-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 rSpY6pAzKaXK+JvL3JuYww==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001025355-03-000017.txt : 20031113
<SEC-HEADER>0001025355-03-000017.hdr.sgml : 20031113
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031113164003
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001025355-03-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MELLON FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064782
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				251233834
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MELLON BANK CTR
		STREET 2:		500 GRANT ST
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15258-0001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4122345000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MELLON BANK CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MELLON NATIONAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19841014

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VON SCHACK WESLEY W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001025355

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07410
		FILM NUMBER:		03998631

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ENERGY EAST CORP
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 3287
		CITY:			ITHACA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14852-3287
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6073472530

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ENERGY EAST CORP
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 3287
		CITY:			ITHACA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14852-3287
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-11-10</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000064782</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MELLON FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001025355</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VON SCHACK WESLEY W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ENERGY EAST CORPORATIONENERGY EAST CORPO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>CORPORATE DRIVECORPORATE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BINGHAMTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>13902-5224</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-11-10</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>8100.00</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>9.50</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>71716.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>4515.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By Keough Account</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>1216.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By Wife</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Option - Right to Buy </value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>9.50</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-11-10</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>8100.00</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1995-04-22</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2004-04-21</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>8100.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>0.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">I disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Options granted - 1994</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Not Applicable</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Wesley W. von Schack</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----