SCHEDULE 14A

                                 (Rule 14a-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.   )

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]

Check the appropriate box:

[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement          [_]  Soliciting Material Under Rule
[_]  Confidential, For Use of the              14a-12
     Commission Only (as permitted
     by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[_]  Definitive Additional Materials




                       The Bank of New York Company, Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)


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[_]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

________________________________________________________________________________
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[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                           One Wall Street, New York, NY 10286

================================================================================

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. (the "Company")

WHERE: AT THE BANK OF NEW YORK, 101 BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK.
WHEN: ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2005, 9:00 A.M. LOCAL TIME.

TO VOTE ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS:

    1.  To elect thirteen directors to hold office until the next Annual Meeting
        of Shareholders and until their respective successors have been elected
        and qualified;

    2.  To ratify the appointment by the Audit and Examining Committee of the
        Board of Directors of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent
        public accountants for the current fiscal year;

    3.  To consider a shareholder proposal with respect to cumulative voting;

    4.  To consider a shareholder proposal with respect to executive
        compensation; and

    5.  To transact such other  business as may properly come before the meeting
        or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

Shareholders  of record at the close of business  on  February  22, 2005 will be
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment.

                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
PLEASE  VOTE  REGARDLESS  OF WHETHER  YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL  MEETING AND
REGARDLESS  OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES YOU OWN,  SO THAT YOUR VOTE MAY BE  COUNTED.

You can vote by:

    o   Internet;

    o   telephone; or

    o   completing, dating, signing and mailing the enclosed proxy card promptly
        in the return envelope provided.

We hope you will be able to attend.
By order of the Board of Directors,


/s/ Thomas A. Renyi                                        /s/ Raymond J. Dorado
Thomas A. Renyi                                            Raymond J. Dorado
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD                                      ASSISTANT SECRETARY

March 14, 2005







TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                                                       
Notice of Annual Meeting..............................................................................    Cover
Who Can Vote..........................................................................................        1
What is a Proxy.......................................................................................        1
How to Vote...........................................................................................        1
Board of Directors and Director Compensation..........................................................        2
         Director Independence........................................................................        3
         Communications with the Board................................................................        3
         Committees of the Board......................................................................        3
         Compensation Committee Interlocks............................................................        5
         Charitable Contributions.....................................................................        5
ITEM 1:  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS........................................................................        5
         Nominees for Election as Directors...........................................................        5
         Security Ownership by Management.............................................................       11
2004 Audit Committee Report...........................................................................       11
Audit Fees, Audit Related Fees, Tax Fees, All Other Fees..............................................       14
Other Services Provided by Ernst & Young LLP..........................................................       15
Executive Compensation and Other Information..........................................................       15
Summary Compensation Table............................................................................       16
Option Grants.........................................................................................       17
Option Exercises......................................................................................       17
Compensation and Organization Committee Report on Executive Compensation for 2004.....................       18
Stock Performance Graph...............................................................................       22
Employment Agreements and Related Matters.............................................................       23
Pension Plan Table and Discussion.....................................................................       25
Equity Compensation Plans.............................................................................       26
Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance..........................................................       26
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions........................................................       26
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance...............................................       28
Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners..........................................................       28
ITEM 2:  RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS...............................................       28
ITEM 3:  SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL WITH RESPECT TO CUMULATIVE VOTING.......................................       29
ITEM 4:  SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL WITH RESPECT TO EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION..................................       30
Shareholder Proposals for the 2006 Annual Meeting.....................................................       31
Exhibit A: Guidelines for Determining Director Independence...........................................      A-1
Exhibit B: Audit and Examining Committee Charter......................................................      B-1









[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                            One Wall Street, New York, NY 10286

================================================================================

PROXY STATEMENT

THIS IS YOUR PROXY  STATEMENT.  IT GIVES YOU THE  INFORMATION  YOU NEED TO VOTE
YOUR  SHARES AT THE 2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS.

This Proxy  Statement  and the enclosed  proxy card are being sent to you by the
Board of Directors of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. (the "Company", "we" or
"us") in connection  with the  solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders (the "Annual  Meeting").  This Proxy Statement and the accompanying
form of proxy are first being sent to shareholders on or about March 14, 2005.

THE ANNUAL  MEETING WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 12, 2005 AT THE BANK OF NEW YORK,  101
BARCLAY STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, AT 9:00 A.M. LOCAL TIME.

WHO CAN VOTE.  The Board of Directors has fixed  February 22, 2005 as the Record
Date. Only shareholders  whose names appeared on the books of the Company at the
close of  business  on the Record Date will be entitled to be notified of and to
vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment.  The outstanding  voting stock of
the Company on the Record Date was 779,219,922 shares of Common Stock ($7.50 par
value)  ("Common  Stock").  Each share is  entitled to one vote.  The  Company's
By-laws  state  that the  presence  at the Annual  Meeting  of the  holders of a
majority  of the  shares  of the  Company  entitled  to  vote  at  such  meeting
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

WHAT IS A  PROXY?  A proxy is an  authorization  to vote.  Your  proxy  gives us
authority to vote your shares and tells us how to vote your shares at the Annual
Meeting  or any  adjournment.  Three  officers  of the  Company,  who are called
"proxies"  and are named on the proxy card,  will vote your shares at the Annual
Meeting  according  to the  instructions  you  give  on the  proxy  card,  or by
telephone or Internet. A proxy card is enclosed.

HOW TO VOTE.

You can vote your shares by proxy by:

    1.  Internet;

    2.  telephone; or

    3.  completing, dating, signing and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the
        return envelope provided.

Read the enclosed card for  instructions  on how to vote over the Internet or by
telephone.

You have the right to revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by filing
with the Office of the  Secretary of the Company a written  revocation or a duly
executed  proxy bearing a later date. You may attend the Annual Meeting and vote
in person, whether or not you previously submitted a proxy.

Each proxy  submitted  will be voted as  directed,  but if you sign and return a
proxy card without  giving  specific  voting  instructions,  your shares will be
voted  for the  election  of the  nominees  for  directors  named in this  Proxy
Statement,  for  ratification  of the  appointment  of Ernst & Young  LLP as the
Company's independent public accountants,  and against the shareholder proposals
set forth in Items 3 and 4 of this Proxy Statement.  We are not now aware of any
other  matters  to be  presented  except  for  those  described  in  this  Proxy
Statement.  If any other matters are  presented at the meeting,  the proxies may
use their own judgment to decide how to vote your shares. Should any nominee for
director  named in this Proxy  Statement  become  unable or  unwilling to accept
nomination or election, which is not anticipated,  the persons acting as proxies
will  vote for the  election  of such  other  person,  if any,  as the


                                       1



Board of Directors  may  recommend.  If the Annual  Meeting is  adjourned,  your
shares  may be voted by the  proxies  on the new  meeting  date  unless you have
revoked your proxy.

THE NOMINEES  FOR  DIRECTOR  WHO RECEIVE THE HIGHEST  NUMBER OF "FOR" VOTES CAST
WILL BE ELECTED. THE "FOR" VOTE OF A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST IS SUFFICIENT TO
RATIFY  THE  APPOINTMENT  OF  ERNST &  YOUNG  LLP AND  APPROVE  THE  SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS.

FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING THE VOTES CAST WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER  PRESENTED
FOR  CONSIDERATION  AT THE  ANNUAL  MEETING,  ONLY  THOSE  VOTES  CAST  "FOR" OR
"AGAINST" ARE COUNTED. PURSUANT TO NEW YORK LAW, ABSTENTIONS, BROKER "NON-VOTES"
(OR VOTES "WITHHELD" IN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS) WILL NOT BE COUNTED. A BROKER
NON-VOTE OCCURS WHEN A BROKER,  BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE WHICH HOLDS COMPANY SHARES
RETURNS A PROXY TO THE COMPANY  BUT CANNOT  VOTE THE SHARES IT HOLDS  BECAUSE IT
HAS NOT RECEIVED VOTING  INSTRUCTIONS  FROM THE SHAREHOLDER AND THE MATTER TO BE
VOTED ON IS NOT "ROUTINE"  UNDER NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE  ("NYSE")  RULES.  NYSE
RULES  ALLOW  BROKERS,  BANKS AND OTHER  NOMINEES TO VOTE SHARES HELD BY THEM ON
MATTERS THAT THE NYSE DETERMINES TO BE ROUTINE,  EVEN THOUGH THE BROKER, BANK OR
NOMINEE HAS NOT RECEIVED INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE SHAREHOLDER.

The Company will pay the cost of soliciting  proxies.  In addition to soliciting
proxies by mail,  proxies may be  solicited  in person or by  telephone,  fax or
e-mail by officers and regular employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who
will not be specifically  compensated therefor. The Company has engaged Morrow &
Co.,  Inc. to assist in the  solicitation  of proxies for a fee of $17,500  plus
reimbursement  for  out-of-pocket  expenses.  The  Company  will also  reimburse
brokers or other persons  holding shares in their names or in the names of their
nominees for their reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses in forwarding proxies and
proxy material to the beneficial owners of such shares.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The Company is a financial  holding  company whose  principal  subsidiary is The
Bank of New York (the "Bank").  The Company and the Bank are incorporated  under
the laws of the State of New York. The interests of shareholders are represented
by the Board of  Directors  (the  "Board"),  which  oversees  the  business  and
management of the Company.  Information  concerning  the members of the Board of
Directors who are standing for  re-election is set forth below under the caption
"Nominees for Election as Directors."  This  solicitation of proxies is intended
to give all  shareholders  a chance to vote for the  persons who are to be their
representatives in the governance of the Company.

In  accordance  with New York law, the  Company's  By-laws set forth the Board's
responsibilities  and establish  various corporate  authorizations.  The By-laws
also deal with the  organization  of the Board,  which is described  below.  The
Board has the  power to amend the  By-laws.  The  Board  has  adopted  Corporate
Governance Guidelines and a Code of Conduct which are available on the Company's
website, www.bankofny.com.

Directors are elected to serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders and
until their successors have been elected and qualified.

During  2004,  the Board of  Directors  of the Company met a total of ten times.
Each  incumbent  director  attended  at least  75% of the  aggregate  number  of
meetings  of the Board of  Directors  and the  committees  thereof on which such
director  served during 2004. The Board of the Bank,  which during 2004 included
all the members of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  met a total of ten
times.

Non-management  directors,  all of whom were  determined to be  independent  (as
discussed below) met in Executive  Session without  management five times during
2004.  Until April,  2004,  these  sessions  were  chaired by Mr.  Luke,  who is
Chairman of the  Nominating  and Governance  Committee,  and after April,  2004,
these  sessions were chaired by Mr. Kogan,  who is Chairman of the  Compensation
and  Organization  Committee.  Pursuant to the  Company's  Corporate  Governance
Guidelines,  the  position of  Presiding  Director at  Executive  Sessions  (the
"Presiding   Director")  rotates  among  the  Chairmen  of  the  Nominating  and
Governance Committee,  the Compensation and Organization Committee and the Audit
and Examining Committee.


                                       2



All  directors  then serving on the Board  attended  the 2004 Annual  Meeting of
Shareholders  except Mr.  Biondi.  Directors  are  expected to attend the annual
meeting of shareholders, except in extenuating circumstances.

DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The Board of Directors  has  determined  that all of the  directors,  other than
Messrs.  Renyi,  Hassell and Griffith,  are  independent  under the NYSE Listing
Standards,  which set forth certain criteria for determining  whether a director
is independent. The Board's determinations of director independence were made in
accordance with the Guidelines for Determining Director Independence,  which are
included  in this Proxy  Statement  as  Exhibit A and which  also  appear on the
Company's website, www.bankofny.com.  Please also see "Certain Relationships and
Related Transactions."

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE BOARD

The procedure for communicating  with the  non-management  director presiding at
Executive  Sessions or the entire Board is set forth on the  Company's  website,
www.bankofny.com.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

The Board of Directors of the Company has  appointed  several  committees  which
have  responsibility  for  particular  corporate  matters  and has  adopted  the
committee  charters  referred to below.  There  follows a  description  of these
committees and their functions,  including  certain  information  concerning the
directors who serve on such committees and are standing for re-election.

The Board of Directors of the Company has a Nominating and Governance  Committee
(the  "Nominating  Committee")  whose  members  during  2004 were  Messrs.  Luke
(Chairman),  Kogan,  Malone and  Pozen.  All of the  members  of the  Nominating
Committee  are  independent  under the NYSE Listing  Standards.  The  Nominating
Committee is responsible for identifying individuals qualified to become members
of the  Board of  Directors  and  recommending  to the  Board of  Directors  the
Corporate  Governance  Guidelines  of the Company.  The  Nominating  Committee's
charter is available on the Company's website, www.bankofny.com.  The Nominating
Committee  is willing to  consider  nominees  for future  election  to the Board
recommended by  shareholders.  Shareholders  may submit in writing the names and
qualifications of proposed nominees to the Nominating Committee,  c/o the Office
of the Secretary of the Company.  Nominees proposed by shareholders  receive the
same  consideration  and  evaluation  as  nominees  proposed  by  management  or
directors.  The Nominating  Committee  identifies  candidates among  individuals
recommended  to the  Nominating  Committee  and may also search for  candidates,
based upon the needs of the  Company for  particular  expertise  or  experience,
through search firms and business contacts. The Nominating Committee reviews the
qualifications  of  individuals   suggested  by  shareholders,   management  and
directors as potential  candidates.  The  criteria  for  selecting  nominees for
election  as  directors  of  the  Company  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,
experience,  accomplishments,  education,  skills, and personal and professional
integrity. The Nominating Committee met two times during 2004.

The Board of Directors of the Company  annually  appoints an Audit and Examining
Committee  (the  "Audit  Committee")  whose  members  during  2004 were Ms. Rein
(Chairman),  and Messrs. Donofrio,  Kowalski,  Myners, Pozen and Richardson. The
Board  determined that all of the directors who serve on the Audit Committee are
independent  under  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission  ("SEC")  regulations
implementing the audit committee member  requirements of the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002 and are also independent under the NYSE Listing Standards. The functions
of the Audit Committee are described in its charter, a copy of which is attached
to this Proxy  Statement  as Exhibit B and is also  available  on the  Company's
website, www.bankofny.com.  Two of the members of the Audit Committee each serve
on the audit  committees of two other public  companies.  In accordance with the
provisions of the Audit Committee  Charter,  the Board has determined that their
duties on the other boards do not impair their ability to serve  effectively  on
the Audit  Committee of the Company.  The Board of Directors has determined that
all members of the Audit  Committee are  financially  literate.  A number of the
members of the Audit  Committee are  considered  by the Board to have  financial
expertise,  and, in 2004, the Board named Ms. Catherine A. Rein as the Company's
audit



                                       3



committee  financial  expert,  as  defined  under  SEC  regulations.  The  Audit
Committee met seven times in 2004.

The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has a  Compensation  and  Organization
Committee (the "Compensation  Committee") whose members during 2004 were Messrs.
Kogan (Chairman),  Biondi, Luke and Malone. The Board determined that all of the
directors who serve on the Compensation Committee are independent under the NYSE
Listing Standards. The Compensation Committee, whose charter is available on the
Company's  website,  www.bankofny.com,  is responsible  for matters of executive
compensation and administration of the Company's  incentive  compensation plans.
The Compensation Committee met five times during 2004.

The Board of  Directors  of the Company has a Pension  Committee  whose  members
during 2004 were  Messrs.  Richardson  (Chairman)  and Scott and Ms.  Rein.  The
Pension  Committee  is  responsible  for  overseeing  the  funded  status of the
Company's plans that are subject to the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, for periodically  amending such plans to meet the Company's  objectives
as plan sponsor,  and for reporting to the Board on these  matters.  The Pension
Committee met two times during 2004.

The Board of Directors of the Company has a Risk Committee  whose members during
2004 were Messrs. Donofrio (Chairman), Kowalski, Myners, Richardson, Roberts and
Scott  and Ms.  Rein.  The Risk  Committee  assists  the Board of  Directors  in
assessing and reviewing  the risk  management  activities of the Company and its
subsidiaries,  including those risks associated with the extension of credit and
market activities. The Risk Committee met four times during 2004.

The Board of Directors of the Company has an Executive  Committee  whose members
during 2004 were Messrs. Renyi (Chairman),  Donofrio,  Griffith, Hassell, Kogan,
Kowalski,  Luke,  Malone,  Richardson  and Roberts and Ms. Rein.  The  Executive
Committee has the full authority of the Company's Board of Directors, except for
limitations relating to major corporate matters. The Executive Committee held no
meetings in 2004.

During  2004,  each  director  who  was not an  officer  of the  Company  or its
subsidiaries  received an annual  retainer of $30,000 and 2,400 shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Directors'  Retainer Plan. In addition,  each director who
was not an officer of the Company or its  subsidiaries  received a fee of $1,800
for each meeting of the Board and of any committee which the director  attended.
The Chairman of the Audit  Committee  received an additional  annual retainer of
$10,000,  the  Chairman  of the Risk  Committee  received an  additional  annual
retainer of $7,000,  the  Chairman  of the  Compensation  Committee  received an
additional  annual retainer of $5,000,  and the Chairmen of the other committees
of the Board each received an additional  annual retainer of $3,000.  A director
who  serves on the boards of both the  Company  and the Bank  receives  only one
retainer.  If the boards of the Company and the Bank meet on the same day,  only
one meeting fee is paid for attendance at both meetings.

