 
$
13
 

The Company also recognized a net reduction in interest expense on long-term debt of $24 million and $55 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $105 million and $173 million for the nine months ended September 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, were losses of $184 million and $18 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and a loss of $515 million and a gain of $25 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, with any ineffective portion recognized in Other expenses during the period. The net hedge ineffectiveness recognized was nil for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. Other amounts related to foreign exchange contracts reclassified from AOCI into Other expenses included a loss of $18 million and nil for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and a loss of $18 million and a gain of $5 million for the nine months ended September 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 net losses of $15 million and $4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and net losses of $36 million and $12 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are recognized in Other expenses.
The changes in the fair value of an embedded derivative resulted in gains of $1 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and a loss of $1 million and a gain of $7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, which are recognized in Card Member services and other expense.



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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

   
2017
   
2016
 
(Millions)
 
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
   
$
 
Debt securities
   
3,201
     
1,118
     
2,083
     
     
3,108
     
460
     
2,648
     
 
Derivatives(a)
   
235
     
     
235
     
     
765
     
     
765
     
 
Total Assets
   
3,485
     
1,119
     
2,366
     
     
3,922
     
461
     
3,461
     
 
Liabilities:
                                                               
Derivatives(a)
   
327
     
     
327
     
     
280
     
     
280
     
 
Total Liabilities
 
$
327
   
$
   
$
327
   
$
   
$
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.

 
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 September 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 September 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
 
2017 (Billions)
 
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)
 
$
26
   
$
26
   
$
24
   
$
2
   
$
 
Other financial assets(b)
   
56
     
56
     
     
56
     
 
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
                                       
Loans, net(c)
   
69
     
69
     
     
     
69
 
                                         
Financial Liabilities:
                                       
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
   
69
     
69
     
     
69
     
 
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
                                       
Certificates of deposit(d)
   
18
     
18
     
     
18
     
 
Long-term debt(c)
 
$
49
   
$
50
   
$
   
$
50
   
$
 
                                         
   
Carrying
   
Corresponding Fair Value Amount
 
2016 (Billions)
 
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
   
$
 
Other financial assets(b)
   
51
     
51
     
     
51
     
 
Financial assets carried at other than fair value
                                       
Loans, net(c)
   
65
     
66
     
     
     
66
 
                                         
Financial Liabilities:
                                       
Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value
   
67
     
67
     
     
67
     
 
Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value
                                       
Certificates of deposit(d)
   
12
     
12
     
     
12
     
 
Long-term debt(c)
 
$
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 billion and $8.8 billion held by a consolidated VIE as of September 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 $24.1 billion and $26.0 billion as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and the fair values of long-term debt were $15.1 billion and $15.2 billion as of September 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 nine months ended September 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.
 
 
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 guarantees and indemnifications in the ordinary course of business.

As of September 30, 2017, the maximum potential undiscounted future payments and related liability resulting from these arrangements were $1 billion and $54 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 of December 31, 2016, in 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 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.




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 nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

Three Months Ended September 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 June 30, 2017
 
$
13
   
$
(1,913
)
 
$
(528
)
 
$
(2,428
)
Net unrealized losses
   
(2
)
   
     
     
(2
)
Decrease due to amounts reclassified into earnings
   
     
(1
)
   
     
(1
)
Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations
   
     
292
     
     
292
 
Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations
   
     
(184
)
   
     
(184
)
Pension and other postretirement benefit
   
     
     
7
     
7
 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(2
)
   
107
     
7
     
112
 
Balances as of September 30, 2017
 
$
11
   
$
(1,806
)
 
$
(521
)
 
$
(2,316
)
                                 
Nine Months Ended September 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
   
4
     
     
     
4
 
Decrease due to amounts reclassified into earnings
   
     
(1
)
   
     
(1
)
Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations(a)
   
     
972
     
     
972
 
Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations
   
     
(515
)
   
     
(515
)
Pension and other postretirement benefit
   
     
     
8
     
8
 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
4
     
456
     
8
     
468
 
Balances as of September 30, 2017
 
$
11
   
$
(1,806
)
 
$
(521
)
 
$
(2,316
)

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


 
 

 
 
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended September 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 June 30, 2016
 
$
65
   
$
(2,170
)
 
$
(516
)
 
$
(2,621
)
Net unrealized losses
   
(14
)
   
     
     
(14
)
Decrease due to amounts reclassified into earnings
   
(1
)
   
     
     
(1
)
Net translation gain of investments in foreign operations
   
     
29
     
     
29
 
Net losses related to hedges of investments in foreign operations
   
     
(18
)
   
     
(18
)
Pension and other postretirement benefit
   
     
     
7
     
7
 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(15
)
   
11
     
7
     
3
 
Balances as of September 30, 2016
 
$
50
   
$
(2,159
)
 
$
(509
)
 
$
(2,618
)
                                 
Nine Months Ended September 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 losses
   
(5
)
   
     
     
(5
)
Decrease due to amounts reclassified into earnings
   
(3
)
   
     
     
(3
)
Net translation loss of investments in foreign operations
   
     
(140
)
   
     
(140
)
Net gains related to hedges of investments in foreign operations
   
     
25
     
     
25
 
Pension and other postretirement benefit
   
     
     
39
     
39
 
Net change in accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(8
)
   
(115
)
   
39
     
(84
)
Balances as of September 30, 2016
 
$
50
   
$
(2,159
)
 
$
(509
)
 
$
(2,618
)

The following table shows the tax impact for the three and nine months ended September 30 for the changes in each component of AOCI presented above:

 
Tax (benefit) expense
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(Millions)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Investment securities
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
2
   
$
(7
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments(a)
   
(25
)
   
(6
)
   
(204
)
   
30
 
Net investment hedges
   
(99
)
   
(18
)
   
(306
)
   
7
 
Pension and other postretirement benefits
   
(2
)
   
7
     
(10
)
   
36
 
Total tax impact
 
$
(127
)
 
$
(26
)
 
$
(518
)
 
$
66
 

(a)    Includes $289 million of tax benefits recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 (Refer to Note 14).


 
 
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:

    
Gains (losses) recognized in earnings
 
    
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
    
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
     
Amount
   
Amount
 
Description (Millions)
Income Statement Line Item
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Available-for-sale securities
                         
Reclassifications for previously unrealized net gains on investment securities
Other non-interest revenues
 
$
   
$
1
   
$
   
$
5
 
Related income tax expense
Income tax provision
   
     
     
     
(2
)
Reclassification to net income related to available-for-sale securities
     
     
1
     
     
3
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                                 
Reclassification of realized losses on translation adjustments and related net investments hedges
Other expenses
   
(6
)
   
     
(6
)
   
 
Related income tax benefit
Income tax provision
   
7
     
     
7
     
 
Reclassification to net income related to  foreign currency translation adjustments
     
1
     
     
1
     
 
Total
   
$
1
   
$
1
   
$
1
   
$
3
 



13.  Non-Interest Revenue and Expense Detail

The following is a detail of Other fees and commissions:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
(Millions)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Delinquency fees
 
$
221
   
$
183
   
$
653
   
$
575
 
Foreign currency conversion fee revenue
   
219
     
207
     
630
     
610
 
Loyalty coalition-related fees
   
116
     
106
     
332
     
304
 
Travel commissions and fees
   
93
     
89
     
267
     
256
 
Other(a)
   
118
     
109
     
350
     
331
 
Total Other fees and commissions
 
$
767
   
$
694
   
$
2,232
   
$
2,076
 
(a)
Other primarily includes service fees and fees related to Membership Rewards programs.
The following is a detail of Other revenues:
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
(Millions)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Global Network Services partner revenues
 
$
150
   
$
156
   
$
456
   
$
498
 
Other(a)
   
286
     
327
     
828
     
1,016
 
Total Other revenues
 
$
436
   
$
483
   
$
1,284
   
$
1,514
 
(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, Prepaid card and Travelers Cheque-related revenues, earnings from equity method investments (including the GBT JV) and other miscellaneous revenue and fees.
 
 
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
The following is a detail of Other expenses:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
(Millions)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Occupancy and equipment
 
$
568
   
$
429
   
$
1,527
   
$
1,332
 
Professional services
   
501
     
630
     
1,534
     
1,862
 
Gain on sale of HFS portfolios(a)
   
     
     
     
(1,218
)
Other(b)
   
429
     
439
     
1,220
     
1,412
 
Total Other expenses
 
$
1,498
   
$
1,498
   
$
4,281
   
$
3,388
 
(a)
Refer to Note 2 for additional information.
(b)
Other expense primarily includes general operating expenses, Card and merchant-related fraud losses, communication expenses, certain loyalty coalition-related expenses, foreign currency-related gains and losses and insurance costs. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Other expenses includes the valuation allowance adjustment associated with loans and receivables HFS.


14.  Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 25.8 percent and 34.2 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 29.7 percent and 33.9 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The changes in tax rates in both periods primarily reflected the realization of certain foreign tax credits and the geographic mix of business, and additionally in the nine month period, 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 $307 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 $307 million of unrecognized tax benefits, approximately $257 million relates to amounts that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate in a future period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits decreased by $253 million. The decrease was primarily due to the resolution with the IRS of an uncertain tax position in January 2017, which resulted in the recognition of $289 million in shareholders’ equity, specifically within AOCI.

