Click here to watch video which looks at American Express' return to their corporate headquarters in Lower Manhattan

NEW YORK, May 14, 2002/ FW/ --- Yesterday, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Governor George Pataki and American Express CEO Ken Chenault welcome back American Express employees returning to the company's corporate headquarters for the first time since the September 11 attacks.

At the official ceremonies held yesterday morning at New York's Financial Center, American Express re-opened its world headquarters and welcomed back the first 4,000 employees returning to Lower Manhattan.

Employees of the American Express corporate headquarters were relocated to temporary facilities in the tri-state area following 9/11.

"Our 152-year history is filled with defining moments -- staying open during cirse when others close... coming through for our customers all around the world... doing the right things even when it is difficult to do," quoted Mr. Chenault during the official ceremonies.

Downtown New York has been the home of American Express since its founding in 1850. To the company, it was not "coming back," it was truly a homecoming.

According to NYC Mayor Bloomberg, American Express were one of the first major companies who pledged to come back to lower Manhattan. The city of New York had worked closely with the company since the 9/11 events to make their homecoming possible before the first anniversary of the event.

To mark their return to lower Manhattan, American Express announced its sponsorship of the "Downtown NYC River to River Festival 2002."

Designed to attract people to visit lower Manhattan, the NYC River to River Festival 2002 will bring mostly free performances, cultural events and hundreds of artist to the East River's South Street Seaport to venues throught the Financial District to Historic Battery Park and Battery Park City and to the World Financial Center on the Hudson River.