<ARTICLE>                     9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NBT BANCORP
INC'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                             1,000
<CURRENCY>                               U.S.Dollars
       
                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                              MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<CASH>                                         34,680
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          5,028
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                    0 
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                    0 
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                   432,997
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                         36,035
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                           36,034
<LOANS>                                       748,386 
<ALLOWANCE>                                    11,984
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              1,289,299
<DEPOSITS>                                  1,039,050
<SHORT-TERM>                                  106,563
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                             6,642
<LONG-TERM>                                    10,180
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                        9,430
<OTHER-SE>                                    117,434
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>              1,289,299
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                17,038
<INTEREST-INVEST>                               8,165
<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   53
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                               25,256
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              9,491
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             11,221
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                          14,035
<LOAN-LOSSES>                                   1,100
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                218
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 9,402
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 6,101
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                      5,072
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                    5,072
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.55
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                                   4.75
<LOANS-NON>                                     5,823
<LOANS-PAST>                                      900
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                                    0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                                29,126
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                               11,582
<CHARGE-OFFS>                                     886
<RECOVERIES>                                      188
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                              11,984
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                            8,469
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                                 0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                         3,515