American Express 2009 Annual Report Download - page 124

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
NOTE 25
REPORTABLE OPERATING
SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC
OPERATIONS
REPORTABLE OPERATING SEGMENTS
The Company is a leading global payments and travel
company that is principally engaged in businesses comprising
four reportable operating segments: U.S. Card Services
(USCS), International Card Services (ICS), Global
Commercial Services (GCS) and Global Network & Merchant
Services (GNMS).
The Company considers a combination of factors when
evaluating the composition of its reportable operating
segments, including the results reviewed by the chief
operating decision maker, economic characteristics, products
and services offered, classes of customers, product
distribution channels, geographic considerations (primarily
U.S. versus international), and regulatory environment
considerations. Based on these factors, the Company has the
following four reportable operating segments:
앫USCS issues a wide range of card products and
services to consumers and small businesses in the
United States, and provides consumer travel services
to cardmembers and other consumers.
앫ICS issues proprietary consumer and small business
cards outside the United States.
앫GCS offers global corporate payment and travel-
related products and services to large and mid-sized
companies.
앫GNMS segment operates a global general-purpose
charge and credit card network, which includes both
proprietary cards and cards issued under network
partnership agreements. It also manages merchant
services globally, which includes signing merchants to
accept cards as well as processing and settling card
transactions for those merchants. This segment also
offers merchants point-of-sale products, servicing and
settlements and marketing programs.
Corporate functions and auxiliary businesses, including the
Company’s publishing business, the Global Prepaid business,
as well as other company operations are included in
Corporate & Other.
122