FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES Inc.
                              
                      Stock Bonus Plan
                              
                          Form 11K
                              
              For the Plan Year Ended 12/31/93
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
             Securities and Exchange Commission
                              
                    Washington, DC  20549
                              
                              
                              
                          FORM 11-K
                              
     /X/ Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
               Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              
         For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993
                              
                             or
                              
    / /   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of
             the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                              
                Commission file number 014140
                              
                              
                              
                              
        First Albany Companies Inc. Stock Bonus Plan
                       (Title of Plan)
                              
                              
                 First Albany Companies Inc.
                   (Issuer of Securities)
                              
                              
                       41 State Street
                   Albany, New York  12201
                       (518) 447-8500
           (Address of Principal Executive Office)
                              
                              
I.R.S. Employer I.D. No. 22-2655804




                            ITEMS


                              
                              
                              
Item 4. Financial Statements and Schedules

     1.   Report of Independent Accountants

      A.  Statement of net assets available for plan benefits
           as of December 31, 1993 and 1992
      B.  Statements of changes in net assets available for plan
           benefits for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1992
           and 1991
      C.  Notes to financial statements
      D.  Assets held for investments at December 31, 1993
      E.  Transactions in excess of 5% of the current value of plan assets
          for the year ending December 31, 1993.


    24.    Consent of Independent Accountants





                         SIGNATURES
                              
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
trustees (or other persons who administer the plan) have duly caused this
annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.



                                 First Albany Companies Inc.
                                 Stock Bonus Plan


DATE: 3/30/94                    BY: /s/ George C. McNamee
                                    --------------------------
                                    George C. McNamee
                                    Member of the Administrative
                                    Committee






               THE FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC.
                      STOCK BONUS PLAN
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
              REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              
    For the Years Ended December 31, 1993, 1992 and 1991







                      TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                          Page
                                                                          ----


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS                                           1 


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  Statements of net assets available for plan benefits                      2 

  Statements of changes in net assets available for
    plan benefits                                                           3 

  Notes to financial statements                                            4-6


SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES

  Assets held for investment at December 31, 1993                           7 

  Transactions in excess of 5% of the current value
     of plan assets for the year ended December 31, 1993                  8-10








                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                      ---------------------------------
                              
                              
To the Administrative Committee
  of First Albany Companies Inc. Stock Bonus Plan


We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for plan
benefits of First Albany Companies Inc. Stock Bonus Plan as of December 31,


1993 and 1992, and the related statement of changes in net assets available
for plan benefits for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1993.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. 
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects,  the net assets available for plan benefits of the
Plan as of December 31, 1993 and 1992, and the changes in net assets
available for plan benefits for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1993, in conformity with generally accepted accounting 
principles. 

As described in Note 2, the plan changed its method of accounting for
liabilities to former plan participants.

Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedules listed in
the accompanying table of contents are presented for purposes of complying
with the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and
Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and are
not a required part of the basic financial statements.  The supplemental
schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit
of the basic financial statements and,  in our opinion, are fairly stated in
all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as
a whole.

                                        COOPERS & LYBRAND

Albany, New York
March 9, 1994

                                     -1-


                              
                              
                         FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC.
                               STOCK BONUS PLAN
                              
             STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS


=================================================================
                                   December 31,      December 31,
                                      1993               1992
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS

 Investments, at fair
   value (Note 4)                  $5,371,847        $3,484,264


 Cash, noninterest bearing             15,335            29,802
                                    ---------         ---------



Total assets                        5,387,182         3,514,066


 Benefits payable to
   terminated participants                               25,168
                                   ----------         ---------


Net assets available for plan
  benefits                         $5,387,182        $3,488,898
                                   ==========        ==========





                    The accompanying notes are an integral
                      part of the financial statements.

                                     -2-




                         FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC.
                               STOCK BONUS PLAN

       STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS
                              

=============================================================================
                                December 31,    December 31,    December 31,
For the years ended                1993            1992            1991
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additions to net assets
attributed to:
  Contributions from:
    Employees                   $  628,641       $  396,331      $  328,887
    Employer (Note 4)              292,466          189,740         142,729
                                ----------       ----------      ----------
                                   921,107          586,071         471,616

 Net appreciation in the
  fair value of investments      1,064,707          720,100       1,031,710
 Dividend income                   109,602          108,895
                                ----------       ----------      ----------
Total additions                  2,095,416        1,415,066       1,503,326
                                ----------       ----------      ----------

Deductions from net assets
attributed to:
 Benefits paid or payable to:
  Terminated participants          175,204          200,252         149,403
  Active participants               47,096
                                ----------       ----------      ----------

Total deductions                   222,300          200,252         149,403
                                ----------       ----------      ----------

Increase prior to cumulative
 effect of a change in


 accounting principle            1,873,116        1,214,814       1,353,923

Cumulative effect of a change
 in accounting principle            25,168
                                ----------       ----------      ----------
Net increase                     1,898,284        1,214,814       1,353,923

Net assets available for
plan benefits:

 Beginning of period             3,488,898        2,274,084         920,161
                                ----------       ----------      ----------
 End of period                  $5,387,182       $3,488,898      $2,274,084
                                ==========       ==========      ==========




                    The accompanying notes are an integral
                      part of the financial statements.

