8-KRegulation FD

AMERICAN EXPRESS CO 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Jun 17, 2013)

Filed June 17, 2013For Securities:AXP

Summary

This 8-K filing from American Express (AXP) provides an update on the delinquency and write-off statistics for its U.S. Card Services (USCS) operating segment for the months ending March, April, and May 2013. The data reveals that the company maintained relatively stable credit performance across its cardmember lending portfolio during this period. Specifically, 30-day past due loan rates remained at or below 1.2%, and net write-off rates stayed below 2.1% (principal only). The filing also includes comparable data for the American Express Credit Account Master Trust, which demonstrates similar credit trends. This information offers investors a glimpse into the company's risk management and asset quality in its core lending operations during the second quarter of 2013.

Key Highlights

  • 1AXP furnished updated delinquency and write-off statistics for its U.S. Card Services segment for March, April, and May 2013.
  • 2Total cardmember lending portfolio remained stable, ranging from $53.4 billion to $54.2 billion.
  • 330 days past due loan rates for the total portfolio were consistently low, at 1.2% in March and 1.1% in April and May.
  • 4Net write-off rates (principal only) for the total portfolio fluctuated slightly but remained below 2.1% (2.0% in March, 2.1% in April, and 1.9% in May).
  • 5Data for the American Express Credit Account Master Trust also showed stable credit performance, with annualized default rates around 2.0%-2.2%.
  • 6The filing clarifies that USCS total portfolio statistics include both securitized and non-securitized loans, which may differ from the Lending Trust's reported figures due to various factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to furnish updated statistics on the delinquency and write-off rates for American Express's U.S. Card Services lending portfolio for the months of March, April, and May 2013. This information is provided to investors to offer insights into the credit quality and risk management of the company's loan book.

The credit performance metrics for the U.S. Card Services portfolio were stable during the reported period. The rate of loans 30 days past due remained low, at 1.2% in March and decreasing to 1.1% in April and May. Net write-off rates, excluding interest and fees, were also contained, ranging from 1.9% to 2.1%.

The U.S. Card Services (USCS) total portfolio statistics encompass both securitized and non-securitized cardmember loans. The American Express Credit Account Master Trust (Lending Trust) data only reflects securitized loans. Differences in loan mix (e.g., proportion of small business loans), calculation methods (average vs. end-of-period balances), and reporting period cutoffs can cause the reported credit performance of the Lending Trust to differ from the total USCS portfolio on a month-to-month basis.

Based on the provided data for March, April, and May 2013, there are no significant negative trends indicated. Delinquency and write-off rates remained stable and at levels generally considered manageable for a credit card portfolio of this size.