American Express 401(k) Plan

New York, New York

American Express 401K plan details: employer match info, participant login access, withdrawal options, and full plan review. 2026 data with contacts,.

401(k) QualifiedESOP ComponentEmployer MatchMoney PurchaseFortune 500NYCredit & Lending
Overall Rating
4.5/5
Editorial Score
Active Participants
25,085
Total Plan Assets
$9.1B
▲ 15.0% YoY
Avg. Balance per Participant
$362K
Number of Plans
3

Plan Analysis

American Express, in the Credit & Lending sector and headquartered in New York, manages a 401(k) program with $9.1B in total plan assets across 25,085 active participants, established 51 years ago. Plan assets grew 15.0% year-over-year, reflecting solid investment returns and contributions. With an average balance of $362K per participant, this plan ranks well above the national median 401(k) balance of approximately $35,000. The employer contributed an average of $10,688 per active participant, equivalent to 44% of the 2026 employee deferral limit. Participants contributed an average of $12,144 each through employee deferrals. Distributions totaled $732.3M (8% of assets), reflecting normal retirement and separation activity. American Express sponsors 3 retirement plans, providing employees with diverse savings options.

Use our 401(k) calculator to see how your contributions could grow, or review the 2026 IRS limits.

American Express 401(k) Data Insights

Key observations from the most recent Form 5500 filing

  • Legacy plan: Established 51 years ago (1973), making it one of the longest-running 401(k) plans in its sector. Long-established plans often have more favorable terms and lower administrative costs.
  • Higher expenses: Plan expenses of $746.4M represent 8.2% of assets, above the industry average. Participants should review fund expense ratios within their accounts.
  • Strong returns: The plan generated $2.0B in investment income (21.5% of assets), reflecting favorable market conditions and investment selection during the filing year.
  • Low loan usage: Participant loans of $73.7M represent just 0.8% of plan assets - well below the industry average, suggesting strong employee financial wellness.

How American Express Compares

Comparison against 284 employer 401(k) plans in our database

Metric American Express Database Median Comparison
Avg. Balance per Participant $362K $140K ▲ 158% above median
Employer Contribution per Participant $11K $3K ▲ 209% above median
YoY Asset Growth 15.0% 12.9% ▬ Near median
Total Assets vs. Credit & Lending Sector $9.1B $9.1B ▬ Near sector median

American Express 401(k) Employer Match

Competitive employer match - the plan contributed 88% of employee deferrals ($10,688 per participant annually)

Use our employer match calculator to see how much free money you could earn.

American Express 401(k) Plan Features

Plan features derived from DOL Form 5500 filing data

FeatureDetails
Employer Match Competitive employer match - the plan contributed 88% of employee deferrals ($10,688 per participant annually)
Roth 401(k) Available - after-tax contributions with tax-free qualified withdrawals
Investment Options Company Stock (AXP)
401(k) Loans Available - up to 5 years
Company Stock Available as an investment option (limit to 10-15% of portfolio to manage concentration risk)
457 Plan Also offers a 457 plan - eligible employees can contribute to both for double tax-advantaged savings
Plan History Established 1973 - 51 years of retirement benefits

How to Maximize Your American Express 401(k)

1

Contribute enough to get the full employer match - American Express contributed 88% of employee deferrals in the latest filing

2

Consider increasing your contribution rate annually - even 1% more per year adds up significantly over time

3

Evaluate the Roth 401(k) option if you expect your tax rate to be higher in retirement

4

Use 401(k) loans only as a last resort - they reduce your retirement savings growth

5

Use our 401(k) calculator to project your retirement savings and find the right contribution rate

Use our 401(k) calculator to project your savings growth, or check how much free match money you could earn.

