| State Street Corporation Announces a Two-For-One
 Stock Split and Increased
 Quarterly Dividend
 
 Boston, MA...December 21,
 2000 -- The Board of Directors of
 State Street Corporation today
 voted to authorize a two-for-one
 stock split in the form of a 100%
 stock dividend, subject to the
 approval of an increase in the
 authorized shares by stockholders
 at the annual meeting in April
 2001. If the increase in
 authorized shares is approved,
 new shares will be distributed on
 May 30, 2001 to stockholders of
 record as of April 30, 2001.
 
 The Board also increased State
 Street's quarterly dividend $.02
 per share, to $.19 per share. The
 dividend is payable January 16,
 2001, to stockholders of record as
 of January 2, 2001.
 
 State Street has increased its
 dividend every six months since
 December 1978. Following
 today's action, the annual
 dividend rate is 19% higher than a
 year ago.
 
 David A. Spina, president and
 chief executive officer, said,
 "State Street is positioned to
 complete its 23rd consecutive
 year of double-digit earnings per
 share growth. The increase in the
 cash dividend and the stock split
 reflect this long-term record and
 the significant increase in State
 Street's stock price in the last
 year. Despite the slowdown in
 economic growth globally, we are
 confident that State Street has
 the focus, experience and
 technology needed to continue to
 create value for our stockholders."
 
 With $6.2 trillion in assets under custody
 and $712 billion under management,
 State Street Corporation is the world's
 leading specialist in serving institutional
 investors. Offices are located in the
 United States, Canada, Chile, Cayman
 Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Ireland,
 United Kingdom, Netherlands, France,
 Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland,
 Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, United
 Arab Emirates, Russia, People's Republic
 of China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan,
 Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.
 State Street Corporation's common stock
 is traded on the New York Stock
 Exchange under the symbol STT.
 
 This news release contains
 forward-looking statements as defined by
 federal securities laws. Such statements
 are based upon current beliefs and
 expectations of State Street's
 management and are subject to
 significant risks and uncertainties. Actual
 results may vary from those set forth in
 the forward-looking statements.
 Important factors that could cause actual
 results to differ materially from those
 indicated by any such forward-looking
 statements are set forth in the company's
 annual report and subsequent SEC filings.
 These include risks and uncertainties
 relating to synergies achievable with
 acquired companies, the value of
 worldwide financial markets, savings
 rates of individuals, dynamics of markets
 served, pricing and competition, and the
 pace of new business. State Street
 encourages investors to read the
 corporation's 1999 annual report,
 particularly the section on factors that
 may affect financial results, and its SEC
 filings for additional information with
 respect to any forward-looking
 statements.
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