<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NBT BANCORP
INC'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                      JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                       SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                              1            
<CASH>                                  37,270
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                  10,433
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                             0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>            392,982
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                  36,203
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                    36,203
<LOANS>                                797,604
<ALLOWANCE>                             12,611
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       1,302,943
<DEPOSITS>                           1,033,107
<SHORT-TERM>                           120,215
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                      6,941
<LONG-TERM>                             10,174
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<COMMON>                                12,426
<OTHER-SE>                             120,080
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>       1,302,943
<INTEREST-LOAN>                         52,701
<INTEREST-INVEST>                       23,069
<INTEREST-OTHER>                           210
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                        75,980
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                      28,423
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      33,274
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                   42,706
<LOAN-LOSSES>                            3,550
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                         613
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                         28,648
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         18,136
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>              14,513
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              0
<CHANGES>                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                            14,513
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             1.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                             1.18
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                            4.74
<LOANS-NON>                              4,902
<LOANS-PAST>                               954
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                             0
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                         25,598
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                        11,582
<CHARGE-OFFS>                            3,131
<RECOVERIES>                               610
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                       12,611
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                     9,048
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                          0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                  3,563