Contact Information

Plan Sponsor

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY AND ITS PARTICIPATING SUBSIDIARIES

(212) 640-2000

200 VESEY STREET 01-35-03, NEW YORK, NY 10285

Plan Administrator

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

(212) 225-4666

Filing Information

EIN: 13-4922250

Plan Effective Date: 1973-06-11

Source: DOL Form 5500 (Latest Filings)

American Express 401(k) Withdrawals

OptionDetails
Age 59½+ WithdrawalsPenalty-free withdrawals available after age 59½
Rule of 55Penalty-free if you leave American Express at age 55+
Hardship WithdrawalsCheck with plan administrator
401(k) LoansAvailable - up to lesser of $50,000 or 50% of vested balance (5-year term)
RolloverRoll over to new employer plan or IRA when leaving American Express
Total Distributions (Latest Filing)$732.3M paid to departing/retired participants
Outstanding Loans$73.7M in active participant loans

American Express Stock (AXP)

Live via Polygon.io
Price
Loading...
Change
--
Open
--
High
--
Low
--
Volume
--

Stock data provided by Polygon.io. Data may be delayed up to 15 minutes. This is not financial advice.

2026 Contribution Limits for American Express 401(k)

See the full breakdown in our 2026 contribution limits guide, including rules for catch-up contributions (50+) and super catch-up (60-63).

Category Limit Details
Employee Deferral $24,500 Standard elective deferral limit for all participants
Catch-Up (Age 50+) +$8,000 Additional contributions for participants age 50 and over (total: $32,500)
Super Catch-Up (Age 60-63) +$11,250 SECURE 2.0 enhanced catch-up for ages 60-63 (total: $35,750)
Total Annual Additions (415 Limit) $72,000 Maximum combined employee + employer contributions
Compensation Cap $350,000 Maximum compensation considered for contributions
American Express Avg. Employee Deferral $12,144 50% of the $24,500 limit (based on latest Form 5500 filing)
American Express Avg. Employer Contribution $10,688 Employer contributes $268.1M total across 25,085 participants

American Express 401(k) Plan Details

Data from DOL Form 5500 (Latest Filings)

Plan Name Active Participants Total Assets Employer Contributions Participant Contributions 401(k)
AMERICAN EXPRESS RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN 25,049 $9.1B $268.1M $304.5M Yes
PERKINS, INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN 6 $1.7M $6K $22K Yes
AMERICAN EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION, LLC 401(K) PLAN 30 $1.4M $39K $145K Yes

Plan Type Details

Primary Plan: AMERICAN EXPRESS RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

Plan Types: DC (401(k)); DC (Money Purchase); DC (Target Benefit); DC (ESOP); DC (Other); Offset; 2O; DC (Matching); DC (Stock Bonus); DC (SIMPLE 401(k)); IRA (SIMPLE); 457 Plan; 3J

Funded By: Trust

Financial Summary

MetricAmount
Total Assets (Beginning of Year)$7,889,507,938
Total Assets (End of Year)$9,071,294,716
Employer Contributions$268,115,227
Participant Contributions$304,631,676
Total Distributions$732,309,465
Total Income (Gains/Losses)$1,950,402,629
Total Expenses$746,365,816
Outstanding Participant Loans$73,673,699

Participant Breakdown

Active Participants
25,085
Total All Participants
38,930
Retired/Separated Receiving
12

Plan Review & Rating

Editorial rating based on DOL Form 5500 data

4.5
Match Generosity
4.5
Fund Options
4.6
Fees & Costs
4.7
Customer Service
4.3

Ratings are based on publicly available plan data, participant feedback, and industry benchmarks. Individual experience may vary. This is not financial advice. Data sourced from DOL Form 5500 filings.

People Also Ask About American Express 401(k)

The American Express 401(k) match is Competitive employer match - the plan contributed 88% of employee deferrals ($10,688 per participant annually). Compared to the average Fortune 500 match of 4-6% of salary, American Express's % maximum is below average. However, your own contributions are always fully vested, and the plan offers other advantages like mega backdoor Roth access. Always contribute at least enough to get the full match - it's free money.

Vesting schedules determine when employer match contributions fully belong to you. Common schedules include immediate vesting, 3-year cliff vesting, or 6-year graded vesting. At American Express, with $268.1M in annual employer contributions across the plan, understanding your vesting timeline matters before considering a job change. Contact American Express HR for the exact vesting schedule.

