Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 17, 2001
                                                           Registration No. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549
                          --------------------------
                                   Form S-3
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              ___________________
                            STATE STREET CORPORATION
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       Massachusetts                                             04-2456637
 (State or other jurisdiction                                (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                         Identification Number)

                              225 Franklin Street
                         Boston, Massachusetts  02110
                                (617) 786-3000
         (Address, of principal executive offices, including zip code)


                       Maureen Scannell Bateman, Esquire
                 Executive Vice President and General Counsel
                           State Street Corporation
                              225 Franklin Street
                         Boston, Massachusetts   02110
                                (617) 786-3000
             (Name and address, including zip code, and telephone
              number, including area code, of agent for service)
              --------------------------------------------------

                 Please send copies of all communications to:
                            Mark V. Nuccio, Esquire
                                  Ropes & Gray
                            One International Place
                          Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                 (617) 951-7000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to
time after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.[X]

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.[X]

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement under the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering.[_]

If this form is a post effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.[_]

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box:[_]

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


==============================================================================================================
                                                        Proposed maximum     Proposed maximum     Amount of
      Title of each class               Amount to        offering price     aggregate offering   registration
   securities to be registered        be registered       per share(1)           price(1)            fee
                                                                                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1,200,000
Common Stock -- $1.00 Par Value          Shares            $112.85            $135,420,000        $33,855
==============================================================================================================


(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee in
accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933.  The  maximum
price per share information is based on the average of the high and the low sale
price on January 10, 2000.

Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as
may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a
further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement
shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting
pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may +
+not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the     +
+Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an    +
+offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these +
+securities in any state where the offer or sale is prohibited.                +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PROSPECTUS                                                 Subject to Completion
                                                                January 17, 2001



                           State Street Corporation


                                 Common Stock
                               1,200,000 Shares

                              __________________



     Certain persons who received shares of our common stock in connection with
our recent acquisition of Bel Air Advisors LLC and Bel Air Securities LLC are
offering and selling up to 1,200,000 shares of common stock under this
prospectus. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by
these selling stockholders.


     Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker
symbol  "STT".  On January 16, 2001, the closing price of one share of our
common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $114.78.


     Certain information relating to the selling stockholders and, if necessary,
the terms of sales of common stock offered hereby, in respect of which this
prospectus is delivered will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus
supplement.


     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.



                              __________________

                The date of this Prospectus is January __, 2001.


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                                                                        
Where You Can Find More Information........................................ 2
Forward-Looking Statements................................................. 4
State Street Corporation................................................... 5
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 5
Description of Common Stock................................................ 5
Selling Stockholders....................................................... 6
Plan of Distribution....................................................... 7
Validity of Common Stock................................................... 9
Experts.................................................................... 9


                                      -1-


                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities
Act of 1933 that registers the offer and sale of the securities offered by this
prospectus.  The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and
schedules, contains additional relevant information about us.  The rules and
regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information included in the
registration statement from this prospectus.

     In addition, we file reports, proxy statements and other information with
the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You may read and copy this
information at the following locations of the SEC:

                            Public Reference Room
                            450 Fifth Street, N.W.
                                   Room 1024
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                           Northeast Regional Office
                             7 World Trade Center
                                  Suite 1300
                           New York, New York 10048

                            Midwest Regional Office
                            500 West Madison Street
                                  Suite 1400
                         Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511

     You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public
Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference rooms.

     The SEC also maintains an Internet world wide web site that contains
reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, who file
electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.

     You can also inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about
us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York 10005.

     The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this
prospectus.  This means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC.  The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this
prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is
included directly in this document or in a more recent incorporated document.

                                      -2-


     This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that
we have previously filed with the SEC that contain important information about
us and our financial condition:

          1. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
     1999, as filed with the SEC on March 30, 2000;

          2. Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
     2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000, as filed with the SEC on May
     15, 2000, August 11, 2000, and November 13, 2000, respectively;

          3. Our Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on January
     7, 2000, December 8, 2000 and January 17, 2001.

     In addition to the documents listed above, we incorporate by reference any
additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 between the date of the
filing and the last day the selling stockholders sell our common stock. These
documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

     You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this
document through us, or from the SEC through the SEC's Internet world wide web
site address.  Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without
charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is
specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus.  You
can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting
them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:

                              Investor Relations
                           State Street Corporation
                              225 Franklin Street
                          Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                (617) 664-3477

     We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any
representation about us that is different from, or in addition to, the
information and representations contained in this prospectus or in any of the
materials that we have incorporated into this prospectus. If anyone does give
you information of that sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a
jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the
securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom
it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in
this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document
speaks only as of the date of this document unless the information specifically
indicates that another date applies.

