<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NBT BANCORP
INC'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>         
<MULTIPLIER>                                    1,000
       
                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         38,911
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          2,201 
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                               15,488
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                    0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                   440,695
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         33,626
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           33,625
<LOANS>                                       716,838
<ALLOWANCE>                                    11,438
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,282,331
<DEPOSITS>                                    994,851
<SHORT-TERM>                                  158,762
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             9,658
<LONG-TERM>                                       186
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                        9,002
<OTHER-SE>                                    109,872
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              1,282,331
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                47,741
<INTEREST-INVEST>                              22,849
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                  300
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               70,890
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                             25,880
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             31,293
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          39,597
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   2,680
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                (72)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                25,729
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                17,459
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                     11,184
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   11,184
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.30
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                   4.66
<LOANS-NON>                                     4,624
<LOANS-PAST>                                      990
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                35,643
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               10,473
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                   2,381
<RECOVERIES>                                      666
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              11,438
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            8,442
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         2,996