NEW YORK (Reuters) -Northern Trust ( NTRS ) is fully committed to remaining independent, the bank said on Monday, after a Wall Street Journal report said Bank of New York Mellon ( BK ) had approached the asset and wealth manager to express interest in a merger.

"I can tell you that Northern Trust ( NTRS ) is fully committed to remaining independent and continuing to deliver long-term value to our stakeholders, as we have for the past 135 years," its spokesperson said in an email.

The comments came after a Wall Street Journal report said Bank of New York Mellon Corp ( BK ) had approached Northern Trust ( NTRS ) recently to express interest in a merger with its smaller rival.