NOTICE & PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.   )

Filed by the Registrant  x                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

Northern Trust Corporation

50 South La Salle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

March 10, 2015

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the Northern Trust Corporation 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at 10:30 a.m., Central Time, at our corporate headquarters at 50 South La Salle Street in Chicago, Illinois.

For more than 125 years, our stockholders’ support has been essential to Northern Trust’s stability and success.Your vote plays a vital role and is very important for our future. Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, I urge you to vote your shares as promptly as possible.

The attached Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement provide you with information about each proposal to be considered at the Annual Meeting, as well as other information you may find useful in voting your shares. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please review the information on admittance procedures in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

If you choose not to attend in person, you may vote your shares by Internet or telephone. If you received a paper copy of the proxy materials, you also may complete, sign, date, and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope. Instructions for voting by Internet or telephone can be found on your proxy card or your Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials.

Thank you for your continued support of Northern Trust Corporation, and your contribution to the future of our company.

Sincerely,

Frederick H. Waddell Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

OF NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION

March 1, 201310, 2015

ROSE A. ELLISBy order of the Board of Directors,

Stephanie S. Greisch

Corporate Secretary

Northern Trust Corporation

Chicago, Illinois 60603

TABLE OF CONTENTS—      elect eleven directors to serve on the Board of Directors until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified;

i

ii

NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION—

50 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

March 1, 2013

PROXY STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

Our 2013 annual meeting      consider a stockholder proposal regarding additional disclosure of stockholders will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 10:30 a.m., Chicago time,political and lobbying contributions, if properly presented at the office of Northern Trust Corporation (the “Corporation” or “Northern Trust”) located at 50 South LaSalle Street (northwest corner of LaSalle StreetAnnual Meeting; and Monroe Street) in Chicago, Illinois. We invite you to attend

—      transact any other business that may properly come before the annual meetingAnnual Meeting.

You do not need to attend the annual meeting to vote your shares. Instead, you may vote your shares by telephone or through the Internet, or you may complete, sign, date, and return your proxy card (a postage-paid envelope is included with your proxy materials if you receivedwere a full set of the proxy materials). Instructions for voting by telephone or through the Internet can be found on your proxy card or your notice regarding the availability of proxy materials.

The Corporation’s board of directors is soliciting your proxy to encourage your participation in the voting at the annual meeting. This proxy statement provides you with information about each proposal and other matters that you may find useful in voting your shares.

On or about March 7, 2013, we expect to mail or otherwise make available our proxy materials to all stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting. Our proxy materials include our 2012 annual report to stockholders, which contains detailed information about the Corporation’s activities and financial performance in 2012.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 16, 2013

This proxy statement, the 2012 annual report to stockholders, and a link to the means to vote by Internet or telephone are available at www.proxyvote.com.

COMMON QUESTIONS REGARDING OUR ANNUAL MEETING

AND PROXY STATEMENT

A Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

Pursuant to the rules recently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), for some of our stockholders we are providing access to our proxy materials over the Internet. The rules permit us to send a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to some or all of our stockholders of record and beneficial owners. All stockholders have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice, www.proxyvote.com, or to request a printed set of proxy materials on this site or by calling toll-free 1-800-690-6903. Complete instructions for accessing the proxy materials over the Internet or requesting a printed copy may be found in the Notice. In addition, stockholders may request to receive all future proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail on the website above or when voting electronically.

Electronic Access to the Proxy Materials

The Notice provides instructions regarding how to view our proxy materials for the annual meeting on the Internet and how to instruct us to send our future proxy materials to you electronically by e-mail.

Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by e-mail will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of our annual stockholders’ meetings on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by e-mail, you will receive an e-mail next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by e-mail will remain in effect until you terminate it.

Who May Vote

Record holders of the Corporation’s common stock at the close of business on February 18, 2013 may vote at the annual meeting. On that date, the Corporation had 239,157,282 shares of common stock outstanding. The shares of common stock held in the Corporation’s treasury will not be voted.

You are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock that you ownedstockholder of record at the close of business on February 18, 2013. The proxy card or Notice, as applicable, indicates the number of shares you are entitled to vote at the annual meeting.

Voting Your Proxy

Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, we urge you to vote your shares promptly.

If you are a “stockholder of record” (that is, you hold your shares of the Corporation’s common stock in your own name), you may vote your shares by proxy using any of the following methods:23, 2015.

March 10, 2015

By order of the Board of Directors,

—

Calling the toll-free telephone number listed on the proxy card (Notice recipients should first visit the Internet site listed on the Notice before voting by telephone); or

The telephone and Internet voting procedures set forth on the Notice and the proxy card are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow stockholders to provide their voting instructions, and to confirm that their instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote by telephone or through the Internet, you should not return your proxy card.Stephanie S. Greisch

If you are a “beneficial owner,” also known as a “street name” holder (that is, you hold your shares of the Corporation’s common stock through a broker, bank, or other nominee), you will receive from the record holder, in the form of a Notice or otherwise, voting instructions (including instructions, if any, on how to vote by telephone or through the Internet) that you must follow in order to have your shares voted at the annual meeting.Brokers cannot vote your shares on the election of directors or certain executive compensation matters without your specific instructions.Consequently, it is important that you communicate your voting instructions so your vote can be counted by using any of the following methods:

If you own shares of common stock as a participant in The Northern Trust Company Thrift-Incentive Plan (“TIP”), or as a participant in any other employee benefit plan of the Corporation, you will receive a voting instruction card that covers the shares credited to each of your plan accounts.

Whether you vote by Internet, telephone or mail, your shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions. If you sign, date, and return your proxy card without indicating how you want to vote your shares, the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with the following recommendations of the board of directors:

The proxy holders are authorized to vote as they shall determine in their sole discretion on any other business that may properly come before the annual meeting.

Revoking Your Proxy

You may revoke your proxy at any timebefore it is voted at the annual meeting by:

Voting in Person

You may come to the annual meeting and vote your shares in person by obtaining and submitting a ballot that will be provided at the meeting. However, if your shares are held by a broker, bank, or other nominee in street name, to be able to vote at the meeting you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the record holder of your shares, indicating that you were the beneficial owner of the shares on February 18, 2013, the record date for voting.

If you need directions to the annual meeting, please call (312) 630-6000.

Householding Information

We are delivering only one annual report and proxy statement (or, as applicable, the Notice) to record stockholders who share the same address unless they have notified us that they wish to continue receiving multiple copies. This practice, known as “householding,” reduces duplicate mailings, saves printing and postage costs as well as natural resources and will not affect dividend check mailings. If you wish to receive separate copies of future proxy materials, please contact Broadridge toll free at 1-800-542-1061, or by writing to Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Stockholders who wish to receive a separate set of proxy materials now should contact Broadridge at the same phone number or mailing address and the materials will be delivered to you promptly upon your request.

Quorum and Vote Required for Approval

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will exist if a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting is present in person or by proxy at the annual meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum. A “broker non-vote” will occur when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.Brokers cannot vote your shares on the election of directors or certain executive compensation matters without your specific instructions. Please return your proxy card or vote by telephone or through the Internet so your vote can be counted. Inspectors of election appointed for the annual meeting will tabulate all votes cast in person or by proxy at the annual meeting. In the event a quorum is not present at the annual meeting, we expect that the annual meeting will be adjourned or postponed to solicit additional proxies.

The following table indicates the vote required for approval of each item to be presented to the stockholders at the annual meeting and the effect of “withhold” votes, abstentions, and broker non-votes.

Solicitation of Proxies

The Corporation will pay all costs of soliciting proxies. The Corporation has retained Georgeson Inc. to assist with the solicitation of proxies for a fee of $24,500, plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, we may also use our officers and employees, at no additional compensation, to solicit proxies either personally or by telephone, Internet, letter, or facsimile.

ADMITTANCE TO THE ANNUAL MEETING

Stockholders as of the record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend our annual meeting on April 16, 2013. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., and seating will begin at 10:00 a.m. If you attend, please note that you will need to bring with you an admission ticket (located on the top portion of the rear side of the proxy card) or proof of ownership of the Corporation’s common stock to enter the meeting. If you arrive at the meeting without an admission ticket, we will admit you only if we are able to verify that you are a stockholder of the Corporation. Also, you may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. For safety and security reasons, cameras and recording devices will not be permitted in the meeting.

If you are receiving a full set paper copy of our proxy materials and your shares of common stock are held by a broker, bank, or other nominee in street name, your admission ticket is the left side of your voting instruction form. If you do not bring the left side of your voting instruction form, you will need proof of ownership to be admitted to the meeting. A recent brokerage statement or letter from a bank or broker is an example of proof of ownership.

If you are receiving the Notice without a full set paper copy of our proxy materials, your Notice will serve as your admission ticket.

ITEM 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Stockholders will be asked to elect 12 directors at this year’s annual meeting. Set forth below is detailed information with respect to the 12 nominees, all of whom are currently serving as directors of the Corporation and its principal subsidiary, The Northern Trust Company (the “Bank”).

Each of the 12 director nominees has consented to serve as a director if elected at this year’s annual meeting. Each nominee elected as a director will serve until the next annual meeting and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified. If any nominee is unable to serve as a director at the time of the annual meeting, your proxy may be voted for the election of another nominee proposed by the board or the board may reduce the number of directors to be elected at the annual meeting.

Under the majority voting policy as set forth in the Corporation’s by-laws, a nominee for director in an uncontested election (such as this year’s election where the only nominees are those recommended by the board of directors) must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present and voting at a meeting of stockholders. In contested elections, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes present and voting will be required to elect a director. The Corporate Governance Guidelines require an incumbent director who fails to receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes present and voting in an uncontested election at a meeting of stockholders to submit his or her resignation, with such resignation to be considered by the members of the Corporate Governance Committee and the board other than such incumbent director. In such event, the board of directors will act to accept or reject the incumbent director’s resignation no later than 90 days following the date of the stockholders’ meeting.

The board of directors unanimously recommends that you voteFOR the election of each nominee.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR

The following information about the nominees for election to the board of directors of the Corporation at the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders is as of December 31, 2012, unless otherwise indicated.

		LINDA WALKER BYNOE, Director since 2006, Age 60 President and Chief Executive Officer, Telemat Ltd. since January 1995 (Project management and consulting firm). Ms. Bynoe is a director of Anixter International Inc. and Prudential Retail Mutual Funds and a trustee of Equity Residential. She is a former director of Simon Property Group, Inc. The board of directors concluded that Ms. Bynoe should serve as a director based on her diverse consulting and investment experience, her expertise in public accounting, corporate governance, managing a private equity investment portfolio, and strategy development, and her experience as a director of financial services and other complex global corporations.
		NICHOLAS D. CHABRAJA, Director since 2007, Age 70 Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Dynamics Corporation (Worldwide defense, aerospace, and other technology products manufacturer). Mr. Chabraja served as Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics Corporation from June 1997 through July 2009 and as Chairman from June 1997 to May 2010. Mr. Chabraja is a director of General Dynamics Corporation and the non-executive chairman of Tower International, Inc. He is a former director of Ceridian Corporation. The board of directors concluded that Mr. Chabraja should serve as a director based on his experience leading a complex global corporation and risk oversight experience as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Dynamics Corporation.

		SUSAN CROWN, Director since 1997, Age 54 Vice President, Henry Crown and Company since 1984 (Worldwide company with diversified manufacturing operations, real estate, and securities),Chief Executive Officer, Owl Creek Partners, LLP since 2011 (venture capital investment vehicle), andChairman and Founder, Susan Crown Exchange Inc. (SCE) since 2008 (Non-profit foundation focused on 21st century skill-building). Ms. Crown is a director of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Ms. Crown is a former trustee of Yale University. The board of directors concluded that Ms. Crown should serve as a director based on her experience at Henry Crown and Company, a firm managing a broad range of investments and manufacturing operations, as well as her leadership and risk oversight experience as a director of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and other organizations. The board considered that Ms. Crown has extensive experience with civic and not-for-profit organizations, having founded a not-for-profit organization, Susan Crown Exchange Inc. (SCE), and served on the boards of many similar organizations. The board also considered that Ms. Crown’s current and former positions as a board member on various large organizations, both commercial and not-for-profit, have given Ms. Crown a valuable perspective on many governance and corporate responsibility topics.
		DIPAK C. JAIN, Director since 2004, Age 55 Dean Emeritus of INSEAD and Marketing Professor (Educational institution). Mr. Jain served as Dean of INSEAD from May 2011 to March 2013 and became Marketing Professor in March 2013. Dean Emeritus of Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, from September 2009 to May 2011, Sandy and Morton Goldman Professor in Entrepreneurial Studies and Professor of Marketing since September 2009 and 1994 to July 2001, Dean from July 2001 through August 2009, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from July 1996 to June 2001 (Educational institution). Mr. Jain is a Visiting Professor of Marketing at Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Nijenrode University, The Netherlands; WHU-Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management, Koblenz, Germany; Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong; and Recanati Graduate School of Business Administration at Tel Aviv University, Israel (All educational institutions). Mr. Jain is a director of Deere & Company, Reliance Industries Limited, India, and Global Logistics Properties, Singapore. He is a former director of Hartmarx Corporation and Peoples Energy Corporation. The board of directors concluded that Mr. Jain should serve as a director based on his academic experience, his business administration positions both in the United States and abroad, his global consulting experience, including his experience and research in marketing and competitive market analysis, and his experience as a director of other complex global corporations.

