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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):  July 24, 2003




                        FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




        Rhode Island                   1-6366                   05-0341324
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission              (IRS Employer
  of incorporation)                 File Number)             Identification No.)



100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts                        02110
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (617) 434-2200

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Item 5.  Other Events.

On  July  31,  2003,   FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation  (the  "Corporation")
completed the public  offering of 7,000,000  6.000%  Preferred  Securities  (the
"Preferred  Securities")  of Fleet Capital  Trust IX, a subsidiary  trust of the
Corporation  (the  "Trust"),  at $25  per  Preferred  Security.  Each  Preferred
Security will pay  cumulative  cash  distributions  at an annual rate of 6.000%,
payable  quarterly  commencing  November 1, 2003.  The Preferred  Securities are
fully and unconditionally  guaranteed (to the extent described in the prospectus
supplement  included  in the  registration  statement  described  below)  by the
Corporation.  In connection with the issuance of the Preferred  Securities,  the
Corporation issued $180,412,375  aggregate principal amount of its 6.000% Junior
Subordinated  Debentures due 2033 (the "Debentures") to the Trust. The Preferred
Securities and the  Debentures  were issued  pursuant to the shelf  registration
statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-72912) of the Corporation,
the Trust and certain other subsidiary trusts of the Corporation.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

1             Purchase Agreement, dated July 24, 2003, among the Corporation,
              the Trust, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representative of
              the several Underwriters named therein.

4(a)          Amended and Restated  Declaration  of Trust,  dated as of July 31,
              2003, among FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation,  as sponsor,  The
              Bank of New York (Delaware),  as Delaware Trustee, and The Bank of
              New York, as  Institutional  Trustee,  the Regular  Trustees named
              therein  and the  holders,  from  time to time,  of the  undivided
              beneficial  ownership  interests  in the  assets of Fleet  Capital
              Trust IX  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to FleetBoston
              Financial  Corporation's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
              on July 31, 2003).

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

4(c)          Fourth Supplemental Indenture,  dated as of July 31, 2003, between
              FleetBoston  Financial  Corporation  and The Bank of New York,  as
              Trustee  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 2.8 to FleetBoston
              Financial  Corporation's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
              on July 31, 2003).

4(d)          Form of Preferred  Security  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
              2.3 to FleetBoston Financial Corporation's  Registration Statement
              on Form 8-A filed on July 31, 2003).

4(e)          Form of Junior Subordinated  Debenture  (incorporated by reference
              to Exhibit 2.8 to FleetBoston Financial Corporation's Registration
              Statement on Form 8-A filed on July 31, 2003).

4(f)          Preferred  Securities  Guarantee  Agreement,  dated as of July 31,
              2003, between the Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Trustee
              (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit  2.11  to   FleetBoston
              Financial  Corporation's  Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
              on July 31, 2003).







                                   SIGNATURES



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



                                      FLEETBOSTON FINANCIAL CORPORATION


Dated: July 31, 2003                  By  /s/Janice B. Liva
                                          -----------------------------
                                          Janice B. Liva
                                          Deputy General Counsel and Assistant
                                          Secretary