8-K

                                UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, DC 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 16, 2002


                         NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



           DELAWARE                0-5965               36-2723087
        (State or other    (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
        jurisdiction of                              Identification No.)
       incorporation or
        organization)



        50 SOUTH LASALLE STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS     60675
        (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)



   Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (312) 630-6000








   ITEM 4.   CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

             On April 16, 2002, the Board of Directors of Northern Trust
   Corporation (the "Corporation"), upon the recommendation of its Audit
   Committee, engaged KPMG LLP as the Corporation's independent certified
   public accountants for the year 2002.

             During the Corporation's fiscal years ended December 31,
   2000 and December 31, 2001, and the interim period between December
   31, 2001 and April 16, 2002, the Corporation did not consult KPMG LLP
   regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified
   transaction, either completed or proposed, (ii) the type of audit
   opinion that might be rendered on the Corporation's consolidated
   financial statements, or (iii) any other matter or event set forth in
   Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K.

   ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
             EXHIBITS.

   (c)  Exhibits


   Exhibit
   Number    Description of Exhibit
   -------   ----------------------

   99.1      Press Release dated April 16, 2002.

























                                     -2-








                                 SIGNATURES

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



                                      NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION
                                           (Registrant)



   Date:  April 19, 2002         By:   /s/ HARRY W. SHORT
                                      -----------------------------
                                      Harry W. Short
                                      Executive Vice President and
                                        Controller
                                      (Chief Accounting Officer)

































                                     -3-











                                EXHIBIT INDEX


   Exhibit
   Number    Description of Exhibit
   -------   ----------------------

   99.1      Press Release dated April 16, 2002.

EX-99.1 CHARTER

                                                             EXHIBIT 99.1
                                                             ------------


                 NORTHERN TRUST SELECTS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   CHICAGO, April 16, 2002 - Northern Trust Corporation, Chicago,
   announced today that its Board of Directors has selected KPMG LLP as
   the Corporation's independent auditors for 2002.  Representatives of
   KPMG LLP will be attending Northern's annual meeting to be held today
   in Chicago.

        Northern had announced on March 22, 2002 that the Board of
   Directors had voted to replace Arthur Andersen LLP as its independent
   auditors for 2002.

        Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a multibank holding
   company headquartered in Chicago with a growing network of offices in
   12 states, international offices in five countries and more than 9,500
   employees worldwide.  At December 31, 2001, Northern Trust
   Corporation's banking assets totaled $39.7 billion.  Trust assets
   under administration were nearly $1.7 trillion, and assets under
   management totaled $330.1 billion.  Northern Trust has earned
   distinction as a leading provider of personal fiduciary, asset
   management, personal and private banking, and master trust/custody,
   global custody and treasury management services.  For more
   information, visit www.northerntrust.com.
                                   / / /