		ROBERT W. LANE, Director since November 2009, Age 63 Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Deere & Company (Worldwide provider of agricultural, construction, and forestry equipment and financial services). Mr. Lane served as Chairman of Deere & Company from August 2000 to February 2010 and as Chief Executive Officer from May 2000 through July 2009. Mr. Lane is a director of Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) A.G., General Electric Company, and Verizon Communications Inc. He is a former director of Deere & Company. The board of directors concluded that Mr. Lane should serve as a director based on his experience leading a complex global corporation and risk oversight experience as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deere & Company and as a director of other complex global corporations, including his global management experience.
		EDWARD J. MOONEY, Director since 1996, Age 71 Retired Délégué General-North America since March 2001, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux (Worldwide provider of energy, water, waste and communications services); Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nalco Chemical Company since March 2000 (Manufacturer of specialized service chemicals acquired by Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux in November 1999). Mr. Mooney is a director of Cabot Microelectronics Corporation, FMC Technologies, Inc., and the lead director of FMC Corporation. He is a former director of Commonwealth Edison Company (a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation) and PolyOne Corporation. The board of directors concluded that Mr. Mooney should serve as a director based on his global management and risk oversight experience as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nalco Chemical Company and his experience as a director of other complex global corporations.
		JOSE LUIS PRADO,Director since 2012, Age 58 President of Quaker Oats North America, a division of PepsiCo, Inc. (global food and beverage company), since 2011 and President and Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Gamesa-Quaker, PepsiCo International, Monterrey, Mexico, from 2002 to 2010. Mr. Prado joined PepsiCo in Mexico in 1984 and has served in a variety of positions at PepsiCo, including: Regional Vice President Andean Region, Frito-Lay International; President of PepsiCo Snacks Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; and President of Frito-Lay Snacks Caribbean, San Juan, Puerto Rico. His early career at PepsiCo included assignments in sales, finance, and IT. The board of directors concluded that Mr. Prado should serve as a director based on his management and risk oversight experience at a complex global corporation and his significant international experience.

		JOHN W. ROWE, Director since 2002, Lead Director since April 2010, Age 67 Chairman Emeritus, Exelon Corporation (Energy company) since March 2012, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, from April 2002 until March 2012, and President at various times during and after 2000. Mr. Rowe is a director of Allstate Corporation and SunCoke Energy, Inc. Mr. Rowe is a former director of Sunoco Corporation and Exelon Corporation. The board of directors concluded that Mr. Rowe should serve as a director based on his management, regulatory, government relations, and risk oversight experience as Chief Executive Officer at Exelon Corporation and prior to that, at New England Electric System and Central Maine Power Company, and his experience as a director of financial services and other complex corporations.
		MARTIN P. SLARK, Director since 2011, Age 58 Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Molex Incorporated since 2005 and President and Chief Operating Officer from 2001 to 2005 (Manufacturer of electronic, electrical, and fiber optic interconnection products and systems). Mr. Slark is a director of Molex Incorporated, Hub Group, Inc., and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (not a public company). The board of directors concluded that Mr. Slark should serve as a director based on his experience leading a complex global corporation and risk oversight experience as Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Molex Incorporated and as a director of other complex global corporations.
		DAVID H. B. SMITH, JR., Director since April 2010, Age 46 Executive Vice President,Policy & Legal Affairs and General Counsel, Mutual Fund Directors Forumsince November 2005 (Nonprofit membership organization for investment company directors). Previously, Mr. Smith held several positions at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1996 to 2005, including Associate Director in the Division of Investment Management. Mr. Smith is a director of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and a trustee of Carleton College. The board of directors concluded that Mr. Smith should serve as a director based on his regulatory and leadership experience in the finance industry gained from his roles at the SEC and the Mutual Fund Directors Forum. The board also considered that Mr. Smith’s interest as a beneficiary of a trust that holds a significant amount of the Corporation’s common stock further aligns his interests with the interests of the Corporation’s stockholders.

		CHARLES A. TRIBBETT III, Director since 2005, Age 57 Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates since December 1989,Chairman of the firm’s Leadership Assessment and Promotions Board since 2006, andCo-Leader of the firm’s CEO/Succession Planning and Board Services Practice since December 1995 (Major executive recruiting firm that advises and consults with Fortune 500 corporations on matters relating to succession planning, compensation, corporate governance, and recruiting). The board of directors concluded that Mr. Tribbett should serve as a director based on his global leadership consulting experience evaluating and identifying senior management professionals and his leadership experience as a Managing Director of Russell Reynolds Associates.
		FREDERICK H. WADDELL, Director since 2006, Age 59 Chairman of the Board since November 2009 andChief Executive Officer since January 2008 of the Corporation and the Bank,President from February 2006 through September 2011, Chief Operating Officer from February 2006 to January 2008, and Executive Vice President of the Bank from September 1997 to February 2006 and of the Corporation from March 2003 to February 2006. Mr. Waddell is a Class A Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a director of AbbVie, Inc. Since joining Northern Trust in 1975, Mr. Waddell has held leadership positions in a variety of the Corporation’s business units. The board concluded that Mr. Waddell should serve as a director based on his experience and ongoing responsibilities with respect to the Corporation’s businesses.

BOARD AND BOARD COMMITTEE INFORMATION

Audit Committee

Current Members: Directors Mooney (Chair), Bynoe, Chabraja, Lane, and Smith

Number of Meetings in 2012: Six

Oversight Activities:

The board of directors has determined that, in its opinion, all current members of the Corporation’s Audit Committee are “independent” directors, as defined by The NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”), and “audit committee financial experts,” as defined by the applicable SEC regulations.

The board of directors of the Corporation has adopted a formal charter, most recently revised in October 2009, that governs the duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee charter is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com and available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing from the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

Business Risk Committee

Current Members: Directors Bynoe (Chair), Mooney, Prado, Slark, and Smith

Number of Meetings in 2012: Five

Oversight Activities:

The board of directors has determined that, in its opinion, all current members of the Corporation’s Business Risk Committee are “independent” directors as defined by NASDAQ. The board of directors of the Corporation has adopted a formal charter, most recently revised in October 2012, that governs the duties and responsibilities of the Business Risk Committee. The Business Risk Committee charter is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com and available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing from the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

Business Strategy Committee

Current Members: Directors Jain (Chair), Prado, Slark, and Tribbett

Number of Meetings in 2012: Four

Oversight Activities:

The board of directors has determined that, in its opinion, all current members of the Corporation’s Business Strategy Committee are “independent” directors as defined by NASDAQ.

The board of directors of the Corporation has adopted a formal charter, most recently revised in October 2012, that governs the duties and responsibilities of the Business Strategy Committee. The Business Strategy Committee charter is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com and available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing from the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

Compensation and Benefits Committee

Current Members: Directors Chabraja (Chair), Crown, Jain, Mooney, and Rowe

Number of Meetings in 2012: Five

Oversight Activities:

The board of directors has determined that, in its opinion, all current members of the Corporation’s Compensation and Benefits Committee are “independent” directors as defined by NASDAQ.

The board of directors of the Corporation has adopted a formal charter, most recently revised in October 2012, that governs the duties and responsibilities of the Compensation and Benefits Committee. The Compensation and Benefits Committee charter is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com and available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing from the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

The Committee retained Aon Hewitt (formerly Hewitt Associates, LLC) (“Aon Hewitt”), a nationally recognized compensation and benefits consulting firm, to provide compensation and benefits advice, including information regarding competitive market data, relevant legal and regulatory requirements, and corporate best practices in the compensation and benefits area. Representatives of Aon Hewitt attended all meetings of the Committee at which 2012 executive compensation decisions were made.

For information about the role of the Committee, compensation consultants, and management in the consideration and determination of executive and director compensation, please refer to the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Determining Awards” presented elsewhere in this proxy statement.

Corporate Governance Committee

Current Members: Directors Rowe (Chair), Crown, Lane, and Tribbett

Number of Meetings in 2012: Five

Oversight Activities:

The board of directors has determined that, in its opinion, all current members of the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Committee are “independent” directors as defined by NASDAQ.

The board of directors of the Corporation has adopted a formal charter, most recently revised in February 2010, that governs the duties and responsibilities of the Corporate Governance Committee. The Corporate Governance Committee charter is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com and available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing from the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

Executive Committee

Current Members: Directors Waddell (Chair), Bynoe, Chabraja, Jain, Mooney, and Rowe

Number of Meetings in 2012: One

Oversight Activities:

The board of directors has determined that, in its opinion, all current members of the Corporation’s Executive Committee, other than Mr. Waddell, are “independent” directors as defined by NASDAQ.

The board of directors of the Corporation adopted a formal charter in November 2006 that governs the duties and responsibilities of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee charter is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com and available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing from the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

Meetings

The Corporation’s board of directors held eight meetings during 2012. All persons who were directors during 2012 attended at least 75% of these meetings and meetings of committees on which they served, including Robert C. McCormack and Enrique J. Sosa who retired from the board of directors on April 17, 2012 and attended at least 75% of the 2012 board meetings and meetings of the committees on which they served until their retirement. The Corporation has a Corporate Governance Guideline that states that all directors are expected to attend the annual meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders. All of the current directors other than Mr. Prado, who became a director in October 2012, attended the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders held on April 17, 2012. Messrs. McCormack and Sosa also attended the 2012 annual meeting of stockholders.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Director Independence

The board of directors has determined that, in its opinion, each person who served as a director of the Corporation in 2012 (including Robert C. McCormack and Enrique J. Sosa who retired from the board of directors on April 17, 2012) and each director nominee for 2013 (other than Frederick H. Waddell, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and the Bank) is an “independent” director as defined under applicable NASDAQ rules.

Our categorical standards of director independence:

The board of directors has adopted categorical standards to assist it in making the annual determinations of independence. The categorical standards described below are also available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com. Under these standards, the following persons shall not be considered “independent”:

In making its determinations of independence, the board considered the criteria for independence set forth in stock exchange corporate governance rules, the categorical standards of independence described above, and all relevant facts and circumstances to ascertain whether there was any relationship between a director or director nominee and the Corporation that, in the opinion of the board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of the director, or any material relationship with the Corporation (either directly or as a partner, stockholder, or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Corporation).

The board also considered any transactions, relationships, or arrangements between the Corporation and each director of the Corporation in 2012 (including Messrs. McCormack and Sosa) or director nominee for 2013 that constitutes a related person transaction under the “Northern Trust Corporation Policy and Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions” (the “RPT Policy”) described in the “Related Person Transaction Policy” section below. None of the transactions described below were in an amount which exceeded the greater of $200,000 or 5% of the recipient’s revenues or the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of the other company’s revenues during the most recent completed fiscal year. For 2012, the board considered the following categories and types of transactions, relationships, and arrangements, some of which are covered by the RPT Policy, and, in each case, determined that they were immaterial and did not affect the independence of any director:

Purchases and sales of goods or services in the ordinary course of business:

Vedder Price provides or has provided to the Corporation. The fees paid for legal services were on non-preferential terms in the ordinary course of business, and amounted to less than 0.1% of the consolidated gross annual revenue of Vedder Price during the most recent completed fiscal year.

Financial services provided in the ordinary course of business:

The board of directors also considered the following types of financial services provided by the Corporation or its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the independent directors (including Messrs. McCormack and Sosa) and director nominees of the Corporation in 2012 (other than Mr. Waddell) and their “related persons” as described in the “Related Person Transaction Policy” section below (as indicated by the name of the applicable current or former director or director nominee):

The financial services were provided to the directors and their related persons on substantially the same terms (including price, interest rates, and collateral requirements) as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons not related to or affiliated with the Corporation and in compliance with applicable banking laws. None of the transactions involved more than the normal risk of collectability or presented other unfavorable features.

Related Person Transaction Policy

The board of directors of the Corporation, through its Audit Committee, has adopted the RPT Policy, which was most recently revised in February 2012. The RPT Policy governs the review, approval, or ratification of transactions between the Corporation or its subsidiaries and any related persons. “Related persons” means the Corporation’s directors, nominees for director, executive officers, greater than five percent beneficial owners, members of their immediate family, and any firm, corporation, or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a general partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person and all other related persons has a 10% or greater beneficial interest.