Officers of the Company and its subsidiaries do not receive any compensation for
service on the boards of the Company or its  subsidiaries,  or the committees of
the boards.

Under the Deferred  Compensation Plan for Non-Employee  Directors of The Bank of
New York Company,  Inc. (the  "Directors'  Deferred  Compensation  Plan"),  each
director  who is not an officer of the  Company or any of its  subsidiaries  may
elect to defer payment of all or a portion of the director's annual retainer and
meeting fees. In accordance with the director's election,  pursuant to the terms
of the Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan, deferred retainer and meeting fees
are  allocated  to accounts on the  Company's  books  corresponding  to selected
investment  funds  which were  available  in 2004 under the  Company's  Employee
Savings & Investment  Plan.  The accounts are adjusted to reflect the investment
performance of such funds. All payments are made in cash, except that payment is
made in shares of Common Stock with respect to amounts  allocated to the Company
stock fund. The Directors'  Deferred  Compensation Plan contains  provisions for
the payment of each director's account balance upon such director's  termination
following  a  Change  of  Control  (as  defined  in  the   Directors'   Deferred
Compensation  Plan),  retirement,  death or other  termination  of services as a
director.  The Directors' Deferred  Compensation Plan is not funded and payments
are made from the Company's general assets.



                                       4



On September 9, 2003, Mr. Kogan and  Schering-Plough  Corporation,  of which Mr.
Kogan  is the  former  Chairman/CEO,  entered  into a  settlement  with the U.S.
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  to resolve  issues  arising from the SEC's
inquiry into certain  meetings by  Schering-Plough  Corporation  with investors.
Without  admitting  or denying any  allegations  of the SEC, Mr. Kogan agreed in
connection with the settlement not to commit any future violations of Regulation
FD and related securities laws.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS

Mr.  Malone,  a member  of the  Compensation  Committee,  had  certain  business
relationships  with the Company which are disclosed  under the caption  "Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions" in this Proxy Statement.

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

In  2004,  the  Company  did  not  make  any  contributions  to  any  charitable
organization  of which a director of the Company was an executive  officer which
exceeded   the  greater  of  $1  million  or  two  percent  of  the   charitable
organization's consolidated gross revenues.

MR. GRIFFITH

After nearly four decades of dedicated service, Alan R. Griffith,  Vice Chairman
since 1994,  announced his plans to retire.  Accordingly he will not be standing
for re-election to the Board.

MR. POZEN

Mr. Pozen  announced that he will not be standing for re-election as a member of
the Board due to the Company's expanding activities in investment management and
the potential  for future  conflicts  with his  chairmanship  of MFS  Investment
Management.

ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Unless contrary instructions are given, the persons designated as proxies intend
to vote on behalf of shareholders for the election of the nominees listed in the
following pages. If any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to accept nomination
or  election,  the  persons  designated  as proxies  intend to vote on behalf of
shareholders  for the  election  of such other  person,  if any, as the Board of
Directors may recommend.  The directors  elected will hold office until the next
annual meeting and until their successors have been elected and qualified.

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS

The  following  pages show each nominee for  election as a director,  his or her
age, his or her principal  occupation during the past five years,  certain other
directorships  and  trusteeships  held,  the year in  which  he or she  became a
director of the  Company,  and his or her  holdings of Common  Stock,  all as of
February 22, 2005.  All nominees  who are  presently  serving as directors  were
elected to their present term of office by the shareholders.



                                       5


The following information has been furnished by the nominees.

NOMINEE,
YEAR ELECTED
A DIRECTOR
AND SECURITIES       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
OWNED (1)            AND OTHER INFORMATION
================================================================================

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]    SENIOR  MANAGING   DIRECTOR  OF  WATERVIEW   ADVISORS  LLC,
                     INVESTMENT  ADVISER TO  WATERVIEW  PARTNERS  LLC, A PRIVATE
   FRANK J.          EQUITY   LIMITED   PARTNERSHIP   FOCUSED   ON   MEDIA   AND
  BIONDI, JR.        ENTERTAINMENT
     1995
COMMON SHARES:       Senior   Managing   Director  of  WaterView   Advisors  LLC
    27,319           (formerly Biondi, Reiss Capital Management LLC) from March,
                     1999 to present.  Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer of
                     Universal  Studios  from 1996  through  1998.  Director  of
                     Amgen, Inc., The Bank of New York, Harrah's  Entertainment,
                     Inc.,  Hasbro,  Inc. and the Museum of  Television & Radio.
                     Age 60.





[GRAPHIC OMITTED]    SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,  TECHNOLOGY AND MANUFACTURING OF IBM
                     CORPORATION,   DEVELOPER  AND   MANUFACTURER   OF  ADVANCED
  NICHOLAS M.        INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
   DONOFRIO
     1999            Senior Vice President,  Technology and Manufacturing of IBM
COMMON SHARES:       Corporation  from  August,  1997 to  present.  Senior  Vice
    15,603           President,  Server Group of IBM  Corporation  from January,
                     1995 to  August,  1997.  Director  of The Bank of New York.
                     Member of the Board of Trustees of  Rensselaer  Polytechnic
                     Institute.  Chairman  Emeritus of the Board of Directors of
                     the National  Action Council for Minorities in Engineering,
                     Inc. (NACME). Age 59.


[GRAPHIC OMITTED]    PRESIDENT  OF THE BANK OF NEW YORK  COMPANY,  INC.  AND THE
                     BANK OF NEW YORK
  GERALD L.
   HASSELL           President  of The Bank of New York  Company,  Inc.  and The
     1998            Bank of New York since  September,  1998.  Senior Executive
COMMON SHARES:       Vice  President of The Bank of New York Company,  Inc. from
  1,028,894          August, 1998, and Senior Executive Vice President and Chief
                     Commercial  Banking  Officer  of The Bank of New York  from
                     December, 1994 to September, 1998. Executive Vice President
                     of The Bank of New York from June, 1990 to December,  1994.
                     Director of The Bank of New York and Private Export Funding
                     Corporation.  Trustee  of Big  Brothers/Big  Sisters of New
                     York City. Member of the Financial Services  Roundtable and
                     Financial  Services  Forum.  Member of Board of Visitors of
                     Duke University Fuqua School of Business. Age 53.



                                       6


NOMINEE,
YEAR ELECTED
A DIRECTOR
AND SECURITIES       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
OWNED (1)            AND OTHER INFORMATION
================================================================================

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]    RETIRED   PRESIDENT   AND  CHIEF   EXECUTIVE   OFFICER   OF
                     SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION, MANUFACTURER OF PHARMACEUTICAL
   RICHARD J.        AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS
    KOGAN
     1996            President and Chief  Executive  Officer of  Schering-Plough
COMMON  SHARES:      Corporation from November,  1996 to April,  2003.  Chairman
    21,600           from November, 1998 to November,  2002. President from 1986
                     to  November,  1998.  Principal  of The  KOGAN  Group  LLC.
                     Director  of The  Bank of New  York  and  Colgate-Palmolive
                     Company.  Member  of the  Board  of  Trustees  of New  York
                     University and The Saint Barnabas  Corporation  and Medical
                     Center. Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Age 63.


[GRAPHIC OMITTED]    CHAIRMAN  AND CHIEF  EXECUTIVE  OFFICER  OF  TIFFANY & CO.,
                     INTERNATIONAL DESIGNERS,  MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF
  MICHAEL  J.        JEWELRY  AND FINE  GOODS
   KOWALSKI
    2003             Chairman  of Tiffany & Co. from  January,  2003 to present,
COMMON SHARES:       and Chief Executive Officer since February, 1999. President
   10,966            of  Tiffany & Co.  from  January,  1996 to  January,  2003.
                     Executive Vice President from March, 1992 to January, 1996.
                     Chief  Operating  Officer from  January,  1997 to February,
                     1999.  Director of The Bank of New York,  Fairmont Hotels &
                     Resorts,  Inc.,  Tiffany & Co.  and  Jewelers  of  America.
                     Trustee  of  the  Wildlife  Conservation  Society  and  the
                     National Parks Conservation Association. Age 52.


[GRAPHIC OMITTED]    CHAIRMAN  AND  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE   OFFICER  OF  MEADWESTVACO
                     CORPORATION, MANUFACTURER OF PAPER, PACKAGING AND SPECIALTY
    JOHN A.          CHEMICALS
   LUKE, JR.
     1996            Chairman of MeadWestvaco Corporation from December, 2002 to
 COMMON SHARES:      present and Chief  Executive  Officer since January,  2002.
    21,200           President of MeadWestvaco Corporation from January, 2002 to
                     April,  2003.  Chairman,   President  and  Chief  Executive
                     Officer of Westvaco Corporation from 1996 to January, 2002.
                     President   and  Chief   Executive   Officer  of   Westvaco
                     Corporation  from  1992  to  January,   2002.  Director  of
                     American  Forest  and  Paper  Association,  The Bank of New
                     York,  FM  Global,  MeadWestvaco  Corporation,  The  Timken
                     Company, The Tinker Foundation and the United Negro College
                     Fund.  Trustee  of  Lawrence  University  and the  American
                     Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research. Age 56.




                                       7



NOMINEE,
YEAR ELECTED
A DIRECTOR
AND SECURITIES       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
OWNED (1)            AND OTHER INFORMATION
================================================================================

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]    CHAIRMAN  OF  LIBERTY  MEDIA   CORPORATION,   PRODUCER  AND
                     DISTRIBUTOR OF  COMMUNICATIONS,  INFORMATIONAL  PROGRAMMING
    JOHN C.          AND ELECTRONIC RETAILING SERVICES
    MALONE
     1986            Chairman of Liberty Media Corporation from October, 1990 to
 COMMON SHARES:      present.  Chairman,  CEO and  President  of  Liberty  Media
    44,400           International, Inc. from June, 2004 to present. Chairman of
                     Tele-Communications,  Inc.  from  November,  1996 and Chief
                     Executive  Officer  from  January,  1994  to  March,  1999.
                     Director of The Bank of New York, CATO  Institute,  Liberty
                     Media Corporation,  Liberty Media  International,  Inc. and
                     UnitedGlobalCom,  Inc. Member of Shareholders  Committee of
                     Discovery Communications, Inc. Age 63.


[GRAPHIC OMITTED]    CHAIRMAN OF GUARDIAN  MEDIA GROUP PLC, A UK MEDIA  BUSINESS
                     WITH  INTERESTS  IN  NATIONAL  AND  COMMUNITY   NEWSPAPERS,
     PAUL            MAGAZINES  AND RADIO
  MYNERS, CBE
     2002            Chairman of Guardian  Media Group plc from 2000 to present.
COMMON SHARES:       Chairman  of Marks and  Spencer  PLC from 2004 to  present.
    10,200           Chairman of Gartmore Investment Management plc from 1986 to
                     2001.  Director of The Bank of New York and Marks & Spencer
                     PLC. Chairman of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited. Chairman
                     of Tate. Trustee of Glyndebourne Opera. Age 56.


 [GRAPHIC OMITTED]   SENIOR  EXECUTIVE VICE  PRESIDENT AND CHIEF  ADMINISTRATIVE
                     OFFICER OF METLIFE,  INC., INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
 CATHERINE A.
     REIN            Senior  Executive Vice  President and Chief  Administrative
     1981            Officer of Metlife,  Inc.  from  January,  2005 to present.
COMMON SHARES:       President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Metropolitan
    75,507           Property and Casualty Insurance Company from March, 1999 to
                     January,  2005.  Senior  Executive Vice  President-Business
                     Services  Group and Corporate  Development  and Services of
                     Metropolitan Life Insurance Company from February,  1998 to
                     March, 1999. Director of The Bank of New York,  FirstEnergy
                     Corp. and New England  Financial,  Inc.  Trustee of the New
                     York University Law Center Foundation. Age 62.


                                       8



NOMINEE,
YEAR ELECTED
A DIRECTOR
AND SECURITIES       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
OWNED (1)            AND OTHER INFORMATION
================================================================================

 [GRAPHIC OMITTED]   CHAIRMAN  AND CHIEF  EXECUTIVE  OFFICER  OF THE BANK OF NEW
                     YORK COMPANY, INC. AND THE BANK OF NEW YORK
   THOMAS A.
     RENYI           Chairman of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. and The Bank
     1992            of New York since February,  1998. Chief Executive  Officer
COMMON SHARES:       of The Bank of New York  Company,  Inc.  since July,  1997.
   1,450,957         President of The Bank of New York Company, Inc. from March,
                     1992 to September,  1998.  Chief  Executive  Officer of The
                     Bank of New York since  January,  1996 and  President  from
                     December, 1994 to September,  1998. Chief Operating Officer
                     of The Bank of New York  from  December,  1994 to  January,
                     1996.  Vice  Chairman  of The Bank of New York from 1992 to
                     1994.  Director of The Bank of New York, Lincoln Center for
                     the Performing  Arts, The New York Clearing  House,  Public
                     Service  Enterprise  Group, Inc. and United Way of New York
                     City.  Member  of the  Board  of  Managers  of The New York
                     Botanical Garden. Member of the Boards of Trustees of Bates
                     College and Rutgers,  the State  University.  Member of the
                     Board of Executives of the New York Stock Exchange. Age 58.


 [GRAPHIC OMITTED]   PRESIDENT  AND  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE  OFFICER  OF W.K.  KELLOGG
                     FOUNDATION,   A  PRIVATE  FOUNDATION
  WILLIAM C.
  RICHARDSON         President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of W.K.  Kellogg
     1998            Foundation since August,  1995.  President and Professor of
COMMON SHARES:       Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University from
    16,814           1990 to 1995.  Director  of The Bank of New  York,  Kellogg
                     Company, Exelon Corporation and CSX Corporation. Trustee of
                     the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Trust. Age 64.


 [GRAPHIC OMITTED]   CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF COMCAST CORPORATION, DEVELOPER, MANAGER
                     AND  OPERATOR  OF  BROADBAND   COMMUNICATION  NETWORKS  AND
    BRIAN L.         PROVIDER OF CONTENT
    ROBERTS
     1999            Chairman of Comcast  Corporation from June, 2004 to present
 COMMON SHARES:      and  CEO  since  November,   2002.   President  of  Comcast
    18,271           Corporation  since 1990.  Director of The Bank of New York,
                     Comcast Corporation and Comcast Holdings  Corporation.  Age
                     45.


                                       9



NOMINEE,
YEAR ELECTED
A DIRECTOR
AND SECURITIES       PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
OWNED (1)            AND OTHER INFORMATION
================================================================================

 [GRAPHIC OMITTED]   CHAIRMAN,  PRESIDENT  AND CHIEF  EXECUTIVE  OFFICER OF CORN
                     PRODUCTS   INTERNATIONAL,   INC.,   GLOBAL   PRODUCERS   OF
     SAMUEL C.       CORN-REFINED  PRODUCTS AND  INGREDIENTS
     SCOTT III
       2003          Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of Corn  Products
  COMMON SHARES:     International,  Inc. since 2001.  President  since 1997 and
       9,149         Chief Operating Officer from 1997 to 2001.  Director of The
                     Bank of New York,  Corn  Products  International,  Inc. and
                     Motorola, Inc. Age 60.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (1)  Includes shares held individually or jointly with others or in the name
      of a bank, broker or nominee for the individual's account.



                                       10



                        SECURITY OWNERSHIP BY MANAGEMENT

The following table indicates the beneficial  ownership of the Company's  Common
Stock as of February 22, 2005, by each of the directors  (including all nominees
for  re-election),  the chief  executive  officer and the other five most highly
compensated  executive  officers and all directors and executive officers of the
Company as a group, based upon information supplied by each of the directors and
officers.  No director or officer  currently  holds any shares of the  Company's
Preferred Stock.






                                         SHARES OF        SHARES THAT MAY BE
                                        COMMON STOCK       ACQUIRED WITHIN                        PERCENT OF
                                        BENEFICIALLY          60 DAYS BY                            COMMON
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                   OWNED         EXERCISE OF OPTIONS        TOTAL          STOCK (1)
------------------------------        -----------------  ---------------------  --------------   ------------
                                                                                        
Frank J. Biondi, Jr...............           27,319                  --             27,319
Nicholas M. Donofrio..............           15,603                  --             15,603
Alan R. Griffith..................        1,116,953(2)        1,345,339          2,462,292
Gerald L. Hassell.................        1,028,894(3)        1,703,673          2,732,567
Richard J. Kogan..................           21,600                  --             21,600
Michael J. Kowalski...............           10,966                  --             10,966
John A. Luke, Jr..................           21,200                  --             21,200
John C. Malone....................           44,400                  --             44,400
Donald R. Monks...................          560,868           1,109,666          1,670,534
Paul Myners.......................           10,200                  --             10,200
Robert C. Pozen...................            4,450                  --              4,450
Catherine A. Rein.................           75,507                  --             75,507
Thomas A. Renyi...................        1,450,957           3,699,802          5,150,759
William C. Richardson.............           16,814                  --             16,814
Brian L. Roberts..................           18,271                  --             18,271
Samuel C. Scott III...............            9,149                  --              9,149
Bruce W. Van Saun ................          400,494             818,639          1,219,133
Joseph M. Velli ..................        1,003,594(4)        1,152,006          2,155,600
All directors and executive
  officers of the Company, as a
  group (a total of 24 persons,
  including those named above)....        6,893,861          12,725,508         19,619,369          2.52%


--------------
 (1)     All percentages are less than 1% of the Company's outstanding shares of
         Common Stock except as indicated.
 (2)     Excludes 99,320 shares held by Mr. Griffith's spouse as to which shares
         he disclaims beneficial ownership.
 (3)     Excludes 60,000 shares held by Mr.  Hassell's spouse as to which shares
         he disclaims  beneficial  ownership and includes  57,854 shares held by
         two family trusts.
 (4)     Excludes  1,135 shares held by Mr. Velli's spouse as to which shares he
         disclaims beneficial ownership.