 

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

15.  Earnings Per Common Share (EPS)

The computations of basic and diluted EPS were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
(Millions, except per share amounts)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Numerator:
                       
Basic and diluted:
                       
Net income
 
$
1,356
   
$
1,142
   
$
3,933
   
$
4,583
 
Preferred dividends
   
(21
)
   
(21
)
   
(61
)
   
(61
)
Net income available to common shareholders
   
1,335
     
1,121
     
3,872
     
4,522
 
Earnings allocated to participating share awards(a)
   
(11
)
   
(9
)
   
(32
)
   
(37
)
Net income attributable to common shareholders
 
$
1,324
   
$
1,112
   
$
3,840
   
$
4,485
 
Denominator: (a)
                               
Basic: Weighted-average common stock
   
878
     
920
     
889
     
940
 
Add: Weighted-average stock options (b)
   
3
     
3
     
3
     
3
 
Diluted
   
881
     
923
     
892
     
943
 
Basic EPS
 
$
1.51
   
$
1.21
   
$
4.32
   
$
4.77
 
Diluted EPS
 
$
1.50
   
$
1.20
   
$
4.30
   
$
4.76
 
(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 0.5 million and 3.2 million of options for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 0.8 million and 2.2 million of options for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, because inclusion of the options would have been anti-dilutive.

 
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 Global Merchant Services (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:

                                     
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
(Millions, except where indicated)
 
USCS
   
ICNS
   
GCS
   
GMS
   
Corporate & Other(a)
   
Consolidated
 
Non-interest revenues
 
$
1,976
   
$
1,277
   
$
2,360
   
$
1,088
   
$
60
   
$
6,761
 
Interest income
   
1,509
     
271
     
351
     
     
111
     
2,242
 
Interest expense
   
202
     
65
     
144
     
(65
)
   
221
     
567
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
3,283
     
1,483
     
2,567
     
1,153
     
(50
)
   
8,436
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
475
   
$
286
   
$
529
   
$
368
   
$
(302
)
 
$
1,356
 
Total assets (billions)
 
$
88
   
$
39
   
$
53
   
$
27
   
$
(38
)
 
$
169
 
Total equity (billions)
 
$
7
   
$
3
   
$
7
   
$
3
   
$
1
   
$
21
 
                                                 
                                                 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
(Millions, except where indicated)
 
USCS
   
ICNS
   
GCS
   
GMS
   
Corporate & Other(a)
   
Consolidated
 
Non-interest revenues
 
$
5,832
   
$
3,719
   
$
6,999
   
$
3,191
   
$
186
   
$
19,927
 
Interest income
   
4,186
     
752
     
1,004
     
1
     
294
     
6,237
 
Interest expense
   
519
     
178
     
382
     
(188
)
   
641
     
1,532
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
9,499
     
4,293
     
7,621
     
3,380
     
(161
)
   
24,632
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
1,384
   
$
713
   
$
1,447
   
$
1,161
   
$
(772
)
 
$
3,933
 
Total assets (billions)
 
$
88
   
$
39
   
$
53
   
$
27
   
$
(38
)
 
$
169
 
Total equity (billions)
 
$
7
   
$
3
   
$
7
   
$
3
   
$
1
   
$
21
 
                                                 
                                                 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
(Millions, except where indicated)
 
USCS
   
ICNS
   
GCS
   
GMS
   
Corporate & Other(a)
   
Consolidated
 
Non-interest revenues
 
$
1,849
   
$
1,205
   
$
2,240
   
$
1,044
   
$
102
   
$
6,440
 
Interest income
   
1,178
     
231
     
282
     
     
73
     
1,764
 
Interest expense
   
125
     
55
     
98
     
(60
)
   
212
     
430
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
2,902
     
1,381
     
2,424
     
1,104
     
(37
)
   
7,774
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
401
   
$
155
   
$
466
   
$
359
   
$
(239
)
 
$
1,142
 
Total assets (billions)
 
$
79
   
$
34
   
$
47
   
$
23
   
$
(30
)
 
$
153
 
Total equity (billions)
 
$
8
   
$
3
   
$
7
   
$
2
   
$
1
   
$
21
 
                                                 
                                                 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
(Millions, except where indicated)
 
USCS
   
ICNS
   
GCS
   
GMS
   
Corporate & Other(a)
   
Consolidated
 
Non-interest revenues
 
$
5,947
   
$
3,587
   
$
6,710
   
$
3,172
   
$
318
   
$
19,734
 
Interest income
   
3,847
     
692
     
913
     
1
     
201
     
5,654
 
Interest expense
   
404
     
167
     
297
     
(180
)
   
603
     
1,291
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
9,390
     
4,112
     
7,326
     
3,353
     
(84
)
   
24,097
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
2,162
   
$
571
   
$
1,527
   
$
1,089
   
$
(766
)
 
$
4,583
 
Total assets (billions)
 
$
79
   
$
34
   
$
47
   
$
23
   
$
(30
)
 
$
153
 
Total equity (billions)
 
$
8
   
$
3
   
$
7
   
$
2
   
$
1
   
$
21
 
(a)
Corporate & Other includes adjustments and eliminations for intersegment activity.
 
 
 
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).

 

 
 
 
 

 

 
 
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
Our results for the third quarter reflect significant progress against our current priorities of accelerating revenue growth, optimizing investments and resetting the cost base. During the quarter, revenue and earnings performance was strong across our business segments and we continued to invest in new products and benefits, maintaining high levels of new card acquisitions and expanding our merchant network. In addition, 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 billed business increased 8 percent over the prior year, reflecting growth across our diverse customer segments and geographies. Our U.S. and international proprietary card issuing businesses saw a modest acceleration in billings growth in the current quarter. We also continued to see strong performance from middle market and small business customers, while large and global commercial customers continued to grow at a more modest pace.  Billed business growth for Global Network Services slowed slightly from last quarter as a result of the impact of the evolving regulatory environment in Europe and Australia.

Revenues net of interest expense grew year-over-year primarily due to strong growth in billed business and an increase in net interest income.  Our net interest yield increased year-over-year primarily related to a shift in mix towards non-cobrand lending products that generally attract more revolving loan balances, a lower percentage of total loans at introductory interest rates, specific pricing actions and a benefit from increases in benchmark interest rates. We expect the net interest yield to stabilize over time and, as a result, we expect the growth in net interest income to moderate.

Card Member loan and receivables growth was strong year-over-year, as we continue to expand our relationships with existing customers and acquire new Card Members. Provisions for losses increased as a result of higher Card Member loans and receivables, expected increases in delinquencies and net write-off rates, and a small reserve build related to recent hurricanes. The increases in the delinquency and net write-off rates were primarily due to the seasoning of recent loan vintages and a shift in mix towards non-cobrand lending products, which have higher write-off rates. We expect, as a result of these trends, provisions for losses will continue to grow faster than loans.

Spending on Card Member engagement (the aggregate of rewards, Card Member services and marketing and promotion expenses) increased 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. Marketing and promotion expenses decreased, as we realized efficiencies in our marketing spend. Year-over-year operating expenses were flat. In the third quarter of 2017, we incurred impairment and other charges related to our US loyalty coalition and US prepaid businesses. Excluding these charges and a restructuring charge in the prior year, adjusted operating expenses decreased year-over-year, reflecting progress against our cost reduction initiatives.

Our effective tax rate for the quarter was 26 percent, down from 34 percent a year ago, primarily due to the realization of certain foreign tax credits in the current year and a continuing shift in the geographic mix of earnings. Going forward, we estimate our ongoing tax rate will be approximately 32%, although the effective tax rate in any given period can be further impacted by discrete tax items as we saw in the current quarter.

 
 
Our third quarter results continue to reflect the diverse sources of growth across our business segments and geographies.  The momentum seen in our results throughout 2017 reflects the investments we have made in a variety of growth opportunities over the last several years. Although we have some headwinds from regulation in markets around the world and intense competition, we remain focused on delivering differentiated value to our merchants, customers and business partners, while delivering appropriate returns to our shareholders.

On October 18, 2017, we announced that the Board of Directors appointed Stephen J. Squeri Chief Executive Officer of American Express Company and elected him Chairman of the Board, each effective February 1, 2018.  Mr. Squeri succeeds Kenneth I. Chenault, who will retire as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on that date. Mr. Squeri joined American Express in 1985 and in his current role serves as Vice Chairman. See Part II, Item 5. “Other Information” for further detail.

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.

 

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 Wholesale Corporation (Costco) and JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue) (collectively, the HFS portfolios) to Card Member loans and receivables held for sale (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 in the first half of the year.
The discussions in both the Consolidated Results of Operations and Business Segment Results provide commentary on the variances for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 compared to same periods in the prior year, as presented in the accompanying tables.

Table 1: Summary of Financial Performance

   
Three Months Ended
               
Nine Months Ended
             
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
(Millions, except percentages and per share amounts)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
 
$
8,436
   
$
7,774
   
$
662
     
9
%
 
$
24,632
   
$
24,097
   
$
535
     
2
%
Provisions for losses
   
769
     
504
     
265
     
53
     
1,926
     
1,401
     
525
     
37
 
Expenses
   
5,840
     
5,535
     
305
     
6
     
17,113
     
15,761
     
1,352
     
9
 
Net income
   
1,356
     
1,142
     
214
     
19
     
3,933
     
4,583
     
(650
)
   
(14
)
Earnings per common share - diluted(a)
 
$
1.50
   
$
1.20
   
$
0.30
     
25
%
 
$
4.30
   
$
4.76
   
$
(0.46
)
   
(10
)%
Return on average equity(b)
   
22.7
%
   
26.1
%
                   
22.7
%
   
26.1
%
               
(a)
Earnings per common share — diluted was reduced by the impact of (i) earnings allocated to participating share awards and other items of $11 million and $9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $32 million and $37 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $21 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and $61 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
(b)
Return on average equity (ROE) is computed by dividing (i) one-year period net income ($4.8 billion and $5.5 billion for September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively) by (ii) one-year average total shareholders’ equity ($21.0 billion for both September 30, 2017 and 2016).

