-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009626-04-000007.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0000009626-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123161553
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009626-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RICHARDSON WILLIAM C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001038630

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06152
		FILM NUMBER:		04540894

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HERITAGE TOWER SUITE 1701
		STREET 2:		25 WEST MICHIGAN AVENUE
		CITY:			BATTLE CREEK
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49017

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANK OF NEW YORK CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009626
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				132614959
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE WALL ST 10TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10286
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-495-1784

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE WALL STREET 31ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10286
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc5.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-01</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009626</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANK OF NEW YORK CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001038630</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RICHARDSON WILLIAM C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE MICHIGAN AVENUE EAST</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BATTLE CREEK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>49017</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 (Par Value $7.50)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-07-31</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>L</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>82.65</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>28.8681</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>13841.29</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock (Par Value $7.50)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-11-06</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>L</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>81.08</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>29.6224</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>13922.37</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>William  C Richardson</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2004-01-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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