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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                          Washington, D.C.  20549


                                 FORM 8 - K

                                CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                Date of Report
                      (Date of earliest event reported):
                                April 21, 2004


                     THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
                     ----------------------------------
           (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                  NEW YORK
                                  --------
               (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


                001-06152                          13-2614959
                ---------                          ----------
       (Commission file number)      (I.R.S. employer identification number)



        One Wall Street, New York, NY                10286
        -----------------------------                -----
   (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip code)


               212-495-1784
               ------------
      (Registrant's telephone number,
           including area code)




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ITEM 5.   Other Events
          ------------
          First Quarter of 2004 Financial Results
          ----------------------------------------

On April 21, 2004, The Bank of New York Company, Inc. issued a press release
containing unaudited interim financial information and accompanying discussion
for the first quarter of 2004. Exhibit 99 is a copy of such press release and
is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7.   Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
          ------------------------------------------------------------------
          (c)  Exhibit        Description
               -------        -----------
                99       Unaudited interim financial information and
                         accompanying discussion for the first quarter
                         of 2004 contained in the press release dated
                         April 21, 2004, of The Bank of New York
                         Company, Inc.

ITEM 12.  Results of Operations and Financial Condition
          ---------------------------------------------
Press release filed under Item 5





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                                   SIGNATURE
                                   ---------



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Dated: April 21, 2004

                                         THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
                                         (Registrant)


                                         By: /s/ Thomas J. Mastro
                                         -------------------------
                                         Name:   Thomas J. Mastro
                                         Title:  Comptroller




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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------


Exhibit No.     Description
-----------     -----------
    99          Unaudited interim financial information and accompanying
                discussion for the first quarter of 2004 contained in the
                press release dated April 21, 2004, of The Bank of New York
                Company, Inc.