Table 2: Total Revenue Net of Interest Expense Summary
   
Three Months Ended
         
Nine Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
(Millions, except percentages)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
 
Discount revenue
 
$
4,772
   
$
4,516
   
$
256
     
6
%
 
$
14,106
   
$
13,983
   
$
123
     
1
%
Net card fees
   
786
     
747
     
39
     
5
     
2,305
     
2,161
     
144
     
7
 
Other fees and commissions
   
767
     
694
     
73
     
11
     
2,232
     
2,076
     
156
     
8
 
Other
   
436
     
483
     
(47
)
   
(10
)
   
1,284
     
1,514
     
(230
)
   
(15
)
Total non-interest revenues
   
6,761
     
6,440
     
321
     
5
     
19,927
     
19,734
     
193
     
1
 
Total interest income
   
2,242
     
1,764
     
478
     
27
     
6,237
     
5,654
     
583
     
10
 
Total interest expense
   
567
     
430
     
137
     
32
     
1,532
     
1,291
     
241
     
19
 
Net interest income
   
1,675
     
1,334
     
341
     
26
     
4,705
     
4,363
     
342
     
8
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
 
$
8,436
   
$
7,774
   
$
662
     
9
%
 
$
24,632
   
$
24,097
   
$
535
     
2
%

 
 
Total Revenues Net of Interest Expense
Discount revenue increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily due to growth in billed business of 8 percent and 3 percent for the three and nine month periods, respectively, partially offset by a decrease in the average discount rate and increases in contra-discount revenues. The increase in contra-discount revenue was primarily due to higher corporate client incentives and cobrand partner payments, both driven by higher volumes. U.S. billed business increased 7 percent and decreased 1 percent for the three and nine month periods respectively. Non-U.S. billed business increased 10 percent and 11 percent for the three and nine month periods, respectively. See Tables 5, 6 and 7 for more details on billed business performance.

The decreases in the average discount rate for both the three and nine month periods primarily reflected changes in industry and geographic mix, rate pressure from merchant negotiations, including those resulting from the recent regulatory changes affecting competitor pricing in certain international markets, and the continued growth of the OptBlue program. We expect the average discount rate will likely continue to decline over time due to a greater shift of existing merchants into OptBlue, merchant negotiations and competition, volume related pricing discounts, certain pricing initiatives mainly driven by pricing regulation (including regulation of competitors’ interchange rates) and other factors.
Net card fees increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by growth in the Platinum and Delta portfolios as well as growth in certain key international markets.
Other fees and commissions increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by an increase in delinquency fees due to a change in certain U.S. charge card portfolios’ late fee assessment date.
Other revenues decreased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by revenues related to our Loyalty Edge business in the prior year, and additionally in the nine month period, a contractual payment from a GNS partner in the prior year.
Interest income increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by growth in average Card Member loans and higher yields in the current year. The increase in yields was primarily driven by a mix shift towards non-cobrand lending products, where Card Members tend to revolve more of their loan balances, as well as a lower percentage of loans at introductory rates, specific pricing actions, and a benefit from increases in benchmark interest rates.
Interest expense increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by marginally higher interest rates and higher average long-term debt.

Table 3: Provisions for Losses Summary

   
Three Months Ended
       
Nine Months Ended
     
   
September 30,
 
Change
   
September 30,
 
Change
 
(Millions, except percentages)
 
2017
   
2016
 
2017 vs. 2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
2017 vs. 2016
 
Charge card
 
$
214
   
$
174
   
$
40
     
23
%
 
$
590
   
$
496
   
$
94
     
19
%
Card Member loans
   
531
     
319
     
212
     
66
     
1,272
     
831
     
441
     
53
 
Other
   
24
     
11
     
13
     
#
     
64
     
74
     
(10
)
   
(14
)
Total provisions for losses(a)
 
$
769
   
$
504
   
$
265
     
53
%
 
$
1,926
   
$
1,401
   
$
525
     
37
%
# Denotes a variance greater than 100 percent.
(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 nine month periods, primarily driven by growth in receivables due to charge volume and higher net write-offs.
Card Member loans provision for losses increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by strong loan growth, as well as increases in delinquencies and net write-off rates, primarily due to the seasoning of recent loan vintages and a shift in mix towards non-cobrand lending products, which have higher write-off rates.
Other provision for losses increased for the three month period and decreased for the nine month period. The increase in the three month period was primarily due to growth in the non-card lending portfolio, which was more than offset in the nine month period by improving credit performance in the commercial financing portfolio.
 
 
 
Table 4: Expenses Summary
   
Three Months Ended
         
Nine Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
(Millions, except percentages)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
 
Marketing and promotion
 
$
814
   
$
930
   
$
(116
)
   
(12
)%
 
$
2,344
   
$
2,445
   
$
(101
)
   
(4
)%
Card Member rewards
   
1,900
     
1,566
     
334
     
21
     
5,633
     
5,035
     
598
     
12
 
Card Member services and other
   
363
     
278
     
85
     
31
     
1,033
     
841
     
192
     
23
 
Total marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other
   
3,077
     
2,774
     
303
     
11
     
9,010
     
8,321
     
689
     
8
 
Salaries and employee benefits
   
1,265
     
1,263
     
2
     
     
3,822
     
4,052
     
(230
)
   
(6
)
Other, net(a)
   
1,498
     
1,498
     
     
     
4,281
     
3,388
     
893
     
26
 
Total expenses
 
$
5,840
   
$
5,535
   
$
305
     
6
%
 
$
17,113
   
$
15,761
   
$
1,352
     
9
%
(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 for both the three and nine month periods, primarily due to lower spending on growth initiatives.
Card Member rewards expenses increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by increases in Membership Rewards expense of $202 million and cobrand rewards expense of $132 million for the three month period and an increase in Membership Rewards expense of $674 million partially offset by a decrease in cobrand rewards expense of $75 million for the nine month period. The increases in Membership Rewards expense were primarily driven by enhancements to U.S. Consumer and Small Business Platinum rewards and higher spending volumes. The increase in cobrand rewards expense in the three month period reflected growth in spending volumes across cobrand card products, which was more than offset in the nine month period by the impact of Costco-related expenses in the prior year.
The Membership Rewards Ultimate Redemption Rate (URR) for current program participants was 95 percent (rounded down) at both September 30, 2017 and 2016.
Card Member services and other expenses increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by higher usage of travel-related benefits and the enhanced Platinum card benefits.
Salaries and employee benefits expenses were flat for the three month period and decreased for the nine month period. The decrease in the nine month period reflected higher restructuring charges in the prior year and benefits from our cost reduction initiatives in the current year.
Other expenses were flat for the three month period and increased for the nine month period. The three month period results were primarily driven by lower technology-related costs in the current year and Loyalty Edge-related costs included in the prior year, offset by current-year charges related to our U.S. loyalty coalition and prepaid businesses. The increase in the nine month period was primarily driven by the prior-year gains on the sale of the HFS portfolios, partially offset by the previously mentioned lower technology-related costs in the current year and Loyalty Edge-related costs in the prior year.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate decreased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily reflecting the realization of certain foreign tax credits and the geographic mix of business, and additionally in the nine month period, the resolution of certain prior years’ tax items.
 
 
 
Table 5: Selected Card-Related Statistical Information
   
As of or for the
   
Change
   
As of or for the
   
Change
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
2017
   
Nine Months Ended
   
2017
 
   
September 30,
   
vs.
   
September 30,
   
vs.
 
