EXHIBIT 99
                                                               ----------


   April 24, 2003


   Contact:  Hewitt Associates
             Jennifer Frighetto, 847.442.7663 or
             jennifer.frighetto@hewitt.com

             Northern Trust
             Sue Rageas, 312.444.4279

   Hewitt Associates To Acquire Northern Trust Retirement Consulting

   Firms To Form Preferred Provider Relationship for Retirement Services

   LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., April 24, 2003 - - Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW),
   a global HR outsourcing and consulting firm, and Northern Trust
   Corporation (NASDAQ: NTRS), a leading provider of global financial
   services, have executed a letter of intent for Hewitt to acquire
   substantially all of the assets of Northern Trust Retirement
   Consulting, L.L.C. (NTRC), Northern Trust's retirement consulting and
   administration business.  Hewitt and Northern Trust have also agreed
   to work together as preferred providers in each firm's core area of
   expertise -- HR outsourcing and consulting services from Hewitt, and
   trustee, custody and pension payroll services from Northern Trust.

   As part of this arrangement, Hewitt will acquire the NTRC business,
   which provides nearly 200 companies and more than 1 million
   participants with defined benefit, defined contribution and retiree
   health and welfare administration services, including recordkeeping
   and customer service.  The arrangement also covers retirement
   consulting and actuarial services, including plan design and
   communication.

   Effective with the transition, NTRC clients covered by this
   arrangement will have access to Hewitt's full suite of outsourcing and
   consulting services.  Hewitt will assume responsibility for NTRC's
   staff and facilities in Atlanta, Ga.  The transaction is expected to
   close in June.

   "Our acquisition of NTRC represents an additional growth opportunity
   for our outsourcing and consulting business," said Bryan Doyle, global
   business leader, HR and benefits outsourcing services, Hewitt
   Associates.  "We look forward to working with Northern Trust to
   provide clients with the retirement services expertise that has made
   us recognized leaders in the industry."

   "With this agreement, we bring to our clients the world-class
   retirement services Hewitt offers, combined in a seamless structure
   with Northern Trust's leading institutional trust and custody
   services," said Rick Waddell, president of corporate and institutional







   services at Northern Trust.  "The arrangement advances our long-term
   strategy to focus our own resources on the areas where we can serve
   clients best."

   In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, NTRC had gross revenues of
   approximately $74 million.  Hewitt anticipates the acquisition will be
   modestly dilutive through the transition period.  Northern Trust
   expects to recognize charges totaling approximately $20 million as a
   result of the transaction, principally reflecting the write-off of
   unamortized technology investments.  The purchase price and other
   financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.  The closing of
   the proposed transaction is subject to the execution of a definitive
   agreement and satisfaction of any conditions contained in it.

   About Northern Trust Corporation
   --------------------------------
   Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of
   global financial solutions for the investment management, asset
   administration, fiduciary and banking needs of affluent individuals
   and corporations and institutions.  Northern Trust, a multibank
   holding company based in Chicago, has a growing network of offices in
   12 states, international offices in five countries and more than 9,300
   employees worldwide.  As of March 31, 2003, Northern Trust had trust
   assets under administration of $1.6 trillion, assets under investment
   management of $365 billion and banking assets of more than $36
   billion.  Northern Trust, founded in 1889, has earned distinction as
   an industry leader in combining high-touch service and expertise with
   innovative products and services.  For more information, visit
   www.northerntrust.com.

   About Hewitt Associates
   -----------------------
   Hewitt Associates (www.hewitt.com) is a leading global provider of
   human resources outsourcing and consulting services.  The firm
   delivers a complete range of services including HR and benefits
   outsourcing, talent and organizational change, retirement and
   financial management and health care to companies across a wide
   spectrum of industries.  Hewitt provides services from 85 offices in
   37 countries.

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