UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                          Washington, D.C.  20549


                                 FORM 8-K

                               CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                     the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                Date of Report
                      (Date of earliest event reported):
                              March 4, 2005


                      THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
                      ----------------------------------
            (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                   NEW YORK
                                   --------
                (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


                 001-06152                          13-2614959
                 ---------                          ----------
       (Commission file number)      (I.R.S. employer identification number)


        One Wall Street, New York, NY                10286
        -----------------------------                -----
   (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip code)


                                  212-495-1784
                                  ------------
                        (Registrant's telephone number,
                              including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of
the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
    (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act
    (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
    Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 5.02  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.


On March 4, 2005, Alan R. Griffith, Director and Vice Chairman of The Bank of
New York Company, Inc. (the "Company") announced his plan to retire from the
Company in June 2005 and that he will not seek re-election to the Board of
Directors in April 2005.







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                                   SIGNATURE
                                   ---------



     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


Dated: March 10, 2005

                                       THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY, INC.
                                       (Registrant)


                                       By:  /s/ Alan R. Griffith
                                            ---------------------
                                       Name:   Alan R. Griffith
                                       Title:  Vice Chairman