   
2017
   
2016
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2016
 
Card billed business: (billions)
                                   
United States
 
$
176.4
   
$
164.6
     
7
%
 
$
519.4
   
$
526.0
     
(1
)%
Outside the United States
   
95.5
     
86.6
     
10
     
274.4
     
248.3
     
11
 
        Worldwide
 
$
271.9
   
$
251.2
     
8
   
$
793.8
   
$
774.3
     
3
 
Proprietary
 
$
225.3
   
$
206.4
     
9
   
$
658.0
   
$
645.2
     
2
 
Global Network Services
   
46.6
     
44.8
     
4
     
135.8
     
129.1
     
5
 
        Worldwide
 
$
271.9
   
$
251.2
     
8
   
$
793.8
   
$
774.3
     
3
 
Total cards-in-force: (millions)
                                               
United States
   
49.5
     
47.1
     
5
     
49.5
     
47.1
     
5
 
Outside the United States
   
63.4
     
61.7
     
3
     
63.4
     
61.7
     
3
 
        Worldwide
   
112.9
     
108.8
     
4
     
112.9
     
108.8
     
4
 
Proprietary
   
63.9
     
60.7
     
5
     
63.9
     
60.7
     
5
 
Global Network Services
   
49.0
     
48.1
     
2
     
49.0
     
48.1
     
2
 
        Worldwide
   
112.9
     
108.8
     
4
     
112.9
     
108.8
     
4
 
Basic cards-in-force: (millions)
                                               
United States
   
39.0
     
37.0
     
5
     
39.0
     
37.0
     
5
 
Outside the United States
   
52.7
     
51.1
     
3
     
52.7
     
51.1
     
3
 
        Worldwide
   
91.7
     
88.1
     
4
     
91.7
     
88.1
     
4
 
Average basic Card Member spending: (dollars)(a)
                                               
United States
 
$
5,018
   
$
4,937
     
2
   
$
15,009
   
$
13,732
     
9
 
Outside the United States
   
3,598
     
3,264
     
10
     
10,351
     
9,667
     
7
 
        Worldwide Average
   
4,596
     
4,433
     
4
     
13,620
     
12,628
     
8
 
Card Member loans: (billions)
                                               
United States
   
59.9
     
53.9
     
11
     
59.9
     
53.9
     
11
 
Outside the United States
   
8.0
     
6.7
     
19
     
8.0
     
6.7
     
19
 
        Worldwide
 
$
67.9
   
$
60.6
     
12
   
$
67.9
   
$
60.6
     
12
 
Average discount rate
   
2.42
%
   
2.47
%
           
2.44
%
   
2.45
%
       
Average fee per card (dollars)(a)
 
$
49
   
$
49
     
%
 
$
49
   
$
43
     
14
%
(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.

 
 
Table 6: Billed Business Growth
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2017
 
       
Percentage Increase
 
   
Percentage 
 
(Decrease) Assuming
 
   
Increase
 
No Changes in
 
   
(Decrease)
 
FX Rates(a)
 
Worldwide(b)
         
Total billed business
 
8
%
8
%
Proprietary billed business
 
9
 
9
 
GNS billed business(c)
 
4
 
4
 
Airline-related volume (8% of worldwide billed business)
 
5
 
3
 
United States(b)
         
Billed business
 
7
     
Proprietary consumer card billed business(d)
 
7
     
Proprietary small business and corporate services billed business(e)
 
9
     
T&E-related volume (25% of U.S. billed business)
 
3
     
Non-T&E-related volume (75% of U.S. billed business)
 
8
     
Airline-related volume (7% of U.S. billed business)
 
2
     
Outside the United States(b)
         
Billed business
 
10
 
9
 
     Japan, Asia Pacific & Australia (JAPA) billed business
 
8
 
9
 
     Latin America & Canada (LACC) billed business
 
10
 
8
 
     Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EMEA) billed business
 
13
 
10
 
Proprietary consumer card billed business(c)
 
15
 
13
 
Proprietary small business and corporate services billed business(e)
 
14
%
11
%
(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.

 
 
Table 7: Billed Business Growth
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2017
 
       
Percentage Increase
 
   
Percentage 
 
(Decrease) Assuming
 
   
Increase
 
No Changes in
 
   
(Decrease)
 
FX Rates(a)
 
Worldwide(b)
         
Total billed business
 
3
%
3
%
Proprietary billed business
 
2
 
2
 
GNS billed business(c)
 
5
 
5
 
Airline-related volume (8% of worldwide billed business)
 
2
 
2
 
United States(b)
         
Billed business
 
(1)
     
Proprietary consumer card billed business(d)
 
(6)
     
Proprietary small business and corporate services billed business(e)
 
5
     
T&E-related volume (26% of U.S. billed business)
 
(2)
     
Non-T&E-related volume (74% of U.S. billed business)
 
(1)
     
Airline-related volume (7% of U.S. billed business)
 
(1)
     
Outside the United States(b)
         
Billed business
 
11
 
11
 
     Japan, Asia Pacific & Australia billed business
 
12
 
12
 
     Latin America & Canada billed business
 
10
 
9
 
     Europe, the Middle East & Africa billed business
 
9
 
11
 
Proprietary consumer card billed business(c)
 
11
 
12
 
Proprietary small business and corporate services billed business(e)
 
12
%
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.

 

Table 8: Selected Credit-Related Statistical Information
   
As of or for the
   
Change
   
As of or for the
   
Change
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
2017
   
Nine Months Ended
   
2017
 
   
September 30,
   
vs.
   
September 30,
   
vs.
 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2016
 
Worldwide Card Member loans: (a)
                                   
Total loans (billions)
 
$
67.9
   
$
60.6
     
12
   
$
67.9
   
$
60.6
     
12
 
Loss reserves:
                                               
Beginning balance
 
$
1,320
   
$
1,091
     
21
   
$
1,223
   
$
1,028
     
19
 
Provisions (b)
   
531
     
319
     
66
     
1,272
     
831
     
53
 
Net write-offs — principal only (c)
   
(299
)
   
(250
)
   
20
     
(856
)
   
(687
)
   
25
 
Net write-offs — interest and fees (c)
   
(57
)
   
(48
)
   
19
     
(163
)
   
(128
)
   
27
 
Other  (d)
   
7
     
2
     
#
     
26
     
70
     
(63
)
Ending balance
 
$
1,502
   
$
1,114
     
35
   
$
1,502
   
$
1,114
     
35
 
Ending reserves — principal
 
$
1,427
   
$
1,050
     
36
   
$
1,427
   
$
1,050
     
36
 
Ending reserves — interest and fees
 
$
75
   
$
64
     
17
   
$
75
   
$
64
     
17
 
% of loans
   
2.2
%
   
1.8
%
           
2.2
%
   
1.8
%
       
% of past due
   
174
%
   
160
%
           
174
%
   
160
%
       
Average loans (billions)(a)
 
$
67.1
   
$
60.3
     
11
%
 
$
65.4
   
$
58.9
     
11
%
Net write-off rate — principal only (e)
   
1.8
%
   
1.7
%
           
1.7
%
   
1.6
%
       
Net write-off rate — principal, interest and fees (e)
   
2.1
     
2.0
             
2.1
     
1.8
         
30+ days past due as a % of total (e)
   
1.3
%
   
1.1
%
           
1.3
%
   
1.1
%
       
                                                 
Worldwide Card Member receivables: (a)
                                               
Total receivables (billions)
 
$
51.5
   
$
45.3
     
14
%
 
$
51.5
   
$
45.3
     
14
%
Loss reserves:
                                               
Beginning balance
 
$
475
   
$
423
     
12
   
$
467
   
$
462
     
1
 
Provisions (b)
   
214
     
174
     
23
     
590
     
496
     
19
 
Net write-offs (c)
   
(175
)
   
(159
)
   
10
     
(548
)
   
(518
)
   
6
 
Other
   
(2
)
   
(1
)
   
#
     
3
     
(3
)
   
#
 
Ending balance
 
$
512
   
$
437
     
17
   
$
512
   
$
437
     
17
 
% of receivables
   
1.0
%
   
1.0
%
           
1.0
%
   
1.0
%
       
Net write-off rate — principal only (e)
   
1.5
     
1.4
             
1.6
     
1.6
         
Net write-off rate — principal and fees  (e)
   
1.7
     
1.6
             
1.8
     
1.8
         
30+ days past due as a % of total  (e)
   
1.3
     
1.4
             
1.3
     
1.4
         
Net loss ratio as a % of charge volume — GCP
   
0.09
     
0.11
             
0.10
     
0.09
         
90+ days past billing as a % of total — GCP
   
0.9
%
   
0.8
%
           
0.9
%
   
0.8
%
       
# 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)
The nine months ended September 30, 2016 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.

 

Table 9: Net Interest Yield on Card Member Loans
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net interest income
 
$
1,675
   
$
1,334
   
$
4,705
   
$
4,363
 
Exclude:
                               
Interest expense not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio
   
315
     
261
     
869
     
746
 
Interest income not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio
   
(174
)
   
(104
)
   
(459
)
   
(309
)
Adjusted net interest income (a)
 
$
1,816
   
$
1,491
   
$
5,115
   
$
4,800
 
Average loans (billions)(b)
 
$
67.1
   
$
60.3
   
$
65.4
   
$
66.6
 
Net interest income divided by average loans
   
10.0
%
   
8.8
%
   
9.6
%
   
8.7
%
Net interest yield on Card Member loans (a)
   
10.7
%
   
9.8
%
   
10.5
%
   
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.
 