                                      -3-


                          FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     This prospectus, including information included or incorporated by
reference, contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to our
financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future
performance and business, including, without limitation, statements preceded by,
followed by or that include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates,"
"estimates" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those
contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to many factors, including:

     .    future revenue may increase or decrease depending upon the extent of
          increases or decreases in cross-border investments made by customers
          or future customers;

     .    changes in the savings rate of individuals that are invested in mutual
          funds or in defined contribution plans affect our revenues;

     .    fluctuations in worldwide securities market valuations may affect our
          revenues;

     .    changes in markets served, including the growth rate of U.S. mutual
          funds, the pace of debt issuance, outsourcing decisions, and mergers,
          acquisitions and consolidations among customers and competitors may
          affect our revenues;

     .    global and regional economic factors and changes or potential changes
          in laws and regulations affecting our business, including volatile
          currencies and changes in monetary policy, and social and political
          instability, could affect results of operations;

     .    market interest rate levels, the shape of the yield curve and the
          direction of interest rate changes affect net interest revenue and
          fiduciary compensation from securities lending;

     .    the degree of volatility in foreign exchange rates may affect the
          amount of foreign exchange trading revenue;

     .    the pace of pension reform and resulting programs including public and
          private pension schemes may affect the pace of revenue growth;

     .    future prices that we are able to obtain for our products may increase
          or decrease from current levels depending upon demand, our
          competitors' activities and the introduction of new products into the
          marketplace;

     .    the pace at which existing and new customers use additional services
          and assign additional assets to us for management or custody will
          affect future results;

     .    changes in business mix, including the mix of U.S. and non-U.S.
          business, may affect future results;

     .    consolidations among clients and competitors;

     .    our ability to successfully assimilate the services, technologies, key
          personnel and businesses of companies we acquire into our business and
          service offerings;

     .    our ability to successfully address and adapt to regulatory and
          legislative changes;

     .    technological change may be more difficult or expensive than
          anticipated; and

     .    changes may occur in securities markets.

     Each of these factors listed above, and others, are also discussed from
time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                      -4-


                           STATE STREET CORPORATION

     We are a financial holding company organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and are one of the world's leading specialists in
serving institutional investors.   We provide a full range of products and
services for portfolios of investment assets.  We were organized in 1970 and
conduct our business principally through our subsidiary, State Street Bank and
Trust Company, "State Street Bank," which traces its beginnings to the founding
of Union Bank in 1792.  The charter under which State Street Bank now operates
was authorized by a special act of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1891, and
its present name was adopted in 1960.  Our executive offices are located at 225
Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, and our telephone number is (617)
786-3000.
                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     The sale of the common stock offered hereby is for the account of the
selling stockholders. Accordingly, we will not receive any of the proceeds from
the sale by the selling stockholders of the common stock.

                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     General

     We have 250,000,000 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share,
authorized, of which 161,710,551 shares were outstanding as of December 31,
2000. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and
if declared by our board of directors out of any funds legally available for
dividends. Holders of our common stock are also entitled, upon our liquidation,
and after claims of creditors and preferences of preferred stock, and any other
class or series of preferred stock outstanding at the time of liquidation, to
receive a pro rata share of our net assets. We pay dividends on our common stock
only if we have paid or provided for all dividends on our outstanding series of
preferred stock, for the then current period and, in the case of any cumulative
preferred stock, all prior periods. Our preferred stock has, or upon issuance
will have, preference over our common stock with respect to the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of our liquidation or
dissolution. Our preferred stock also has such other preferences as may be fixed
by our board of directors. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote
for each share that they hold and are vested with all of the voting power except
as our board of directors has provided, or may provide in the future, with
respect to preferred stock or any other class or series of preferred stock that
the board of directors may hereafter authorize. Shares of our common stock are
not redeemable, and have no subscription, conversion or preemptive rights. The
affirmative vote of not less than 80% of our outstanding voting stock, voting
separately as a class, is required for certain business combinations between us
and/or our subsidiaries and persons owning 10% or more of our voting stock. Our
common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and trades under the
symbol, "STT". Outstanding shares of our common stock are validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable. Holders of our common stock are not, and will not be,
subject to any liability as stockholders.

