EXHIBIT 23

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 33-36707, 333-43625, 333-72912) and Form S-8 (Nos. 33-19425, 33-48818, 33-56061, 33-57677, 33-58933, 33-62367, 33-65230, 333-16037, 333-42247, 333-44517, 333-50346, 333-56930, 333-68153, 333-82433, 333-83365, 333-95727) of FleetBoston Financial Corporation of our report dated January 29, 2002 relating to the financial statements, which appears in this Form 10-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
March 1, 2002