 
Business Segment Results

U.S. Consumer Services


Table 10: USCS Selected Income Statement Data

   
Three Months Ended
         
Nine Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
(Millions, except percentages)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
 
Revenues
                                               
Non-interest revenues
 
$
1,976
   
$
1,849
   
$
127
     
7
%
 
$
5,832
   
$
5,947
     
(115
)
   
(2
)%
Interest income
   
1,509
     
1,178
     
331
     
28
     
4,186
     
3,847
     
339
     
9
 
Interest expense
   
202
     
125
     
77
     
62
     
519
     
404
     
115
     
28
 
Net interest income
   
1,307
     
1,053
     
254
     
24
     
3,667
     
3,443
     
224
     
7
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
3,283
     
2,902
     
381
     
13
     
9,499
     
9,390
     
109
     
1
 
Provisions for losses
   
459
     
275
     
184
     
67
     
1,098
     
702
     
396
     
56
 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
   
2,824
     
2,627
     
197
     
7
     
8,401
     
8,688
     
(287
)
   
(3
)
Expenses
                                                               
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other
   
1,440
     
1,274
     
166
     
13
     
4,206
     
3,991
     
215
     
5
 
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses
   
684
     
738
     
(54
)
   
(7
)
   
2,126
     
1,297
     
829
     
64
 
Total expenses
   
2,124
     
2,012
     
112
     
6
     
6,332
     
5,288
     
1,044
     
20
 
Pretax segment income
   
700
     
615
     
85
     
14
     
2,069
     
3,400
     
(1,331
)
   
(39
)
Income tax provision
   
225
     
214
     
11
     
5
     
685
     
1,238
     
(553
)
   
(45
)
Segment income
 
$
475
   
$
401
   
$
74
     
18
%
 
$
1,384
   
$
2,162
     
(778
)
   
(36
)%
Effective tax rate
   
32.1
%
   
34.8
%
                   
33.1
%
   
36.4
%
               

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 increased for the three month period and decreased for the nine month period, primarily driven by discount revenue, which increased $74 million for the three month period, reflecting an increase in billed business of 6 percent, and decreased $251 million for the nine month period, reflecting a decrease in billed business of 6 percent. The decreases in both discount revenue and billed business in the nine month period were driven by Costco-related volumes included in the prior year. Net card fees and other fees and commissions increased in both periods driven primarily by growth in the Platinum and Delta portfolios and higher delinquency fees, respectively.
Net interest income increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by growth in average Card Member loans and higher yields, partially offset by higher interest expense, primarily driven by marginally higher cost of funds.
Provisions for losses increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by Card Member loans provision, which increased $168 million and $345 million in the three and nine month periods, respectively, due to strong loan growth, as well as increases in delinquencies and higher net write-off rates primarily due to the seasoning of recent loan vintages and a shift in mix towards non-cobrand lending products, which have higher write-off rates.
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other expenses increased for both the three and nine month periods, reflecting higher Card Member rewards and Card Member services and other expenses in both periods, partially offset by lower marketing and promotion expenses in both periods. Card Member rewards expense increased $168 million and $123 million for the three and nine month periods, respectively, primarily driven by enhancements to Platinum rewards and increased spending volumes, partially offset in the nine month period by Costco-related expenses in the prior year. Card Member services and other expenses increased $48 million and $104 million for the three and nine month periods, respectively, driven by higher usage of travel-related benefits and enhanced Platinum card benefits. Marketing and promotion expenses decreased $50 million and $12 million for the three and nine month periods, respectively, due to lower spending on growth initiatives.
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses decreased for the three month period and increased for the nine month period. The decrease in the three month period was primarily driven by lower technology and other servicing-related costs in the current year and the prior year HFS valuation allowance adjustment and restructuring charges. All of these impacts were more than offset in the nine month period by the prior-year gain on the sale of the Costco HFS portfolio.
The effective tax rate was lower for both the three and nine month periods, primarily reflecting the level of pretax income in relation to recurring permanent tax benefits.

 
 
 

 
 
Table 11: USCS Selected Statistical Information

   
As of or for the
   
Change
   
As of or for the
   
Change
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
2017
   
Nine Months Ended
   
2017
 
   
September 30,
   
vs.
   
September 30,
   
vs.
 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2016
 
Card billed business (billions)
 
$
83.7
   
$
78.6
     
6
%
 
$
246.0
   
$
261.0
     
(6
)%
Total cards-in-force
   
34.4
     
32.3
     
7
     
34.4
     
32.3
     
7
 
Basic cards-in-force
   
24.6
     
22.9
     
7
     
24.6
     
22.9
     
7
 
Average basic Card Member spending (dollars)
 
$
3,433
   
$
3,452
     
(1
)
 
$
10,271
   
$
9,878
     
4
 
Total segment assets (billions)
 
$
87.7
   
$
79.4
     
10
   
$
87.7
   
$
79.4
     
10
 
Segment capital (billions)
 
$
7.1
   
$
7.5
     
(5
)
 
$
7.1
   
$
7.5
     
(5
)
Return on average segment capital (a)
   
24.2
%
   
37.4
%
           
24.2
%
   
37.4
%
       
Card Member loans: (b)
                                               
Total loans (billions)
 
$
49.3
   
$
44.9
     
10
   
$
49.3
   
$
44.9
     
10
 
Average loans (billions)
 
$
49.0
   
$
44.8
     
9
   
$
48.1
   
$
43.7
     
10
 
Net write-off rate – principal only (c)
   
1.8
%
   
1.6
%
           
1.7
%
   
1.5
%
       
Net write-off rate – principal, interest and fees (c)
   
2.1
%
   
1.9
%
           
2.0
%
   
1.8
%
       
30+ days past due loans as a % of total
   
1.3
%
   
1.1
%
           
1.3
%
   
1.1
%
       
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Card Member loans:
                                               
Net interest income
 
$
1,307
   
$
1,053
           
$
3,667
   
$
3,443
         
Exclude:
                                               
Interest expense not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio
   
33
     
20
             
84
     
59
         
Interest income not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio
   
(29
)
   
(6
)
           
(70
)
   
(16
)
       
Adjusted net interest income (d)
 
$
1,311
   
$
1,067
           
$
3,681
   
$
3,486
         
                                                 
Average loans (billions)(e)
 
$
49.0
   
$
44.8
           
$
48.1
   
$
50.1
         
                                                 
Net interest income divided by average loans
   
10.7
%
   
9.4
%
           
10.2
%
   
9.2
%
       
Net interest yield on Card Member loans(d)
   
10.6
%
   
9.5
%
           
10.2
%
   
9.3
%
       
Card Member receivables: (b)
                                               
Total receivables (billions)
 
$
11.2
   
$
10.1
     
11
%
 
$
11.2
   
$
10.1
     
11
%
Net write-off rate – principal only (c)
   
1.2
%
   
1.1
%
           
1.3
%
   
1.4
%
       
Net write-off rate – principal and fees (c)
   
1.3
%
   
1.3
%
           
1.5
%
   
1.6
%
       
30+ days past due as a % of total
   
1.2
%
   
1.4
%
           
1.2
%
   
1.4
%
       
(a)
Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($1.7 billion and $2.7 billion for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($7.2 billion for both the twelve months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016).
(b)
Refer to Table 8 footnote (a).
(c)
Refer to Table 8 footnote (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 9 footnote (b).

 
 
International Consumer and Network Services


Table 12: ICNS Selected Income Statement Data

   
Three Months Ended
         
Nine Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
(Millions, except percentages)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
 
Revenues
                                               
Non-interest revenues
 
$
1,277
   
$
1,205
   
$
72
     
6
%
 
$
3,719
   
$
3,587
   
$
132
     
4
%
Interest income
   
271
     
231
     
40
     
17
     
752
     
692
     
60
     
9
 
Interest expense
   
65
     
55
     
10
     
18
     
178
     
167
     
11
     
7
 
Net interest income
   
206
     
176
     
30
     
17
     
574
     
525
     
49
     
9
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
1,483
     
1,381
     
102
     
7
     
4,293
     
4,112
     
181
     
4
 
Provisions for losses
   
106
     
84
     
22
     
26
     
256
     
233
     
23
     
10
 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
   
1,377
     
1,297
     
80
     
6
     
4,037
     
3,879
     
158
     
4
 
Expenses
                                                               
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other
   
587
     
554
     
33
     
6
     
1,653
     
1,535
     
118
     
8
 
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses
   
483
     
535
     
(52
)
   
(10
)
   
1,510
     
1,608
     
(98
)
   
(6
)
Total expenses
   
1,070
     
1,089
     
(19
)
   
(2
)
   
3,163
     
3,143
     
20
     
1
 
Pretax segment income
   
307
     
208
     
99
     
48
     
874
     
736
     
138
     
19
 
Income tax provision
   
21
     
53
     
(32
)
   
(60
)
   
161
     
165
     
(4
)
   
(2
)
Segment income
 
$
286
   
$
155
   
$
131
     
85
%
 
$
713
   
$
571
   
$
142
     
25
%
Effective tax rate
   
6.8
%
   
25.5
%
                   
18.4
%
   
22.4
%
               

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 increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by higher discount revenue in both periods, due to an increase in proprietary billed business, as well as higher net card fees, partially offset in the nine month period by a prior-year contractual payment from a GNS partner. Total billed business increased, for both the three and nine months, reflecting higher cards-in-force and average spend per card. Refer to Tables 6, 7 and 13 for additional information on billed business.
Net interest income increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by higher average loan balances and higher yields.
Provisions for losses increased for both the three and nine month periods due to strong growth in both Card Member receivables and loans, as well as an increase in net write-off rates.
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other expenses increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by higher Card Member rewards expense due to higher spending volumes, partially offset by lower marketing and promotion expenses in part due to lower spending on growth initiatives.
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses decreased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by lower salaries and employee benefits costs, including restructuring charges in the prior year, partially offset in the nine month period by higher technology and other servicing-related costs.
The effective tax rates decreased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily reflecting the allocated share of tax benefits related to the realization of certain foreign tax credits and the geographic mix of business, and additionally in the nine month period, the allocated share of tax benefits related to the resolution of certain prior years’ tax items. In addition, the effective tax rate in all periods reflected 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.
 
 

 

 
 
Table 13: ICNS Selected Statistical Information

   
As of or for the
   
Change
   
As of or for the
   
Change
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
2017
   
Nine Months Ended
   
2017
 
   
September 30,
   
vs.
   