The RPT Policy provides that the Corporation may undertake certain pre-approved related person transactions in the ordinary course of business without specific review, approval or ratification, including the following pre-approved transactions:

—

Certain other ordinary course transactions in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries provide products or services to related persons on terms no less favorable to the Corporation and its subsidiaries as those prevailing at the time for comparable services to non-related persons;

Any other related person transaction involving amounts in excess of $120,000 must be approved or ratified by the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee Chair. In considering related person transactions, the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee Chair shall consider all relevant facts and circumstances and shall approve only those related person transactions that are in, or otherwise not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. The RPT Policy also provides that (a) the Corporation shall not hire an immediate family member of an executive officer or director unless the employment arrangement is reviewed and approved by the Compensation and Benefits Committee and (b) no child, stepchild, or parent of an executive officer shall be hired by the Corporation.

In 2012, certain related persons were clients of, and engaged in the types of transactions identified in the bullet points above with, the Corporation and one or more of its subsidiaries. These transactions were undertaken in the ordinary course of business and were made on substantially the same terms (including interest rates and collateral for loan transactions) as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not related to the Corporation or the Northern Trust entities involved in the transactions. In addition, loan transactions did not involve more than the normal risk of

collectibility or present other unfavorable features. None of the foregoing transactions or any transactions in which the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries sold or purchased products and services were material to the Corporation or the Northern Trust entities involved in the transactions, and none require disclosure of additional information pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any extensions of credit to directors and executive officers of the Corporation were permitted under the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Board Leadership Structure

The current leadership structure of the board of directors includes the Chairman and CEO and a Lead Director appointed annually by the Corporation’s independent directors.

The board of directors believes that combining the positions of Chairman and CEO is the most appropriate for the Corporation at this time. Having one person as Chairman and CEO provides unified leadership and direction to the Corporation and strengthens the ability of the CEO to develop and implement strategic initiatives and respond efficiently in crisis situations. The board also believes the combination of the Chairman and CEO positions is appropriate in light of the substantial independent oversight provided by the board of directors.

The board of directors believes that leadership of the independent directors is important. Accordingly, the Corporation’s independent directors designate annually a Lead Director. Mr. Rowe currently serves as the Corporation’s Lead Director.

The Lead Director’s duties are described in the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and include, among other things, (a) approving meeting agendas for the board and the nature of information sent to the board, (b) approving board meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all board agenda items, (c) the authority to call at any time a special meeting of the board or a special executive session of the independent directors, (d) the authority to add items to the agenda of any regular or special meeting of the board, (e) preparing the agenda for all regular and any special executive sessions of the independent directors, (f) presiding at all regular and special meetings of the board at which the Chairman is not present, (g) presiding at all regular and any special executive sessions of the independent directors, (h) serving as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and CEO, (i) conducting, by means of an interview with each independent director, the independent directors’ annual evaluation of the Chairman and CEO’s performance and then communicating the results to the Compensation and Benefits Committee and to the Chairman and CEO, (j) conducting, by means of an interview with each director, including the Chairman and CEO, the board’s annual self-evaluation of its performance and then providing a summary report to the board, and (k) being available for consultation and direct communication with major stockholders, if they so request. A copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com and available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing from the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

Eleven out of twelve director nominees, including the Lead Director, are “independent” directors as defined under applicable NASDAQ rules. The Audit Committee, Business Risk Committee, Business Strategy Committee, Compensation and Benefits Committee, and Corporate Governance Committee are composed solely of independent directors, and the Executive Committee, with the exception of Mr. Waddell, is composed of independent directors. Consequently, independent directors directly oversee critical matters and appropriately oversee the Chairman and CEO.

Risk Oversight

The board of directors conducts its risk oversight function through the Audit, Business Risk, Business Strategy, and Compensation and Benefits Committees, as well as the full board of directors.

The Audit Committee conducts the Corporation’s management of risks relating to financial reporting and the legal component of compliance risk. The Business Strategy Committee oversees the Corporation’s management of strategic risk for the Corporation and its subsidiaries.

The Business Risk Committee conducts the Corporation’s management of risks relating to the business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in the following categories: credit risk, market and liquidity risk, fiduciary risk, operational risk, and the regulatory component of compliance risk. The Business Risk Committee has approved a corporate risk appetite statement articulating the Corporation’s expectation that risk is consciously considered as part of strategic decisions and in day-to-day activities. The Corporation’s business units are expected to manage business activities consistent with the corporate risk appetite statement. The Business Risk Committee also reviews and approves the framework by which risk based capital requirements are determined, including the capital adequacy assessment process for the Corporation and its subsidiaries. The entire board of directors reviews the level and adequacy of capital of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. For a further description of the risk management policies and practices of the Corporation’s management, see the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Management” in the Corporation’s 2012 annual report to stockholders.

The Compensation and Benefits Committee, at least annually, conducts a review, with appropriate input of risk management personnel, of management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Corporation’s incentive compensation arrangements and practices to assess the extent to which such arrangements and practices discourage inappropriate risk-taking behavior by participants and are consistent with the Corporation’s safety and soundness.

The charters for the Audit, Business Risk, Business Strategy, and Compensation and Benefits Committees provide that the Committees may meet with the individuals who supervise day-to-day risk management responsibilities of the Corporation and other members of management, consultants or advisors, as each Committee deems appropriate.

The Audit, Business Risk, Business Strategy, and Compensation and Benefits Committees consist solely of independent directors.

Stockholder Outreach

The Corporation recognizes the importance of stockholder communications to help our investors understand our performance and strategies and to allow our stockholders to express their views on issues important to the Corporation. At the 2012 annual meeting, stockholders voted on stockholder proposals regarding the acceleration of vesting of equity awards in a change in control situation and the independence of the chairman of the board of directors. Both before and after our 2012 annual meeting, we reached out to some of our institutional stockholders to discuss these proposals. Although both proposals failed to receive enough votes to pass, the Corporation took specific action to respond to the concerns raised following the 2012 annual meeting.

With regard to the 2012 stockholder proposal regarding the acceleration of vesting of equity awards in a change in control situation, the Corporation changed its practice of providing single-trigger change in control vesting in its equity compensation awards to “double-trigger” vesting in July 2012.

With regard to the 2012 stockholder proposal regarding the independence of the chairman of the board of directors, the Corporation amended its Corporate Governance Guidelines to expand the responsibilities of the Lead Director as discussed in the “Board Leadership Structure” on page 20.

Given our proactive engagement with stockholders, during 2012 we also reached out to some of our institutional stockholders to invite general comments on governance issues, executive compensation, and other matters. Refer to the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section included elsewhere in this proxy statement for a further discussion of the 2013 executive compensation updates.

Executive Sessions

The independent directors of the Corporation met in executive sessions separate from management five times during 2012. The Lead Director or, in his or her absence, another independent director designated by the Lead Director presides at executive sessions of the independent directors.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Corporation has had Corporate Governance Guidelines in place since May 2000. These guidelines were most recently revised in July 2012. The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing and reassessing, at least annually, the adequacy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines and recommending any changes to the board of directors for its approval. The Corporate Governance Guidelines embody many of the Corporation’s long-standing practices and incorporate new policies and procedures that strengthen its commitment to corporate governance best practices. A copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com and available in print to any stockholder who requests it in writing from the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement.

Management Development and Succession Planning

The Compensation and Benefits Committee oversees executive management and succession planning. Pursuant to the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charter for the Compensation and Benefits Committee, the Compensation and Benefits Committee conducts an annual management development and succession planning review. All of the Corporation’s directors are invited to and typically all participate in this review. Following the review, the Compensation and Benefits Committee makes recommendations concerning management development and succession planning.

In connection with setting the compensation of the Corporation’s Chairman and CEO, as more fully described below in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the board of directors review the performance of the Chairman and CEO in light of the Chairman and CEO’s responsibilities to the Corporation, including the development of short-term and long-term strategic plans, goals and objectives, the development of an effective senior management team, positioning of the Corporation for current and future success, and effective communications with all of the Corporation’s constituencies. These criteria, among others, would also be considered by the

board of directors in evaluating any successor Chairman and CEO candidates. This management review process also includes a review of other senior employees of the Corporation, with a focus on developing internal candidates for advancement within the Corporation.

In the event of the unexpected death, incapacity, or resignation of the Chairman and CEO, the charter for the Corporate Governance Committee provides that the Corporate Governance Committee will discuss and make a recommendation to the board of directors, after consultation with the Chairman of the Compensation and Benefits Committee, for an appropriate successor. The board of directors also has adopted a Business Continuity Plan that, among other things, delineates a process for appointing an interim Chairman and CEO in the event the Chairman and CEO becomes incapacitated.

Director Nominations and Qualifications

The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for considering, evaluating, and recommending candidates for director. The Committee will consider persons nominated by stockholders in accordance with the nomination procedures specified in the Corporation’s by-laws or otherwise recommended by stockholders. The Corporation’s by-laws provide that stockholders may propose director nominations only if they give timely written notice, directed to the attention of the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary at the address indicated on the first page of this proxy statement, not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting. The notice must contain the information required by the by-laws. Stockholders may recommend candidates for director by following the procedures for communicating with directors described below under “Communications with the Board and Independent Directors.”

In its evaluation of director candidates, including persons recommended by stockholders, the Committee considers the factors specified in the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines to ensure the board has a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, including the nature of the expertise and experience required for the performance of the duties of a director of a corporation engaged in the Corporation’s business and such matters as: relevant business and industry experience, professional background, age, current employment, community service, and other board service. The Committee also considers the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the board in assessing candidates. The Committee seeks to identify, as candidates for director, persons with a reputation for and record of integrity and good business judgment who (i) have experience in positions with a high degree of responsibility and are leaders in the organizations with which they are affiliated, (ii) are free from conflicts of interest that could interfere with a director’s duties to the Corporation and its stockholders, and (iii) are willing and able to make the necessary commitment of time and attention required for effective board service. The Committee also takes into account a candidate’s level of financial literacy, and monitors the mix of skills and experience of the directors in order to assess whether the board has the necessary tools to perform its oversight function effectively. A full listing of the characteristics and qualifications of director candidates considered by the Committee is set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com. Following its evaluation process, the Committee recommends its director nominees to the full board of directors, and the board makes the final determination of director nominees based on its consideration of the Committee’s recommendation and report.

Communications with the Board and Independent Directors

Stockholders and other interested persons may communicate any concerns they may have regarding the Corporation, including recommendations of candidates for director, to the board of directors or to any member of the board of directors by writing to them at the following address:

Northern Trust Corporation

Attention: [Board of Directors]/[Board Member]

c/o Corporate Secretary

Northern Trust Corporation

50 South LaSalleLa Salle Street M-9

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Communications directed to the independent directors should be sent to the attentionPurposes:The purposes of the Lead Director, c/oAnnual Meeting are to:

—      elect eleven directors to serve on the Corporate Secretary,Board of Directors until the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified;

—      approve, by an advisory vote, 2014 named executive officer compensation;

—      ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as Northern Trust Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year;

—      consider a stockholder proposal regarding additional disclosure of political and lobbying contributions, if properly presented at the address indicated above.Annual Meeting; and

Any

—      transact any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

A majority of the independent directors of the Corporation has approved procedures with respect to the receipt, review and processing of, and any response to, written communications sent by stockholders and other interested persons to the board of directors. Any written communication regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or other matters are processed in accordance with procedures adopted by the Audit Committee.business on February 23, 2015.

March 10, 2015

By order of the Board of Directors,

Stephanie S. Greisch

Corporate Secretary

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 21, 2015

This Proxy Statement, other proxy materials, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and a link to the means to vote by Internet or telephone are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/665859.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PROXY STATEMENT

The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Northern Trust Corporation (the “Corporation”) for use at the Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 (the “Annual Meeting”). On or about March 10, 2015, we began mailing or otherwise making available our proxy materials, including a copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

GENERAL INFORMATION

A Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

Pursuant to rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), for some of our stockholders we are providing access to our proxy materials via the Internet. The rules permit us to send a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) to stockholders of record and beneficial owners. All stockholders have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice, www.proxyvote.com, or to request a printed set of proxy materials on this site or by calling toll-free 1-800-690-6903. Complete instructions for accessing the proxy materials on the Internet or requesting a printed copy may be found in the Notice. In addition, stockholders may request to receive all future proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by e-mail on the website above or when voting electronically. Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by e-mail will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will reduce the impact of our annual stockholders’ meetings on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by e-mail, you will receive an e-mail next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by e-mail will remain in effect until you terminate it.

Who May Vote

Record holders of the Corporation’s common stock at the close of business on February 23, 2015 may vote at the Annual Meeting. On that date, the Corporation had 233,620,101 shares of common stock outstanding. The shares of common stock held in the Corporation’s treasury will not be voted.

You are entitled to one vote for each share of common stock that you owned of record at the close of business on February 23, 2015. The proxy card or Notice, as applicable, indicates the number of shares you are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

Voting Your Proxy

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote your shares promptly.

