THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION


                                                                    Exhibit 32.1


                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


     In connection with the Annual Report of The Charles Schwab Corporation (the
Company)  on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31,  2004 (the  Report),  I,
Charles R. Schwab,  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,  hereby
certify,  pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of my knowledge:

     (1)  The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations
          of the Company for the periods presented therein.



/s/ Charles R. Schwab                                Date: February 28, 2005
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Charles R. Schwab
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer










A signed  original of this written  statement  required by Section 906  has been
provided to The Charles Schwab  Corporation  and will be retained by The Charles
Schwab  Corporation  and furnished to the Securities and Exchange  Commission or
its staff upon request.