                           2004 AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit  Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company  assists the Board
of Directors in fulfilling  its statutory  and fiduciary  responsibilities  with
respect to internal controls,  accounting  policies,  and auditing and reporting
practices.  The Audit  Committee  assists the Board in its  oversight of (i) the
integrity of the financial statements and the financial reporting process;  (ii)
compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;  (iii) the independent public
accountants'  qualifications  and independence;  and (iv) the performance of the
independent public accountants and the Company's internal audit function.



                                       11




The Audit Committee  consists of independent  directors meeting the requirements
of the guidelines specified in the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines and
the additional  requirements imposed upon audit committees by the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  (SEC). All members of the Audit Committee are "financially
literate," and  collectively the members have such other  qualifications  as are
mandated by the SEC and NYSE Listing Standards.  Two of the members of the Audit
Committee each serve on the audit committees of two other public  companies.  In
accordance  with the provisions of the Audit  Committee  Charter,  the Board has
determined  that their duties on the other boards do not impair their ability to
serve effectively on the Audit Committee of the Company.

The  Audit  Committee  is  entitled  to  place  reasonable  reliance  on (i) the
integrity of those persons and organizations within and outside the Company from
whom and from  which  the  Audit  Committee  receives  information  and (ii) the
accuracy of the financial and other information  provided to the Audit Committee
by such persons or organizations.  Actual knowledge to the contrary with respect
to either of the above items will be promptly reported to the Board by the Audit
Committee.

The Audit  Committee has established  procedures for the receipt,  treatment and
retention of complaints  related to accounting,  internal  accounting  controls,
auditing matters,  and other situations which affect or could potentially affect
the accuracy of the books and records of the Company.

Management of the Company is responsible for the  preparation,  presentation and
integrity of the  Company's  consolidated  financial  statements.  Management is
responsible  for  maintaining  appropriate  accounting  and financial  reporting
principles  and  policies  as  well  as for  maintaining  internal  control  and
procedures   designed  to  assure  compliance  with  accounting   standards  and
applicable laws and regulations.  The Company's  independent public accountants,
Ernst & Young LLP, are  responsible  for planning and performing  proper audits,
including an audit of the Company's  annual  consolidated  financial  statements
filed on Form 10-K,  and other  procedures,  including  reviews of the Company's
unaudited interim consolidated  financial statements prior to the filing of each
quarterly   report  on  Form  10-Q.  The  Audit  Committee  is  responsible  for
maintaining open  communication  between the Audit Committee and the independent
public accountants, internal auditors, management, and the Board.

In 2004,  management and the independent  public accountants (Ernst & Young LLP)
detailed the  methodology  selected to evaluate the system of internal  controls
over  financial  reporting and  disclosure,  utilizing the framework in INTERNAL
CONTROL  -  INTEGRATED   FRAMEWORK   issued  by  the   Committee  of  Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. During 2004, management documented the
system of internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure,  tested the
controls  for  adequacy  and  evaluated  the  effectiveness  of  the  system  in
compliance  with the  requirements of Section 404 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of
2002 and related regulations. The Audit Committee met with management,  internal
audit and the independent public accountants periodically during 2004 to receive
status reports on the results of the documentation,  testing, and evaluations of
the system of internal controls over financial  reporting and disclosure.  As of
December 31, 2004,  management  provided  the Audit  Committee  with a report of
their review on the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls over
financial  reporting and  disclosure.  This report was included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Committee has reviewed this report and discussed
with  management  the  process and  results of the  evaluation  of the system of
internal  controls  over  financial  reporting  and  disclosure.  The  Committee
continues  to  monitor  the  Company's  process  for  evaluating  the design and
operating  effectiveness  of internal  controls  over  financial  reporting  and
disclosure and will continue this monitoring process going forward in 2005.

The Audit Committee reviewed the audited  consolidated  financial  statements in
the Company's Annual Report with  management,  and has discussed with management
(i) the  quality,  not  just  the  acceptability,  of the  Company's  accounting
principles;  (ii) the reasonableness of significant  financial  reporting issues
and  judgments  made  in  connection  with  the  preparation  of  the  financial
statements,  including any  significant  changes in the  Company's  selection or
application of accounting principles and any major issues regarding the adequacy
of the  Company's  internal  controls;  (iii)  the  effect  of  any  significant
regulatory and accounting initiatives,  as well as off-balance sheet structures,
on the  financial  statements;  (iv) any special audit steps adopted in light of
any material  control  deficiencies;  and (v) the clarity of disclosures made in
the  financial  statements.  The Audit  Committee  also  reviewed the  Company's
disclosures under  "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and



                                       12




Results of Operations" included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In  conjunction  with the  reviews of the  Company's  10-K and 10-Qs,  the Audit
Committee  also received a report from the  Disclosure  Committee of the Company
and reviewed the process for the CEO and CFO quarterly certifications of the SEC
filings, as well as the Company's disclosure controls and procedures,  including
any changes or deficiencies.  The Audit Committee has reviewed a report from the
CEO and CFO made in connection  with their  certification  of the Company's 10-K
and 10-Qs about (i) any  significant  deficiencies in the design or operation of
internal  controls or material  weaknesses  therein and (ii) any fraud involving
management  or other  employees  who have a  significant  role in the  Company's
internal controls.

The  Audit  Committee  has  discussed  with  the  Company's  independent  public
accountants,  who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of
the audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting  principles,
the independent public  accountants'  judgments as to the quality,  not just the
acceptability,  of the Company's  accounting  principles as applied in financial
reporting,  the  reasonableness  of significant  financial  reporting issues and
judgments,  the  clarity  of  the  disclosures  in  the  consolidated  financial
statements,  management's  assessment of the  effectiveness of internal controls
over financial  reporting,  the independent public  accountants'  opinion on the
effectiveness  of internal  controls  over  financial  reporting and any matters
required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing  Standards No. 61, as modified
or supplemented.

In addition,  as required by  Independence  Standards  Board Standard No. 1, the
Audit  Committee  has:  (i)  received  from  the  Company's  independent  public
accountants  written  disclosure  of all  relationships,  if  any,  between  the
Company's  independent  public  accountants  and its  related  entities  and the
Company and its related  entities that in the  independent  public  accountants'
professional  judgment may reasonably be thought to bear on their  independence;
(ii)  received  a  letter  from the  Company's  independent  public  accountants
confirming that in the independent public  accountants'  professional  judgment,
they are  independent  of the Company;  and (iii)  discussed  with the Company's
independent  public  accountants  their  independence  from  management  and the
Company. The independent public accountants reported that it provided expatriate
tax services to an employee of the Company in China that  represents a violation
of the auditor independence rules. From December 1999 through September 2001 and
again in January 2004, the independent  public  accountants  received funds from
the Company and one expatriate employee that were deposited into the independent
public  accountants'  account in a local financial  institution and forwarded to
the  local  taxing  authority.   This  represented  a  violation  based  on  the
prohibition  of an auditor  from having  custody of assets of the audit  client,
even on a temporary basis. The fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP for these services
were  approximately  $2,000 in 2004, $1,000 in 2001, and the amounts relating to
the period  prior to 2001 are  believed  to be  similar.  After  review,  it was
determined by the independent  public  accountants that their independence as it
relates to the Company was not impaired.  The Audit  Committee has reviewed this
situation  and  concurred  with  the  assessment  by  the   independent   public
accountants.  In further  assessing the  independence  of Ernst & Young LLP, the
Committee  has  received  and  reviewed  a  report  by  the  independent  public
accountants  describing:   (i)  the  independent  public  accountants'  internal
quality-control  procedures;  (ii)  material  issues  raised by the most  recent
internal  quality-control  review, or peer review of the firm, or by any inquiry
or  investigation by governmental or professional  authorities,  within the past
five years,  respecting one or more independent  audits carried out by the firm,
and any  steps  taken to deal  with such  issues;  and  (iii) all  relationships
between the independent public accountants and the Company.  The Audit Committee
has also considered  that the provision of non-audit  services to the Company by
Ernst & Young LLP is compatible with maintaining their independence.

The  Audit  Committee   discussed  with  the  Company's  internal  auditors  and
independent  public accountants the overall scope and plans for their respective
audits,  matters  related to the conduct of the audit  including the adequacy of
staffing,  and the  results of the  audit.  The Audit  Committee  meets with the
internal  auditors  and  independent  public   accountants,   with  and  without
management  present,  to  discuss  the  results  of  their  examinations,  their
evaluations of the Company's  internal  controls and the overall  quality of the
Company's financial reporting.

In  reliance  on the  reviews  and  discussions  referred  to  above,  the Audit
Committee  recommended to the Board of Directors  (and the Board  approved) that
the audited  consolidated  financial statements be


                                       13


included in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  2004,  which is filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission.  The Audit Committee has obtained assurance
from the independent public accountants that the audit was conducted in a manner
consistent  with Section 10A of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit
Committee   has,   after   evaluating  the   independent   public   accountants'
qualifications,   performance  and  independence,  as  well  as  evaluating  the
performance of the lead engagement  partner,  appointed,  subject to shareholder
ratification, Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent public accountants.

                                                       By: The Audit Committee
                                                           March 7, 2005

                                                           Catherine A. Rein
                                                           Michael J. Kowalski
                                                           Paul Myners
                                                           Robert C. Pozen
                                                           William C. Richardson


AUDIT FEES, AUDIT-RELATED FEES, TAX FEES, ALL OTHER FEES

The Company  utilizes the services of Ernst & Young LLP for various audit,  tax,
and other non-audit services.  The aggregate fees billed to the Company by Ernst
& Young LLP for their audit of the Company's  annual  financial  statements  and
reviews of the interim financial statements in the Company's Forms 10-K and 10-Q
for the years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was $5.3 million and
$4.3  million,  respectively.  The  increase  in the audit  fees  charged to the
Company  primarily  relates to the increased  scope of work  performed to comply
with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


The  aggregate  fees billed to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP for all services
for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:



FEE TYPE                                               2004                 2003
                                                -------------------- -------------------
                                                               

AUDIT FEES...................................   $         5,338,000  $        4,293,000
                                                -------------------- -------------------
AUDIT RELATED FEES
   Service Organization Reports ("SAS 70
     reports"), Internal Control and other
     Regulatory Reports......................             2,581,000           1,827,000
   Other Audit Related Fees..................               248,000             757,000
                                                -------------------- -------------------
Total Audit Related Fees.....................             2,829,000           2,584,000
                                                -------------------- -------------------
TAX FEES.....................................             2,185,000           1,403,000
                                                -------------------- -------------------
All Other Fees
   Compliance and Advisory Services..........               429,000           1,303,000
   WTC Disaster Non-Audit Related............                     --            125,000
                                                -------------------- -------------------
Total All Other Fees.........................               429,000           1,428,000
                                                -------------------- -------------------
Total for All Non-Audit Fees.................             5,443,000           5,415,000
                                                -------------------- -------------------
Total for all E&Y Fees.......................   $        10,781,000  $        9,708,000
                                                ==================== ===================







                                       14



The  Company  did not  engage  Ernst & Young  LLP to  provide  any  professional
services with respect to financial information systems design and implementation
for the years ended December 31, 2004 or 2003.

The  Audit  Committee  is  responsible  for the  pre-approval  of all  audit and
permitted  non-audit services  performed by the independent public  accountants,
Ernst & Young LLP. The Audit  Committee will not engage the  independent  public
accountants  to perform the specific  non-audit  services which are precluded by
law or regulation  or any services  which would impair the  independence  of the
independent public accountants. The Audit Committee has established policies and
procedures for the  pre-approval  of audit and non-audit  services for which the
Company engages Ernst & Young LLP. The Audit Committee has pre-approved  certain
specific  services ("Class  Approval"),  for which management may retain Ernst &
Young LLP subject to the review and approval of the Chief Auditor of the Company
prior to the engagement of Ernst & Young LLP. All such Class  Approvals would be
presented to the Audit Committee for  ratification at the next subsequent  Audit
Committee meeting. All other services would require the separate approval of the
Audit Committee prior to engagement of Ernst & Young LLP ("Specific  Approval").
The Committee has delegated the authority for Specific  Approval to the Chairman
of the Audit  Committee.  All such  Specific  Approvals are reported at the next
subsequent  Audit  Committee  meeting.  All  Audit  Related,  Tax and All  Other
services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to these policies and
procedures.

OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED BY ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Ernst & Young LLP also provided  other  services to  associated  entities of the
Company that were charged  directly to those  entities.  These amounts  included
$1.1 million for the audits of mutual funds and other funds advised by the Bank.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION

The following tables present information  concerning  compensation for the chief
executive officer and the five other most highly compensated  executive officers
for services in all  capacities to the Company and its  subsidiaries  during the
years indicated.




                                       15






                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

                       ANNUAL COMPENSATION                             LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
            ------------------------------------------           -----------------------------------
                                     BONUS (D)                           AWARDS            PAYOUTS
                              ------------------------           ------------------------ ----------
                                            VALUE OF       OTHER     RESTRICTED
 NAME AND                                  PERFORMANCE     ANNUAL      STOCK    SECURITIES               ALL OTHER
 PRINCIPAL                                  SHARES     COMPENSATION   AWARDS    UNDERLYING   LTIP      COMPENSATION
 POSITION     YEAR  SALARY($)     CASH     EARNED(1)       ($)         ($)      OPTIONS(#)  PAYOUTS($)     ($)(2)
---------     ----  ---------  ----------  ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------  ----------  -----------
   (A)        (B)     (C)                                  (E)         (F)          (G)        (H)           (I)
                                                                              

Thomas A.
Renyi....     2004 $1,000,000  $3,000,000  $4,862,610     --                --    340,000      --         $ 80,448
  Chairman
  and Chief   2003  1,000,000   3,524,000   6,359,040     --        2,870,000(3)  650,000      --           53,939
  Executive
  Officer     2002  1,000,000           0     610,980     --          771,421     650,000      --           53,866
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerald L.
Hassell..     2004    800,000   2,000,000   3,890,088     --                --    175,000      --           44,256
  President   2003    696,153   2,411,000   5,087,232     --        1,599,000(3)  375,000      --           37,550
              2002    650,000           0     356,405     --          460,224     375,000      --           35,013
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alan R.
Griffith.
  Vice        2004    625,000   1,955,000   2,917,566     --                --    140,000      --           54,622
  Chairman    2003    598,077   1,716,000   2,861,568     --        1,271,000(3)  275,000      --           32,260
              2002    575,000           0     280,021     --          295,880     250,000      --           30,973
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce W.
Van Saun.     2004    600,000   1,877,000   2,917,566     --                --    140,000      --           31,351
  Senior
  Executive
  Vice        2003    542,308   1,648,000   2,861,568     --        1,168,500(3)  275,000      --           29,252
  President
  and Chief   2002    475,000           0     234,209     --          278,805     210,000      --           25,586
  Financial
  Officer
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joseph M.
Velli....     2004    625,000   1,250,000   2,431,305     --          787,500(4)  150,000      --           36,581
  Senior
  Executive   2003    538,558   1,100,000   1,589,760     --          758,500(3)  325,000      --           28,895
  Vice
  President
(5)           2002    525,000     400,000     254,575     --                --    260,000      --           28,280

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald R.
Monks....     2004    525,000   1,125,000   2,431,305     --          787,500(4)  150,000      --           38,079
  Senior
  Executive   2003    525,000   1,000,000   1,589,760     --          656,000(3)  325,000      --           26,250
  Vice
  President
  (5)         2002    452,885     325,000     254,575     --               --     250,000      --           22,644
--------------


(1)    The value of the 2004 performance  shares earned is the value on December
       31, 2004, of  performance  share awards made under the Company's 1999 and
       2003  Long-Term  Incentive  Plans and earned  based on 2004  performance.
       Under the conditions of each award,  shares are generally  forfeitable if
       the officer's employment  terminates prior to February 8, 2007, except in
       the case of  retirement,  disability,  death or a Change in  Control  (as
       defined  in the  1999  and  2003  Long-Term  Incentive  Plans).  Prior to
       vesting,  dividends are paid on outstanding  shares. The number of shares
       which were  earned  based on 2004  performance  and the value  thereof on
       December 31, 2004, for the Named Executive Officers are shown below.