If you are a “stockholder of record” (that is, you hold your shares of the Corporation’s common stock in your own name), you may vote your shares by proxy using any of the following methods:

The Internet and telephone voting procedures set forth on the Notice and the proxy card are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow stockholders to provide their voting instructions and to confirm that their instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote by Internet or telephone, you should not return your proxy card.

If you are a “beneficial owner,” also known as a “street name” holder (that is, you hold your shares of the Corporation’s common stock through a broker, bank or other nominee), you will receive from the record holder, in the form of a Notice or otherwise, voting instructions (including instructions, if any, on how to vote by Internet or telephone) that you must follow in order to have your shares voted at the Annual Meeting. Under the rules of various national and regional securities exchanges, brokers, banks and other nominees that hold securities on behalf of beneficial owners generally may vote on routine matters even if they have not received voting instructions from the beneficial owners for whom they hold securities, but are not permitted to vote on nonroutine matters unless they have received such voting instructions. While the ratification of the appointment of an issuer’s independent registered public accounting firm generally is considered to be a routine matter, the election of directors, executive compensation matters and stockholder proposals generally are considered to be nonroutine matters.Thus, if you fail to provide your specific voting instructions, your broker may only vote your shares on the ratification of the appointment of the Corporation’s independent registered public accounting firm.Consequently, it is important that you communicate your voting instructions by using any of the following methods so your vote can be counted:

If you own shares of common stock as a participant in The Northern Trust Company Thrift-Incentive Plan (“TIP”), or as a participant in any other employee benefit plan of the Corporation, your proxy card will cover the shares credited to each of your plan accounts. The completed proxy card (or vote by Internet or telephone) will serve as your voting instructions to the TIP trustee. To allow sufficient time for voting by the trustee, your voting instructions must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on April 16, 2015.

Whether you vote by Internet, telephone or mail, your shares will be voted in accordance with your instructions. If you sign, date and return your proxy card without indicating how you want to vote your shares, the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with the following recommendations of the Board:

The proxy holders are authorized to vote as they shall determine in their sole discretion on any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

Revoking Your Proxy

You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by:

If you hold your shares in the name of your broker, bank or other nominee and wish to revoke your proxy, you will need to contact that party to revoke your proxy.

Voting in Person

You may come to the Annual Meeting and vote your shares in person by obtaining and submitting a ballot that will be provided at the meeting. However, if your shares are held by a broker, bank or other nominee in street name, to be able to vote at the meeting you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the record holder of your shares, indicating that you were the beneficial owner of the shares at the close of business on February 23, 2015.

Householding Information

We are delivering only one Annual Report on Form 10-K and Proxy Statement (or, as applicable, the Notice) to stockholders of record who share the same address unless they have notified us that they wish to continue receiving multiple copies. This practice, known as “householding,” reduces duplicate mailings, saves printing and postage costs as well as natural resources and will not affect dividend check mailings. If you wish to receive separate copies of proxy materials, please contact Broadridge at 1-800-542-1061 or Broadridge, Householding Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. Stockholders who wish

to receive a separate set of proxy materials now should contact Broadridge at the same telephone number or mailing address and the materials will be delivered to you promptly upon your request.

If you and other stockholders of record with whom you share an address currently receive multiple copies of our proxy materials or if you hold our stock in more than one account, and, in either case, you wish to receive only a single copy of such materials in the future, please contact Broadridge at the telephone number or mailing address above with the names in which all accounts are registered and the name of the account for which you wish to receive mailings.

Quorum and Vote Required for Approval

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will exist if a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting is present in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker nonvotes, if any, will be counted as present for purposes of establishing a quorum. A “broker nonvote” will occur when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to that proposal and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. As noted above, brokers, banks and other nominees generally cannot vote your shares on the election of directors, executive compensation matters or stockholder proposals without your specific instructions. Please return your proxy card or voting instruction form, as applicable, or vote by Internet or telephone so your vote can be counted. An inspector of election appointed for the Annual Meeting will tabulate all votes cast in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. In the event a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, we expect that the Annual Meeting will be adjourned or postponed to solicit additional proxies.

The following table indicates the vote required for approval of each item to be presented to the stockholders at the Annual Meeting and the effect of abstentions and broker nonvotes.

Solicitation of Proxies; Costs

The Corporation will bear the cost of preparing, printing and mailing the materials in connection with this solicitation of proxies. In addition to mailing these materials, the Corporation’s officers and other employees may, without being additionally compensated, solicit proxies personally and by mail, telephone or electronic communication. The Corporation will reimburse banks and brokers for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of stock or otherwise in connection with this solicitation. In addition, the Corporation has retained Georgeson Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies for a fee of approximately $13,500, plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

ADMITTANCE TO THE ANNUAL MEETING

Stockholders at the close of business on the record date, February 23, 2015, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend our Annual Meeting at our corporate headquarters on April 21, 2015 at 10:30 a.m., Central Time. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. Our corporate headquarters are located at 50 South La Salle Street (northwest corner of La Salle Street and Monroe Street) in Chicago, Illinois.

In order to be admitted to the meeting, you must bring documentation showing that you owned the Corporation’s common stock at the close of business on the record date, February 23, 2015. Acceptable documentation includes an admission ticket, a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials or any other proof of ownership of the Corporation’s common stock at the close of business on February 23, 2015. A brokerage statement or letter from a bank or broker reflecting your holdings at the close of business on February 23, 2015 is an example of such other proof of ownership. Your admission ticket is located on the top portion of the rear side of your proxy card or on the left side of your voting instruction form if your shares are held by a broker, bank or other nominee in street name. You will be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. For safety and security reasons, cameras and recording devices will not be permitted in the meeting.

ITEM 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Stockholders will be asked to elect eleven directors at the Annual Meeting. Set forth below is detailed information with respect to the eleven nominees, each of whom is currently serving as a director of the Corporation and its principal subsidiary, The Northern Trust Company (the “Bank”). Included in the incumbent directors nominated for re-election are Dean M. Harrison and Donald Thompson, who were recently appointed as directors of the Corporation by the Board, effective January 1, 2015 and March 6, 2015, respectively, in accordance with the Corporation’s By-laws and pursuant to the recommendation of the Corporation’s Chairman and CEO and Lead Director. Current directors not standing for re-election are Nicholas D. Chabraja, who has not been nominated for re-election in accordance with the director retirement age under the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, and Robert W. Lane, who has notified the Board that he intends to retire from service as a director effective upon the conclusion of his current term at the Annual Meeting. Messrs. Chabraja and Lane have served as members of the Board since 2007 and 2009, respectively.

Each of the eleven director nominees has consented to serve as a director if elected at the Annual Meeting. Each nominee elected as a director will serve until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. If any nominee is unable to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, your proxy may be voted for the election of another nominee proposed by the Board or the Board may reduce the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting.

Under the majority voting policy as set forth in the Corporation’s By-laws, a nominee for director in an uncontested election (such as this year’s election where the only nominees are those recommended by the Board) must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders. In contested elections, the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast will be required to elect a director. The Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines require an incumbent director who fails to receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in an uncontested election at a meeting of stockholders to submit his or her resignation following certification of the stockholder vote. Such resignation will first be considered by the members of the Corporate Governance Committee (other than the tendering director, if applicable), who will recommend to the Board whether to accept or reject the resignation after considering all factors deemed relevant by the Committee, including, without limitation, any stated reasons why stockholders did not support such director, the length of service and qualifications of such director, the director’s contributions to the Corporation and the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board (other than the tendering director) will then act to accept or reject the Committee’s recommendation no later than ninety days following the date of the stockholders’ meeting after considering the factors considered by the Committee and such additional information and factors as the Board believes to be relevant.

The Board unanimously recommends that you voteFOR the election of each nominee.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR

The following information about the nominees for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting is as of December 31, 2014, unless otherwise indicated.

		LINDA WALKER BYNOE, Director since 2006, Age 62   (1) President and Chief Executive Officer,Telemat Ltd. (project management and consulting firm) since 1995. Ms. Bynoe is a director of Anixter International Inc. and Prudential Retail Mutual Funds and a trustee of Equity Residential. She is a former director of Simon Property Group, Inc. The information containedBoard concluded that Ms. Bynoe should serve as a director based on her diverse consulting and investment experience, her expertise in this table was furnishedpublic accounting, corporate governance, managing a private equity investment portfolio and strategy development and her experience as a director of financial services and other complex global corporations.
		SUSAN CROWN, Director since 1997, Age 56 Vice President, Henry Crown and Company (global company with diversified investments in banking, transportation, manufacturing, real estate and other industries) since 1984,Chief Executive Officer, Owl Creek Partners LLC (venture capital investment vehicle) since 2010, andChairman and Founder, Susan Crown Exchange Inc. (social investment organization that connects talent and innovations with market forces to drive social change) since 2009. Ms. Crown is a director of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and Vice Chair of the Corporation byBoard of Trustees of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Ms. Crown is a former trustee of Yale University. The Board concluded that Ms. Crown should serve as a director based on her experience at Henry Crown and Company, her leadership and risk oversight experience as a director of Illinois Tool Works Inc. and her extensive experience with civic and not-for-profit organizations. The board also considered the individuals namedvaluable perspective on governance and corporate responsibility matters that Ms. Crown brings through her current and former board service at various large organizations, both commercial and not-for-profit.
		DEAN M. HARRISON, Director since 2015, Age 60 President and Chief Executive Officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (the primary teaching affiliate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and parent corporation of Northwestern Memorial Hospital) since 2006. Mr. Harrison served as President of Northwestern Memorial Hospital from 1999 to 2006. Mr. Harrison also serves as chairman of the Illinois Hospital Association. The Board concluded that Mr. Harrison should serve as a director based on his extensive experience leading a large, complex organization in a highly regulated industry.

		DIPAK C. JAIN, Director since 2004, Age 57 Director, Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration (international graduate business school) since July 2014. Mr. Jain served as the INSEAD Chaired Professor of Marketing from 2013 to July 2014 and the Dean of INSEAD from 2011 to 2013. Previously, Mr. Jain served as a member of the faculty of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in a number of capacities, including as Dean from 2001 to 2009, Sandy and Morton Goldman Professor in Entrepreneurial Studies and Professor of Marketing from 1994 to 2001, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 1996 to 2001. Mr. Jain is a director of Deere & Company, Reliance Industries Limited, India, and Global Logistics Properties Limited, Singapore. The Board concluded that Mr. Jain should serve as a director based on his academic experience, his business administration positions both in the tableUnited States and reflectsabroad, his global consulting experience, including his experience and research in marketing and competitive market analysis, and his experience as a director of other complex global corporations.
		JOSE LUIS PRADO,Director since 2012, Age 60 Retired President of Quaker Oats North America, a division of PepsiCo, Inc. (global food and beverage company). Mr. Prado served as President of Quaker Oats North America from 2011 to September 2014 and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Gamesa-Quaker, PepsiCo International, Monterrey, Mexico, from 2002 to 2010. Mr. Prado joined PepsiCo in Mexico in 1984 and served in a variety of positions at PepsiCo, including: Regional Vice President Andean Region, Frito-Lay International; President of PepsiCo Snacks Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina; and President of Frito-Lay Snacks Caribbean, San Juan, Puerto Rico. His early career at PepsiCo included assignments in sales, finance, and information technology. The Board concluded that Mr. Prado should serve as a director based on his management and risk oversight experience at a complex global corporation and his substantial international experience.
		JOHN W. ROWE, Director since 2002, Lead Director since April 2010, Age 69 Chairman Emeritus, Exelon Corporation(producer and wholesale marketer of energy) since 2012. Mr. Rowe served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exelon Corporation from 2002 to 2012. Mr. Rowe is a director of Allstate Corporation, American DG Energy Inc., and SunCoke Energy, Inc. Mr. Rowe is a former director of Sunoco Corporation and Exelon Corporation. The Board concluded that Mr. Rowe should serve as a director based on his management, regulatory, government relations and risk oversight experience as Chief Executive Officer at Exelon Corporation (and, prior to that, at New England Electric System and Central Maine Power Company) and his experience as a director of other complex corporations.

