-----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,
 D8ZYhCiDuZ4tPnQ1XmoTH5Yfs0MtMCuWw4hsvhkyHleTqxpNC5Kyb0O/ZL3oGJql
 RdNdFN33A/PvDfzwqfoG5Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001241551-03-000003.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0001241551-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031103113955
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001241551-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031031
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOSTON PRIVATE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000821127
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				042976299
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6175561900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BOSTON PRIVATE BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALEXANDER HERBERT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241551

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17089
		FILM NUMBER:		03971933

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOSTON PRIVATE FIN. HOLD. INC
		STREET 2:		TEN POST OFFICE SQU.
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6179124463

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOSTON PRIVATE FIN. HOLD. INC
		STREET 2:		TEN POST OFFICE SQU.
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000821127</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOSTON PRIVATE FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BPFH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241551</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ALEXANDER HERBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4 FAY MOUNTAIN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTBOROUGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01581</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>2003-10-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>391</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.50</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9406</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Margaret W. Chambers as attorney-in-fact for Herbert S. Alexander</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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