                     SHARES EARNED AS                   VALUE OF SHARES
                   OF DECEMBER 31, 2004          EARNED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004
                     BASED ON 2004                      BASED ON 2004
                       PERFORMANCE                        PERFORMANCE
                   --------------------          ------------------------------
Renyi...........         145,500                           $4,862,610
Hassell.........         116,400                            3,890,088
Griffith........          87,300                            2,917,566
Van Saun........          87,300                            2,917,566
Velli...........          72,750                            2,431,305
Monks...........          72,750                            2,431,305

(2)    The items  included  under column (i) for 2004  consist of the  following
       amounts for Messrs. Renyi, Hassell,  Griffith, Van Saun, Velli and Monks,
       respectively:  (i) annual  Company  contributions  on behalf of the named
       employees  under the  Company's  Employee  Savings & Investment  Plan and
       Excess  Contribution  Plan,  amounting  to  $29,225,   $25,225,  $21,725,
       $21,225, $21,725 and $19,725, (ii) annual allocations under the Company's
       Employee Stock Ownership Plan of $1,378, $1,103, $861, $827, $861 and $0,
       (iii) taxable payments made to the named executives to cover premiums for
       universal  life  insurance  policies  owned by the  executives,  and (iv)
       annual  premiums paid by the Company for executive  long-term  disability
       insurance.

(3)    Based on 2002 performance, the Named Executive Officers were each awarded
       restricted shares in March 2003.


(4)    Based on 2003  performance,  Messrs.  Velli and Monks  were each  awarded
       restricted shares in March 2004.
(5)    Officer of The Bank of New York.



                                       16




                        OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                              INDIVIDUAL GRANTS (1)



                      NUMBER
                        OF             % OF TOTAL
                    SECURITIES           OPTIONS         EXERCISE
                    UNDERLYING         GRANTED TO         OR BASE
                      OPTIONS         EMPLOYEES IN         PRICE        EXPIRATION         GRANT DATE
     NAME           GRANTED(#)         FISCAL YEAR        ($/SH)           DATE        PRESENT VALUE (2)
----------------  ----------------  ------------------  ------------  ---------------  -------------------
      (A)               (B)                (C)              (D)            (E)                (F)
                                                                        

Renyi..........       340,000             4.71          $     33.09      3/4/2014      $        2,121,600
Hassell........       175,000             2.43          $     33.09      3/4/2014               1,092,000
Griffith.......       140,000             1.94          $     33.09      3/4/2014                 873,600
Van Saun.......       140,000             1.94          $     33.09      3/4/2014                 873,600
Velli..........       150,000             2.08          $     33.09      3/4/2014                 936,000
Monks..........       150,000             2.08          $     33.09      3/4/2014                 936,000



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

  (1)   All  options  were  granted at market  price on March 4, 2004.  For each
        Named  Executive  Officer,  all of the options are  non-qualified  stock
        options and become exercisable  one-third per year over three years from
        the grant date.

  (2)   The Grant Date Present Value is based on the Black-Scholes model adapted
        for use in valuing  executive  stock options.  There is no assurance the
        value realized by an executive will be at or near the value estimated by
        the  Black-Scholes  model.  The actual  value,  if any, an executive may
        realize  will depend on the excess of the stock price over the  exercise
        price  on  the  date  the  option  is  exercised.   In  determining  the
        Black-Scholes value, the following underlying assumptions were used: (i)
        stock price volatility over the expected future life of the option; (ii)
        dividend  yield  represents  the expected  annual  dividend yield of the
        Common Stock;  (iii) the risk-free  rate of return is 2.6%;  and (iv) an
        expected option life of 5 years.


                 AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                        AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES





                                                            NUMBER OF
                                                           SECURITIES
                                                           UNDERLYING
                                                           UNEXERCISED            VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                           OPTIONS AT              IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                                        FISCAL YEAR-END(#)       AT FISCAL YEAR-END($)
                    SHARES                            ---------------------    -------------------------
                  ACQUIRED ON           VALUE               EXERCISABLE/              EXERCISABLE/
    NAME          EXERCISE(#)        REALIZED($)           UNEXERCISABLE              UNEXERCISABLE
--------------  ------------        --------------    ---------------------    -------------------------
    (A)              (B)                (C)                    (D)                         (E)
                                                                   
Renyi........        186,556        $  4,209,698        3,221,135 / 990,001    $  17,675,692 / $4,571,207
Hassell......         86,556           1,927,819       1,395,340 / 550,000         6,307,479 / 2,630,250
Griffith.....        132,352           3,050,331       1,123,672 / 406,668         6,849,670 / 1,932,707
Van Saun.....              0                   0         610,306 / 393,334           964,906 / 1,932,707
Velli........              0                   0         907,006 / 453,334        4,697,310 / 2,279, 003
Monks........         13,444             300,776         867,999 / 450,001         3,947,100 / 2,279,003






                                       17



COMPENSATION  AND ORGANIZATION  COMMITTEE  REPORT ON EXECUTIVE  COMPENSATION FOR
2004

PRINCIPLES AND PROGRAM

The Company's executive  compensation  program is a pay for performance program.
It is designed to:

       o      motivate executives to enhance shareholder value with compensation
              plans that tie reward to Company performance; and

       o      target  executive  compensation at a level to ensure the Company's
              ability to attract and retain superior executives.

The Compensation  and  Organization  Committee of the Board of Directors has the
responsibility  for  the  design,   implementation  and  administration  of  the
Company's  executive   compensation   program.  All  of  the  directors  on  the
Compensation  and  Organization  Committee have been  determined by the Board of
Directors to be "independent"  within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange
Rules.  In addition,  the Company has determined that each complies with SEC and
Department of Treasury rules concerning the independence of outside directors.

To meet the above  objectives,  the  program,  which  has both  cash and  equity
elements,  consists of base salary, an annual cash incentive bonus, share grants
and stock options. In determining executive  compensation,  the Compensation and
Organization  Committee  evaluates both the total  compensation  package and its
individual  elements.  As part of its review,  the Compensation and Organization
Committee considers Company performance, individual performance and the relative
compensation levels of other executive  officers.  In 2004, the Compensation and
Organization Committee also engaged its independent  compensation  consultant to
review the Company's entire executive  compensation  program, both generally and
against our  competitors.  Key  competitors  consist of the Company's peer group
used for the five-year  comparison of total  shareholder  return. It is expected
that total  compensation  will vary  annually  based on Company  and  individual
performance.  The Compensation and Organization  Committee and the management of
the Company  believe that  compensation  should be based on both  short-term and
long-term  measurements and be directly and visibly tied to Company performance,
thus introducing substantial risk in the payout levels.

In evaluating the Company's 2004 financial  performance,  the  Compensation  and
Organization  Committee  considered  a variety of factors.  The  overall  market
environment  in 2004  was  uneven.  After a  strong  first  quarter,  conditions
weakened in the second and third quarters,  particularly for equity volumes,  as
concerns mounted over geopolitical issues such as oil prices and the conflict in
Iraq. However,  market conditions  improved in the fourth quarter,  particularly
after  the  Presidential  election  in  November.   Despite  the  uneven  market
environment  and  negative  impact of the charge  related  to a reserve  for the
anticipated  settlement  of the RW  Leasing  matter,  the  Company's  net income
increased  by 24.5%,  from $1,157  million to $1,440  million,  and earnings per
share  grew by  21.7%,  from  $1.52 in 2003 to $1.85 in 2004.  This  performance
reflects  sound growth across nearly all the Company's  securities  services and
fiduciary  businesses  as well as excellent  results from the credit  portfolio.
Throughout  the  year,  the  Company  maintained  its  investment   spending  in
technology, business continuity, quality initiatives and marketing and branding.
Moreover,  the Company's debt ratings remained strong and capital levels were in
excess of the regulatory minimums for a "well capitalized" bank.

Following  is a  description  of the elements of  executive  compensation  and a
review of Mr. Renyi's compensation levels for 2004:

BASE SALARY

Base salary levels for executive officers are determined by the Compensation and
Organization  Committee.  The Compensation and Organization Committee assesses a
number of factors in fixing the base salary of the executive officers (including
the  Named  Executive  Officers)  such as the  level  of  responsibility  of the
particular  position,  the  individual's  performance,   the  Company's  overall
financial performance, and the business and inflationary climate. In considering
base salary levels, the Compensation and Organization Committee considers all of
these factors without giving specific weight to any one factor.



                                       18



Base salary  levels of  executive  officers are  reviewed  every  quarter by the
Compensation and Organization  Committee;  individual  increases generally occur
every  two  years,  but are  occasionally  awarded  more or less  frequently  in
exceptional circumstances.  Because of the substantial risk in the payout levels
of the long-term  incentive plan, the Compensation  and  Organization  Committee
believes  that  base  salary  levels  for the  executives  named in the  Summary
Compensation  Table  should  be at or  above  median  for  the  peer  group.  An
independent  compensation consultant periodically reviews the competitiveness of
executive salaries and the Compensation and Organization  Committee examines the
compensation  consultant's  recommendation  in considering  salary changes.  The
Company  also takes into  account  the  ability to deduct  compensation  for tax
purposes as described in the last  paragraph  of this report.  Mr.  Renyi's base
salary of $1,000,000  was unchanged in 2004 and remains at the same level it has
been since 2000.

Performance  evaluations  of other  executive  officers  are  reviewed  with the
Compensation  and  Organization  Committee by the Chief  Executive  Officer.  To
ensure that  compensation  policy for the top  executive  officers is consistent
with  overall  Company   financial   performance   and  executive   compensation
strategies, the Compensation and Organization Committee reviews the compensation
awarded to approximately 50 of the Bank's most highly compensated executives.

ANNUAL CASH INCENTIVE BONUSES

Annual cash  incentive  bonuses are designed to provide a short-term  (one-year)
incentive  to executive  officers.  Annual cash  incentive  bonuses to executive
officers named in the Summary  Compensation Table are generally determined based
on performance against pre-established corporate goals but may also be increased
or decreased on a discretionary  basis.  Annual cash incentive  bonuses to other
executive  officers are based on a  subjective  evaluation  of their  individual
contribution to the Company's financial performance for the year. Heads of major
business units and other key officers are eligible for cash incentive  payments.
The  Compensation  and  Organization  Committee  approves all senior  management
annual cash incentive bonuses.

In the  case of Mr.  Renyi,  his  annual  cash  incentive  bonus  for  2004,  as
determined  pursuant to normalized  net income  results  against goals that were
established at the beginning of 2004, would have been $4,735,000.  Messrs. Renyi
and Hassell  recommended to the  Compensation  and  Organization  Committee that
their  individual cash incentive  bonuses be reduced from the amounts  allowable
pursuant to the pre-established goals in view of the RW Leasing matter and other
regulatory  issues.  In response,  the Compensation  and Organization  Committee
reduced  Mr.  Renyi's  bonus to  $3,000,000.  Similarly,  the  Compensation  and
Organization  Committee  reduced Mr.  Hassell's annual cash incentive bonus from
$3,220,000  to  $2,000,000.  Mr.  Renyi's 2003 annual cash  incentive  bonus was
determined  pursuant to normalized net income goals that were established at the
beginning of 2003.  Although his annual cash  incentive  bonus payout would have
been  $3,661,000  based solely on these  performance  goals,  Mr. Renyi received
$3,524,000,  the maximum 2003 annual cash  incentive  bonus payable to a covered
employee under the incentive plan at that time.

SHARE GRANTS

The  Compensation  and  Organization  Committee  strongly  endorses  the  use of
performance shares as an important component of long-term incentive compensation
for the most senior  management.  Performance share earn outs fluctuate based on
Company  results  against  pre-established  goals  over  designated  performance
periods.  The Company generally grants  performance  shares every three years to
provide long-term  incentives,  with annual performance periods over the term of
the three year grant.

Restricted  share grants are generally made to other executive  officers but may
also be granted to senior  management in special  situations.  Restricted shares
vest, generally, 3 years after grant without regard to performance goals and are
intended to provide an  incentive  to  recipients  to remain  employed  with the
Company and to contribute to overall Company  performance and the enhancement of
shareholder value.

The  independent  compensation  consultant  retained  by  the  Compensation  and
Organization  Committee  periodically  reviews the value of long-term  incentive
grants (which includes stock options,  performance  shares and restricted stock)
awarded by competitors to their senior management.  In light


                                       19



of this review, the Compensation and Organization Committee reduced the emphasis
on stock options as long-term incentive  compensation and increased the emphasis
on  performance  share  grants.  The  Compensation  and  Organization  Committee
believes this shift creates a better balance of long-term incentive compensation
and further aligns senior management  compensation and shareholder interests and
thereby promotes the objective of enhancing shareholder value.

In 2003,  performance  share grants were made covering  performance for calendar
years 2003,  2004 and 2005.  These  performance  shares are earned  based on (1)
return on equity adjusted for non-recurring  items and (2) a comparison  against
the  reported  return on equity of our peer group.  For 2004,  Mr.  Renyi earned
194,000  shares,  which was 97% of his 200,000 share grant. As was the case with
their annual cash incentive bonuses,  Messrs.  Renyi and Hassell  recommended to
the Compensation and Organization Committee that their earned performance shares
be reduced  from the  amounts  earned  pursuant to these goals in view of the RW
Leasing matter and other regulatory  issues.  In response,  the Compensation and
Organization  Committee  reduced the earned shares for Mr. Renyi from 194,000 to
145,500 shares.  Similarly,  the Compensation and Organization Committee reduced
Mr.  Hassell's  earned  performance  shares from 155,200 to 116,400 shares.  The
value of these  reduced  earned  shares as of 12/31/2004 is reported in footnote
(1) of the Summary  Compensation  Table on page 16. For 2003,  Mr.  Renyi earned
192,000  shares  which was 96% of his 200,000  share  grant;  the value of these
shares was $6,359,040 as of 12/31/2003.

STOCK OPTION GRANTS

Stock  options  are  designed to provide  long-term  (ten-year)  incentives  and
rewards tied to the price of the Company's Common Stock.  Given the fluctuations
of the stock  market,  there is not always a direct  correlation  between  stock
price performance and financial  performance.  The Compensation and Organization
Committee believes that stock options,  which provide value to participants only
when the Company's  shareholders  benefit from stock price appreciation,  are an
important component of the Company's executive  compensation program. The number
of  options  currently  held  by an  officer  is  not a  factor  in  determining
individual grants.

During 2004,  approximately  1,800 key  officers  received  stock option  grants
including all executive  officers.  The number of option shares granted is based
on a subjective evaluation of an individual's  contribution to Company financial
performance and his/her position and salary level in the Company.  Stock options
are issued  annually at an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value
of the  Company's  Common  Stock on the date of grant.  Vesting  terms for stock
options  for the Named  Executive  Officers  are shown in the  footnotes  to the
Option Grants in the Last Fiscal Year table in this Proxy Statement; the term of
the options is ten years from the grant date.

Based  on  data  prepared  by  the  independent  compensation  consultant,   the
Compensation  and  Organization   Committee  believes  the  Company's  long-term
incentive  grants are  appropriate  in the context of the  overall  compensation
packages of senior management and those of the senior management of competitors.
Mr. Renyi received 340,000 option shares in March 2004.

STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES

The Compensation and Organization  Committee  established formal stock ownership
guidelines  in 2005 for  executive  officers  named in the Summary  Compensation
Table and certain other senior executives. These officers will be expected, over
time,  to  acquire  shares of Company  stock  equal in value to at least five to
fifteen  times their base salary  amounts,  depending  on their  positions.  Mr.
Renyi's  ownership  guideline  is  fifteen  times  his base  salary.  For  these
purposes,  Company stock includes  shares owned outright,  unvested  performance
shares,  unvested  restricted  shares and shares held in the Company's  employee
stock purchase and retirement plans but exclude  outstanding  unexercised  stock
options.  The guidelines terminate upon an executive reaching age 60 after which
one-third  of the  affected  shares may be sold in each of the  following  three
years. The guidelines lapse upon an executive's  retirement.  Although ownership
level of Company Common Stock by senior  executives  meets these guidelines by a
substantial  margin,  the  Compensation  and  Organization   Committee  believes
establishing  formal guidelines  further aligns senior executive and shareholder
interests and thereby promotes the objective of enhancing shareholder value.



                                       20



INDIRECT COMPENSATION

In addition to the direct  compensation  described,  the Company  also  provides
benefits to executive  officers.  These benefits  include the  retirement  plans
described in this Proxy  Statement  and the  benefits  referred to in footnote 2
(iii) of the Summary  Compensation  Table.  The Company does not have employment
agreements with its senior management  providing for severance payments,  except
in the  context  of a change in  control of the  Company.  The  purpose of these
benefits and arrangement is ensuring the Company's ability to attract and retain
superior   executives  in  the  most  efficient  manner.  The  Compensation  and
Organization  Committee periodically reviews these benefits and arrangements and
considers them in the context of its direct compensation decisions.

DEDUCTIBILITY OF COMPENSATION

Under  Section  162(m) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the
"Code"),  the  Company  will not be able to take  tax  deductions  for  employee
remuneration to the named executives to the extent such remuneration  exceeds $1
million  and is not based on  performance  as defined  in Section  162(m) of the
Code. The Company has modified its incentive  compensation  plans,  has obtained
and intends to seek in the future the  necessary  shareholder  approvals and has
established the requisite  performance  measurements to enable compensation paid
under those plans to be  deductible.  In order to maintain the desired degree of
management flexibility to award compensation based upon individual  performance,
compensation which does not qualify for the deduction may also be paid.


                                            By:     The Compensation and
                                                    Organization Committee,
                                                    March 8, 2005

                                                    Richard J. Kogan
                                                    Frank J. Biondi, Jr.
                                                    John A. Luke, Jr.
                                                    John C. Malone



                                       21




                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.

