-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JQ3WMAS6wmG9zxHu4xO1AQLT+pfmo1DO+S990eYLdd7JAoQi6DFC5a3D9lZTGC/U
 CEI9H0ipZ9+MbEPA2jM3Og==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009626-05-000019.txt : 20050131
<SEC-HEADER>0000009626-05-000019.hdr.sgml : 20050131
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050131165937
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009626-05-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050131
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050131

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:		05562500

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</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>2004-08-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>L</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>113.34</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.9861</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16606.73</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (Par Value $7.50)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>L</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>97.45</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.6188</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16704.17</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William  C Richardson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----