-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HAxTy031F1gV33YVZs/2mbDSfKELiuUrpOMJmvR3cmXV8ImseSZwM1nWPBEMLR4p
 tYERdlRZFYBSIPEdxjsF/g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000050341-03-000127.txt : 20030624
<SEC-HEADER>0000050341-03-000127.hdr.sgml : 20030624
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030624104740
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000050341-03-000127
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030617
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030624

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHNEIDER MARYETTA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001240368

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06366
		FILM NUMBER:		03754309

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FLEET BOSTON FINANCIAL CORP
		STREET 2:		100 FEDERAL STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000050341
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				050341324
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			RI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 FEDERAL STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173464000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 FEDERAL STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FLEET BOSTON CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991001

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FLEET NORSTAR FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920525

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-17</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000050341</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FBF</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001240368</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHNEIDER MARYETTA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>M.D./Capital Markets</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>92585.6442</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6045.2115</value></transactionShares></transactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Emplo
yee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.4</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-10-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-01-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>18950</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>37.68</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-10-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-01-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecuritySha
res><value>28425</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>46.09</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-10-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-01-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2212</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conver
sionOrExercisePrice><value>46.09</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-10-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-01-26</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2979</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>30.66</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-10-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-01-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50337</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyin
gSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.66</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-12-21</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-12-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>67500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>34.75</value></conversionOrExercis
ePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-10-17</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-10-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>75000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.96</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-10-16</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-10-15</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>80000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownersh
ipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>21.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-10-15</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-10-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>80000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Based on a plan statement as of March 31, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Exercisable in annual installments of one third each beginning
 on the date shown, which is one year from the grant date.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Exercisable in annual installments of one fourth each beginning on the date shown, which is one year from the grant date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mary-Etta Schneider</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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