                COMPARISONS OF FIVE-YEAR TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 [GRAPH OMITTED]

           [FOLLOWING DATA REPRESENTS LINE CHART IN THE PRINTED PIECE]

                            TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN
                                    (5 YEARS)



                                           12/31/99    12/31/00    12/31/01   12/31/02   12/31/03    12/31/04
                                           ----------  ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------  -----------
                                                                                   
The Bank of New York Company, Inc.......   $  100.00   $  139.62  $   105.04  $   63.64  $   89.99   $   92.95
Peer Group..............................   $  100.00   $  120.73  $   120.65  $  104.17  $  148.69   $  162.28
S&P 500.................................   $  100.00   $   89.86  $    78.14  $   59.88  $   75.68   $   82.49







Value of assumed  $100  Investment  on December 31, 1999 in The Bank of New York
Company,  Inc. Common Stock, in the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and in the
Peer Group Index; Dividends are reinvested.

Peer Group
             BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
             CITIGROUP INCORPORATED
             FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION (1)
             J.P.MORGAN CHASE & CO. (2)
             LEHMAN BROTHERS
             MELLON FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             MERRILL LYNCH & CO. INCORPORATED
             MORGAN STANLEY
             THE PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP, INC.
             STATE STREET CORPORATION
             WACHOVIA CORPORATION (3)

  (1)  Effective  April  1,  2004  Bank of  America  Corporation  completed  its
       acquisition of Fleet Boston Financial Corporation; return history for the
       Peer Company Group includes Fleet Boston Financial  Corporation  prior to
       April 1, 2004.

  (2)  Return history of Chase  Manhattan Bank through  December 29, 2000,  when
       Chase  merged  with J.P.  Morgan &  Company;  2001,  2002,  2003 and 2004
       results are for J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

  (3)  During 2001 First Union  Corporation  acquired  Wachovia  Corporation and
       assumed the Wachovia  Corporation  name;  return history is that of First
       Union prior to the September 2001 merger completion.



                                       22



EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND RELATED MATTERS

The executive  officers  named in the Summary  Compensation  Table in this Proxy
Statement are currently  parties to the agreements  described  below.

Severance  Agreements.  The Severance  Agreements  for Messrs.  Renyi,  Hassell,
Griffith,  Van Saun,  Velli and Monks  (the  "Severance  Agreements")  generally
provide that in the event that, within 24 months following a "Change in Control"
(as defined below) of the Company,  such  executive  officer either (i) receives
notice  that his  employment  will  terminate  for any reason  other than death,
retirement, Cause or Disability (as defined in the Severance Agreements) or (ii)
gives notice that his  employment  will terminate for Good Reason (as defined in
each  Severance  Agreement),  such  executive  officer  will  be  provided  with
severance  pay in an  amount  equal to 3 times (2 times  for  Messrs.  Velli and
Monks)  the sum of the  officer's  (x) annual  salary  rate prior to a notice of
termination  (or, if higher,  the annual  salary rate  immediately  prior to the
Change in Control) and (y) highest  annual bonus earned during the last 3 (2 for
Messrs.  Velli and Monks)  completed  fiscal  years  immediately  preceding  the
executive officer's termination date (the "Bonus Amount"); the severance payment
will also include an amount equal to the lump sum  actuarial  equivalent  of the
additional  benefit which the officer  would have  received  under the Company's
Retirement,  Excess Benefit and Supplemental  Executive  Retirement Plans if his
employment had continued for 3 (2 for Messrs. Velli and Monks) additional years,
his age were  increased  by 3 (2 for  Messrs.  Velli  and  Monks)  years  and he
continued  to  receive  salary  equal  to  the  annual  salary  rate  in  effect
immediately prior to the Change in Control and bonus  compensation  equal to the
Bonus  Amount.  Should  the  executive  officer  be subject to the excise tax on
"excess parachute payments" as a result of such payment and payments under other
plans due to a Change in Control,  an additional payment will be made to restore
the after-tax  severance  payment to the same amount which the executive officer
would have retained had the excise tax not been imposed.

The initial term of the Severance Agreements,  was July 11, 2000 to December 31,
2000. Thereafter,  they automatically renew each January 1st for consecutive one
year  periods  unless  terminated  by  either  party  on 90 days  prior  notice,
provided,  that  notwithstanding any such notice, the Severance  Agreements will
continue in effect for 24 months after a Change in Control  which occurs  during
the term or any renewal thereof.

Other  Employee  Benefit  Matters.  Under  the  1993,  1999 and  2003  Long-Term
Incentive Plans, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined below), (i) the
restrictions  applicable to all shares of restricted  stock and restricted share
units shall lapse and such shares and share units shall be deemed fully  vested,
(ii) all  restricted  stock  granted in the form of share units shall be paid in
cash,  (iii)  200% of all  performance  shares  granted in the form of shares of
Common  Stock or share  units  shall be  deemed  to be  earned in full and fully
vested,  (iv) 200% of all performance  shares granted in the form of share units
shall be paid in cash, and (v) any  participant who holds a stock option that is
not  exercisable in full shall be entitled to receive a cash payment as provided
below  with  respect  to the  portion  of the  stock  option  which  is not then
exercisable.  The amount of any cash  payment in respect of a  restricted  share
unit or performance share unit shall be equal to: (A) in the event the Change in
Control is the result of a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Stock,  the
final offer price per share paid for the Common Stock or, if higher, the highest
fair market  value of the Common Stock  during the 90-day  period  ending on the
date of the  Change in  Control or (B) in the event the Change in Control is the
result of any other  occurrence,  the highest  fair  market  value of the Common
Stock during the 90-day period ending on the date of the Change in Control.  The
amount to be paid in respect of the  portion  of any stock  option  which is not
exercisable  shall be equal to the result of multiplying the number of shares of
Common  Stock  covered  by such  portion of the stock  option by the  difference
between  (x) the per share  value of Common  Stock  determined  pursuant  to the
preceding  sentence,  or such lower price as the  Compensation  and Organization
Committee may determine  with respect to any incentive  stock option to preserve
its incentive stock option status,  and (y) the per share exercise price of such
stock option.

The Company entered into a trust  agreement with an independent  trustee in 1993
to establish a trust (the  "Trust") to provide for the payment of amounts due to
Messrs.  Renyi,  Hassell,  Griffith,  Velli,  Monks and later, Mr. Van Saun (and
certain other senior  executives) upon a Change in Control (as defined below) of
the Company.  The terms of the Trust  provide for the payment to Messrs.  Renyi,
Hassell,  Griffith,  Van  Saun,  Velli  and  Monks  (and  certain  other  senior
executives) of the severance


                                       23



pay payable to them pursuant to their Severance  Agreements described above. The
Trust also  provides  for the payment of amounts due to  participants  under the
Company's  Supplemental  Executive Retirement Plan and Excess Benefit Plan which
include Messrs. Renyi, Hassell, Griffith, Van Saun, Velli and Monks (and certain
other  senior  executives).  The Trust is revocable at any time at the option of
the Company  prior to a Change in Control.  After the  occurrence of a Change in
Control,  the Trust will become  irrevocable  and will be used for the exclusive
purpose  of  providing  benefits  to such  persons.  The  Trust is funded by the
deposit of an irrevocable  letter of credit in the amount of $277 million issued
by an entity unaffiliated with the Company.

Change  in  Control.  A  "Change  in  Control"  for  purposes  of the  Severance
Agreements of Messrs. Renyi, Hassell,  Griffith,  Van Saun, Velli and Monks, the
Trust, the Supplemental  Executive  Retirement Plan and Excess Benefit Plan, the
1993,  1999 and 2003  Long-Term  Incentive  Plans is  deemed to occur if (A) any
"person"  (as such term is defined in Section  3(a)(9)  and as used in  Sections
13(d)  and  14(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as  amended  (the
"Exchange Act")), excluding the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a trustee or
any fiduciary  holding  securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or  any of its  subsidiaries,  an  underwriter  temporarily  holding  securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities or a corporation  owned,  directly or
indirectly,  by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion
as their  ownership of the  Company,  is or becomes the  "beneficial  owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3  under the  Exchange  Act),  directly  or  indirectly,  of
securities of the Company  representing 25% or more of the combined voting power
of then outstanding securities ("Voting Securities") of the Company,  unless the
acquisition  of Voting  Securities is in connection  with an  acquisition by the
Company of a business or operation of or controlled  by such person,  a majority
of the Board  approve  a  resolution  providing  that the  acquisition  does not
constitute  a Change in Control and such person does not become the owner of 35%
or more of the Voting Securities;  or (B) during any period of not more than two
years,  individuals  who  constitute the Board as of the beginning of the period
and any new  director  (other  than a  director  designated  by a person who has
entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction  described in
clause (A) or (C) of this  sentence)  whose  election by the Board or nomination
for election by the  Company's  shareholders  was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors
at such  time or whose  election  or  nomination  for  election  was  previously
approved  (the  "Incumbent  Directors"),  cease for any reason to  constitute  a
majority thereof;  or (C) the consummation of the merger or consolidation of the
Company with any other corporation,  other than a merger or consolidation  which
would result in (i) the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately
prior thereto  continuing to represent  (either by remaining  outstanding  or by
being  converted  into  Voting   Securities  of  the  surviving  entity  or,  if
applicable, of the ultimate parent corporation which has beneficial ownership of
at least 95% of the Voting  Securities of the surviving  entity) at least 60% of
the  combined  voting power of the Voting  Securities  of the Company or of such
surviving entity (or such ultimate parent corporation)  outstanding  immediately
after such merger or consolidation and (ii) the Incumbent Directors constituting
at least a majority of (x) the board of directors of the surviving entity and of
any corporation that owns 25% or more but less than 50% of the Voting Securities
of such surviving  entity or (y) the board of directors of any corporation  that
owns at least 50% of the Voting  Securities of such surviving entity; or (D) the
shareholders  of the  Company  approve  a plan of  complete  liquidation  of the
Company;  or (E) the  consummation  of the sale or disposition by the Company of
all or  substantially  all of the  Company's  assets.  Notwithstanding  anything
contained herein to the contrary, if a Change in Control occurs under clause (C)
of the definition  thereof under the 1993, 1999 or the 2003 Long-Term  Incentive
Plans,  no  amendment  to the  provisions  of this  Section  which is adopted in
connection  with or as a consequence of the Change in Control shall be effective
if it adversely  affects a  Participant  unless the  Company's  Chief  Executive
Officer  immediately  prior to such Change in Control serves as Chief  Executive
Officer for 2 years thereafter of the Surviving  Corporation and, if applicable,
of any  corporation  that  owns at least  50% of the  Voting  Securities  of the
Surviving Corporation.

All of these  agreements are being reviewed by the Company to determine  whether
changes are required to comply with recent tax legislation.



                                       24


                        PENSION PLAN TABLE AND DISCUSSION

The Company  sponsors  three defined  benefit plans for its eligible U.S.  based
employees,  generally,  in participating  business units: The Retirement Plan of
The Bank of New  York  Company,  Inc.  (the  "Tax-qualified  Pension  Plan"),  a
benefits  restoration  plan (the  "Excess  Plan") and a  supplemental  executive
retirement plan (the "SERP"). The Tax-qualified  Pension Plan is a tax-qualified
defined benefit plan that provides participants with a monthly annuity or a lump
sum  based  on  years of  service  and a  percentage  of  final  average  pay at
retirement,  subject to certain minimum service requirements.  Final average pay
for this purpose is the average of a participant's  base salary,  subject to the
compensation  limit applicable to  tax-qualified  plans ($205,000 for 2004), for
the five highest paid years out of the last ten years.  Some senior  executives,
including all of the individuals listed in the Summary  Compensation Table, also
participate in the Excess Plan and the SERP. The Excess Plan provides for a lump
sum payment that restores benefits under the Tax-qualified Pension Plan that are
reduced  by some of the  limits  applicable  to  tax-qualified  plans.  The SERP
provides for either a lump sum or annual installments based on the Tax-qualified
Pension Plan's formula with respect to final average pay at retirement,  reduced
by benefits  payable  from the  Tax-qualified  Pension Plan and the Excess Plan.
Under the SERP,  final average pay is the average of an  employee's  base salary
and bonus over the three highest paid years out of the last ten years.

The following  table sets forth the estimated  total annual pension benefit from
the three defined  benefit plans in the form of a straight life annuity  payable
on  retirement  at age 60 to  participating  employees  based on  their  covered
remuneration and years of credited service.





                                                   YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE
                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMUNERATION           15              20             25              30             35              40
--------------     ----------  -------------- --------------  -------------- --------------  --------------
                                                                              

500,000             120,285         160,380        200,475         240,051        277,551         315,051
1,000,000           244,035         325,380        406,725         486,801        561,801         636,801
1,500,000           367,785         490,380        612,975         733,551        846,051         958,551
2,000,000           491,535         655,380        819,225         980,301      1,130,301       1,280,301
2,500,000           615,285         820,380      1,025,475       1,227,051      1,414,551       1,602,051
3,000,000           739,035         985,380      1,231,725       1,473,801      1,698,801       1,923,801
3,500,000           862,785       1,150,380      1,437,975       1,720,551      1,983,051       2,245,551



As of December 31, 2004, Thomas A. Renyi, had $3,174,667 of covered remuneration
and 33 years of service;  Gerald L. Hassell had $2,220,333 and 28 years; Alan R.
Griffith had  $1,832,000  and 38 years;  Bruce W. Van Saun had  $1,733,333 and 7
years,  Joseph M.  Velli had  $1,475,000  and 20 years,  and Donald R. Monks had
$1,341,667 and 32 years.  The estimated  total annual  pension  benefit from the
preceding  chart,  when  expressed as a lump sum payment as of December 31, 2004
was:  Thomas A. Renyi,  $22,869,046,  Gerald L.  Hassell,  $13,599,309,  Alan R.
Griffith,   $13,941,732,   Bruce  W.  Van  Saun,  $2,512,864,  Joseph  M.  Velli
$6,455,744,  and Donald R. Monks,  $7,909,684.  These amounts  assume payment to
such individuals is made at age 60 (or current age, if older) using  appropriate
lump sum conversion  factors in effect as of December 31, 2004.  Messrs.  Renyi,
Hassell,  Van  Saun,  Velli and Monks  are not  generally  vested in their  SERP
benefits unless they terminate service on or after age 60.


                                       25



EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS



                                   NUMBER OF
                                SECURITIES TO BE                                    NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                  ISSUED UPON                                     REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR
                                  EXERCISE OF            WEIGHTED-AVERAGE          FUTURE ISSUANCE UNDER
                                  OUTSTANDING           EXERCISE PRICE OF        EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
                               OPTIONS, WARRANTS       OUTSTANDING OPTIONS,        (EXCLUDING SECURITIES
                                   AND RIGHTS          WARRANTS AND RIGHTS        REFLECTED IN COLUMN (A))
PLAN CATEGORY                         (A)                      (B)                          (C)
----------------              ---------------------  -------------------------  ---------------------------
                                                                                 

Equity compensation
  plans approved by
  security holders (1)(2).              68,809,804            $      34.89                37,360,036
Equity compensation
  plans not approved by
  security holders (1)(2).                                                                   480,800

                                 -----------------            ------------          ----------------
Total.....................              68,809,804            $      34.89                37,840,836
                                 =================            ============          ================


  (1)   As of December 31, 2004.

  (2)   All equity  compensation plans providing for the issuance of options for
        the purchase of equity securities have been approved by shareholders. No
        warrants or rights are issuable under any equity  compensation plan. The
        only  equity  compensation  plan not  approved  by  shareholders  is the
        Directors'  Retainer  Plan  pursuant  to which a portion  of  directors'
        retainer fees are paid in shares of Company Common Stock.

DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' LIABILITY INSURANCE

The Company has  purchased  directors'  and  officers'  liability  and corporate
reimbursement insurance,  covering all directors and officers of the Company and
all subsidiaries, from the following underwriters: National Union Fire Insurance
Company of Pittsburgh,  PA, ACE USA, St. Paul,  Chubb and various other domestic
and international insurance companies. These policies are dated December 1, 2004
at a total  premium  expense  for a one year period of  $6,546,200,  paid by the
Company, and are due to expire December 1, 2005.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

In the ordinary course of business,  certain of the Company's  subsidiaries have
had, and expect to continue to have,  banking and fiduciary  transactions with a
number of the Company's  directors and executive  officers and their  associates
and members of their  immediate  families.  Such  transactions  are all on terms
comparable to similar transactions with others who are not within such group.

Certain  of  the  Company's  executive  officers  and  directors  are  executive
officers,  directors or beneficial  owners of 10 percent or more of any class of
equity  securities  of  corporations,  or  members  of  partnerships,  which are
customers of or suppliers to the Company and its subsidiaries. As such customers
or suppliers, their transactions were in the ordinary course of business, except
as  noted  herein.  Such  customer  transactions  include  borrowings  from  the
Company's bank  subsidiaries,  all of which were made in the ordinary  course of
business  and on  substantially  the same terms,  including  interest  rates and
collateral,  as those  prevailing at the time for comparable  transactions  with
others  and did not  involve  more than the  normal  risk of  collectability  or
present other unfavorable features at the time credit was extended.

