Higgins to leave post at FleetBoston Financial

Robert J. Higgins, 56, president of consumer banking and investment services at FleetBoston Financial is leaving the company at the end of the year, he has informed the board of directors. Higgins has been with Fleet since 1971, rising in 1986 to become president of Fleet Bank of Rhode Island and three years later executive vice president of Fleet Financial Group. In 1997 he became president and chief operating officer of Fleet Financial Group and in 1999 president of commercial and retail banking of the merged bank, FleetBoston Financial. In 2000, he became president of consumer banking and investment services. He is also director of FleetBoston Financial. He is a trustee of the University of Rhode Island Foundation, the Providence Foundation and the National Conference of Christians and Jews.