                                      -5-


     Shareholders' Rights Plan

     In 1988, State Street declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase
right for each outstanding share of common stock pursuant to a shareholders'
Rights Agreement.  On June 18, 1998, State Street adopted an amendment to the
Rights Agreement and has restated the Rights Agreement.  Under the Amended and
Restated Rights Agreement, a right may be exercised, under certain conditions,
to purchase one four-hundredths share of a series of participating preferred
stock at an exercise price of $265, subject to adjustment.  The rights become
exercisable if a party acquires or obtains the right to acquire 10% or more of
State Street's common stock or after commencement or public announcement of an
offer for 10% or more of State Street's common stock.  When exercisable, under
certain conditions, each right also entitles the holder thereof to purchase
shares of common stock, of either State Street or of the acquiror, having a
market value of two times the then current exercise price of that right. The
rights expire in September 2008, and may be redeemed at a price of $.0025 per
right at any time prior to expiration or the acquisition of 10% of State
Street's common stock.  Under certain circumstances, the rights may be redeemed
after they become exercisable and may be subject to automatic redemption.

     Transfer Agent and Registrar

     The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Equiserve Limited
Partnership, an affiliate of State Street.

     Restrictions on Ownership

     The Bank Holding Company Act requires any "bank holding company," as
defined in the Bank Holding Company Act, to obtain the approval of the Federal
Reserve Board prior to the acquisition of 5% or more of our common stock.  Any
person, other than a bank holding company, is required to obtain prior approval
of the Federal Reserve Board to acquire 10% or more of our common stock under
the Change in Bank Control Act.  Any holder of 25% or more of our common stock,
or a holder of 5% or more if such holder otherwise exercises a "controlling
influence" over us, is subject to regulation as a bank holding company under the
Bank Holding Company Act.

                             SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     We recently acquired 75% of the ownership interests of Bel Air Investment
Advisors LLC and 100% of the ownership interests of Bel Air Securities LLC, for
an aggregate purchase price of approximately $217 million. The purchase price is
payable to the former owners of Bel Air (the "selling stockholders") half in
cash and half in shares of our common stock. The number of shares of State
Street common stock that will be issued to the selling stockholders will be
determined by dividing approximately $108.5 million by an average of the high
and low trade prices of shares of State Street common stock for a certain number
of days prior to the closing. The number of shares of common stock we issue
cannot exceed 1,200,000 shares without the approval of our board of directors.
In accordance with the terms of the purchase agreement relating to the
acquisition, we agreed to register for resale the shares issued to the selling
stockholders. Registration of these shares does not necessarily mean that the
selling stockholders will sell all or any of the shares.




                                      -6-


     One or more of the selling stockholders may transfer their shares to a
family member or in connection with estate planning purposes or upon their death
or disability.  The selling stockholders will include these transferees as
selling stockholders in a prospectus supplement if the transferees wish to use
this prospectus to re-offer the shares.

     Prior to any use of this prospectus in connection with an offering or sale
of the common stock, we will supplement this prospectus to set forth the name
and number of shares beneficially owned by the selling stockholder intending to
sell such common stock and the number of shares to be offered.  The prospectus
supplement will also disclose whether any selling stockholder selling in
connection with such prospectus supplement has held any position or office with,
been employed by or otherwise has had a material relationship with, State Street
or any of its affiliates during the three years prior to the date of the
prospectus supplement.

                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     We will not receive any of the proceeds of the sale of the common stock
offered by this prospectus. The common stock may be sold from time to time to
purchasers:

     .    directly by the selling stockholders; or

     .    through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who may
          receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
          commissions from the selling stockholders or the purchasers of the
          common stock.

     If the common stock is sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the
selling stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or
commissions or agent's commissions.

     The common stock may be sold in one or more transactions at:

     .    fixed prices, which may change from time to time;

     .    prevailing market prices at the time of sale;

     .    varying prices determined at the time of sale; or

     .    negotiated prices.

     These sales may be effected in transactions:

     .    on any national securities exchange or quotation service on
          which our common stock may be listed or quoted at the time of the
          sale, including the New York Stock Exchange;

     .    in transactions other than on such exchanges or services
          or in the over-the-counter market;

     .    through the writing or purchase of non-traded and exchange-
          traded options;

     .    by pledge to secure debts and other obligations;

                                      -7-


     .    in hedge transactions and in settlement of other transactions; or

     .    in a combination of any of the above transactions.

     In connection with sales of the common stock or otherwise, the selling
stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers. These
broker-dealers may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the
course of hedging their positions.  The selling stockholders may also sell the
common stock short and deliver common stock to close out short positions, or
loan or pledge common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell the common
stock.   In addition, these transactions may include block transactions or
crosses. Crosses are transactions in which the same broker acts as an agent on
both sides of the trade.

