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EXHIBIT 99(C)
CONSENT OF MERRILL LYNCH
We hereby consent to the inclusion of our opinion letter to the Board of
Directors of Summit Bancorp. ("Summit"), to be dated the date of the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement on
Form S-4 relating to the proposed merger of Summit with FleetBoston Financial
Corporation, as Appendix C to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, and to the
references to such opinion in such Proxy Statement/Prospectus under the captions
"SUMMARY--Summit's Financial Advisor Says the Exchange Ratio is Fair to
Shareholders," and "--The Summit Board of Directors Recommends that You Approve
the Merger," and "THE MERGER--Background of the Merger," and "--Recommendation
of the Summit Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger," and "--Opinion of
Summit's Financial Advisor." In giving such consent, we do not admit that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we thereby admit that we
are experts with respect to any part of such Registration Statement within the
meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.
/s/ Merrill Lynch, Pierce Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
January 18, 2001