Withdrawals from your American Express 401(k) are generally available after age 59½, upon separation from service, disability, or financial hardship. The plan processed $732.3M in distributions during the last filing year. Early withdrawals before age 59½ may be subject to a 10% penalty plus income taxes. The Rule of 55 allows penalty-free withdrawals if you leave American Express at age 55 or older.

Yes, you can roll over your American Express 401(k) to a Traditional IRA (for pre-tax funds) or Roth IRA (for Roth 401(k) funds). With an average balance of $362K per participant, a direct rollover avoids the mandatory 20% withholding that applies to indirect rollovers. Contact your plan administrator or the receiving IRA custodian to initiate the transfer.

Many Fortune 500 companies, including American Express, have auto-enrollment features. With 25,085 active participants and $304.6M in annual employee deferrals, the plan demonstrates strong participation. Auto-enrollment typically starts at 3-6% of salary with annual escalation. You can opt out or change your contribution rate at any time through the plan provider portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

American Express offers an employer match of Competitive employer match - the plan contributed 88% of employee deferrals ($10,688 per participant annually). Use our employer match calculator to see how much free money you could earn.

You can access your American Express 401(k) account through the plan provider's participant portal. The plan serves 25,085 active participants. If you're a current or former employee, use the login link above or contact the plan administrator at the phone number listed on this page. First-time users will need to register using their Social Security number and date of birth.

For 2026, American Express 401(k) participants can contribute up to $24,500 in employee deferrals. Participants aged 50+ can contribute an additional $8,000 in catch-up contributions (total $32,500). Those aged 60-63 can make super catch-up contributions of $11,250 (total $35,750). Currently, American Express participants contribute an average of $12,144 per year in employee deferrals. Employer contributions are separate from these limits.

Many American Express 401(k) plans offer loan provisions. As of the latest filing, American Express participants had $73.7M in outstanding loans (averaging $2,937 across participants with active loans). The IRS limits 401(k) loans to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of your vested balance. With an average account balance of $362K in the American Express plan, the maximum potential loan amount for a fully vested participant would vary accordingly. Check with your plan administrator for specific loan terms, or see our withdrawal rules guide.

When you leave American Express, you have several options for your 401(k): keep it in the plan (if the balance is over $7,000), roll it over to a new employer's plan, roll it to an IRA, or take a cash distribution (subject to taxes and potential penalties). In the most recent filing year, the plan processed $732.3M in distributions to departing or retired participants. Employer match contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule.

According to the most recent Form 5500 filing, the American Express 401(k) plan has 25,085 active participants managing $9.1B in plan assets. The average account balance is $362K per participant.

Many major employers, including American Express, offer both traditional pre-tax and Roth after-tax 401(k) contribution options. Given that American Express participants average $12,144 in annual deferrals, choosing between Roth and traditional depends on whether you expect your tax bracket to be higher or lower in retirement. Contact the American Express plan administrator for availability.

The American Express 401(k) plan typically offers a range of investment options including target-date funds, index funds, actively managed funds, and potentially company stock. The plan generated $2.0B in total investment income during the last filing year. Use our 401(k) calculator to project growth, or log into your account to see current options.

American Express (AXP) may offer company stock as an investment option within the 401(k) plan. Be mindful of concentration risk - financial advisors typically recommend limiting company stock to no more than 10-15% of your portfolio, especially given that your employment income already depends on American Express's performance.

For 2026, American Express matches Competitive employer match - the plan contributed 88% of employee deferrals ($10,688 per participant annually). The 2026 employee deferral limit is $24,500 ($32,500 if 50+, $35,750 if 60-63). Use our match calculator to estimate your free money.

401(k) Guides & Tools

Learn more about managing your American Express 401(k)

Related Company 401(k) Plans

Disclaimer: Information on this page is sourced from public DOL Form 5500 filings and is provided for educational purposes only. This is not financial, tax, or investment advice. Plan details may have changed since the last filing. Always consult your plan administrator, HR department, or a qualified financial advisor for the most current information about your 401(k) plan. 401K.is is not affiliated with American Express or their plan providers. Stock data for AXP is provided by Polygon.io and may be delayed.

Last updated: March 2026 | Data source: DOL Form 5500 (Latest Filings) | Filed: 2025-06-26