During 2004,  John C. Malone,  a director of the Company,  was also  Chairman of
Liberty Media  Corporation  ("LMC") and  Chairman,  CEO and President of Liberty
Media  International,  Inc. ("LMI").  During 2004, the Company made loans to LMC
and certain of its  affiliated  entities at floating  interest  rates.  The only
indebtedness  to the Company  outstanding  at any time during 2004, net of loans
participated  to the Bank,  was pursuant to the total  return  swaps  (discussed
below) and a $34.5  million loan made by the Company  under a syndicated  credit
facility to an  affiliate of LMC,  which was  subsequently  participated  to the
Bank. The borrower of the $34.5 million  subsequently  ceased to be an affiliate
of LMC. In addition to indebtedness to the Company,  the Bank made loans,  which
were


                                       26



outstanding in 2004, to LMC and certain of its affiliated  companies and to
LMI and certain of its affiliated companies.

During 2004, loans which had been made prior to 2004 to two entities  affiliated
with LMC  continued to be  classified  by the Bank as potential  problem  loans.
Outstanding  loans to these two entities  totaled  approximately  $21 million at
their  month end high  point  during  2004 and  approximately  $10.3  million at
year-end.  In May,  the Bank  received $4 million in payment of a $10.2  million
loan to one entity as the borrower concluded insolvency proceedings and the Bank
wrote off approximately  $6.2 million of the loan. At year-end,  the outstanding
amount  of the  classified  loan to the other  entity  was  approximately  $10.3
million,  and the loan has been  non-performing  since  June 2004.  The  Company
agreed to provide up to $1.5 million of  debtor-in-possession  financing to this
entity in 2005 to  facilitate  an orderly sale of the  businesses of the entity.
The Bank may incur a loss on a portion of its  current  $10.3  million  loan.  A
third  entity  affiliated  with LMC owed the Bank  approximately  $4  million in
settlement of a foreign  exchange  transaction due in October 2002. As part of a
restructuring  in September 2004, the Bank recovered $3 million and wrote off $1
million.

The Company entered into total return swap transactions with LMC involving LMC's
publicly  traded debt  securities.  In  connection  with the  transactions,  the
Company   purchased   publicly   traded  debt   securities  of  LMC  (the  "Debt
Securities").  Pursuant to the terms of each total return swap, the Company paid
LMC  interest  based upon the face amount and stated  interest  rate of the Debt
Securities and LMC paid the Company  interest at market rates on the fair market
value  of the Debt  Securities  at the date  the  swap  was  entered  into  (the
"Purchase Price"). Upon maturity of each transaction,  the Company was obligated
to pay  LMC any  appreciation,  and LMC was  obligated  to pay the  Company  any
depreciation,  in the value of the Debt Securities  between the date of purchase
and the maturity date. LMC posted cash collateral equal to 10% of the fair value
of the Debt Securities.  The transactions were terminated upon LMC's purchase of
the Debt  Securities  from the  Company at the  Purchase  Price.  The  aggregate
notional principal amount of the total return swaps was $35 million.  There were
no total return swaps  between the Company and LMC  outstanding  on December 31,
2004.

The Board  considered  credit  exposures to LMC and to LMI and their  affiliates
when determining the independence of Mr. Malone. After a review of the status of
the  exposures,  including  a review of the problem  loans and the total  return
swaps cited herein,  the Board determined that the Company's  relationships with
LMC and LMI and their affiliates were not material to Mr. Malone  personally and
would not jeopardize Mr. Malone's judgments on behalf of the Company.  The Board
also  determined  that the aggregate size of the problem loans and the swaps was
immaterial  relative to the assets of LMC and that  termination  of the loans or
the swaps would not reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse effect
on the financial condition or results of operations of LMC.

During 2004, Brian L. Roberts, a director of the Company,  was also Chairman and
CEO of Comcast Corporation  ("Comcast").  During 2004, the Company made loans to
certain of Comcast's  affiliated  companies at floating interest rates. The only
indebtedness  to the Company  outstanding  at any time during 2004, net of loans
participated  to the Bank, was a $50 million loan made by the Company,  in 2004,
under a  syndicated  credit  facility  to an  affiliate  of  Comcast,  which was
subsequently  participated  to the Bank. At year-end  2004,  there were no loans
outstanding from the Company to Comcast or any of its affiliated entities.

Prior to 2004,  the Bank made a loan under a  syndicated  credit  facility to an
entity in which Comcast  subsequently  acquired an interest.  Prior to Comcast's
acquisition  of its interest in the borrower,  approximately  $33 million of the
loan had been  classified  as a potential  problem loan.  During 2004,  the loan
continued to be classified as a potential  problem loan and from January through
March  2004,  the  borrower  was  not in  compliance  with a  leverage  covenant
applicable to the facility.  With the consent of the lenders,  the borrower sold
assets and repaid a portion of the loan. The credit  agreement was then modified
and the  borrower  is in  compliance  with  its  covenants.  At  year-end  2004,
outstandings  had  declined  to  approximately  $19  million,  and the  loan was
performing as agreed but continued to be classified as a potential problem loan.



                                       27



The Board  considered  credit  exposures  to  Comcast  and its  affiliates  when
determining the independence of Mr. Roberts. After a review of the status of the
exposures,  including a review of the potential  problem loan cited herein,  the
Board  determined  that  the  Company's   relationships  with  Comcast  and  its
affiliates were not material to Mr. Roberts  personally and would not jeopardize
Mr. Roberts' judgments on behalf of the Company.  The Board also determined that
the size of the  potential  problem  loan was  immaterial  relative to Comcast's
assets and that termination of the loan would not reasonably be expected to have
a  material  and  adverse  effect  on the  financial  condition  or  results  of
operations of Comcast.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934  requires the  Company's
directors  and  executive  officers  ("Reporting  Persons")  to  file  with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission and the NYSE,  within  specified due dates,
reports  relating to their ownership of and transactions in the Company's equity
securities.

Based solely on a review of the copies of such reports  furnished to the Company
and written  representations  that no other reports were  required,  the Company
believes  that  during  2004  its  Reporting  Persons  have  complied  with  all
applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements on a timely basis.

STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The  following  table sets forth  certain  information  as of December  31, 2004
concerning  persons  which  to the  knowledge  of  the  Company  had  beneficial
ownership of more than 5% of the voting securities indicated.




                                Name and Address of         Amount and Nature of
  Title of Class                Beneficial Owner            Beneficial Ownership          Percent of Class
--------------------------  ---------------------------  --------------------------  --------------------------
                                                                                     
Common Stock                     Capital Research
                            and Management Company (1)          54,150,000                     7.0%
                             333 South Hope Street
                              Los Angeles, CA 90071



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

  (1)   Capital  Research and Management  Company,  an investment  adviser and a
        wholly owned  subsidiary of The Capital Group  Companies,  Inc. had sole
        dispositive power with respect to all of the reported shares as a result
        of acting as investment  adviser to various  investment  companies which
        are subsidiaries of The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

ITEM 2.   PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Ernst & Young LLP to
serve as the Company's  independent public accountants for the year 2005 and the
Board of Directors  recommends that shareholders  ratify such appointment at the
Annual Meeting.

Representatives  of Ernst & Young LLP are expected to attend the Annual Meeting,
to have an opportunity  to make a statement,  if they desire to do so, and to be
available to respond to appropriate questions.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS THAT YOU MARK YOUR PROXY FOR THE
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.



                                       28



ITEM 3.   SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL WITH RESPECT TO CUMULATIVE VOTING

Mrs. Evelyn Y. Davis,  Watergate  Office Building,  2600 Virginia  Avenue,  N.W.
Suite 215, Washington,  DC 20037, who is the owner of 1,002 shares of the Common
Stock of the  Company,  has advised the Company  that she intends to present the
following proposal at the Annual Meeting:

RESOLVED:  "That  the  stockholders  of Bank of New  York,  assembled  in Annual
Meeting in person and by proxy,  hereby  request the Board of  Directors to take
the  necessary  steps to  provide  for  cumulative  voting  in the  election  of
directors,  which means each  stockholder  shall be entitled to as many votes as
shall  equal the  number of shares he or she owns  multiplied  by the  number of
directors  to be elected,  and he or she may cast all of such votes for a single
candidate, or any two or more of them as he or she may see fit."

PROPONENT'S STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION:

REASONS: "Many states have mandatory cumulative voting, so do National Banks."

"In addition,  many  corporations  have adopted  cumulative  voting.  A director
elected  through  cumulative  voting  could be more  inclined to vote for issues
favored  by  outside  independent  shareowners.  According  to  the  2004  proxy
statement  loans made to entities  affiliated with two directors were classified
as  potential  problem  loans  (see pages  24-25 of the 2004  proxy  statement).
Directors  elected through  cumulative  voting might ask questions about whether
loans  were made to some  politicians,  the  auditing  of some New York City and
STATE pension funds, and other timely topics,  such as having the annual meeting
date and time where more outside independent shareholders could attend."

"If you AGREE, please mark your proxy FOR this resolution."

MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

The Board  believes  that the  current  voting  procedure,  where  each share is
entitled  to one vote for each  nominee  for  director  is  inherently  fair and
representative of the interests of all of the Company's shareholders. Cumulative
voting,  as suggested by the proponent,  would make it possible for shareholders
representing a minority of all shares to elect a director to represent their own
particular  interests.  This could  result in a Board of Directors on which each
director  advocates  the  particular  position of the group which elected him or
her,  rather than the positions  that are in the best  interests of your Company
and all  shareholders.  Effective  corporate  governance  requires a board whose
members  can  all  work  together  effectively  without  political  or  personal
conflicts.  Board candidates who are primarily  anchored to single-issue  causes
are not likely to be legitimate  representatives  of the entire  ownership.  The
current one-share one-vote system should be retained.

ACCORDINGLY,  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS THAT YOU MARK YOUR
PROXY AGAINST ADOPTION OF THIS SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL.



                                       29



ITEM 4.   SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL WITH RESPECT TO EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Mr. William Steiner, 112 Abbottsford Gate, Piermont,  New York 10968, who is the
owner of 1,400  shares of the  Common  Stock of the  Company,  has  advised  the
Company that he intends to present the following proposal at the Annual Meeting.

RESOLVED,  Shareholders  recommend that our Corporation's  by-laws be amended by
adding the following new Section:

"Section A.1. Executive Compensation.  From the date of adoption of this section
no officer of the Corporation shall receive annual compensation in excess of the
limits  established  by the U.S.  Internal  Revenue  Code for  deductibility  of
employee  remuneration,  without  approval  by a  vote  of the  majority  of the
stockholders  within one year  preceding the payment of such  compensation.  The
only exception would be interference with un-removable  contractual  obligations
prior to this proposal.

For purposes of the limit on executive compensation established by this Section,
the   Corporation   may   exclude   compensation   that   qualifies   either  as
"performance-based  compensation"  or as an "incentive  stock option" within the
meaning of the Internal Revenue Code only if:

         (a) in the  case of  performance-based  compensation,  the  Corporation
shall first have disclosed to stockholders  the specific  performance  goals and
standards adopted for any  performance-based  compensation  plan,  including any
schedule of earned values under any long-term or annual incentive plan; and

         (b) in the case of  incentive  stock  options,  the  Corporation  shall
record as an expense  on its  financial  statements  the fair value of any stock
options granted."

PROPONENT'S STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION:

This proposal was submitted by William Steiner,  112 Abbottsford Gate, Piermont,
NY 10968.

This proposal would require that our company not pay any executive  compensation
in excess of the amount the  Internal  Revenue Code permits to be deducted as an
expense for federal  income tax  purposes,  without first  securing  shareholder
approval.

Currently,  the Code provides that publicly held corporations  generally may not
deduct more than $1 million in annual compensation for any of the company's five
highest-paid  executives.  The Code  provides an exception  for certain kinds of
"performance-based compensation."

Under  this  proposal  our  company  would  be  able  to pay  "performance-based
compensation" in excess of the  deductibility  limit, so long as the company has
disclosed to  shareholders  the  performance  goals and  standards the Board has
adopted  under  these  plans.  This  proposal  also  provides an  exception  for
incentive  stock options,  if the Board has recorded the expense of such options
in its financial statements.

A proposal similar to this was submitted by Amanda  Kabn-Kirty to MONY Group and
received a 38% yes-vote as a more challenging  binding proposal at the MONY 2003
annual meeting. The 38% yes-vote was more impressive because:

       1) This was the first time this proposal was ever voted.

       2) The proponent did not even solicit shareholders votes.

I  think  it  is  reasonable  to  require  our  company  to  fully  disclose  to
shareholders both the costs and the terms of its executive  compensation  plans,
if the Board wishes to pay  executives  more than the amounts that are generally
deductible under federal income taxes.


                                       30




MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

The Board  believes  that this proposal  could hinder the  Company's  ability to
attract and retain highly  qualified senior  executives.  While the compensation
philosophy of the Company,  as set forth in the  Compensation  Committee  Report
which appears in this Proxy  Statement,  is to tie  compensation to performance,
your Company needs  flexibility  to tailor  competitive  employment  packages to
individual  circumstances.  The  compensation  paid by the Company is consistent
with  industry  practice  and has been  reviewed by a committee  of  independent
directors in the case of senior executive officers.

The fundamental  difference  between the Board and the Compensation  Committee's
current executive  compensation program and the shareholder proposal is the lack
of flexibility in the proposal. The Board and the Compensation Committee believe
that it is important to preserve the  flexibility of the Company's  compensation
program so that the Company can choose  incentives that best balance the variety
of  goals  that  your  Company   seeks  to  pursue   through  its   compensation
arrangements.   Limiting  the   Compensation   Committee's   ability  to  design
competitive  compensation  programs  would place your  Company at a  significant
competitive disadvantage in the recruitment and retention of senior executives.

The Board  believes that its current  executive  compensation  program meets the
concerns of  shareholders  that executive  compensation be tied to the Company's
performance and provide long-term incentives to executives,  while providing the
Board and the Compensation  Committee with the flexibility  necessary to recruit
and retain senior executives in a competitive environment.

ACCORDINGLY,  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS THAT YOU MARK YOUR
PROXY AGAINST ADOPTION OF THIS SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2006 ANNUAL MEETING
In accordance  with the rules of the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the
"SEC"),  shareholders who intend to present proposals at the 2006 Annual Meeting
of  Shareholders  must submit such  proposals in time for them to be received by
the Company on or before December 13, 2005, for inclusion in the Company's Proxy
Statement  and form of proxy  relating to that meeting.  A shareholder  proposal
submitted outside the process of SEC Rule 14a-8 is considered  untimely if it is
not received by January 12, 2006.


                                                Raymond J. Dorado
March 14, 2005                                  Assistant Secretary



                                       31









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                                                                       EXHIBIT A

GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

A substantial  majority of the Board of Directors will be  independent,  as that
term is defined in any  applicable  laws and  regulations  including the listing
standards  of  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange.   The  Company  recognizes  that
Independent  Directors  and Directors  who are deemed not  independent  all make
valuable  contributions  to the  Board  and to the  Company  by  reason of their
experience and judgment.

A Director will be considered  independent  only if the Board has  affirmatively
determined that the Director has no material  relationship with the Company that
would  impair his or her  independent  judgment.  The Board will review  factors
affecting  independence  at the time a Director  is  proposed  for  election  or
re-election.  In the  process  of making  such  determinations,  the Board  will
consider the nature, extent and materiality of the Director's relationships with
the Company and the Board will apply the following guidelines:

       o      A Director  will be deemed not to be  independent  by the Board of
              Directors if the Board finds that

             (a)  a  Director  is  employed  by  the  Company  or  a  Director's
                  immediate  family  member is  employed  by the  Company  as an
                  executive officer, other than as an interim executive officer;

             (b)  a Director or a Director's  immediate  family member  receives
                  more than $100,000 per year in compensation  from the Company,
                  other than Director's fees, pension or other forms of deferred
                  compensation that is for prior service and not contingent upon
                  continued  service,  compensation  for  former  service  as an
                  interim  Chairman  or  CEO,  or  compensation  received  by an
                  immediate  family member for service as an employee  below the
                  level of executive officer;

             (c)  a Director or an immediate  family member of the Director is a
                  current  partner  of a firm  that  is the  Company's  external
                  auditor;  a Director  is a current  employee of a firm that is
                  the Company's  external  auditor;  a Director has an immediate
                  family member who is a current  employee of a firm that is the
                  Company's  external auditor and who participates in the firm's
                  audit,  assurance  or tax  compliance  (but not tax  planning)
                  practice;  or a Director or an immediate  family member of the
                  Director  was within the past three years (but no longer is) a
                  partner or employee of a firm that is the  Company's  external
                  auditor and  personally  worked on the Company's  audit within
                  that time;

             (d)  a Director or a Director's immediate family member is employed
                  as an executive  officer by another entity whose  compensation
                  committee includes any present executive of the Company;

             (e)  a Director is currently  employed,  or a Director's  immediate
                  family member is currently  employed as an executive  officer,
                  by an  entity  (including  a tax  exempt  entity)  that  makes
                  payments to, or receives  payments from, the Company for goods
                  or services (other than charitable contributions) in an amount
                  that  exceeds,  in a single  fiscal  year,  the  greater of $1
                  million or two  percent of that  entity's  consolidated  gross
                  revenues; or

             (f)  any of the  situations  described in (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e)
                  above existed within the past three years; provided,  however,
                  that (i) prior to  November  4,  2004,  a  one-year  look back
                  period  will  apply,  (ii) with  respect  to (c)  above,  if a
                  Director was independent upon application of the one year test
                  but not  deemed  independent  when  the  three  year  test was
                  applied,  then the Company  has until  after its first  annual
                  meeting  after  June 30,  2005 to take  action in light of the
                  Director's  change in status,  (iii) in applying the look back
                  in  (d)  above,  the  Director  would  not  be  deemed  to  be
                  independent  only if he/she or an immediate  family  member of
                  the Director were an executive  officer of the other entity at
                  the same time that a present  executive officer of the Company


                                      A-1



                  served on the other entity's compensation committee,  and (iv)
                  consideration  of the financial test in (e) above will only be
                  required if a Director or a Director's immediate family member
                  is currently employed by an entity which is making payments to
                  or receiving payments from the Company.