     The selling stockholders and any brokers, dealers, agents or underwriters
that participate with the selling stockholders in the distribution of the common
stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities
Act, in which event any commissions received by such broker-dealers, agents or
underwriters and any profit on the resale of the common stock purchased by them
may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities
Act.

     There can be no assurance that the selling stockholders will sell any or
all of the common stock pursuant to this prospectus. In addition, any common
stock covered by this prospectus that qualifies for sale pursuant to Rule 144 of
the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this
prospectus.

     State Street has agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against
certain liabilities under the securities laws.

                                      -8-


                            VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK

     For the purposes of this offering, Ropes & Gray, Boston, Massachusetts, is
giving its opinion on the validity of the shares.  Truman S. Casner, a director
of State Street, is a partner of Ropes & Gray. Mr. Casner owns beneficially a
total of 17,204 shares of common stock.  Ropes & Gray performs legal services
for State Street from time to time.

                                    EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements of State Street Corporation
incorporated by reference in State Street Corporation's Annual Report (Form
10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1999, have been audited by Ernst & Young
LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon incorporated by
reference therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such
report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.

     With respect to the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial
information for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2000 and March 31, 1999,
the six-month periods ended June 30, 2000 and June 30, 1999, and the nine-month
periods ended September 30, 2000 and September 30, 1999, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus, Ernst & Young LLP have reported that they have
applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a
review of such information.  However, their separate reports, included in State
Street Corporation's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March
31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000, and incorporated herein by
reference, state that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on
that interim financial information.  Accordingly, the degree of reliance on
their reports on such information should be restricted considering the limited
nature of the review procedures applied.  The independent auditors are not
subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933
(the "Act") for their report on the unaudited interim financial information
because that report is not a "report" or a "part" of the Registration Statement
prepared or certified by the auditors within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of
the Act.

                                      -9-


                                    PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.   Other Expenses of Distribution

     SEC registration fee*....................$ 33,855.00
     Legal fees and expenses..................$ 45,000.00
     Accounting fees and expenses.............$ 10,000.00
     Miscellaneous............................$ 11,145.00
                                              -----------
          Total Expenses......................$100,000.00

________________________
* All amounts except the SEC registration fee are estimated.


Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

      Section 67 of Chapter 156B of the General Laws of Massachusetts provides
that to the extent specified in or authorized by:

   .   the articles of organization;

   .   a by-law adopted by shareholders; or

   .   a vote adopted by the holders of the majority of shares of stock entitled
       to vote on the election of directors,

a corporation can indemnify directors, officers, employees and other agents of
the corporation (and persons who serve at its request as directors, officers,
employees and other agents of another organization or who serve at its request
in any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan).  This
indemnification does not apply to any matter as to which such person shall have
been adjudicated in any proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the
reasonable belief that the action was in the best interest of the corporation.

       The Articles of Organization of State Street (Article 6) provide the
following:

             The corporation shall to the fullest extent legally permissible
       indemnify each person who is or was a director, employee or other agent
       of the corporation and each person who is or was serving at the request
       of the corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee or other
       agent of another corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, trust,
       employee benefit plan or other enterprise or organization against all
       liabilities, costs and expenses, including but not limited to amounts
       paid in satisfaction of judgments, in settlement or as fines and
       penalties, and counsel fees and disbursements, reasonably incurred by him
       in connection with the defense or disposition of or otherwise in
       connection with or resulting from any action, suit or other proceeding,
       whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, before any
       court or administrative or legislative or investigative body, in which he
       may be or may have been involved as a party or otherwise or with which he
       may be or may have been threatened, while in office or thereafter, by
       reason of his being or having been such a director, officer, employee,
       agent or trustee, or by reason of any action taken or not taken in any
       such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which he

                                      II-1


       shall have been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction
       not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action
       was in the best interests of the corporation (any person serving another
       organization in one or more of the indicated capacities at the request of
       the corporation who shall not have been adjudicated in any proceeding not
       to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was
       in the best interest of such other organization shall be deemed so to
       have acted in good faith with respect to the corporation) or to the
       extent that such matter relates to service with respect to an employee
       benefit plan, in the best interest of the participants or beneficiaries
       of such employee benefit plan. Expenses, including but not limited to
       counsel fees and disbursements, so incurred by any such person in
       defending any such action, suit or proceeding, shall be paid from time to
       time by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such
       action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
       of the person indemnified to repay the amounts so paid if it shall
       ultimately be determined that indemnification of such expenses is not
       authorized hereunder.

