American Express Co is a multinational financial services corporation that provides credit cards, charge cards, and traveler's cheques to consumers and businesses worldwide. The company operates a closed-loop payment network, meaning it acts as both the card issuer and the payment processor, and generates revenue primarily through discount fees from merchants, annual fees from cardholders, and interest charges on outstanding balances. American Express also offers various financial products and services including personal loans, business loans, merchant services, and travel-related services through its global network.