             Additionally,  the  Company  will  disclose  in  its  Annual  Proxy
             Statement   any   charitable   contributions   to  any   charitable
             organization in which a Director serves as an executive officer, if
             within the preceding three years, contributions, excluding matching
             gifts,  in a single  fiscal year exceeded the greater of $1 million
             or two percent of the charitable organization's  consolidated gross
             revenues,   and,  in  such  case,   the  Board  will  consider  the
             materiality of such contributions.

             For purposes of this document "family member" includes a director's
             spouse,    parents,     children,     siblings,     mothers-in-law,
             fathers-in-law,  sons-in-law,  daughters-in-law,   brothers-in-law,
             sisters-in-law  and anyone  (other  than  domestic  employees)  who
             shares the director's home.

         o        A Director will be deemed not to be  independent  by the Board
                  of  Directors  if the Board finds that a Director has material
                  business  arrangements with the Company which would jeopardize
                  the Director's judgment. The Board will review for materiality
                  all business arrangements between the Company and the Director
                  and all  business  arrangements  between  the  Company  and an
                  entity for which the Director  serves as an officer or general
                  partner or owns more than five percent.  Arrangements  are not
                  material and not likely to jeopardize the Director's judgment,
                  and thereby his/her independence, if

                  (a)      the arrangements are usually and customarily  offered
                           to customers by the Company;

                  (b)      the arrangements are offered on substantially similar
                           terms as those  prevailing at the time for comparable
                           transactions   with  other  customers  under  similar
                           circumstances;

                  (c)      in the event that (i) a proposed arrangement were not
                           made or (ii) an existing  arrangement were terminated
                           in the normal  course of business,  that action would
                           not  reasonably  be expected  to have a material  and
                           adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
                           operations, or business of the recipient;

                  (d)      in the  case of  extensions  of  credit,  the  credit
                           extended is not more than five  percent of the assets
                           of the  borrower or in the case of credit  extensions
                           to  a  family  of  entities,   the  aggregate  credit
                           extended  is not more than five  percent of the total
                           assets of the combined entities;

                  (e)      in the case of extensions of credit,  the credits are
                           not in payment default; and

                  (f)      in the case of  personal  loans,  all  such  loans to
                           Directors   are   subject  to  and   compliant   with
                           Regulation O of the Federal Reserve Bank.

In applying the factors listed in (a) through (f) above, the Board will consider
such other factors as it may deem necessary to arrive at sound determinations as
to the  independence  of each  Director,  and  such  factors  may  override  the
conclusions of independence or non-independence  that would be reached simply by
applying   the   guidelines.   In  such  cases,   the  basis  for   independence
determinations will be disclosed in the Company's Annual Proxy Statement.




                                      A-2



                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                      AUDIT AND EXAMINING COMMITTEE CHARTER

I. GENERAL

This  Charter sets forth the  authority  and  responsibilities  of the Audit and
Examining Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of
The Bank of New York Company, Inc. (the "Company") and The Bank of New York (the
"Bank").

The  Committee  assists the Board in  fulfilling  its  statutory  and  fiduciary
responsibilities  with respect to internal controls,  accounting  policies,  and
auditing and financial reporting  practices.  The Committee assists the Board in
its oversight of (i) the integrity of the Company's financial statements and the
financial   reporting  process,   (ii)  compliance  with  legal  and  regulatory
requirements,  (iii)  the  independent  public  accountant's  qualification  and
independence, and (iv) the performance of the independent public accountants and
the Company's internal audit function.

The  Committee  will report its  activities  to the Board on a regular basis and
make such recommendations, as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate.

The Committee is entitled to place  reasonable  reliance on (i) the integrity of
those  persons and  organizations  within and outside the Company  from whom and
from which it receives  information  and (ii) the accuracy of the  financial and
other  information  provided to the Committee by such persons or  organizations,
absent actual  knowledge to the contrary which will be promptly  reported to the
Board of Directors.

The function of the  Committee is  oversight.  The  management of the Company is
responsible  for the  preparation,  presentation  and integrity of the Company's
consolidated  financial  statements.  Management is responsible  for maintaining
appropriate  accounting and financial reporting  principles and policies as well
as  internal  controls  and  procedures   designed  to  assure  compliance  with
accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent public
accountants are responsible for planning and performing proper audits, including
an audit of the Company's annual consolidated financial statements filed on Form
10-K, and other procedures, including reviews of the Company's unaudited interim
consolidated  financial  statements prior to the filing of each quarterly report
on Form 10-Q. The Committee is responsible  for maintaining  open  communication
between the Committee and the independent public accountants, internal auditors,
management, and the Board of Directors.

The Committee will have full access to the Company's books, records, facilities,
and personnel.  The Committee has the authority and available funding to perform
or supervise special investigations,  to engage outside experts, including legal
and accounting experts, and to incur administrative  expenses in connection with
fulfilling  its  obligations.  The  Committee  will have the sole  authority  to
approve fees and related terms of engagements for outside experts.

The Committee will conduct an annual self-evaluation of its effectiveness.

This charter will be published on the Company's  Website and in the Annual Proxy
Statement, and will be available in written form upon request.

The  Committee  will  review and assess the  adequacy  of this  written  charter
annually and recommend changes to the Board of Directors when necessary.

II. MEMBERSHIP

The  Committee  members  will be appointed  by the Board of  Directors,  and the
Chairman of the Committee  will be designated by the Board.  The Committee  will
consist of three or more members who are all Independent  Directors  meeting the
requirements of applicable  laws,  regulations and the listing  standards of the
New York Stock  Exchange as determined by the Board of Directors in its



                                      B-1



business  judgment,  and the  selection of members will be based on the specific
needs of the Company and regulation.

With respect to Committee members,  the basis for determining  independence will
be the director  independence  guidelines  specified in the Company's  Corporate
Governance Guidelines plus additional requirements imposed upon audit committees
by the Securities and Exchange  Commission:  (i) the Committee  members will not
receive,  directly or indirectly  through their  affiliations or relatives,  any
consulting,  advisory  or  other  compensatory  fee  from  the  Company  or  its
subsidiaries  other than Director's  Fees as defined in the Company's  Corporate
Governance  Guidelines and fixed amounts of compensation under a retirement plan
for prior service, and (ii) the Committee members cannot be "affiliated persons"
of the  Company  as such  term  is  described  in the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission rules implementing Section 301 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The composition of the Committee and its independence  will be reviewed annually
by the Board of Directors.

Should there be members who sit  simultaneously on the Audit Committees of three
or more public  companies,  the Board will  determine  if their  duties on other
boards  impair their  ability to serve  effectively  on the Audit and  Examining
Committee  of the  Company,  and such  determinations  will be  disclosed in the
Annual Proxy Statement.

All members of the Committee will be  "financially  literate," and  collectively
the members shall have such other  qualifications  as mandated by the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission.  As  required  by New  York  Stock  Exchange  Listing
Standards or by law or regulation,  at least one member will have "accounting or
related  financial  management  expertise." To the extent that the Committee may
have an "audit  committee  financial  expert," as defined in  regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the designation of a person as the Company's
audit  committee  financial  expert will not impose any duties,  obligations  or
liability on that person that are greater than those imposed on other members of
the  Committee  and the  Board who do not carry  this  designation,  nor will it
affect the duties, obligations or liability of any other member of the Committee
or the Board.  The Board of Directors  will perform an annual  review to confirm
the  qualifications  and independence of the Committee.  Committee  members will
serve at the  pleasure of the Board and may be removed by the Board of Directors
in its discretion.

III. MEETINGS

The  Committee  will  meet as often as  necessary  to  fulfill  its  duties  and
responsibilities.

Minutes of all meetings will be approved by the Committee and maintained.

The Committee will meet  separately at least  quarterly with each of management,
the Chief Auditor,  the General Counsel and the independent public  accountants,
providing  sufficient  time to discuss any matters that the  Committee or any of
these persons or firms believes should be discussed.

The  Committee  may  request  any  officer or employee of the Company or outside
counsel to the Company or independent  public accountants or any special counsel
or advisors to the  Committee  to attend a meeting of the  Committee  or to meet
with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee.

IV. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A. MATTERS TO BE REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED BY THE COMMITTEE

The Committee  will review  management's  assessment of the adequacy of internal
controls,  and the resolution of identified  material  weaknesses and reportable
conditions  in internal  controls,  including  the  prevention  and detection of
management override or compromise of internal controls.

The Committee  will review the Report on Internal  Controls that is filed within
the Company's  Annual  Report.  That report will state the  responsibilities  of
management  for  establishing  and  maintaining  an  adequate  internal  control
structure and  procedures  for financial  reporting and contain an assessment of
the  effectiveness  of such  structure and  procedures.  The Committee will also
review the


                                      B-2



independent public accountants'  examination of management's assertion regarding
the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

The  Committee  will  discuss  with  management,  the Chief  Auditor  and/or the
independent  public  accountants,   as  appropriate,   significant  proposed  or
contemplated  changes  to the  Company's  auditing  and  accounting  principles,
policies, controls, procedures and practices, and will inquire about significant
risks and  exposures,  if any, and the steps taken to monitor and minimize  such
risks.

The Committee will review and discuss with management and the independent public
accountants  the scope of services  required at the  commencement  of the audit,
matters relating to the conduct of the audit, and the results of the audit.

The Committee, or in its discretion, the Chairman of the Committee, will discuss
with management, the Chief Auditor and/or the independent public accountants, as
appropriate,  the  Company's  financial  earnings  press  releases and financial
information and earnings guidance provided to analysts and rating agencies.

The Committee will review with management,  the independent public  accountants,
and the Chief Auditor the Company's annual consolidated financial statements and
the related  opinion  thereon,  prior to filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  The Chief Executive  Officer,  Chief Financial  Officer,  and Chief
Auditor will be present at this  review,  which will include a review of (i) the
Company's  disclosures under "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition  and Results of  Operations"  to be included in the  Company's  Annual
Report on Form 10-K,  (ii) the effect of regulatory and accounting  initiatives,
as well as off-balance  sheet  structures,  on the financial  statements,  (iii)
significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the
preparation of the financial  statements,  including any significant  changes in
the  Company's  selection or  application  of accounting  principles,  any major
issues  regarding  the  adequacy of the  Company's  internal  controls,  and any
special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies,  and (iv)
any other  matters to be reviewed per the  requirements  of the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission, other regulatory agencies, or the New York Stock Exchange.

The Committee will review the independent public accountants' judgment about the
quality of  accounting  principles as applied in financial  reporting,  and will
review and assess the  reasonableness of analyses prepared by management and the
independent public  accountants  setting forth significant  financial  reporting
issues and  judgments  made in  connection  with the  preparation  of  financial
statements.  Specifically, the independent public accountants will report to the
Committee  (i)  all  critical  accounting  policies  and  practices  used by the
Company,  (ii) all  material  alternative  accounting  treatments  of  financial
information  within  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  that have been
discussed  with  management,  including  the  ramifications  of the  use of such
alternative  treatments  and  disclosures  and the  treatment  preferred  by the
independent  public  accountants,  (iii) other material  written  communications
between  the  independent  public  accountants  and  management,  and  (iv)  any
accounting  or auditing  issues at the Company on which the  independent  public
accountants consulted its national office.

The Committee will review the interim financial statements and disclosures under
"Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations" with management and the independent  public accountants prior to the
filing of the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form  10-Q.  The Chief  Executive
Officer,  Chief  Financial  Officer,  and Chief  Auditor must be present at this
review. Also, the Committee will discuss the results of the quarterly review and
any  other  matters  required  to  be  communicated  to  the  Committee  by  the
independent  public  accountants under generally  accepted  auditing  standards,
including  Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61. The Chairman of the Committee
may represent the entire Committee for the purposes of this review.

In  conjunction  with the  reviews of the  Company's  Forms  10-K and 10-Q,  the
Committee  will also receive a report from the  Disclosure  Committee and review
the  process  for the  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chief  Financial  Officer
quarterly certifications of the SEC filings, as well as the Company's disclosure
controls and procedures,  including any changes or  deficiencies.  The Committee
will receive and consider  reports from the CEO and CFO made in connection  with
their  certification  of  the  Company's  Form  10-K  and  10-Q  about  (i)  any
significant  deficiencies  in the design or  operation  of


                                      B-3



internal  controls or material  weaknesses  therein and (ii) any fraud involving
management  or other  employees  who have a  significant  role in the  Company's
internal controls.

The Committee will obtain from the independent public accountants assurance that
the  audit  was  conducted  in a  manner  consistent  with  Section  10A  of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The Committee will prepare and review with the  independent  public  accountants
the report  relating to its oversight  role, as required by the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission, for inclusion in the Company's Annual Proxy Statement.

The Committee will review with management and the independent public accountants
the  content  and the  basis for  reports  relating  to  internal  control  over
financial reporting as required under the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation
Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA).

At least  annually,  the  Committee  will  obtain  and  review  a report  by the
independent public accountants  describing:  the independent public accountants'
internal  quality-control  procedures;  any material  issues  raised by the most
recent internal  quality-control  review,  or peer review of the firm, or by any
inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the
preceding five years,  respecting one or more independent  audits carried out by
the firm,  and any steps taken to deal with any such issues;  and (to assess the
auditor's   independence)  all  relationships  between  the  independent  public
accountants and the Company.

The  Committee  will review with  management,  the  General  Counsel,  the Chief
Compliance Officer, and the Chief Auditor the Company's compliance with laws and
regulations, including the laws and regulations relating to safety and soundness
designated by  responsible  banking  agencies and will also review  management's
assertions with respect to laws and regulations.

The  Committee  will  receive  from  management  and review  the  results of all
unsatisfactory regulatory examination reports, if there be any, and management's
responses thereto.

The Committee will review and discuss  policies with respect to risk  management
and risk  assessment.  The Committee  may  discharge  this duty by receiving and
discussing  at least  annually a report from the Risk  Committee of the Board of
Directors summarizing their reviews of the Company's methods for identifying and
managing risks.

The Committee  will review and discuss any reports  received from attorneys with
respect to securities law violations  and/or breaches of fiduciary  duties which
were  reported to the  General  Counsel or the Chief  Executive  Officer and not
resolved to the satisfaction of the reporting attorney.

The Committee will establish and maintain procedures for the receipt,  treatment
and retention of complaints related to accounting, internal accounting controls,
auditing matters,  and other situations which affect or could potentially affect
the accuracy of the books and records of the Company.  The Chairman of the Audit
and  Examining  Committee  will review such  complaints,  if material,  and take
appropriate action.

The Committee will receive from the Chief Compliance  Officer each year a report
on compliance with the Code of Conduct.

B. THE COMMITTEE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

The Committee has direct  responsibility  to select and appoint the  independent
public  accountants.  Annually,  the  Committee  will  recommend  that the Board
request  shareholder  ratification of the appointment of the independent  public
accountants.  The independent public accountants are to report to the Committee.
The Committee also has the responsibility to evaluate and, when appropriate,  to
remove the  independent  public  accountants.  The Committee is responsible  for
setting  the  compensation  of  the  independent  public  accountants,  and  the
Committee shall  periodically  review the fees charged by the independent public
accountants  for all audit services and permitted  audit-related,  tax and other
services.

The  Committee  is  responsible   for  oversight  of  the   independent   public
accountants'  work  as it  pertains  to the  audit  of the  Company's  financial
statements  and related  disclosures,  and other audit or attest


                                      B-4



services. The Committee will discuss with the independent public accountants the
overall scope and plans for their audit, including the adequacy of staffing. The
independent  public accountants will also report to the Committee on the results
of the audit,  and the Committee will discuss any management or internal control
letter issued or proposed to be issued by the  independent  public  accountants.
The  Committee  will  perform an annual  evaluation  of the  independent  public
accountant's qualifications,  performance, and independence, as well as evaluate
the performance of the lead engagement partner.

Annually,  the Committee will receive from the  independent  public  accountants
written  disclosures about their  independence and discuss with them any factors
that might  detract  from their  independence.  Public  accountants  will not be
independent  if, at any point  during  the  audit  and  professional  engagement
period, any audit partner earns or receives compensation based on that partner's
procuring engagements with the Company to provide any services other than audit,
review,  or attest services.  The lead and concurring  partner must rotate after
five years and be subject to a five-year "time-out" period after rotation. Audit
partners,  other  than the lead  and  concurring  partner,  will be  subject  to
rotation and time-out periods as prescribed by regulation.