September 30,
   
vs.
 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2016
 
Card billed business (billions)
                                   
Proprietary
 
$
30.5
   
$
26.6
     
15
%
 
$
86.0
   
$
77.8
     
11
%
GNS
   
46.6
     
44.8
     
4
     
135.8
     
129.1
     
5
 
  Total
 
$
77.1
   
$
71.4
     
8
   
$
221.8
   
$
206.9
     
7
 
Total cards-in-force
                                               
Proprietary
   
15.6
     
14.8
     
5
     
15.6
     
14.8
     
5
 
GNS
   
49.0
     
48.1
     
2
     
49.0
     
48.1
     
2
 
  Total
   
64.6
     
62.9
     
3
     
64.6
     
62.9
     
3
 
Proprietary basic cards-in-force
   
10.8
     
10.3
     
5
     
10.8
     
10.3
     
5
 
Average proprietary basic Card Member spending (dollars)
 
$
2,840
   
$
2,596
     
9
   
$
8,111
   
$
7,665
     
6
 
Total segment assets (billions)
 
$
38.9
   
$
34.4
     
13
   
$
38.9
   
$
34.4
     
13
 
Segment capital (billions)
 
$
2.9
   
$
2.7
     
7
   
$
2.9
   
$
2.7
     
7
 
Return on average segment capital (a)
   
29.5
%
   
26.4
%
           
29.5
%
   
26.4
%
       
Card Member loans: (b)
                                               
Total loans (billions)
 
$
7.8
   
$
6.7
     
16
   
$
7.8
   
$
6.7
     
16
 
Average loans (billions)
 
$
7.5
   
$
6.7
     
12
   
$
7.2
   
$
6.8
     
6
%
Net write-off rate – principal only  (c)
   
2.2
%
   
2.1
%
           
2.1
%
   
2.0
%
       
Net write-off rate – principal, interest and fees (c)
   
2.7
%
   
2.6
%
           
2.6
%
   
2.5
%
       
30+ days past due loans as a % of total
   
1.6
%
   
1.7
%
           
1.6
%
   
1.7
%
       
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Card Member loans:
                                               
Net interest income
 
$
206
   
$
176
           
$
574
   
$
525
         
Exclude:
                                               
Interest expense not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio
   
17
     
12
             
41
     
33
         
Interest income not attributable to our Card Member loan portfolio
   
(4
)
   
             
(10
)
   
(7
)
       
Adjusted net interest income (d)
 
$
219
   
$
188
           
$
605
   
$
551
         
                                                 
Average loans (billions)
 
$
7.5
   
$
6.7
           
$
7.2
   
$
6.8
         
                                                 
Net interest income divided by average loans
   
11.0
%
   
10.5
%
           
10.6
%
   
10.4
%
       
Net interest yield on Card Member loans (d)
   
11.6
%
   
11.2
%
           
11.2
%
   
10.9
%
       
Card Member receivables: (b)
                                               
Total receivables (billions)
 
$
6.5
   
$
5.6
     
16
%
 
$
6.5
   
$
5.6
     
16
%
Net write-off rate – principal only (c)
   
2.2
%
   
2.0
%
           
2.1
%
   
2.1
%
       
Net write-off rate – principal and fees(c)
   
2.4
%
   
2.2
%
           
2.2
%
   
2.3
%
       
30+ days past due as a % of total
   
1.4
%
   
1.5
%
           
1.4
%
   
1.5
%
       
(a)
Return on average segment capital is calculated by dividing (i) one-year period segment income ($797 million and $711 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($2.7 billion for both the twelve months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016).
(b)
Refer to Table 8 footnote (a).
(c)
Refer to Table 8 footnote (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.

 
 
Global Commercial Services


Table 14: GCS Selected Income Statement Data

   
Three Months Ended
         
Nine Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
(Millions, except percentages)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
 
Revenues
                                               
Non-interest revenues
 
$
2,360
   
$
2,240
   
$
120
     
5
%
 
$
6,999
   
$
6,710
   
$
289
     
4
%
Interest income
   
351
     
282
     
69
     
24
     
1,004
     
913
     
91
     
10
 
Interest expense
   
144
     
98
     
46
     
47
     
382
     
297
     
85
     
29
 
Net interest income
   
207
     
184
     
23
     
13
     
622
     
616
     
6
     
1
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
2,567
     
2,424
     
143
     
6
     
7,621
     
7,326
     
295
     
4
 
Provisions for losses
   
194
     
134
     
60
     
45
     
556
     
433
     
123
     
28
 
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
   
2,373
     
2,290
     
83
     
4
     
7,065
     
6,893
     
172
     
2
 
Expenses
                                                               
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other
   
905
     
808
     
97
     
12
     
2,792
     
2,415
     
377
     
16
 
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses
   
696
     
753
     
(57
)
   
(8
)
   
2,098
     
2,078
     
20
     
1
 
Total expenses
   
1,601
     
1,561
     
40
     
3
     
4,890
     
4,493
     
397
     
9
 
Pretax segment income
   
772
     
729
     
43
     
6
     
2,175
     
2,400
     
(225
)
   
(9
)
Income tax provision
   
243
     
263
     
(20
)
   
(8
)
   
728
     
873
     
(145
)
   
(17
)
Segment income
 
$
529
   
$
466
   
$
63
     
14
%
 
$
1,447
   
$
1,527
   
$
(80
)
   
(5
)%
Effective tax rate
   
31.5
%
   
36.1
%
                   
33.5
%
   
36.4
%
               

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 nine month periods, primarily driven by higher discount revenue due to increases in billed business, partially offset by increased contra-discount revenue driven by higher client incentives. The increase in non-interest revenues, in both periods, was also driven by higher net card fees and higher other fees and commissions, primarily due to growth in the U.S. small business Platinum portfolio and higher delinquency fees, respectively.
Net interest income increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by an increase in average Card Member loans and higher yields, partially offset by higher interest expense, reflecting an increase in the cost of funds.
Provisions for losses increased for both the three and nine month periods due to growth in both Card Member receivables and loans, as well as increases in net write-off and delinquency rates, all of which were partially offset in the nine month period by improving credit performance in the commercial financing portfolio.
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other expenses increased for both the three and nine month periods, driven by higher Card Member rewards expenses, which increased $120 million and $366 million for the three and nine month periods, respectively, partially offset by declines in marketing and promotion expenses in the same respective periods. The higher Card Member rewards expenses were primarily driven by enhancements to Platinum rewards and higher spending volumes, partially offset in the nine month period by Costco-related expenses in the prior year.


Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses decreased for the three month period and was relatively flat for the nine month period, primarily driven by lower technology and other servicing-related costs in the current year and the prior year HFS valuation allowance adjustment and restructuring charges, all of which were offset in the nine month period by the prior-year gain on the sale of the Costco HFS portfolio.
The effective tax rate was lower for both the three and nine months, primarily reflecting the geographic mix of business.
 

 
 
 
Table 15: GCS Selected Statistical Information

   
As of or for the
   
Change
   
As of or for the
   
Change
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
2017
   
Nine Months Ended
   
2017
 
   
September 30,
   
vs.
   
September 30,
   
vs.
 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2016
 
Card billed business (billions)
 
$
109.7
   
$
100.1
     
10
%
 
$
321.5
   
$
302.8
     
6
%
Total cards-in-force
   
13.9
     
13.6
     
2
     
13.9
     
13.6
     
2
 
Basic cards-in-force
   
13.9
     
13.6
     
2
     
13.9
     
13.6
     
2
 
Average basic Card Member spending (dollars)
 
$
7,907
   
$
7,386
     
7
   
$
23,364
   
$
20,857
     
12
 
Total segment assets (billions)
 
$
52.7
   
$
46.8
     
13
   
$
52.7
   
$
46.8
     
13
 
Segment capital (billions)
 
$
7.3
   
$
7.3
     
   
$
7.3
   
$
7.3
     
 
Return on average segment capital (a)
   
25.3
%
   
28.0
%
           
25.3
%
   
28.0
%
       
Card Member loans (billions)
 
$
10.7
   
$
9.1
     
18
   
$
10.7
   
$
9.1
     
18
 
Card Member receivables (billions)
 
$
33.8
   
$
29.6
     
14
   
$
33.8
   
$
29.6
     
14
 
Card Member loans: (b)
                                               
Total loans - GSBS (billions)
 
$
10.7
   
$
9.0
     
19
   
$
10.7
   
$
9.0
     
19
 
Average loans - GSBS (billions)
 
$
10.5
   
$
8.8
     
19
   
$
10.1
   
$
8.4
     
20
 
Net write-off rate (principal only) - GSBS (c)
   
1.6
%
   
1.5
%
           
1.6
%
   
1.4
%
       
Net write-off rate (principal, interest and fees) - GSBS (c)
   
1.9
%
   
1.8
%
           
1.9
%
   
1.7
%
       
30+ days past due as a % of total - GSBS
   
1.1
%
   
1.1
%
           
1.1
%
   
1.1
%
       
Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Card Member loans:
                                               
Net interest income
 
$
207
   
$
184
           
$
622
   
$
616
         
Exclude:
                                               
Interest expense not attributable to our Card  Member loan portfolio
   
108
     
79
             
290
     
231
         
Interest income not attributable to our Card  Member loan portfolio
   
(29
)
   
(28
)
           
(83
)
   
(85
)
       
Adjusted net interest income(d)
 
