SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  -------------


                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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              FLEETBOSTON                            FLEET CAPITAL
         FINANCIAL CORPORATION                          TRUST IX
       (Exact name of registrant                (Exact name of registrant
     as specified in its charter)      as specified in its certificate of trust)
             RHODE ISLAND                              DELAWARE
     (State or other jurisdiction             (State or other jurisdiction
   of incorporation or organization)        of incorporation or organization)
              05-0341324                                 04-6874162
(I.R.S. employer identification number)  (I.R.S. employer identification number)

                                  -------------
                               100 Federal Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02110
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
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If this form relates to the  registration  of a class of securities  pursuant to
Section  12(b)  of  the  Exchange  Act  and is  effective  pursuant  to  General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box. |X|

If this form relates to the  registration  of a class of securities  pursuant to
Section  12(g)  of  the  Exchange  Act  and is  effective  pursuant  to  General
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box. |_|

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
                                    333-72912
                            ------------------------
                                 (If applicable)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

    Title of Each Class                     Name of Each Exchange on Which
    to be so Registered                     Each Class is to be Registered
    -------------------                    --------------------------------

Preferred Securities of Fleet Capital       New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Trust IX (and the Guarantee
by FleetBoston Financial Corporation with
respect thereto)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

None





                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

         The class of securities to be registered  hereby consists of the 6.000%
Preferred  Securities  (the  "Preferred  Securities"),   representing  undivided
beneficial  ownership  interests  in the  assets  of Fleet  Capital  Trust IX, a
statutory  trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware  (the  "Trust"),
together  with the  Preferred  Securities  Guarantee  by  FleetBoston  Financial
Corporation,  a  Rhode  Island  corporation,  in  favor  of the  holders  of the
Preferred Securities.

         For a description of the Preferred Securities, reference is made to the
information  set  forth  under  the  headings   "Description  of  the  Preferred
Securities"  and  "Description  of the Preferred  Securities  Guarantees" in the
Registration  Statement on Form S-3  (Registration No. 333-72912) filed with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission")  on November 7, 2001, as
amended by Amendment  No. 1 thereto  filed with the  Commission  on November 21,
2001 (the "Registration Statement"), which description is incorporated herein by
reference.  Definitive  copies  of the  prospectus  describing  the terms of the
Preferred  Securities  have  been  filed  pursuant  to  Rule  424(b)  under  the
Securities Act and are incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.             Exhibits.

2.1                 Certificate  of Trust of Fleet  Capital Trust IX, as amended
                    by First  Amendment to Certificate of Trust of Fleet Capital
                    Trust IX (referenced in Exhibit 4(s)(ii) to the Registration
                    Statement, and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(q)(ix)
                    to Registration Statement No. 333-62905 and Exhibit 4(t)(iv)
                    to Registration Statement No. 333-86829).

2.2                 Declaration  of Trust of Fleet  Capital Trust IX, as amended
                    by First  Amendment to Declaration of Trust of Fleet Capital
                    Trust IX (referenced in Exhibit 4(t)(ii) to the Registration
                    Statement, and incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(r)(ix)
                    to Registration Statement No. 333-62905 and Exhibit 4(u)(iv)
                    to Registration Statement No. 333-86829).

2.3                 Amended and Restated  Declaration of Trust, dated as of July
                    31,  2003,  among  FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation,   as
                    sponsor,  The  Bank  of New  York  (Delaware),  as  Delaware
                    Trustee, and The Bank of New York, as Institutional Trustee,
                    the Regular  Trustees  named  therein and the holders,  from
                    time  to  time,  of  the  undivided   beneficial   ownership
                    interests in the assets of Fleet Capital Trust IX.

2.4                 Indenture,  dated as of June 30, 2000,  between  FleetBoston
                    Financial  Corporation  and The Bank of New York, as Trustee
                    (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 4(b) to  FleetBoston
                    Financial  Corporation's  Current  Report  on Form 8-K dated
                    June 30, 2000).

2.5                 First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of June 30,  2000,
                    between  FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation and The Bank of
                    New York, as Trustee  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
                    4(c) to FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation's Current Report
                    on Form 8-K dated June 30, 2000).

2.6                 Second  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of September  17,
                    2001, between FleetBoston Financial Corporation and The Bank
                    of New  York,  as  Trustee  (incorporated  by  reference  to
                    Exhibit   2.6   to   FleetBoston   Financial   Corporation's
                    Registration  Statement on Form 8-A filed on  September  21,
                    2001).

2.7                 Third  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of March 8,  2002,
                    between  FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation and The Bank of
                    New York, as Trustee  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
                    2.7  to  FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation's  Registration
                    Statement on Form 8-A filed on March 8, 2002).

2.8                 Fourth  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of July 31, 2003,
                    between  FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation and The Bank of
                    New York, as Trustee.

2.9                 Form of Preferred Security (included in Exhibit 2.3).

2.10                Form of Junior  Subordinated  Debenture (included in Exhibit
                    2.8).

2.11                Preferred Securities  Guarantee,  dated as of July 31, 2003,
                    between FleetBoston Financial Corporation, as Guarantor, and
                    The Bank of New York, as Trustee.





                                   SIGNATURES
         Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 12 of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrants have duly caused this registration  statement to be
signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Dated:  July 31, 2003                      FLEET CAPITAL TRUST IX



                                           By:/s/John R. Rodehorst
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:    John R. Rodehorst
                                              Title:   Regular Trustee


                                           FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION



                                           By:/s/John R. Rodehorst
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:    John R. Rodehorst
                                              Title:   Assistant Treasurer