		MARTIN P. SLARK, Director since 2011, Age 60 Chief Executive Officer, Molex Incorporated(manufacturer of electronic, electrical, and fiber optic interconnection products and systems) since 2005. Previously, Mr. Slark served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Molex Incorporated from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Slark is a director of Hub Group, Inc. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (not a public company). The Board concluded that Mr. Slark should serve as a director based on his experience leading a complex global corporation and his risk oversight experience as Chief Executive Officer of Molex Incorporated and as a director of other complex global corporations.
[PHOTO]		DAVID H. B. SMITH, JR., Director since April 2010, Age 48 Executive Vice President,Policy & Legal Affairs and General Counsel, Mutual Fund Directors Forum(nonprofit membership organization for investment company directors) since 2005. Previously, Mr. Smith held several positions at the SEC’s definition of beneficial ownership. Except as noted below, the nature of beneficial ownership for shares shown in this table is sole voting and/or investment power (including shares asU.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 1996 to which spouses and minor children of the individuals covered by this table have such power). (2) All stock units shown2005, including Associate Director in the table are vested, except for (i) 1,920.20 unvested stock units held by each non-employeeDivision of Investment Management. Mr. Smith is a director other thanof Illinois Tool Works Inc. and a trustee of Carleton College. The Board concluded that Mr. Prado, (ii) 947 unvested stock units held by Mr. Prado,Smith should serve as a director based on his regulatory and (iii) the following unvested stock units held by the executive officers namedleadership experience in the Summary Compensation Table on page 60 of this proxy statement (the “named executive officers”):finance industry gained from his roles at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Mutual Fund Directors Forum. The Board also considered that Mr. Fradkin, 50,881 unvested stock units; Mr. Morrison, 60,881 unvested stock units; Mr. O’Grady, 32,234 unvested stock units; Ms. Schreuder, 50,881 unvested stock units; Mr. Waddell, 167,196 unvested stock units; and all directors and executive officersSmith’s interest as a group, 609,532 unvested stock units. Stock units and performance stock units held by directors and executive officers do not have voting rights. Stock units held by the non-employee directors include stock units representing (i) deferred cash compensation which, when paid, will be paid out in cash based upon the then current value of the common stock and/or (ii) deferred stock units which will be distributed in stock.See“Director Compensation—Deferral of Compensation” for additional information. (3) The performance stock units reflected in the table as held by the named executive officers as of January 1, 2013 are unvested and subject to attainment of an established three-year performance goal. (4) The number of shares shown includes shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days after January 1, 2013, as follows: Mr. Fradkin, 426,980 shares; Mr. Morrison, 500,756 shares; Mr. O’Grady, 36,203 shares; Ms. Schreuder, 326,893 shares; Mr. Waddell, 1,012,542 shares; and all directors and executive officers as a group, 3,813,062 shares. (5) David H. B. Smith, Jr., as co-trustee with another individual, shares voting and investment power for 500 shares held in a trust. (6) Mr. Smith, as co-trustee with another individual, shares voting and investment power for 1,704 shares held in trust. (7) Mr. Smith is a beneficiary of a trust that holds 1,362,880 shares, but he has no investment or voting power with respect to the shares held in the trust. These shares are not reflected in the table. Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Corporation’s directors and executive officers, and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Corporation’s stock, if any, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of any securities of the Corporation. Copies of these reports must also be provided to the Corporation. To the Corporation’s knowledge, in reliance on copies of the reports provided to the Corporation and written representations from reporting persons that no other reports were required, all the Corporation’s directors, executive officers, and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Corporation’s stock made on a timely basis all filings required during 2012 and year to date 2013, except for the following: (a) Form 5 filed for Jose Luis Prado on January 4, 2013 that included a transaction that should have been reported by October 18, 2012; and (b) Form 4 filed for Richard D. Kukla on February 4, 2013 that included a transaction that should have been reported by February 1, 2013. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS The following table includes information concerning common stock ownership of stockholders who were the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding sharessignificant amount of the Corporation’s common stock further aligns his interests with the interests of the Corporation’s stockholders.
		DONALD THOMPSON, Director since 2015, Age 52 Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, McDonald’s Corporation (global foodservice retailer). Mr. Thompson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of JanuaryMcDonald’s Corporation from 2012 until March 1, 2013, unless otherwise indicated. 2015. Previously, Mr. Thompson served as President and Chief Operating Officer of McDonald’s Corporation from 2010 to 2012 and President of McDonald’s USA from 2006 to 2010. Mr. Thompson also served as director of McDonald’s Corporation from 2011 to March 1, 2015 and of Exelon Corporation from 2007 to 2013. The beneficial ownership information forBoard concluded that Mr. Thompson should serve as a director based on his management and board experience at other complex corporations.

		CHARLES A. TRIBBETT III, Director since 2005, Age 59 Managing Director, Russell Reynolds Associates (global executive recruiting firm) since 1989,Chairman of the firm’s Leadership Assessment and Promotions Board since 2006, andCo-Leader of the firm’s CEO/Succession Planning and Board Services Practice since 1995. The Board concluded that Mr. Tribbett should serve as a director based on his global leadership consulting experience evaluating and identifying senior management professionals and his leadership experience as a Managing Director of Russell Reynolds Associates.
		FREDERICK H. WADDELL, Director since 2006, Age 61 Chairman of the Board of the Corporation and the Bank relates to shares held by trustssince 2009 and other fiduciary accounts for whichChief Executive Officer of the Corporation and the Bank since 2008. Previously, Mr. Waddell served as President of the Corporation and its affiliates individually acted as sole or co-fiduciary.the Bank from 2006 to 2011, Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation and the Bank from 2006 to January 2008 and Executive Vice President of the Bank from 1997 to 2006 and of the Corporation from 2003 to 2006.       Name and Address   Common Stock Owned as of January 1, 2013                  No. of Shares           Percent of Class       The Northern Trust Company (1) 50 South LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60603     22,691,445        9.5 %      T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (2) 100 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202     21,320,929        8.8 %  Mr. Waddell is a director of AbbVie, Inc.   (1) AsSince joining Northern Trust in 1975, Mr. Waddell has held leadership positions in a variety of January 1, 2013, the BankCorporation’s businesses. The Board concluded that Mr. Waddell should serve as a director based on his experience and its affiliates individually acted as sole or co-fiduciaryongoing responsibilities with respect to trusts and other fiduciary accounts which owned,the Corporation’s businesses.

BOARD AND BOARD COMMITTEE INFORMATION

Our Board currently consists of thirteen members. The Board has determined that each of the following twelve current directors is independent in accordance with our independence standards, which conform with SEC rules and the listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”): Linda Walker Bynoe, Nicholas D. Chabraja (who is not standing for re-election), Susan Crown, Dean M. Harrison, Dipak C. Jain, Robert W. Lane (who is not standing for re-election), Jose Luis Prado, John W. Rowe, Martin P. Slark, David H. B. Smith, Jr., Donald Thompson and Charles A. Tribbett III.

During 2014, the Corporation’s Board held ten meetings. All persons who were directors during 2014 attended at least 75% of these meetings and meetings of committees on which they served. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines state that all directors are expected to attend each Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In accordance with this expectation, all of the directors then serving attended the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 15, 2014.

Board Committees

The standing committees of the Board are the Audit Committee, the Business Risk Committee, the Business Strategy Committee, the Compensation and Benefits Committee, the Corporate Governance Committee and the Executive Committee. With the exception of the Executive Committee, all standing committees are composed solely of independent directors. Consequently, independent directors directly oversee critical matters and appropriately oversee the Chairman and CEO.

Each committee is governed by a written charter. These charters detail the duties and responsibilities of each committee and are available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com.

Audit Committee

Current Members: Directors Smith (Chair), Chabraja, Harrison, Jain and Prado

Number of Meetings in 2014: 5

The Audit Committee’s purpose is to oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and the audits of the consolidated financial statements of such entities, as well as to provide assistance to the Board in fulfilling its legal and fiduciary obligations with respect to matters involving the organization’s accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal financial control and legal compliance functions, including, without limitation: (i) assisting the Board’s oversight of (a) the integrity of the organization’s consolidated annual and quarterly financial statements and earnings releases, (b) the organization’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (c) the Corporation’s public accountants’ qualifications and independence and (d) the performance of the organization’s internal audit function and the Corporation’s public accountants; and (ii) preparing the report required to be prepared by the Committee pursuant to SEC rules for inclusion in the Corporation’s annual proxy statement.

The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are independent under SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards. The Board has also determined that all Audit Committee

members have the financial experience and knowledge required for service on the Committee, and has designated Mr. Smith as its “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by SEC rules.

Business Risk Committee

Current Members: Directors Prado (Chair), Bynoe, Harrison and Smith

Number of Meetings in 2014: 4

The Business Risk Committee’s sole and exclusive function is responsibility for the risk-management policies of the Corporation’s global operations and oversight of the operations of the Corporation’s global risk-management framework. In furtherance of this function, the Business Risk Committee assists the Board in discharging its oversight duties with respect to: (i) the risks inherent in the businesses of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in the following categories: credit risk, market and liquidity risk, fiduciary risk, operational risk and compliance risk; (ii) the process by which risk-based capital requirements are determined, including the organization’s internal capital adequacy assessment process; and (iii) the resolution planning process.

The Board has determined that all members of the Business Risk Committee are independent under SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards.

Business Strategy Committee

Current Members: Directors Crown (Chair), Jain, Lane and Slark

Number of Meetings in 2014: 4

The purpose of the Business Strategy Committee is to assist the Board in discharging its oversight duties with respect to: (i) the strategic direction of the Corporation; (ii) the strategic initiatives of the businesses of the Corporation and its subsidiaries; (iii) the management of strategic risk for the organization; and (iv) the (a) integration of corporate social responsibility principles related to environmental and social practices into the strategic direction and strategic initiatives of the organization and its businesses and (b) governance of those practices.

The Board has determined that all members of the Business Strategy Committee are independent under SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards.

Compensation and Benefits Committee

Current Members: Directors Chabraja (Chair), Bynoe, Rowe, Slark and Tribbett

Number of Meetings in 2014: 5

The purpose of the Compensation and Benefits Committee is to assist the Board in discharging its duties and responsibilities relating to: (i) the compensation of the directors and executive officers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries; and (ii) the employee benefit and equity-based plans of the organization. The Committee also assists the Board with management development and succession planning and prepares the report required to be prepared by the Committee pursuant to SEC rules for inclusion in the Corporation’s annual proxy statement.

The Board has determined that all members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee are independent under SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards.

Corporate Governance Committee

Current Members: Directors Rowe (Chair), Crown, Lane and Tribbett

Number of Meetings in 2014: 5

The purpose of the Corporate Governance Committee is to: (i) identify and recommend to the Board candidates for nomination or appointment as directors; (ii) review the Board’s committee structure and recommend appointments to committees; (iii) develop and recommend, to the Board, Corporate Governance Guidelines applicable to the Corporation; (iv) advise the Board on the appointment of a successor in the event of the unanticipated death, disability or resignation of the Corporation’s CEO, after consultation with the Chairman of the Corporation’s Compensation and Benefits Committee; (v) oversee the procedures relating to stockholder communications with the Board and review any proposals submitted by stockholders; and (vi) oversee the annual evaluation of the Board and its committees.

The Board has determined that all members of the Corporate Governance Committee are independent under SEC rules and NASDAQ listing standards.

Executive Committee

Current Members: Directors Waddell (Chair), Chabraja, Crown, Prado, Rowe and Smith

Number of Meetings in 2014: 0

The Board appoints an Executive Committee so that there will be a committee of the Board empowered to act for the Board, to the full extent permitted by law, between meetings of the Board if necessary and appropriate. The Executive Committee is composed of the Chairman of the Board and the Chair of each of the other standing committees of the Board. The Executive Committee did not meet in 2014.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Director Independence

To be considered independent, the Board must affirmatively determine that a director has no relationship with the Corporation which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines require that the Board be composed of a majority of directors who meet the criteria for “independence” under NASDAQ listing standards.

To assist the Board in making its independence determinations, the Board has adopted categorical standards. Under these standards, the following persons shall not be considered “independent”:

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a director who receives or less than 1.0% ofhas received, or whose Family Member receives or has received, compensation from the outstanding common stock. No single trust or other fiduciary account held a beneficial ownership interestCorporation in excess of 5.0%. Of these shares,$120,000 during any period of twelve consecutive months within the Bankpast three years, other than director and committee fees, benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan or other forms of nondiscretionary compensation; provided, however, that compensation received by a Family Member of a director for service as an employee (other than an executive officer) of the Corporation need not be considered in determining independence;

“Family Member” means a person’s spouse, parents, children and siblings, whether by blood, marriage or adoption, or anyone residing in such person’s home.

As discussed above, the Board has determined that each current director (other than Mr. Waddell who serves as Chairman and CEO of the Corporation) is independent of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and categorical standards.

In addition to the categorical standards, the Board also considers any transactions, relationships, or arrangements between the Corporation and a director that constitutes a related person transaction under the Corporation’s Related Person Transactions Policy described below. In assessing the independence of the Corporation’s directors, the Board considered the fact that, during 2014, the Corporation or its subsidiaries provided financial services to each of its directors, or persons related to such directors, in the ordinary course of business. Services provided included trust and related services, brokerage services, asset servicing, asset management, securities lending, credit services and other banking services. These transactions were undertaken in the ordinary course of business and were made on substantially the same terms (including interest rates and collateral for loan transactions) as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons not related to the Corporation or any affiliated entities involved in the transactions. None of the transactions involved more than the normal risk of collectability or presented other unfavorable features. None of the transactions or any transactions in which the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries sold or purchased products and services were material to the Corporation or affiliated entities involved in the transactions, and none require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Any extensions of credit to directors and executive

officers of the Corporation were permitted under the provisions of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act. In each case, the Board determined that these relationships were immaterial and did not affect the independence of any director.

