American Express to be Sole Sponsor of May 24 CNN, CNNfn National Small Business Town Meeting: "Prospering in the New Economy - The Survival of Small Business".

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2000

Small Business Owners Nationwide to Discuss Challenges and

Opportunities with Panel of Experts -- in Person and Online

American Express Small Business Services today announced that it will be the sole commercial sponsor of the May 24 CNN/CNNfn town meeting, "Prospering in the New Economy -- The Survival Of Small Business."

Scheduled for live broadcast and webcast during National Small Business Week at 10 p.m. ET, the program -- the first of its kind for small business -- will take the form of a national, small business town meeting. It will be hosted by CNN Business News anchor Jan Hopkins in New York before a live small business audience.

Hopkins will interview a panel of experts and take questions from the New York audience, as well as from small business owners and other viewers who can participate in the discussion from a special section of the CNN web site: www.cnn.com/neweconomy. The program will include local reports from CNN correspondents in several remote locations.

"Few people realize the critical role that small business plays in our nation's economic health. Small companies account for half the country's private sector work force and provide virtually all of our net new jobs. As a provider of financial services uniquely tailored to small firms, American Express has both contributed to and benefited from the growth of small business," said Jim Blann, Senior Vice President of American Express Small Business Services.

"This unique event from CNN is an important first, a very special opportunity for small business owners to be heard and for their issues to have a prominent national platform. We're proud to be a part of it and believe that if the small business sector is going to continue to power our economy, programs like this one will make a difference," he added.

American Express Small Business Services will air new elements of its "Voices from Main Street" communications program during the commercial breaks for this broadcast, including an address to viewers from American Express Company President Ken Chenault. Small business owners will also be featured in 30-second spots, speaking from their places of business about the issues that concern them most.

American Express Small Business Services is a separate division of American Express Company dedicated to providing financing and a range of other financial services to small and mid-sized firms. American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel and financial services company founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance, accounting and international banking.