$
286
   
$
235
           
$
829
   
$
762
         
                                                 
Average loans (billions)(e)
 
$
10.5
   
$
8.8
           
$
10.1
   
$
9.8
         
                                                 
Net interest income divided by average loans
   
7.9
%
   
8.3
%
           
8.2
%
   
8.4
%
       
Net interest yield on Card Member loans (d)
   
10.8
%
   
10.6
%
           
10.9
%
   
10.4
%
       
Card Member receivables: (b)
                                               
Total receivables - GCP (billions)
 
$
17.9
   
$
15.8
     
13
   
$
17.9
   
$
15.8
     
13
 
90+ days past billing as a % of total - GCP (f)
   
0.9
%
   
0.8
%
           
0.9
%
   
0.8
%
       
Net loss ratio (as a % of charge volume) - GCP
   
0.09
%
   
0.11
%
           
0.10
%
   
0.09
%
       
Total receivables - GSBS (billions)
 
$
15.9
   
$
13.8
     
15
%
 
$
15.9
   
$
13.8
     
15
%
Net write-off rate (principal only) - GSBS (c)
   
1.5
%
   
1.3
%
           
1.6
%
   
1.6
%
       
Net write-off rate (principal and fees) - GSBS (c)
   
1.7
%
   
1.5
%
           
1.8
%
   
1.8
%
       
30+ days past due as a % of total - GSBS
   
1.4
%
   
1.5
%
           
1.4
%
   
1.5
%
       
(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 September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($7.2 billion for both the twelve months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016).
(b)
Refer to Table 8 footnote (a).
(c)
Refer to Table 8 footnote (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 9 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.

 
 
Global Merchant Services


Table 16: GMS Selected Income Statement Data

   
Three Months Ended
         
Nine Months Ended
       
   
September 30,
   
Change
   
September 30,
   
Change
 
(Millions, except percentages)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2017 vs. 2016
 
Revenues
                                               
Non-interest revenues
 
$
1,088
   
$
1,044
   
$
44
     
4
%
 
$
3,191
   
$
3,172
   
$
19
     
1
%
Interest income
   
     
     
     
     
1
     
1
     
     
 
Interest expense
   
(65
)
   
(60
)
   
(5
)
   
8
     
(188
)
   
(180
)
   
(8
)
   
4
 
Net interest income
   
65
     
60
     
5
     
8
     
189
     
181
     
8
     
4
 
Total revenues net of interest expense
   
1,153
     
1,104
     
49
     
4
     
3,380
     
3,353
     
27
     
1
 
Provisions for losses
   
8
     
8
     
     
     
11
     
21
     
(10
)
   
(48
)
Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses
   
1,145
     
1,096
     
49
     
4
     
3,369
     
3,332
     
37
     
1
 
Expenses
                                                               
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other
   
48
     
55
     
(7
)
   
(13
)
   
117
     
171
     
(54
)
   
(32
)
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses
   
580
     
470
     
110
     
23
     
1,488
     
1,422
     
66
     
5
 
Total expenses
   
628
     
525
     
103
     
20
     
1,605
     
1,593
     
12
     
1
 
Pretax segment income
   
517
     
571
     
(54
)
   
(9
)
   
1,764
     
1,739
     
25
     
1
 
Income tax provision
   
149
     
212
     
(63
)
   
(30
)
   
603
     
650
     
(47
)
   
(7
)
Segment income
 
$
368
   
$
359
   
$
9
     
3
%
 
$
1,161
   
$
1,089
   
$
72
     
7
%
Effective tax rate
   
28.8
%
   
37.1
%
                   
34.2
%
   
37.4
%
               

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 increased for the three month period and were relatively flat for the nine month period, primarily driven by discount revenue, which increased and was relatively flat for the same respective periods. The discount revenue increase in the three month period was driven by billed business growth and an increase in loyalty coalition revenues, both of which were offset in the nine month period by Costco-related revenues in the prior year.
Marketing, promotion, rewards, Card Member services and other expenses decreased for both the three and nine month periods, reflecting lower levels of spending on growth initiatives.
Salaries and employee benefits and other operating expenses increased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily driven by charges related to the U.S. loyalty coalition business in the current quarter, partially offset by a benefit 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.
The effective tax rate decreased for both the three and nine month periods, primarily reflecting the allocated share of tax benefits related to the realization of certain foreign tax credits and the geographic mix of business.

 
 
Table 17: GMS Selected Statistical Information

   
As of or for the
   
Change
   
As of or for the
   
Change
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
2017
   
Nine Months Ended
   
2017
 
   
September 30,
   
vs.
   
September 30,
   
vs.
 
(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)
 
2017
   
2016
   
2016
   
2017
   
2016
   
2016
 
Loyalty Coalition revenue
 
$
116
   
$
106
     
9
%
 
$
332
   
$
304
     
9
%
Average discount rate
   
2.42
%
   
2.47
%
           
2.44
%
   
2.45
%
       
Total segment assets (billions)
 
$
26.7
   
$
23.2
     
15
%
 
$
26.7
   
$
23.2
     
15
%
Segment capital (billions)
 
$
2.6
   
$
2.3
     
13
%
 
$
2.6
   
$
2.3
     
13
%
Return on average segment capital (a)
   
59.3
%
   
59.9
%
           
59.3
%
   
59.9
%
       
(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 September 30, 2017 and 2016) by (ii) one-year average segment capital ($2.6 billion and $2.4 billion for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively).

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 increased to $302 million for the three month period, compared to $239 million in the same period a year ago and increased to $772 million for the nine month period compared to $766 million in the same period a year ago. The increase in the three month period was driven in part by charges related to the U.S. prepaid business, which were partially offset in the nine month period  by prior-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.

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 September 30, 2017.

Table 18: Regulatory Risk-Based Capital and Leverage Ratios

       
Basel III
 
Ratios as of
 
       
Standards
 
September 30,
 
       
2017(a)
 
2017
 
Risk-Based Capital
         
 
Common Equity Tier 1
 
5.8
%
   
   
   American Express Company
     
11.9
%
   
   American Express Centurion Bank
     
16.6
 
   
   American Express Bank, FSB
     
13.3
 
   
Tier 1
 
7.3
     
   
   American Express Company
     
13.0
 
   
   American Express Centurion Bank
     
16.6
 
   
   American Express Bank, FSB
     
13.3
 
 
Total
 
9.3
     
   
   American Express Company
     
14.7
 
   
   American Express Centurion Bank
     
17.9
 
   
   American Express Bank, FSB
     
14.6
 
Tier 1 Leverage
 
4.0
     
   
   American Express Company
     
10.9
 
   
   American Express Centurion Bank
     
15.9
 
   
   American Express Bank, FSB
     
11.8
 
Supplementary Leverage Ratio(b)
 
3.0
%
   
   
   American Express Company
     
9.3
 
   
   American Express Centurion Bank
     
12.3
 
   
   American Express Bank, FSB
     
9.7
%
(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.

Table 19: Regulatory Risk-Based Capital Components and Risk Weighted Assets
American Express Company
 
September 30,
 
($ in Billions)
 
2017
 
Risk-Based Capital
     
Common Equity Tier 1
 
$
16.4
 
Tier 1 Capital
   
17.9
 
Tier 2 Capital(a)
   
2.3
 
Total Capital
   
20.2
 
         
Risk-Weighted Assets
   
138.0
 
Average Total Assets to calculate the Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
   
164.6
 
Total Leverage Exposure to calculate SLR
 
$
191.7
 
(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.

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 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.

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 September 30, 2017. These ratios are calculated using the standardized approach for determining risk-weighted assets. We 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.

 

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

   
September 30,
 
($ in Billions)
 
2017
 
Estimated Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio under Fully Phased-In Basel III(a)
   
11.5
%
Estimated Tier 1 Capital Ratio under Fully Phased-In Basel III (a)
   
12.7
 
         
Estimated Tier 1 Leverage Ratio under Fully Phased-In Basel III(b)
   
10.7
 
Estimated Supplementary Leverage Ratio under Fully Phased-In Basel III(b)
   
9.2
%
         
Estimated Risk-Weighted Assets under Fully Phased-In Basel III(c)
 
$
139.2
 
Estimated Average Total Assets to calculate the Tier 1 Leverage Ratio(b)
   
164.4
 
Estimated Total Leverage Exposure to calculate SLR under Fully Phased-In Basel III (d)
 
$
191.5
 
(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 21 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 September 30, 2017.

Table 21: Transitional Basel III versus Fully Phased-in Basel III
(Billions)
 
CET1
   
Tier 1
 
Risk-Based Capital under Transitional Basel III
 
$
16.4
   
$
17.9
 
Adjustments related to:
               
AOCI
   
(0.1
)
   
(0.1
)
Transition provisions for intangible assets
   
(0.2
)
   
(0.2
)
Estimated CET1 and Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital under Fully Phased-in Basel III
 
$
16.1
   
$
17.6
 

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.

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 nine months ended September 30, 2017, we returned $1.6 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively, to our shareholders in the form of common stock dividends ($0.3 billion and $0.9 billion, respectively) and share repurchases ($1.3 billion and $3.0 billion, respectively). We repurchased 15 million common shares at an average price of $86.08 in the third quarter of 2017. These dividend and share repurchase amounts collectively represent approximately 115 percent and 97 percent of total capital generated during the three and nine-month periods, respectively.
 
 
 
In addition, during the three months ended September 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 C Preferred Shares during the third quarter of 2017 were $21 million.