Related Person Transactions Policy

The Board, through its Audit Committee, adopted a written Related Person Transactions Policy to govern the review, approval, and ratification of transactions between the Corporation or its subsidiaries and any related persons. “Related persons” means the Corporation’s directors, nominees for director, executive officers, greater than five percent beneficial owners, members of their immediate family and any person other than a tenant or employee sharing their household. The Related Person Transactions Policy also covers transactions in which any related person has an indirect interest.

The Related Person Transactions Policy provides that the Corporation may undertake certain pre-approved related person transactions in the ordinary course of business without specific review, approval or ratification, including the following pre-approved transactions:

The Corporation’s directors and employees as a group beneficially owned approximately 3.8%

—

transactions where the related person’s interest arises solely from the ownership of the Corporation’s outstanding common stock asand all stockholders receive the same benefit on a pro rata basis; and

Any other related person transaction involving amounts in excess of $120,000 must be approved or ratified by the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee Chair. In considering related person transactions, the Audit Committee or the Audit Committee Chair will consider all relevant facts and circumstances and approve only those related person transactions that are in, or otherwise not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Corporation and its subsidiaries.

As noted above, in 2014, certain related persons were clients of, and engaged in the types of transactions identified in the bullet points above with, the Corporation and one or more of its subsidiaries. These transactions were undertaken in the ordinary course of business and upon such other terms and conditions as permitted such transactions to qualify for pre-approval under the Related Person Transactions Policy. Further, as noted above, none of the transactions require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act.

Executive Sessions

The independent directors of the Corporation met in executive sessions separate from management six times during 2014. The Lead Director or, in his absence, another independent director designated by the Lead Director presides at executive sessions of the independent directors.

Board Leadership Structure; Lead Director

The current leadership structure of the Board consists of a combined Chairman and CEO position and a Lead Director appointed annually by the Corporation’s independent directors.

The Board has determined that combining the positions of Chairman and CEO is the most appropriate for the Corporation at this time. Having one person as Chairman and CEO provides unified leadership and direction to the Corporation and strengthens the ability of the CEO to develop and implement strategic initiatives and respond efficiently in crisis situations. The Board believes the combination of the Chairman and CEO positions is appropriate in light of the substantial independent oversight provided by the Board. The Board also believes that the desire for independent leadership of the Board is sufficiently achieved by the prominent role of the Lead Director.

The Lead Director’s primary duties are described in the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. Among other things, the Lead Director’s duties include: (i) approving meeting agendas for the Board and the nature of information sent to the Board; (ii) approving Board meeting schedules to assure that there is sufficient time for discussion of all Board agenda items; (iii) the authority to call at any time a special meeting of the Board or a special executive session of the independent directors; (iv) the authority to add items to the agenda of any regular or special meeting of the Board; (v) preparing the agenda for all regular and any special executive sessions of the independent directors; (vi) presiding at all regular and special meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present; (vii) presiding at all regular and any special executive sessions of the independent directors; (viii) serving as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman and CEO;

(ix) conducting, by means of an interview with each independent director, the independent directors’ annual evaluation of the Chairman and CEO’s performance and then communicating the results to the Compensation and Benefits Committee and to the Chairman and CEO; (x) conducting, by means of an interview with each director, including the Chairman and CEO, the Board’s annual self-evaluation of its performance and then providing a summary report to the Board; and (xi)  being available for consultation and direct communication with major stockholders.

Risk Oversight

The Board provides oversight of risk management directly as well as through its Audit, Business Risk, Business Strategy, and Compensation and Benefits Committees. The Business Risk Committee assumes primary responsibility and oversight with respect to credit risk, operational risk, fiduciary risk, compliance risk, market risk and liquidity risk, and the Business Strategy Committee provides oversight with respect to strategic risk for the Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee provides oversight with respect to financial reporting and legal risk, while the Compensation and Benefits Committee oversees the development and operation of the incentive compensation program of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Compensation and Benefits Committee annually reviews management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the design and performance of the incentive compensation arrangements and practices in providing risk-taking incentives that are consistent with the safety and soundness of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. This assessment includes an evaluation of whether these incentive compensation arrangements and practices discourage inappropriate risk taking behavior by participants. The charters for the Audit, Business Risk, Business Strategy and Compensation and Benefits Committees provide that the Committees may meet with the individuals who supervise day-to-day risk management responsibilities of the Corporation and other members of management, consultants or advisors, as each committee deems appropriate.

The Board has approved a corporate risk appetite statement articulating the Corporation’s expectation that risk be consciously considered as part of strategic decisions and in day-to-day activities. For a further description of the risk management policies and practices of the Corporation’s management, see the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Risk Management and —Liquidity and Capital Resources—Liquidity Risk Management” in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Corporation has had Corporate Governance Guidelines in place since 2000. The Corporate Governance Committee reviews and reassesses the adequacy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines at least annually and recommends any changes to the Board for approval. The Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines embody many of the Corporation’s long-standing practices and incorporate policies and procedures that strengthen its commitment to corporate governance best practices. A copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

The Board of the Corporation has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to:

The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics satisfies applicable SEC and NASDAQ requirements and applies to all directors, officers (including the Corporation’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) and employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Corporation intends to disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for directors and executive officers by posting such information on its website. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com.

Management Development and Succession Planning

The Compensation and Benefits Committee oversees executive management and succession planning. Pursuant to the Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charter for the Compensation and Benefits Committee, the Compensation and Benefits Committee conducts an annual management development and succession planning review. All of the Corporation’s directors are invited to, and typically all participate in, this review. Following the review, the Compensation and Benefits Committee makes recommendations concerning management development and succession planning. This management review process also includes a review of other senior employees of the Corporation, with a focus on developing internal candidates for advancement within the Corporation.

In connection with setting the compensation of the Corporation’s Chairman and CEO, the Compensation and Benefits Committee and the Board review the performance of the Chairman and CEO in light of the Chairman and CEO’s responsibilities to the Corporation, including the development of short-term and long-term strategic plans, goals and objectives, the development of an effective senior management team, positioning of the Corporation for current and future success and effective communications with all of the Corporation’s constituencies. These criteria, among others, would also be considered by the Board in evaluating any successor Chairman and CEO candidates.

In the event of the unexpected death, incapacity, or resignation of the Chairman and CEO, pursuant to its charter, the Corporate Governance Committee will discuss and make a recommendation to the Board, after consultation with the Chairman of the Compensation and Benefits Committee, for an appropriate successor.

Director Nominations and Qualifications

The Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for considering, evaluating, and recommending candidates for director. The Committee will consider persons nominated by stockholders in accordance with the nomination procedures specified in the Corporation’s By-laws or otherwise recommended by stockholders. The Corporation’s By-laws provide that stockholders may propose director nominations only if they give timely written notice, directed to the attention of the Corporation’s Corporate Secretary, not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the anniversary date of the prior year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If such Annual Meeting of Stockholders is called for a date that is not within thirty days before or after the anniversary date of the prior year’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be received within ten days after notice of such subsequent Annual Meeting of Stockholders is mailed or public disclosure of the date of such Annual Meeting of Stockholders is made, whichever occurs first. In either case, the notice must contain the information required by the Corporation’s By-laws. Stockholders may also recommend candidates for director by following the procedures for communicating with directors described below under “Communications with the Board and Independent Directors.”

In its evaluation of director candidates, including persons recommended by stockholders, the Corporate Governance Committee considers the factors specified in the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines to ensure the Board has a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds, including the nature of the expertise and experience required for the performance of the duties of a director of a corporation engaged in the Corporation’s business and such matters as relevant business and industry experience, professional background, age, current employment, community service and other board service. The Committee also considers the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the Board in assessing candidates. The Committee seeks to identify, as candidates for director, persons with a reputation for and record of integrity and good business judgment who: (i) have experience in positions with a high degree of responsibility and are leaders in the organizations with which they are affiliated; (ii) are free from conflicts of interest that could interfere with a director’s duties to the Corporation and its stockholders; and (iii) are willing and able to make the necessary commitment of time and attention required for effective Board service. The Committee also takes into account a candidate’s level of financial literacy, and monitors the mix of skills and experience of the directors in order to assess whether the Board has the necessary tools to perform its oversight function effectively. A full listing of the characteristics and qualifications of director candidates considered by the Committee is set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines on the Corporation’s website at www.northerntrust.com. Following its evaluation process, the Committee recommends its director nominees to the full Board, and the Board makes the final determination of director nominees based on its consideration of the Committee’s recommendation and report.

Stockholder Outreach

The Corporation recognizes the importance of stockholder engagement to help our investors understand our performance and strategies and to allow our stockholders to express their views on issues important to the Corporation. Accordingly, it is the Corporation’s practice to proactively and routinely engage with stockholders throughout the year.

Communications with the Board and Independent Directors

Stockholders and other interested persons may communicate with any of the Corporation’s directors, including the Lead Director or the nonmanagement directors as a group, by writing a letter

addressed to the applicable director(s), c/o Northern Trust Corporation, 50 South La Salle Street, M-9, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention: Corporate Secretary. The Corporation’s Corporate Secretary will forward communications directly to the Lead Director, unless a different director is specified.

Any stockholder or other interested person who has a particular concern regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or other audit matters that he or she wishes to bring to the attention of the Audit Committee may communicate those concerns to the Audit Committee or its Chairman, using the address indicated above. Any written communication regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or other matters are processed in accordance with procedures adopted by the Audit Committee.

Securities Trading Policy and Policy Against Hedging

Our securities trading policy prohibits directors, employees, including our named executive officers, and certain of their family members from purchasing or selling any type of security, whether issued by us or another company, while such persons are aware of material nonpublic information relating to the issuer of the security and from providing such material nonpublic information to any person who may trade while aware of such information. This policy also prohibits directors, employees, and certain of their family members from engaging in short selling, margining and pledging or hypothecating the Corporation’s securities, and from trading in options, warrants, puts, calls or similar instruments on the Corporation’s securities.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP BY DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following table shows the beneficial ownership of the Corporation’s common stock as of December 31, 2014 for each director, each named executive officer and all directors and executive officers of the Corporation as a group.

* Less than 1%.

(1) Except as noted below, the nature of beneficial ownership for shares shown in this table is sole voting and investment power (including shares as to which spouses and minor children of the individuals covered by this table have such power).

(2) Amount includes restricted stock units payable on a one-for-one basis in shares of the Corporation’s common stock that are scheduled to vest within sixty days of December 31, 2014 in the following amounts: Mr. Waddell – 37,994 units; Mr. Bowman – 5,719 units; Mr. Fradkin – 11,873 units; Mr. Morrison – 11,873 units; Ms. Schreuder – 11,873 units; and all directors and officers as a group – 124,413 units.

(3) Amount of shares includes options that were exercisable as of December 31, 2014 and options that become exercisable within sixty days thereafter.

(4) Mr. Harrison was appointed as a director of the Corporation effective January 1, 2015.

(5) Mr. Smith is co-trustee with another individual on two separate trusts. He shares voting and investment power for 500 shares held in one trust and 1,704 in another trust, all of which such shares are reflected in the table. He is also a beneficiary of a trust that holds 1,362,880 shares; as Mr. Smith has no investment or voting power with respect to these shares, they are not reflected in the table.

(6) Mr. Thompson was appointed as a director of the Corporation effective March 6, 2015.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Corporation’s directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of the Corporation’s stock to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of any equity securities of the Corporation. Based solely on the Corporation’s review of the reports that have been filed by or on behalf of such reporting persons in this regard and written representations from such reporting persons that no other reports were required, the Corporation believes that all reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act were made on a timely basis during or with respect to 2014, except for a Form 3 filed on August 22, 2014 reporting initial ownership information for Edward J. Mooney upon his appointment as an advisory director of the Corporation which should have been filed by July 25, 2014, and a Form 4 filed for Mr. Mooney on August 22, 2014 to report a transaction that should have been reported by July 17, 2014.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The following table includes information concerning stockholders who were the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Corporation’s common stock as of December 31, 2014.

(1) As of December 31, 2014, the Bank and its affiliates individually acted as sole or co-fiduciary with respect to trusts and other fiduciary accounts which owned, held or controlled through intermediaries the shares. This aggregate number of shares includes 1,362,880 shares held by the trust described in footnote 5 to the “Security Ownership by Directors and Executive Officers” table in this Proxy Statement, or less than 0.6% of the outstanding common stock. Of these shares, the Bank and its affiliates had sole voting power with respect to 8,427,770 shares, or 3.6% of the outstanding common stock, and they shared voting power with respect to 11,648,715 shares, or 5.0% of the outstanding

common stock. They had sole investment power with respect to 2,153,402 shares, or 0.9% of the outstanding common stock, and they shared investment power with respect to 12,433,100 shares, or 5.3% of the outstanding common stock.

