EXHIBIT 32(a)

                         CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, the undersigned officer of
The St. Paul Companies, Inc. (the "Company"), hereby certifies
that the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 2003 (the "Report") fully complies with the
requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information
contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
the Company.


Dated: October 30, 2003                  Jay S. Fishman
       ----------------                  --------------
                                   Name: Jay S. Fishman
                                  Title: Chief Executive Officer