             If, in an action, suit or proceeding brought by or in the name of
       the corporation, a director of the corporation is held not liable for
       monetary damages, whether because that director is relieved of personal
       liability under the provisions of this Article Six of the Articles of
       Organization, or otherwise, that director shall be deemed to have met the
       standard of conduct set forth above and to be entitled to indemnification
       for expenses reasonably incurred in the defense of such action, suit or
       proceeding.

             As to any matter disposed of by settlement by any such person,
       pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no such indemnification either
       for the amount of such settlement or for any other expenses shall be
       provided unless such settlement shall be approved as in the best
       interests of the corporation, after notice that it involves such
       indemnification, (a) by vote of a majority of the disinterested directors
       then in office (even though the disinterested directors be less than a
       quorum), or (b) by any disinterested person or persons to whom the
       question may be referred by vote of a majority of such disinterested
       directors, or (c) by vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
       stock at the time entitled to vote for directors, voting as a single
       class, exclusive of any stock owned by any interested person, or (d) by
       any disinterested person or persons to whom the question may be referred
       by vote of the holders of a majority of such stock. No such approval
       shall prevent the recovery from any such director, officer, employee,
       agent or trustee of any amounts paid to him or on his behalf as
       indemnification in accordance with the preceding sentence if such person
       is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to
       have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in
       the best interests of the corporation.

             The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive
       of or affect any other rights to which any director, officer, employee,
       agent or trustee may be entitled or which may lawfully be granted to him.
       As used herein, the terms "director," "officer," "employee," "agent" and
       "trustee" include their respective executors, administrators and other
       legal representatives, an "interested" person is one against whom the
       action, suit or other proceeding in question or another action, suit or
       other proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or had been
       pending or threatened, and a "disinterested" person is a person against
       whom no such action, suit or other proceeding is then or had been pending
       or threatened.

             By action of the board of directors, notwithstanding any interest
       of the directors in such action, the corporation may purchase and
       maintain insurance, in such amounts as the board of directors may from
       time to time deem appropriate, on behalf of any person who is or was a
       director, officer, trustee, employee or other agent of the corporation,
       or is or was serving at the requests of the corporation as a director,
       officer, trustee, employee or other agent of another

                                      II-2


       corporation or of any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
       plan or other enterprise or organization against any liability incurred
       by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
       whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him
       against such liability.

             A director of this corporation shall not be personally liable to
       the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
       fiduciary duty as a director notwithstanding any provision of law
       imposing such liability, provided, however, that this paragraph of
       Article Six shall not eliminate the liability of a director to the extent
       such liability is imposed by applicable law (i) for any breach of the
       director's duty of loyalty to this corporation or its stockholders, (ii)
       for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
       misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for any transaction from
       which the director derived an improper personal benefit, or (iv) for
       paying a dividend, approving a stock repurchase or making loans which are
       illegal under certain provisions of Massachusetts law, as the same exists
       or hereafter may be amended. If Massachusetts law is hereafter amended to
       authorize the further limitation of the legal liability of the directors
       of this corporation, the liability of the directors shall then be deemed
       to be limited to the fullest extent then permitted by Massachusetts law
       as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this paragraph of this
       Article Six which may hereafter be effected by the stockholders of this
       corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any
       limitation on the liability of a director for acts or omissions prior to
       such repeal or modification.

       In addition, State Street maintains a directors' and officers' liability
       insurance policy.

Item 16.  Exhibits

          Title of Exhibit
          ----------------

4.1       Restated Articles of Organization, as amended (as filed with the
          Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's
          Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and
          incorporated by reference)

4.2       By-laws, as amended (as filed with the Securities and Exchange
          Commission as Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K
          for the year ended December 31, 1991 and incorporated by reference)

4.3       The description of Registrant common stock is included in Registrant's
          Registration Statement on Form 10, (as filed with the Securities and
          Exchange Commission on September 3, 1970 and amended as filed with the
          Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 1971 and incorporated by
          reference)

4.4       Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of June 18, 1998
          between Registrant and BankBoston, N.A., Rights Agent (as filed with
          the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 99.1 to Registrant's
          Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 18, 1998 and incorporated by
          reference)

5.1       Opinion of Ropes & Gray to State Street Corporation as to the legality
          of the common stock

15.1      Letter of Ernst & Young LLP dated January 15, 2001.

                                      II-3


23.1      Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2      Consent of Ropes & Gray (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1      Power of Attorney (included as part of signature page filed herewith)

