American Express business in 1918

During World War I (1914-1918) the U.S. government nationalized and consolidated express deliveries on American railroads, eventually forcing American Express to discontinue its express business in 1918.


In an effort to maintain steady revenues, American Express diversified by offering international banking services in 1919. After steady but relatively modest overseas growth during the 1920s and 1930s, the company dramatically increased the number of its offices around the world during the late 1940s and 1950s.