(files) This November 16, 2008 photo shows an American Express credit card. US credit card giant American Express announced on May 18, 2009 that it was to shed some 4,000 jobs as part of an 800-million-dollar restructuring of its global operations. The job cuts would lead to the elimination of about six percent of the company’s current worldwide workforce, and the company also planned to scale back investments and slash operating costs. AFP PHOTO/Karen BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)