Filed under Rule 424 (b)(2), Registration Statement No. 333-134738,
    333-134738-01, 333-134738-02, 333-134738-03, 333-134738-04 and 333-134738-05

    Pricing Supplement No. 21 Subject to Completion - dated November 6, 2006
                                       (To prospectus dated June 5, 2006 and
                                   prospectus supplement dated June 15, 2006)

The Bank of New York Company, Inc. [LOGO]

The Bank of New York Company, Inc.
$1,000,000,000
The Bank of New York Company, Inc. CoreNotes(Registered Service Mark)

=================================================================
             Aggregate               Purchasing     Proceeds
  CUSIP      Principal   Price to      Agent's       Before
  Number      Amount     Public(1)   Discount(1)    Expenses(1)
=================================================================

0640P1KA0      TBD         100%         2.00%         98.00%

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

=================================================================
   Interest      Interest        Stated
   Rate Per      Payment        Maturity     Survivor's
    Annum       Frequency         Date        Option
=================================================================

    5.85%       Semi-Annual     11/15/2021      Yes

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Subordinated Medium-Term Notes, Series I
Interest Payment Dates:  The 15th day of May and November of each year
                         commencing 05/15/2007.
Redemption Information:  Redeemable at the option of The Bank of New York
                         Company, Inc. on 11/15/2009 and each Interest Payment
                         Date thereafter, at a price equal to 100% on 30
                         calendar days notice.
=================================================================
             Aggregate               Purchasing     Proceeds
  CUSIP      Principal   Price to      Agent's       Before
  Number      Amount     Public(1)   Discount(1)    Expenses(1)
=================================================================

0640P1KB8       TBD         100%        2.50%        97.50%

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

=================================================================
   Interest      Interest        Stated
   Rate Per      Payment        Maturity     Survivor's
    Annum       Frequency         Date        Option
=================================================================

    5.90%      Semi-Annual      11/17/2031      Yes

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Subordinated Medium-Term Notes, Series I
Interest Payment Dates:  The 15th day of May and November of each year
                         commencing 05/15/2007.
Redemption Information:  Redeemable at the option of The Bank of New York
                         Company, Inc. on 11/15/2011 and each Interest Payment
                         Date thereafter, at a price equal to 100% on 30
                         calendar days notice.

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

The Bank of New York Company, Inc.
One Wall Street
New York, New York 10286

Trade Date:  11/10/2006
Issue Date:  11/15/2006
Minimum Denominations/Increments: $1,000/$1,000
Original Issue Discount: No
All trades settle without accrued interest and clear SDFS: DTC Book-Entry only
Merrill Lynch DTC Participant Number:  161

The defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of the Senior Indenture and
the Senior Subordinated Indenture described under "Description of Senior Debt
Securities and Senior Subordinated Debt Securities-Legal Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance" in the Prospectus will apply to the Senior and Senior Subordinated
Notes respectively.

(1) Expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount

"CoreNotes(Registered Service Mark)" is a registered service mark of Merrill
Lynch & Co., Inc.

                                                            Merrill Lynch & Co.
                                                               Purchasing Agent
                                                            Acting as Principal
===============================================================================