How many employees does American Express have in 2026? Its workforce, locations, and layoffs explained
In 1975, American Express (AXP) entered the cultural zeitgeist with a series of commercials that ended with the slogan, "Don't leave home without it."
The campaign, created by the groundbreaking ad agency Ogilvy & Mather, warned Americans of the consequences of carrying cash around abroad - it could be stolen, leaving them stranded and penniless in a foreign country.
The solution was American Express' travelers' cheques (and later, its charge cards), because if they were lost or stolen, an American Express travel office could simply - and quickly - replace them, allowing the trip to continue without a hitch.
Over the course of the company's 175-year history, American Express evolved from a mail and freight delivery business into a financial services giant, but its products have always reflected its core brand promise of trust, service, and security.
Its business model relies not only on processing payments but also on building and maintaining customer relationships, enabling Amex to become the preferred credit card for millions of customers as well as one of the world's most recognizable premium brands.
In recent years, American Express has used artificial intelligence (AI) to make its operations more efficient as well as to enhance its security and overall customer experience - growing its workforce all the while.
Not many other corporate giants can say that.
How many employees does American Express have in 2026?
According to American Express' most recent Annual Report, the company employed 76,800 people globally as of December 31, 2025. According to the company, this breaks down to approximately 29,500 workers in the US and 50,900 internationally.
These workers span a range of functions, from software engineering to data analytics, cybersecurity, risk management, marketing, finance, travel, and, of course, customer service.
The company's CEO is Stephen Sequeri, a lifelong AMEX employee who spearheaded a super successful strategy to win over Millennial and Gen Z consumers. In fact, in the years since Sequeri began leading the company, American Express shares have produced 16.6% annual returns - outperforming JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Visa (V), and even the broader S&P 500.
Where are American Express' employees located?
American Express' corporate headquarters is in New York City at 200 Vesey Street, also known as Three World Financial Center, or the American Express Tower.
However, in February 2026, the company announced plans to move its headquarters to 2 World Trade Center - into what will become the final tower of the newly rebuilt World Trade Center complex. The building is expected to be completed in 2031.
American Express also has hubs in these American cities:
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Paolo Alto, California
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Sunrise, Florida
In addition, the company operates global regional hubs in London, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt in Europe; Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo in Asia; and Toronto, Mexico City, and Buenos Aires in the Americas.
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Also worth noting is American Express' presence in India. Its offices in Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurugram, and Mumbai have become increasingly important to its strategy, as it has expanded its technological, engineering, and analytical operations there in recent years, along with other financial corporations.
Related: History of American Express: Company timeline & facts
Has American Express experienced layoffs recently?
Contrary to other major financial and technology firms that have adopted AI at the expense of their human workforce, American Express did not announce any major company-wide reductions in force in 2024, 2025 - or in 2026, as of this article's last update.
In fact, according to Amex's most recent Annual Reports, the company added 1,700 employees to its payroll in 2025, which was a 2.3% increase from its 2024 headcount.
This does not mean staffing changes did not occur, as the company has shifted its hiring to growth areas like technology and operations, including cybersecurity, engineering, and digital product design.
Some Reddit threads from employees discussed concerns about increased hiring in India and restructuring within engineering divisions, but rumors don't necessarily mean facts - or layoffs.
Related: Is JPMorgan Chase a good long-term investment in 2026?
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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 9:12 AM.