(2) As reported on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 13, 2015. T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (“Price Associates”) has indicated that these shares are owned by various individual and institutional investors, for which Price Associates serves as an investment adviser with power to direct investments and, in certain cases, sole power to vote the securities. For the purposes of the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, Price Associates is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities; however, Price Associates expressly disclaims that it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such securities. Of these shares, Price Associates had sole voting power with respect to 4,575,082 shares, or 2.0% of the outstanding common stock, and it did not have shared voting power with respect to any such shares. Price Associates had sole investment power with respect to all such shares.

(3) As reported on a Schedule 13G filed on February 6, 2015. Of the shares reported, BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) had sole voting power with respect to 10,566,300 shares, or 4.5% of the outstanding common stock, and it did not have shared voting power with respect to any shares reported. BlackRock had sole investment power with respect to all shares reported.

ITEM 2—ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC, the Corporation is required to include in this Proxy Statement a separate resolution, subject to an advisory vote, to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement (commonly referred to as a “Say-on-Pay” advisory vote). In a nonbinding, advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes held at our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, stockholders voted in favor of conducting Say-on-Pay votes annually. In light of this result, and other factors considered by the Board, the Board has determined that the Corporation will hold Say-on-Pay votes on an annual basis until the next advisory vote on such frequency, which is expected to take place at the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Accordingly, the Board is requesting that stockholders vote FOR approval of the following resolution:

“Resolved, that the compensation paid to the Corporation’s named executive officers, as disclosed in its Proxy Statement dated March 10, 2015, pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables, and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED.”

As an advisory vote, this proposal is not binding on the Corporation. Although the vote is nonbinding, the Board and the Compensation and Benefits Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and, consistent with past practice, will consider the outcome of the vote when determining compensation policies and making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

As outlined in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that begins on page 25 of this Proxy Statement, the Corporation’s executive compensation program is designed to attract, motivate and retain individuals who will contribute to the Corporation’s success and the creation of stockholder value. The Compensation and Benefits Committee believes that executive officers are most effectively motivated when their incentive compensation is tied to the Corporation’s overall performance as well as their individual performance. That is why a significant portion of each executive officer’s short-term and long-term incentive compensation is variable and depends on such performance. Long-term incentive compensation delivered through annual equity awards is the most significant element of the Corporation’s executive compensation program. The Compensation and Benefits Committee believes that this emphasis on equity-based compensation aligns the interests of executive officers with our stockholders, discourages inappropriate risk-taking, and encourages executive officers to appropriately consider and control risk factors, which furthers the Corporation’s risk-mitigation strategy. In addition, the Corporation has adopted policies, like stock ownership guidelines, and incorporated provisions into compensation plans, like forfeiture and clawback provisions, to ensure long-term focus and discourage inappropriate risk-taking by executive officers.

The Corporation’s conservatively managed executive compensation philosophy, coupled with its sound balance sheet and prudent business model, have contributed to the Corporation’s strong strategic and financial positioning, despite an increasingly regulated and a persistent low interest rate environment. In 2014, the Corporation reported revenue of $4.3 billion, net income of $811.8 million and diluted earnings per share of $3.32. The Corporation’s 2014 return on equity increased to 10.0% from 9.5% in the prior year. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Corporation’s average three- and five-year returns on equity were 9.6% and 9.5%, respectively, in line with the peer-group medians of 9.7% for each of such periods. Further, the Corporation’s average revenue growth of 5.9%, 4.7% and 2.7% over the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2014, respectively, significantly outpaced peer-group median growth of 0.7%, 1.4% and (1.0)% over such periods.

The Board unanimously recommends that you voteFOR this proposal.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Executive Summary

In 2014, the performance and achievements of our named executive officers helped the Corporation deliver sound financial results and accelerate the strategic initiatives of the organization in a continued challenging global economic environment. New business and our measured approach to managing the business contributed to the Corporation’s strong financial performance.

Appropriately linking the compensation of our named executive officers to the performance of our business is important to the continued growth and success of the Corporation. Accordingly, performance is the most significant driver of compensation decisions. The following charts summarize our performance in 2014 and highlight important considerations in the development, review and approval of our 2014 named executive officers’ compensation.

2014 Performance (con’t)
Leadership Changes		—  At the stockholdersChairman and CEO’s direction, the Corporation made a number of leadership changes across the organization in 2014 —  These changes impacted each of the Corporationnamed executive officers, except for Mr. Waddell, and were designed to position the organization for faster growth and expand the experience of its leaders

In 2012, the performance

Decisions and achievements of ourActions (con’t)
2014 Compensation Decisions		—   Base salaries for 2014 remained unchanged for named executive officers, helped Northern Trust deliver sound financial resultsexcept for Mr. Bowman —   Annual short-term incentive awards — determined in a challenging global economic environment. New business, the integration of recent acquisitions, and our measured approach to managing the business contributed to the Corporation’s continued strong financial position. Appropriately linking the compensation of our named executive officers to the2015 for 2014 performance of our business is important to the continued growth and success of Northern Trust. The following chart highlights important considerations— reflect improvement in the development, review and approval of our named executive officers’ compensation. Details of each of these highlights are included in the following pages of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Guiding Principles for Executive Compensation Goals See pages 39-43 for details —  Attract, retain and motivate the best talent —  Link compensation to long-term performance —  Align programs with shareholder interests —  Position pay competitively in the marketplace —  Discourage inappropriate risk-taking Performance measures aligned with shareholder interests See pages 32-39 for details —  Return on equity —  Revenue growth —  Earnings per share growth —  Pre-tax profit margin —  Performance measure rankings relative to peer banks Total pay guidelines See pages 39-41 for details —  80% to 90% of total pay opportunity is typically focused on variable incentives —  Majority of total pay opportunity is typically linked to long-term incentives —  Multi-year vesting schedules for equity grants link total pay to long-term performance —  Executive stock ownership guidelines equal or exceed typical requirements at our peer banks Peer group for compensation comparison See pages 41-42 for details —  U.S. based trust and custody banks that are direct competitors —  Other U.S. banks —  Compares total compensation pay levels at peer banks, including comparisons based on size, financial results and shareholder returns Risk management See pages 42-43 for details —  Design pay programs to discourage inappropriate risk-taking —  Monitor pay programs to ensure they appropriately balance stockholder, business and risk concerns Decisions and Actions Factors guiding compensation decisions See pages 32-33 for details —  Financial performance —  Non-financial performance of named executive officers, including leadership, regulatory compliance, client service,key corporate social responsibility, employee relations, communication, ethics and diversity, and development of senior officers —  Assessment of risk management, including avoidance of excessive risk-taking to ensure long-term stockholder value —  Recommendations of the Chairman and CEO for other named executives officers —  Advice of independent outside compensation consultant —  Peer bank pay practices —  Current and historical compensation 2012 compensation decisions See page 32-39 for details —  Base salaries unchanged for named executive officers, except CFO —  CFO base salary increased by $25,000 to be competitive with peers —  Maximum annual cash incentive awards linked to corporate net income —  One-third of long-term incentive compensation awarded in performance stock units (“PSUs”) based on three-year return on equity performance —  One-third of long-term incentive compensation awarded in stock options —  One-third of long-term incentive compensation awarded in long-term deferred cash to be settled in cash or shares after three years, subject to forfeiture or reduction due to occurrence of certain risk-based events —  Annual cash awards — decided in 2013 for 2012 performance — reflect that earnings for 2012 were up relative to 2011 and that awards for the majority of named executive officers were also increased 2012 Program updates —  Credited service under the Pension Plan’s Traditional Formula frozen as of March 2012 —  Pension Plan benefits earned beginning in April 2012 are calculated under a reduced Pension Equity Plan (“PEP”) formula for all Pension Plan participants —  “Double-Trigger” Equity Vesting adopted for change in control situations beginning in October 2012 —  Management Performance Plan (“MPP”) amended to clarify that each participant’s performance measures include risk management expectations —  MPP clarified to state expressly that the Committee’s authority to exercise negative discretion includes the discretion to reduce a participant’s award as appropriate to meet all applicable regulatory requirements 2013 Program updates See page 53 for details —  One-half of long-term incentive compensation awarded as PSUs (up from one-third in 2012) —  One-fourth of long-term incentive compensation awarded as stock options (down from one-third in 2012) —  One-fourth of long-term incentive compensation awards as restricted stock units (“RSUs”) —  Expanded risk-based forfeiture and clawback provisions in certain equity awards beginning in February 2013 —  TIP plan amended effective in January 2013 to discontinue a feature that provided an annual supplemental company contribution of up to 1.5% of “eligible pay” based on attainment of earnings goals 2012 Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation and Adoption of “Double-Trigger” Equity Vesting The Corporation’s executive compensation was approved on an advisory basis by its stockholders at the Corporation’s April 17, 2012 annual meeting. In accordance with its recent practice, the Corporation subsequently engaged in discussions with a number of our institutional stockholders about the design of our executive compensation program and related topics. In particular, the Corporation undertook a review of the Corporation’s treatment of equity and equity-based compensation in connection with a “change in control” of the Corporation, a topic about which stockholders had previously expressed particular concern. After undertaking this review, including an examination of the treatment of equity and equity-based compensation in connection with a “change in control” by members of the Corporation’s peer group (described on pages 41-42), the Compensation and Benefits Committee (as used in this section, the Committee) adopted a “double trigger” approach to vesting equity and equity-based compensation in connection with a change in control of the Corporation. Specifically, this approach means that for equity and equity-based awards granted after 2012, accelerated vesting in connection with a change in control of the Corporation would only occur if either (i) there was a change in control and the award holder experienced a qualifying termination of employment following such change in control, or (ii) there was a change in control and the acquirer refused or was unable assume the existing awards. The Corporation believes that this “double trigger” approach accords with current best practices in this area. Change in control benefits are intended to provide sufficient security so the executive is not distracted from job duties, financially threatened by potential job loss or motivated to act contrary to the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders prior to, during or after a change in control. Other recent updates to the Corporation’s compensation program are described in the chart entitled “Decisions and Actions” above, under the heading “2013 Program Updates.” 2012 Compensation Decisions for Named Executive Officers In determining total compensation for the named executive officers, the Committee reviews the Corporation’s business performance the individual’s achievement of objectives, and the total compensation packages paid by the Corporation’s peers (see pages 41-42 of this proxy statement for more details on the peer group). Northern Trust posted solid operating results in 2012, maintained a strong and conservative financial position and continued to grow client assets under custody and management. These results were achieved despite a challenging economic environment that included historically low interest rates and weak global economic conditions. We continued to successfully add new clients and to expand relationships with existing clients, both personal and institutional. This enabled the Corporation to grow the business organically and to offset partially the impact of the economic environment on our revenues. — 2012 net income of $687.3 million increased 14% versus 2011 — 2012 diluted earnings per common share of $2.81 increased 14% versus 2011 — Return on equity of 9.3% in 2012 versus 8.6% in 2011 — Pre-tax profit margin of 25.5% in 2012 versus 23.4% in 2011 — The Committee considered the Corporation’s performance relative to our peers across various measures including growth in assets under management, return on equity, short and long-term total shareholder returns, price/earnings ratio and price/book ratios. Weighing these measures of performance, among others, the Committee determined that the Corporation’s overall performance compared favorably to the peer group performance. — The Committee also determined that the Corporation’s performance compared favorably to the trust and custody banks in our peer group (see pages 41-42) based on relative performance for year over year growth in assets under custody, assets under management, trust fees, total revenues, total expenses and earnings per share. Profitability and returns were compared based on pre-tax margin and return on equity. — Consistent with the Corporation’s philosophy of aligning pay with performance, the Committee determined that the Chairman and CEO’s total pay should compare favorably with the median compensation among the Corporation’s peer companies relative to size, financial results, and shareholder returns. Chairman and CEO To determine the size of each element in the Chairman and CEO’s total compensation package, in addition to the business results listed above, the Committee considered a variety of performance factors including: Financial Performance 2012 Financial Results —    Net income was $687.3 million in 2012, an improvement of 14% from $603.6 million in 2011. —    Our Driving Performance initiative was announced in early 2012, delivering significant pre-tax income benefits in the year and is on track to reach our target of $250 million in pre-tax income improvement in 2013. —    Our pre-tax profit margin improved to 25.5% in 2012 from 23.4% in 2011. Return on Equity —    Northern Trust’s return on equity was 9.3% in 2012, an increase from 8.6% in 2011 and represents progress toward our long-term target of 10-15%. Capital planning —    The Corporation’s capital ratios are well above the ratios that are a requirement for regulatory classification as “well capitalized”. —    In 2012, the Federal Reserve did not object to the Corporation’s capital plan. —    Our capital actions for the year included an increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.30 per share and the repurchase of 3.5 million common shares, returning almost $450 million in capital to our shareholders. Risk Management —    There were no material changes to our risk profile in 2012. The quality of our balance sheet remained strong as was our liquidity position at both the corporate and bank levels. Strategic Development New Business Development —    Assets under management rose 14% while assets under custody rose 13%. Our growth in clients is broad and diversified across our businesses, services and geographies. Corporate Development / Acquisitions —    Completed the integration of Bank of Ireland Securities Services and hedge fund servicer Omnium LLC (from Citadel LLC). Organizational Development Leadership Development —    Recent appointments to our leadership team, including senior roles in Human Resources, Audit, and Corporate & Institutional Services, demonstrate a solid succession plan. We continue to maintain a strong group of leaders in the succession pipeline. Additionally, the Committee considered the Chairman and CEO’s success in achieving his individual non-financial performance objectives related to leadership, compliance, client service, corporate social responsibility, employee relations, communication, ethics and diversity, and development of senior officers. Weighing these performance factors and objectives collectively, the Committee determined that total compensation for the Chairman and CEO should compare favorably with the median compensation among the Corporation’s peer companies, relative to size, financial results, and shareholder returns. Base Salary During its February 2012 meeting, the Committee determined that the Chairman and CEO’s salary should remain unchanged. This decision was guided by competitive market data from peer group companies, as well as the Chairman and CEO’s performance and tenure in the position. At its February 2013 meeting, the Committee determined that the Chairman and CEO’s salary should remain unchanged, although it is modestly lower than the 2012 salary of the Corporation’s peer group, adjusted for size, financial results, and shareholder returns. Short-Term Annual Cash Incentive Under the provisions of the MPP, the reported earnings of $687.3 million in 2012 provided for a maximum funding opportunity for the Chairman and CEO of $4,123,800. Additionally, based on the peer group market data, the Committee determined that the peer group median cash incentive level, adjusted for size, financials, and returns, was slightly below $2,000,000. Taking into consideration the limits set forth in the MPP, the available competitive market data, as well as the performance measures and individual objectives as listed above, the Committee determined the Chairman and CEO’s actual cash incentive award to be $2,000,000 for 2012. Compared to the 2011 cash incentive award of $1,600,000, the year over year increase in the Chairman and CEO’s 2012 award reflected that the Corporation’s earnings for 2012 were up 14% relative to 2011. In addition, ROE improved to 9.3% from 8.6%metrics and growth in new business was strong. Long-Term Incentivekey businesses In determining the total long-term incentive award for the Chairman and CEO, the Committee took into account the Corporation’s performance measures listed above, as well as the median and total compensation packages paid by the Corporation’s peers, adjusted for size, financial results, and shareholder returns. Based on these factors, as well as our objective to make long-term compensation the most significant component of overall compensation, the Committee set the Chairman and CEO’s long-term—   Long-term incentive compensation award in respect of 2012awarded as follows: —   50% as performance stock units —   25% as stock options —   25% as restricted stock units
2015 Performance Stock Units		—   Performance stock units granted in 2013,2015 pay out at $6,650,000, which was above100% only if the 2012 long-term compensation level reported by our peer companies, and lower thanCorporation achieves an average annual return on equity of 10.25% over the Chairman and CEO’s long-term incentive award of $7,000,000 madethree-year performance period, in 2012 for 2011 performance. As illustrated in the following chart, the Chairman and CEO’s compensation increased less than 1% from 2011 to 2012.   Salary and Incentive Compensation1           Name         Annual Compensation                       Incentive Compensation3           Year     Salary2     Cash     PSUs     Stock Options4     RSUs     Long- term Cash     Total   Frederick H. Waddell       2012      $ 975,000      $ 2,000,000      $ 3,325,000      $ 1,662,500      $ 1,662,500      $ 0      $ 9,625,000        2011      $ 956,250      $ 1,600,000      $ 2,333,333      $ 2,333,333      $ 0      $ 2,333,334      $ 9,556,250    1The Salary and Incentive Compensation chart above is an overview of the Committee’s salary, cash incentive, stock options, RSUs, PSUs and deferred cash compensation decisions for the Chairman and CEOline with respect to 2012 and 2011. The long-term incentives described for 2012 were in fact made in 2013 in respect of 2012 performance and thus do not appear in the Summary Compensation Table on page 60 of this proxy statement. Further details of the Chairman and CEO’s compensation in 2012 can be found in the Summary Compensation Table on page 60 of this proxy statement. 2 Actual salary paid in that year. 3Incentives earned for performance in that year but paid/granted in the following year (e.g. stock options listed for 2011 were granted in 2012 based on performance in 2011). The value of these awards is listed in the Summary Compensation Table for the year of grant pursuant to SEC rules. 4Northern Trust’s policies and internal valuation methodology treat stock options as equal to one-third of the grant price. A different valuation methodology is required to be used in the Summary Compensation Table pursuant to the SEC rules. The mix of total compensation for our Chairman and CEO, as illustrated in the chart below, demonstrates our emphasis on variable compensation, with significant focus on long-term incentive components. Other named executive officers In determining total compensation for the named executive officers, the Committee reviews the Corporation’s business performance, the individual’s achievement of objectives, and the total compensation packages paid by the Corporation’s peers (see pages 41-42 of this proxy statement for more details on the peer group). The Committee considered a variety of performance factors for each individual, as indicated below: William L. Morrison Mr. Morrison is the Corporation’s President and Chief Operating Officer. To determine the size of each element in Mr. Morrison’s total compensation package, in addition to the business results listed above (see pages 32-33), the Committee considered a variety of performance factors including: — Net income was $687.3 million, an increase of 14% from 2011. — Return on equity improved in 2012 to 9.3% from 8.6% in 2011 and represents progress toward our long-term target of 10-15%. — Our Driving Performance initiative was announced in early 2012, delivering significant pre-tax income benefits in the year and is on track to reach our target of $250 million in pre-tax income improvement in 2013. — Both our C&IS and PFS business units had strong new business in 2012. — We successfully completed the integration of two acquisitions made in 2011. Additionally, the Committee considered Mr. Morrison’s success in achieving his individual non-financial performance objectives related to leadership, compliance and risk management, client service, employee relations, communication, ethics and diversity, and development of senior officers. At its meeting in February 2013, based on performance, his tenure in the role, and updates in the competitive salary market data among the Corporation’s peer group companies, the Committee chose to increase the base salary for Mr. Morrison, by $100,000. Based on the target and limits set forth in the MPP for Mr. Morrison, as well as the Corporation’s performance and achievement of Mr. Morrison’s individual objectives, the Committee set a cash incentive of $1,000,000 for Mr. Morrison. In determining the total long-term incentive award made to Mr. Morrison in 2013 in respect of 2012 performance (which does not appear in the Summary Compensation Tablereturn on page 60 of this proxy), the Committee took into account the Corporation’s performance, as well as the total compensation levels among the Corporation’s peers, adjusted for size, financial results, and shareholder returns. Based on these factors, the Committee set a long-term award of $3,350,000 for Mr. Morrison.equity range

