<ARTICLE> 9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NBT
BANCORP INC.'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          46,920
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                           4,823
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                     0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                    368,025
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          48,842
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            48,839
<LOANS>                                        634,632
<ALLOWANCE>                                      9,965
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,141,313
<DEPOSITS>                                     918,367
<SHORT-TERM>                                    91,626
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              6,395
<LONG-TERM>                                     23,055
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         8,442
<OTHER-SE>                                      93,428
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               1,141,313
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 42,615
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               19,810
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                    71
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                62,496
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              23,747
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              27,044
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           35,452
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                    2,175
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                               1,205
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 25,682
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,372
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       8,986
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,986
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.10
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                    4.67
<LOANS-NON>                                      4,128
<LOANS-PAST>                                       615
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                     0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                 27,410
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                                 9,120
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                    2,022
<RECOVERIES>                                       692
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                                9,965
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                             7,229
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                  0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                          2,736