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 September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

Table 22: Summary of Consolidated Debt and Customer Deposits

(Billions)
 
September 30, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
Short-term borrowings
 
$
2.3
   
$
5.6
 
Long-term debt
   
48.8
     
47.0
 
Total debt
   
51.1
     
52.6
 
Customer deposits
   
61.3
     
53.0
 
Total debt and customer deposits
 
$
112.4
   
$
105.6
 

During the three months ended September 30, 2017, we issued (i) $519 million of asset-backed securities from the American Express Credit Account Master Trust (the Lending Trust) consisting of $500 million of five year Class A Certificates at a floating rate of 1-month LIBOR plus 38 basis points and $19 million of five year Class B Certificates at a floating rate of 1-month LIBOR plus 58 basis points, and (ii) $2.3 billion of senior unsecured notes from American Express Company consisting of $1.9 billion of five year notes at a fixed rate of 2.50% and $400 million of five year notes at a floating rate of 3-month LIBOR plus 61 basis points.
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.


Table 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
 
Stable
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 Liquidity Coverage Ratio (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.

Securitized Borrowing Capacity
As of September 30, 2017, we maintained our committed, revolving, secured borrowing facility, with a maturity date of July 15, 2020, 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). We also maintained our committed, revolving, secured borrowing facility that gives us the right to sell up to $2.0 billion face amount of eligible AAA certificates from the Lending Trust. On September 15, 2017, we extended the Lending Trust’s $2.0 billion facility by two years to mature on September 15, 2020. 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 September 30, 2017, no amounts were drawn on the Charge Trust or Lending Trust facilities. On October 6, 2017, $3.0 billion was drawn on the Charge Trust facility.

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 $64.3 billion as of September 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 September 30, 2017 of $3.0 billion. On October 16, 2017, we increased the committed syndicated bank credit facility size to $3.5 billion and extended the facility by two years to mature on October 16, 2020. As of September 30, 2017, no amounts were drawn on this facility.


Unused Credit Outstanding
As of September 30, 2017, we had approximately $268 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 nine months ended September 30:

Table 24: Cash Flows

(Billions)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Total cash provided by (used in):
           
Operating activities
 
$
8.6
   
$
5.0
 
Investing activities
   
(10.5
)
   
10.1
 
Financing activities
   
2.6
     
(11.3
)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
   
0.3
     
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1.0
   
$
3.8
 


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.

Net cash provided by operating activities was driven by net income of $3.9 billion and $4.6 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 in cash provided by operating activities during the periods of comparison was also driven by impacts from movements in Other receivables and Accounts payable and other liabilities as a result of normal business operating activities.

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.

The decrease in net cash provided by investing activities primarily reflected the sale of the HFS portfolios in the prior period, as well as growth in Card Member loans and receivables and a higher increase in restricted cash in the current period.

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.

The increase in net cash provided by financing activities was primarily driven by an increase in customer deposits during the current period, versus a decrease in the prior period, and net long-term debt issuances during the current period, versus net long-term debt repayments during the prior period.

 

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 “four party” networks like Visa and MasterCard), as well as the rules, contract terms and practices governing merchant card acceptance. Even where we are not directly regulated, regulation of bankcard fees can significantly negatively impact the 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 EU regulation might apply price caps as well as other 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 seek 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 no assurance as to the outcome of 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.
 
 
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.
Consumer Financial Products Regulation


In the United States, our marketing, sale and servicing 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, disclosure and other 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 or subject us to regulatory scrutiny.
Internal and regulatory reviews to assess compliance with such laws and regulations 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 August 2017 we announced that certain of our subsidiaries signed a consent order with the CFPB to resolve issues related to a previously-disclosed internal review of our card product offerings in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other U.S. Territories.
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 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. We continue to vigorously defend this and similar antitrust claims initiated by merchants in other court and arbitration proceedings. See Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings” below and 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.
 
 
 
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 (collectively, the Trusts) 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 Over Time” feature(s) that allow revolving of certain balances.

 
 
 
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.
 
 
 
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.


 
 
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.

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, the factors identified in the subsequent bullet; credit performance remaining consistent with current expectations; 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, the imposition of fines or civil money penalties, an increase in Card Member reimbursements, restructurings, impairments and changes in reserves; 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 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; write-downs of deferred tax assets as a result of tax law or other changes; the impact of accounting changes and reclassifications; and our ability to continue executing the share repurchase program;
 
 
 
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;
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 the amount we spend on the promotion of enhanced services and rewards categories and the success of such promotion;
the actual amount to be spent on marketing and promotion, which will be based in part on management’s assessment of 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 the factors identified in 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; 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 provisions 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;
 
 
 
the growth in net interest income moderating more than expected, which will be impacted by the growth and mix of Card Member and other loans, which will depend in part on the factors identified in the preceding bullet, and our net interest yield on Card Member loans, 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 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 subsequent bullet;
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;
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;
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;
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, 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;
uncertainty relating to the ultimate outcome of the antitrust lawsuit filed against us by the U.S. Department of Justice and certain state attorneys general, including the review of the case by the U.S. Supreme Court and the impact on existing private merchant cases and potentially additional litigation and/or arbitrations;
potential actions by the FDIC and credit rating agencies applicable to securitization trusts, which could impact our asset securitization program;
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 (including further impacts from the recent hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico), health pandemics, terrorism, cyberattacks or fraud, any 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.
 
 
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 or 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, 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. On October 16, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari.


On July 30, 2015, plaintiff Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 137 Pension Fund, on behalf of themselves and other purchasers of American Express stock, filed a suit, captioned Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 137 Pension Fund v. American Express Co., Kenneth I. Chenault and Jeffrey C. Campbell, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for violation of federal securities law, alleging that the Company deliberately issued false and misleading statements to, and omitted important information from, the public relating to the financial importance of the Costco cobrand relationship to the Company, including, but not limited to, the decision to accelerate negotiations to renew the cobrand agreement. The plaintiff sought damages and injunctive relief. On October 2, 2017, the Court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s amended complaint with leave to replead.
On October 16, 2015, a putative class action, captioned Houssain v. American Express Company, et al., was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) relating to disclosures of the Costco cobrand relationship. On May 10, 2016, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint naming certain officers of the Company as defendants and alleging that the defendants violated certain ERISA fiduciary obligations by, among other things, allowing the investment of American Express Retirement Savings Plan (Plan) assets in American Express common stock when American Express common stock was not a prudent investment and misrepresenting and failing to disclose material facts to Plan participants in connection with the administration of the Plan. The amended complaint sought, among other remedies, an unspecified amount of damages. On September 28, 2017, the Court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint.

 
 
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.

 
 

 
 
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, 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
 
                         
July 1-31, 2017
                       
Repurchase program(a)
   
3,203,577
   
$
85.05
     
3,203,577
     
110,708,033
 
Employee transactions(b)
   
     
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
                                 
August 1-31, 2017
                               
Repurchase program(a)
   
6,481,629
   
$
85.65
     
6,481,629
     
104,226,404
 
Employee transactions(b)
   
26,593
   
$
84.80
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
                                 
September 1-30, 2017
                               
Repurchase program(a)
   
5,530,176
   
$
87.18
     
5,530,176
     
98,696,228
 
Employee transactions(b)
   
12
   
$
85.97
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
                                 
Total
                               
Repurchase program(a)
   
15,215,382
   
$
86.08
     
15,215,382
     
98,696,228
 
Employee transactions(b)
   
26,605
   
$
84.80
     
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.

 
.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

CEO Succession

On October 18, 2017, we announced that the Board of Directors appointed Stephen J. Squeri, 58, Chief Executive Officer of American Express Company and elected him Chairman of the Board, each effective February 1, 2018.  Mr. Squeri succeeds Kenneth I. Chenault, 66, who will retire as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer on that date. Mr. Squeri has been Vice Chairman since 2015 and prior to that was Group President, Global Corporate Services. 
 
In connection with his new role, effective February 1, 2018 Mr. Squeri will receive an annual base salary of $1.5 million and will be eligible to earn an annual cash incentive award of $4.5 million and an annual long-term incentive award consisting of restricted stock units and stock options with a value of $10.2 million.

In addition, Mr. Squeri will be awarded performance-vesting options on October 31, 2017 with a grant date fair value of $4.5 million.  On the same date, Douglas E. Buckminster, President, Global Consumer Services, and Anré Williams, President, Global Merchant Services and Loyalty, will also be granted performance-vesting stock options, each with a grant date fair value of $2.25 million, in connection with the CEO transition. The options will have a term of seven years, an exercise price equal to the closing price on the grant date and vesting subject to (i) a stock price goal of 30% above the closing price on the grant date, which must be met for a period of 20 consecutive trading days during the five-year period beginning on the grant date, (ii) a financial goal of positive cumulative GAAP net income for the three-year period 2018-2020 and (iii) a three-year service condition. 50% of the net after-tax shares received upon exercise must be held for at least 12 months. 

Required Iran Disclosures

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 third quarter of 2017 approximately 73 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.
 
 

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: October 24, 2017
 
 
 
By
 
/s/ Jeffrey C. Campbell
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeffrey C. Campbell
 
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
       
      Date: October 24, 2017
 
 
 
By
 
/s/ Linda Zukauckas
 
 
 
 
 
 
Linda Zukauckas
 
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Vice President and
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Controller
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
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.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document



E-1