Guiding Principles for Executive Compensation

The Corporation’s compensation philosophy is to attract, motivate and retain talent, including executive-level talent who will contribute to our long-term success. With the goals of solid long-term financial performance and creating long-term stockholder value, the Corporation’s executive compensation program and compensation decisions are framed by the four core values described below.

Michael G. O’Grady

Mr. O’Grady is the Corporation’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He heads the Corporate Financial Management Group. To determine the size of each element in Mr. O’Grady’s total compensation package, in addition to the business results listed above (see pages 32-33), the Committee considered a variety of performance factors including:

The Committee also considered Mr. O’Grady’s success in achieving his individual non-financial performance objectives related to leadership, compliance and risk management, employee relations, communication, ethics and diversity, and development of senior officers.

At its meeting in February 2013, based on updates in the competitive salary market data among the Corporation’s peer group companies, the Committee chose to increase the base salary for Mr. O’Grady by $25,000.

Based on the target and limits set forth in the MPP for Mr. O’Grady, as well as the Corporation’s performance and achievement of Mr. O’Grady’s individual objectives, the Committee set a cash incentive of $750,000 for Mr. O’Grady.

In determining the total long-term incentive grant made to Mr. O’Grady in 2013 in respect of 2012 performance (which does not appear in the Summary Compensation Table on page 60 of this

proxy), the Committee took into account the Corporation’s performance, as well as the total compensation levels among the Corporation’s peers, adjusted for size, financial results, and shareholder returns. Based on these factors, the Committee set a long-term award of $2,000,000 for Mr. O’Grady.

Steven L. Fradkin

Mr. Fradkin is President of the Corporate & Institutional Services business unit (“C&IS”). To determine the size of each element in Mr. Fradkin’s total compensation package, in addition to the business results listed above (see pages 32-33), the Committee considered a variety of performance factors including:

The Committee also considered Mr. Fradkin’s success in achieving his individual non-financial performance objectives related to leadership, compliance and risk management, client service, employee relations, communication, ethics and diversity, and development of senior officers.

At its meeting in February 2013, based on updates in the competitive salary market data among the Corporation’s peer group companies, the Committee chose to leave the base salary for Mr. Fradkin unchanged, resulting in a salary level for Mr. Fradkin that remained consistent with salaries for similar positions among the Corporation’s peer group.

Based on the target and limits set forth in the MPP for Mr. Fradkin, as well as the Corporation’s performance and achievement of Mr. Fradkin’s individual objectives, the Committee set a cash incentive of $800,000 for Mr. Fradkin.

In determining the total long-term incentive grant made to Mr. Fradkin in 2013 in respect of 2012 performance (which does not appear in the Summary Compensation Table on page 60 of this proxy), the Committee took into account the Corporation’s performance, as well as the total compensation levels among the Corporation’s peers, adjusted for size, financial results, and shareholder returns. Based on these factors, the Committee set a long-term award of $2,000,000 for Mr. Fradkin.

Jana R. Schreuder

Ms. Schreuder is President of the Personal Financial Services business unit (“PFS”). To determine the size of each element in Ms. Schreuder’s total compensation package, in addition to the business results listed above (see pages 32-33), the Committee considered a variety of performance factors including:

—

New business in PFS was strong in 2012 and Northern Trust was named Best Private Bank in the U.S. by the Financial Times Group for the fourth consecutive year.

The Committee also considered Ms. Schreuder’s success in achieving her individual non-financial performance objectives related to leadership, compliance and risk management, client service, employee relations, communication, ethics and diversity, and development of senior officers.

At its meeting in February 2013, based on updates in the competitive salary market data among the Corporation’s peer group companies, the Committee chose to leave the base salary for Ms. Schreuder unchanged, resulting in a salary level for Ms. Schreuder that remained consistent with salaries for similar positions among the Corporation’s peer group.

Based on the target and limits set forth in the MPP for Ms. Schreuder, as well as the Corporation’s performance and achievement of Ms. Schreuder’s individual objectives, the Committee set a cash incentive of $825,000 for Ms. Schreuder.

In determining the total long-term incentive grant made to Ms. Schreuder in 2013 in respect of 2012 performance (which does not appear in the Summary Compensation Table on page 60 of this proxy), the Committee took into account the Corporation’s performance, as well as the compensation levels among the Corporation’s peers, adjusted for size, financial results, and shareholder returns. Based on these factors, the Committee set a long-term award of $2,000,000 for Ms. Schreuder.

Guiding Principles for Executive Compensation

Northern Trust’s compensation philosophy is to attract, motivate and retain talent, including executive-level talent who will contribute to our long-term success. With the goals of solid long-term financial performance and creating long-term stockholder value, Northern Trust’s executive compensation program and compensation decisions are framed by four core values.

Linked to Long-Term Performance

Northern Trust’sThe Corporation’s executive compensation program is strongly focusedfocuses on incentive compensation, which is intended to help drive long-term financial performance. Currently, 80% to 90% of each named executive officer’s total pay opportunity consists of variableperformance-based compensation. Short-term cash and long-term incentive awards reflect the Corporation’s performance as described in this proxy, are based onwell as each named executive officer’s individual performance. The Compensation and Benefits Committee determines and approves annual cash incentives for Northern Trust’sthe Corporation’s named executive officers under the provisions of the stockholder-approved MPP.Management Performance Plan.

The net income generated by the Corporation in the applicable fiscal year determines the maximum funding for annual cash incentives. Accordingly, no annual cash incentive can be paid in the absence of positive net income. The Corporation’s average annual rate of return on equity during the respective three-year performance period (as compared to pre-established targets) determines the payout under 50% of the Corporation’s annual long-term incentive awards, which are granted in the form of performance stock units. Payout of this component therefore generally requires the executive to remain with the company during the applicable performance period, as well as attainment of return on equity goals over multi-year periods. The overall performance of the Corporation’s common stock delivers the remainder of the value of annual long-term incentive awards; this portion of the award is granted in the form of stock options (25%), which have no economic value absent share price appreciation, and through restricted stock units (25%). The Corporation’s current performance schedule provides that officers will only receive 100% of their performance stock unit awards if the Corporation achieves an average annual return on equity of 10.25% over the three-year performance period, which aligns the payout of these awards to the target return on equity range.

Aligned with Stockholder Interests