The Committee is  responsible  for the  pre-approval  of all audit and permitted
non-audit  services  performed by the independent  public  accountants,  and the
Committee  will not engage the  independent  public  accountants  to perform the
specific non-audit services  proscribed by law or regulation.  The Committee may
delegate authority for the pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services to a
member  of the  Committee.  All  such  approvals  will be  reported  at the next
subsequent  Committee meeting. As an alternative to pre-approving each non-audit
service,  the Committee may establish and disclose  policies and  procedures for
pre-approval,  provided they are consistent with requirements of applicable laws
and regulations.

The  Committee  will  require  the  independent  public  accountants  to certify
annually that they are in compliance  with all  applicable  legal and regulatory
requirements   including  those  addressing  rotation  of  lead  and  concurring
partners,  provisions  of  prohibited  services,  document  retention,  and  the
submission of timely reports.

The  Committee  will  prohibit  management  from hiring as a manager  overseeing
financial  reporting matters of the Company,  any person who was employed by the
independent public accountants and was the lead partner,  concurring partner, or
any other member of the audit  engagement  team who provided more than ten hours
of audit,  review or attest  services for the Company within the one-year period
preceding  the  commencement  of the  audit  of  the  current  year's  financial
statements.

The Committee will review with the independent  public  accountants any material
audit  problems or  difficulties  and  management's  response and will  consider
disagreements between management and the independent public accountants,  if any
arise, and oversee any process for resolution.

C. DUTIES WITH RESPECT TO INTERNAL AUDIT

The Committee  will receive  annually from the Chief Auditor the internal  audit
plan,  including  the  purpose,  scope,  and  authority  of the  internal  audit
function,  organizational reporting lines, and budget and staffing. This plan is
subject to Committee approval. Periodically, the Committee will review the Chief
Auditor's  reports   describing   progress  against  this  plan  and  describing
significant  deficiencies  in  the  system  of  internal  controls,  significant
operating issues, or other matters of interest to the Committee.

The Committee  will review  recommendations  of  management  with respect to the
appointment,  compensation,  and  replacement  of the  Chief  Auditor  prior  to
management's  taking  actions to hire,  set  compensation  or replace  the Chief
Auditor.  The Chief Auditor is accountable to the Committee.  The Committee will
advise the Chief  Auditor  that he or she is expected  to provide the  Committee
with  summaries of  significant  reports to management  prepared by the Internal
Auditing  Division and management's  responses  thereto,  and in some cases, the
Committee may require the actual  reports.  In addition,  the Chief Auditor will
report to the Committee on the follow-up of significant issues raised in reports
and the resolution thereof.



                                      B-5


----------------       ----------------------------------------------------
  THE
 BANK OF
  NEW                           A REMINDER ABOUT OUR ANNUAL REPORT
  YORK
  COMPANY, INC.
----------------       ----------------------------------------------------

You are  receiving  this  proxy  card to vote the shares of The Bank of New York
Company,  Inc. stock that you own through your Company benefit plan(s). The Bank
of New York  Company,  Inc.  Annual  Report  will not be  distributed  to active
employees  who own Company stock  through any of the  Company's  benefit  plans.
Employees  who  separately  own  Company  stock  outside of the  benefit  plans,
registered in their  name(s) or in street name,  will continue to receive a copy
of the Annual Report.

We  encourage  you to review  the 2004  Annual  Report,  which is now  available
electronically on our website at www.bankofny.com/annualreport.

You may also request a paper copy of the 2004 Annual Report by sending an e-mail
to pr@bankofny.com or by sending a written request,  along with a self-addressed
interoffice envelope to:

                Kathleen F. Juliano, Public Relations, BN-OWS-31











|_|                         o DETACH PROXY CARD HERE o
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS      VOTES MUST BE
   PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING       INDICATED (X) IN     [X]
   THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.          BLACK OR BLUE INK.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:

FOR         WITHHOLD
ALL   |_|   FOR ALL    |_|    EXCEPTIONS* |_|

Nominees: Messrs. 01 - Biondi, 02 - Donofrio, 03 - Hassell, 04 - Kogan,
05 - Kowalski, 06 - Luke, 07 - Malone, 08 - Myners, 09 - Ms. Rein, Messrs.
10 - Renyi, 11 - Richardson, 12 - Roberts and 13 - Scott

(INSTRUCTIONS: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, MARK
THE "EXCEPTIONS*" BOX AND WRITE THAT NOMINEE'S NAME ON THE FOLLOWING BLANK
LINE.)
Exceptions* _______________________________________________________________

                                                    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

2. Ratification of Auditors.                        |_|      |_|         |_|


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST PROPOSALS 3 AND 4:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

3. Shareholder Proposal with respect to
   cumulative voting.                               |_|      |_|         |_|

4. Shareholder Proposal with respect to
   executive compensation.                          |_|      |_|         |_|




I agree to access future Proxy Statements and Annual Reports
electronically.                                                          |_|

Indicate Address Change and/or Comments
on the back of the card and Mark Here                                    |_|

 _
|                                                 -----------------------------

                                                     SCAN LINE

                                      _|          -----------------------------


Please sign exactly as the name
appears hereon.                       ------------------------------------------
                                      Date          Employee Signature



                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
                               PLEASE VOTE TODAY



















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

                     THE EMPLOYEE SAVINGS & INVESTMENT PLAN
                        EMPLOYEES' STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
             THE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN OF BNY BROKERAGE INC. AND        __
                  THE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN OF PERSHING LLC               |

                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
                      ONE WALL STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10286

                                     PROXY

            THIS PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     This card provides  voting  instructions  for shares held in in the Company
Stock Fund of: The Employee  Savings & Investment  Plan,  The  Employees'  Stock
Ownership  Plan,  The  Retirement  Savings Plan of BNY Brokerage  Inc.,  and The
Retirement  Savings Plan of Pershing  LLC. The  undersigned  hereby  directs the
respective  fiduciary of each plan in which the undersigned  holds shares of The
Bank of New York Company, Inc. Common Stock to vote all whole shares of The Bank
of New York Company,  Inc. Common Stock held in the undersigned's  name and / or
account under such plan on February 22, 2005 in accordance with the instructions
given on the reverse hereof, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on
April 12, 2005 or any adjournment thereof.

     UNLESS OTHERWISE  SPECIFIED,  THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY  EXECUTED,  WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE  ELECTION OF ALL  NOMINEES  FOR  DIRECTORS,  FOR  PROPOSAL (2) AND
AGAINST PROPOSALS (3) AND(4). IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO
VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER  BUSINESS  AS MAY  PROPERLY  COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY
ADJOURNMENT  THEREOF.  PLEASE NOTE THAT IF THIS VOTING  INSTRUCTION  CARD IS NOT
PROPERLY  COMPLETED AND SIGNED,  OR IF IT IS NOT RECEIVED,  SHARES  ALLOCATED TO
YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE VOTED INDIRECT PROPORTION AS SHARES IN THE APPLICABLE PLAN,
FOR WHICH DIRECTIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

                                                   Address Changes/Comments
THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
101 BARCLAY ST                                 --------------------------------
A-LEVEL - PROXY DEPT.                          --------------------------------
                                               --------------------------------


                                  Please complete, sign  and  date this proxy on
                                  the reverse side and return it promptly in the
                                  accompanying envelope.



----------------       ----------------------------------------------------
  THE
 BANK OF
  NEW                           A REMINDER ABOUT OUR ANNUAL REPORT
  YORK
  COMPANY, INC.
----------------       ----------------------------------------------------

You are  receiving  this  proxy  card to vote the shares of The Bank of New York
Company,  Inc. stock that you own through your Company benefit plan(s). The Bank
of New York  Company,  Inc.  Annual  Report  will not be  distributed  to active
employees  who own Company stock  through any of the  Company's  benefit  plans.
Employees  who  separately  own  Company  stock  outside of the  benefit  plans,
registered in their  name(s) or in street name,  will continue to receive a copy
of the Annual Report.

We  encourage  you to review  the 2004  Annual  Report,  which is now  available
electronically on our website at www.bankofny.com/annualreport.

You may also request a paper copy of the 2004 Annual Report by sending an e-mail
to pr@bankofny.com or by sending a written request,  along with a self-addressed
interoffice envelope to:

                Kathleen F. Juliano, Public Relations, BN-OWS-31











|_|                         o DETACH PROXY CARD HERE o
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS      VOTES MUST BE
   PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING       INDICATED (X) IN     [X]
   THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.          BLACK OR BLUE INK.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:

FOR         WITHHOLD
ALL   |_|   FOR ALL    |_|    EXCEPTIONS* |_|

Nominees: Messrs. 01 - Biondi, 02 - Donofrio, 03 - Hassell, 04 - Kogan,
05 - Kowalski, 06 - Luke, 07 - Malone, 08 - Myners, 09 - Ms. Rein, Messrs.
10 - Renyi, 11 - Richardson, 12 - Roberts and 13 - Scott

(INSTRUCTIONS: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, MARK
THE "EXCEPTIONS*" BOX AND WRITE THAT NOMINEE'S NAME ON THE FOLLOWING BLANK
LINE.)
Exceptions* _______________________________________________________________

                                                    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

2. Ratification of Auditors.                        |_|      |_|         |_|


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST PROPOSALS 3 AND 4:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

3. Shareholder Proposal with respect to
   cumulative voting.                               |_|      |_|         |_|

4. Shareholder Proposal with respect to
   executive compensation.                          |_|      |_|         |_|




I agree to access future Proxy Statements and Annual Reports
electronically.                                                          |_|

Indicate Address Change and/or Comments
on the back of the card and Mark Here                                    |_|

 _
|                                                 -----------------------------

                                                     SCAN LINE

                                      _|          -----------------------------


Please sign exactly as the name
appears hereon.                       ------------------------------------------
                                      Date          Employee Signature



                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
                               PLEASE VOTE TODAY



















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

                         EMPLOYEES' STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.                __
                      ONE WALL STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10286                  |

                                     PROXY

            THIS PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The  undersigned  hereby  appoints  Thomas J. Mastro,  Kevin C. Piccoli and
Bruce W. Van Saun as proxies each with the power to appoint his  substitute  and
hereby  authorizes  each of them to represent  and to vote, as designated on the
reverse hereof,  all the shares of Common Stock of The Bank of New York Company,
Inc.  held of record by the  undersigned  on  February  22,  2005 at the  Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 12, 2005 or any adjournment thereof.

     UNLESS OTHERWISE  SPECIFIED,  THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY  EXECUTED,  WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE  ELECTION OF ALL  NOMINEES  FOR  DIRECTORS,  FOR  PROPOSAL (2) AND
AGAINST PROPOSALS (3) AND (4). IN THEIR  DISCRETION,  THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED
TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER  BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY
ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.


                            THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
                            101 BARCLAY ST
                            A-LEVEL - PROXY DEPT.


  Please complete, sign and date this proxy on the reverse side and return it
                     promptly in the accompanying envelope.



----------------       ----------------------------------------------------
  THE                        THREE ALTERNATE WAYS TO VOTE YOUR SHARES
 BANK OF                       VOTE BY TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR MAIL
  NEW
  YORK                            24 HOURS A DAY - 7 DAYS A WEEK
  COMPANY, INC.         SAVE YOUR COMPANY MONEY - IT'S FAST AND CONVENIENT
----------------       ----------------------------------------------------



        INTERNET                                      TELEPHONE                                    MAIL

                                                                       
 https://www.proxyvotenow.com/bny                   1-866-814-2812                  o Mark,  sign and date your proxy
                                                                                      card.
o Go to the website address listed        o Use any touch-tone telephone.           o Detach your proxy card.
  above.                              OR  o HAVE YOUR PROXY CARD READY.        OR   o Return  your  proxy card in the
o HAVE YOUR PROXY CARD READY.             o Follow   the  simple   recorded           postage-paid envelope provided.
o Follow the  simple  instructions          instructions.
  that  appear on  your   computer
  screen.


                                             Your  telephone  or  internet  vote
                                             authorizes  the  named  proxies  to
                                             vote your shares in the same manner
                                             as  if  you   marked,   signed  and
                                             returned  the  proxy  card.  IF YOU
                                             SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY  TELEPHONE  OR
                                             THE  INTERNET  THERE IS NO NEED FOR
                                             YOU TO MAIL BACK YOUR PROXY CARD.

                                                       1-866-814-2812

                                                   CALL TOLL-FREE TO VOTE

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



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




|_|   o DETACH PROXY CARD HERE IF YOU ARE NOT VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET o
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS      VOTES MUST BE
   PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING       INDICATED (X) IN     [X]
   THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.          BLACK OR BLUE INK.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.ELECTION OF DIRECTORS:

FOR         WITHHOLD
ALL   |_|   FOR ALL    |_|    EXCEPTIONS* |_|

Nominees: Messrs. 01 - Biondi, 02 - Donofrio, 03 - Hassell, 04 - Kogan,
05 - Kowalski, 06 - Luke, 07 - Malone, 08 - Myners, 09 - Ms. Rein, Messrs.
10 - Renyi, 11 - Richardson, 12 - Roberts and 13 - Scott

(INSTRUCTIONS: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, MARK
THE "EXCEPTIONS*" BOX AND WRITE THAT NOMINEE'S NAME ON THE FOLLOWING BLANK
LINE.)
Exceptions* _______________________________________________________________

                                                    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

2. Ratification of Auditors.                        |_|      |_|         |_|


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST PROPOSALS 3 AND 4:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

3. Shareholder Proposal with respect to
   cumulative voting.                               |_|      |_|         |_|

4. Shareholder Proposal with respect to
   executive compensation.                          |_|      |_|         |_|




I agree to access future Proxy Statements and Annual Reports
electronically.                                                          |_|

Indicate Address Change and/or Comments
on the back of the card and Mark Here                                    |_|

 _
|                                                 -----------------------------

                                                     SCAN LINE

                                      _|          -----------------------------


Please sign exactly as
the name appears hereon. If
stock is held in names of
joint owners, both should
sign.                          ----------------------------  -------------------
                               Date   Share Owner sign here  Co-Owner sign here




                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
                               PLEASE VOTE TODAY



















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

                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
                      ONE WALL STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10286                __
                                                                           |
                                     PROXY

            THIS PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The  undersigned  hereby  appoints  Thomas J. Mastro,  Kevin C. Piccoli and
Bruce W. Van Saun as proxies each with the power to appoint his  substitute  and
hereby  authorizes  each of them to represent  and to vote, as designated on the
reverse hereof,  all the shares of Common Stock of The Bank of New York Company,
Inc.  held of record by the  undersigned  on  February  22,  2005 at the  Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 12, 2005 or any adjournment thereof.

     UNLESS OTHERWISE  SPECIFIED,  THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY  EXECUTED,  WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE  ELECTION OF ALL  NOMINEES  FOR  DIRECTORS,  FOR  PROPOSAL (2) AND
AGAINST PROPOSALS (3) AND (4). IN THEIR  DISCRETION,  THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED
TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER  BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY
ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.

                                THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
                                P.O. BOX 11198
                                NEW YORK, N.Y. 10203-0198

   Address Changes/Comments

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

Please  complete,  sign and date this  proxy on the  reverse  side and return it
promptly in the accompanying envelope.




             THE
            BANK OF
============  NEW   ============================================================
             YORK
             COMPANY, INC.

TO  PARTICIPANTS  IN THE  EMPLOYEES'  STOCK PURCHASE  PLAN,  EMPLOYEE  SAVINGS &
INVESTMENT PLAN, EMPLOYEES' STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN, THE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN OF
       BNY BROKERAGE INC. AND THE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN OF PERSHING LLC

ENCLOSED IS THE PROXY  STATEMENT FOR THE 2005 ANNUAL MEETING OF  SHAREHOLDERS OF
THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.

ALSO  ENCLOSED ARE ONE OR MORE PROXY CARDS  ENABLING YOU TO VOTE THE FULL SHARES
HELD FOR YOUR ACCOUNT IN THE COMPANY  STOCK FUND IN EACH PLAN IN WHICH YOU ARE A
PARTICIPANT (FRACTIONAL SHARE INTERESTS ARE NOT VOTED).

EMPLOYEES' STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

Please  mark your  vote,  sign and date the  enclosed  proxy  card to vote whole
shares held in your account in the Employees' Stock Purchase Plan.

EMPLOYEE  SAVINGS &  INVESTMENT  PLAN,  EMPLOYEES'  STOCK  OWNERSHIP  PLAN,  THE
RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN OF BNY BROKERAGE INC. AND THE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN OF
PERSHING LLC.

Shares held in these  accounts  are voted by the  trustee(s)  of each plan.  You
instruct  the  trustee(s)  how to vote the whole shares in your account in these
plans by marking  your vote,  signing  and  returning  the proxy  card(s) in the
enclosed  envelope.  Please  note that if this  Voting  Instruction  Card is not
properly  completed and signed,  or if it is not received,  shares  allocated to
your  account  will be voted in direct  proportion  as shares in the  applicable
plan, for which directions have been received.

        YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD(S) TODAY!

                                                       RAYMOND J. DORADO
                                                       Assistant Secretary



  TO EMPLOYEES WHO OWN THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC. COMMON STOCK

                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

 IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY VOTED, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY TODAY.



Raymond J. Dorado
Assistant Secretary


NOTE:  The  company is sending  this email to all  employees.  If you do not own
Company shares, please disregard this notice.


                                              Thank you.