Item 17.    Undertakings

       Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the provisions set forth in Item 15 above, or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

       The undersigned registrant hereby also undertakes:

              (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                   a.  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
              the Securities Act of 1933;

                   b.  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
              after the effective date of the registration statement (or the
              most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
              or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
              information set forth in the registration statement;

                   c.  To include any material information with respect to the
              plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
              statement or any material change to such information in the
              registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs 1(a)
              and (b) do not apply if the information required to be included in
              a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
              periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 of
              Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
              incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement;


                                      II-4


              (2)  That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

              (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering; and

              (4)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report
     pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
     of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement
     shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
     securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-5


                       SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the
17th day of January, 2001.

                           STATE STREET CORPORATION


                           By: /s/ Frederick P. Baughman
                              ----------------------------------
                           Frederick P. Baughman
                           Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller and
                           Chief Accounting Officer

         The undersigned officers and directors of State Street Corporation,
hereby severally constitute Ronald L. O'Kelley, Frederick Baughman and Maureen
S. Bateman, and each of them singly, their true and lawful attorneys with full
power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the
capacities indicated below, the Registration Statement filed herewith on Form S-
3 and any and all amendments to said Registration Statement (including post-
effective amendments and any registration statements relating to the same
offering effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b)), or supplements to the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of State Street Corporation, and generally to
do all such things in our name and behalf in our capacities as officers and
directors to enable State Street Corporation to comply with the provisions of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they
may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration
Statement and any and all amendments thereto.

         In addition, pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

              Signature                   Title                     Date
              ---------                   -----                     ----


/s/ David A. Spina
_________________________     Chairman and Chief Executive      January 17, 2001
David A. Spina                Officer (Principal Executive
                              Officer)


/s/ Ronald L. O'Kelley
_________________________     Executive Vice President, Chief   January 17, 2001
Ronald L. O'Kelley            Financial Officer and Treasurer
                              (Principal Financial Officer)



/s/ Frederick P. Baughman
_________________________     Senior Vice President, Corporate  January 17, 2001
Frederick P. Baughman         Controller and Chief Accounting
                              Officer (Principal Accounting
                              Officer)



                                      II-6


/s/ Tenley E. Albright, M.D.
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Tenley E. Albright, M.D.

/s/ I. MacAllister Booth
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
I. MacAllister Booth

/s/ James I. Cash, Jr.
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
James I. Cash, Jr.

/s/ Truman S. Casner
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Truman S. Casner


_________________________     Director
Nader F. Darehshori

/s/ Arthur L. Goldstein
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Arthur L. Goldstein

/s/ David P. Gruber
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
David P. Gruber

/s/ John M. Kucharski
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
John M. Kucharski

/s/ Charles R. LaMantia
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Charles R. LaMantia

/s/ Ronald E. Logue
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Ronald E. Logue

/s/ Nicholas A. Lopardo
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Nicholas A. Lopardo

/s/ Dennis J. Picard
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Dennis J. Picard

                                      II-7


/s/ Alfred Poe
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Alfred Poe


_________________________     Director
Bernard W. Reznicek

/s/ Richard P. Sergel
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Richard P. Sergel

/s/ Diana Chapman Walsh
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Diana Chapman Walsh

/s/ Robert E. Wiessman
_________________________     Director                         January 17, 2001
Robert E. Wiessman


_________________________     Director
Linda A. Hill


                                      II-8


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Number             Title of Exhibit
------             ----------------
                
4.1                Restated Articles of Organization, as amended (as filed with the Securities and
                   Exchange Commission as Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
                   the year ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated by reference)

4.2                By-laws, as amended (as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
                   Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
                   31, 1991 and incorporated by reference)

4.3                The description of Registrant common stock is included in Registrant's Registration
                   Statement on Form 10, (as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   September 3, 1970 and amended as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                   on May 12, 1971 and incorporated by reference)

4.4                Amended and Restated Rights Agreement dated as of June 18, 1998 between Registrant
                   and BankBoston, N.A., Rights Agent (as filed with the Securities and Exchange
                   Commission as Exhibit 99.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June
                   18, 1998 and incorporated by reference)

5.1                Opinion of Ropes & Gray to State Street Corporation as to the
                   legality of the common stock

15.1               Letter of Ernst & Young LLP dated January 15, 2001.

23.1               Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2               Consent of Ropes & Gray (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)

24.1               Power of Attorney (included as part of signature page filed herewith)