FleetBoston Financial Announces Earnings Release Date.

Business Editors

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 2001

FleetBoston Financial announced today that it will release second quarter 2001 earnings prior to the market opening on Wednesday, July 18, 2001. Copies of the release will be available within the investor relations section of http:\\www.fleet.com.

Following the release at 9:00 a.m. eastern daylight time, Eugene M. McQuade, Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of FleetBoston, will host a conference call to discuss the earnings results and business trends. Interested parties may access the conference call by calling 888-373-3590 (domestic) or 415-228-4668 (international) with a passcode of "Fleet ". Media and individuals will be in a listen only mode. Participants are asked to call in a few minutes prior to the call in order to register for the event.

Internet access to the call is also available (listen only) by going to the Investor Relations section of http:\\www.fleet.com. A replay of the call will be available through July 20, 2001 - 5:00 p.m. by calling 888-568-0673 (domestic) or 402-530-7731 (international) with no passcode or by going to the fleet.com website.

FleetBoston Financial is the seventh-largest financial holding company in the United States. A diversified financial services company with assets exceeding $200 billion, Fleet offers a comprehensive array of innovative financial solutions to 20 million customers in more than 20 countries and territories. Among the company's key lines of business are: retail banking, with nearly 1,700 branches and more than 3,800 ATMs in the Northeast; commercial banking, including capital markets/investment banking and commercial finance; investment services, including discount brokerage; and full-service banking through more than 250 offices in Latin America. FleetBoston Financial is headquartered in Boston and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: FBF) and the Boston Stock Exchange (BSE: FBF).