AMENDMENT TO SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

Exhibit 10.156

AMENDMENT

TO SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

Amendment (the “Amendment) to the Bank of New York Company, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “Plan”).

WHEREAS, The Bank of New York Company, Inc. has adopted the Plan;

WHEREAS, The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (the “Company”) is the successor in interest by merger to The Bank of New York Company, Inc.;

WHEREAS, the Plan authorizes the Board of Directors of the Company to amend or revise the terms of the Plan from time to time, prospectively or retroactively;

WHEREAS, The Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “HRCC”) is the successor to the Committee (with the HRCC hereinafter being referred to as the “Committee”), and has been delegated full authority by the Board of Directors to so amend or revise the terms of the plan on behalf of the Board;

WHEREAS, in order to avoid certain adverse federal income tax consequences to holders of certain options under the Plan as a result of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code relating to deferred compensation, the Committee (as defined in the Plan) desires to implement certain amendments to the Plan;

WHEREAS, the Committee has further heretofore delegated authority to amend the Plan for these purposes to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and has authorized the Chief Executive Officer to further delegate such authority to the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer; and

WHEREAS, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer has delegated authority to amend the Plan for these purposes to the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Plan is hereby amended as follows, effective as of January 1, 2009:

1. Amendment to Section 2(e). The first sentence of Section 2(e) is amended to add the following to the end thereof:

“; provided, further, that effective on and after January 1, 2005, in each case, prior to giving effect to any deferral of compensation under a “deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.”

2. Amendment to Section 4. The first paragraph of Section 4 of the Plan are to be replaced to read as follows:

A Participant shall be entitled to the Benefit provided under the Plan if his employment terminates on or after the date he has attained age 60, other than by reason of death. A Participant whose employment terminates prior to attaining age 60, other than by reason of death, shall not be entitled to a Benefit under the Plan.

3. Amendment to Section 5(c). The first two paragraphs of Section 5(c) of the Plan are to be replaced to read as follows:

Payment of the Benefit to a Participant shall be made in the form of a lump sum, unless prior to January 1, 2006, the Participant elected in writing with rules established by the Committee to receive payment in eleven annual installments. Payment shall be made or commenced within 30 days after the Participant’s termination of employment with the Company, if his employment terminates on or after the date he attains age 60, other than by reason of death.

In the event of the Participant’s death after installment payments have commenced, the remaining value of the Participant’s Benefit shall be paid in a lump sum, within 90 days after the Participant’s death, to his Beneficiary (with the actual payment date during such 90-day period determined by the Company in its discretion).

In the event of the Participant’s death while an active employee of the Company, payment of a Benefit to the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be made in a lump sum within 90 days after the Participant’s death (with the actual payment date during such 90-day period determined by the Company in its discretion).

4. Amendment to Section 5(c). Paragraph four of Section 5(c) is amended to add the following to the end thereto:

“; provided, however, that the foregoing shall only apply to the extent a “Change in Control” constitutes “change in control event” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(i)(5)(i)”

5. Amendment to Section 9. The last sentence of Section 9 is amended to add the following to the end thereof:

“and any amendment or termination of the Plan shall not cause any Participant to become subject to additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.”

6. Amendment to include Section 12. Section 12 of the Plan is hereby added to read as follows:

12. Compliance of Plan with Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan or elsewhere, if a Participant is a “specified employee” as determined pursuant to Section 409A of the Code as of the date the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(h)), then to the extent the Participant’s Benefit is payable during the first six months following such “separation from service”, such Benefit shall be paid in a cash lump-sum on the first business day of the seventh calendar month following the month in which such “separation from service” occurs or, if earlier, upon the Participant’s death. In addition, any Benefit due upon a termination of employment shall only be paid upon a “separation from service”. For the purposes of this Agreement, each Benefit payment made pursuant hereto shall be deemed to be a separate payment.

7. Effectiveness of Amendment. This Amendment shall become effective on the date hereof.

8. Definitions. Capitalized terms that are not defined in this Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Plan.

9. Other Provisions Unaffected. Except as modified by this Amendment, the existing provisions of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Amendment as of the 18th day of December, 2008.