                                     -3-




                              
                         FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC.
                               STOCK BONUS PLAN
                              
                        NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1.  Description of the Plan

The following description of the First Albany Companies Inc. (the "Company")
Stock Bonus  Plan (the "Plan") provides only general information. 
Participants should refer to the Plan Document for a more complete
description of the Plan's provisions.

     a.  General

     Effective July 1, 1987, First Albany Companies Inc. established a Stock
     Bonus Plan.  This Plan is a defined contribution plan covering
     substantially all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. 
     Employees are eligible to participate upon the first day of the calendar
     quarter following completion of at least one thousand hours of service
     during any consecutive twelve months of continuous recognized employment
     as defined in the Plan.  The Plan is subject to the provisions of the
     Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).  All costs and
     fees incurred in administering the Plan are borne by the Company, which
     is the Plan administrator and custodian.

     b.  Contributions and Participant Accounts

     Participants elect to make after-tax contributions to the Plan.  The
     Company may, but is not required to, contribute to the Plan an amount
     equal to a percentage of each participants' voluntary after-tax
     contribution.  For 1993, 1992 and 1991, the Company's contribution
     percentage was 50%.  Annually, the Board of Directors of the Company may
     authorize an additional contribution to the Plan.  Forfeitures are
     maintained within the Plan and used to reduce the Company's matching
     contribution.

     c.  Investments



     The Plan is limited to investing solely in the common stock of the
     Company which is traded in the over-the-counter market, except that
     interim short-term investments may be made pending purchase of the
     Company's stock.  Purchases and sales of the Company's stock are
     conducted by the Company's principal subsidiary, First Albany
     Corporation, a registered broker-dealer.  Commissions are not charged on
     these transactions.

     d.  Vesting

     Effective January 1, 1989, participants' vest in employer contributions
     and earnings thereon based on years of service.  A participant is 100
     percent vested after seven years of credited service.  Participants'
     contributions and earnings thereon are fully vested at all times.

                                     -4-





                         FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC.
                               STOCK BONUS PLAN

                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued


     e.  Payment of Benefits

     On termination of service, participants may receive payment in cash or
     shares distribution of their vested benefits in a lump-sum distribution
     equal to the value of their accounts as of the valuation date, as
     defined in the Plan.

2.   Change in Accounting Principle

     During 1993, the plan changed its method of accounting for liabilities
to former plan participants to conform with changes made in the AICPA Audit
and Accounting Guide for Audits of Employee Benefit Plan.  Under the prior
method, a liability was recorded for amounts which had been allocated to
persons that had withdrawn from the plan.  Such obligations do not require
accrual in Plan financial statements, but are required to be reported as
liabilities in the Plan's Form 5500 (Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit
Plans.)  Accordingly, this obligation, which amounts to $109,927 at December
31, 1993 is a reconciling item between the Plan financial statements and Form
5500.  For 1992 and 1991, the net increase in net assets available for Plan
benefits would have been decreased $57,919 and increased $66,056,
respectively, on a proforma basis.

3.  Significant Accounting Policies

     The accounting records of the Plan are maintained on the accrual basis.

     Investments are stated at market value, which is based upon the last
     reported sales price.

     The Plan presents, in the statements of changes in net assets, the net
     appreciation (depreciation) in the fair  value of its investments which
     consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation
     (depreciation) on those investments. 

4.  Investments

     The Plan's investment portfolio consists of the following as of December
     31, 1993 and 1992:


                          1993                    1992
                          ----                    ---- 
                    Cost     Market Value    Cost    Market Value
                    ----     ------------    ----    ------------

Common Stock:
  First Albany
  Companies Inc.  $3,566,335  $5,371,847   $2,667,790  $3,484,264

     The number of shares of First Albany Companies Inc. common stock as of
     December 31, 1993 and 1992 was 651,133 and 497,752 respectively. 
     Realized net gain(loss) based on average costs were $75,669, $47,571 and
     ($19,010) for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1992 and 1991,
     respectively.

                                     -5-





                         FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC.
                               STOCK BONUS PLAN

                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued


     The Plan's investment portfolio is subject to daily market price
     fluctuations.  Since the entire investment portfolio consists of the
     Company's common stock, the Plan's portfolio may be exposed to risk in
     the event of a decline in the market value of the Company's stock. 

5.  Forfeitures

     The Company applied forfeitures of $21,866, $8,706 and $21,719 to reduce
     its matching contribution to the Plan during 1993, 1992 and 1991,
     respectively.

6.  Plan Termination

     Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the
     right under the Plan to discontinue its contribution at any time and to
     terminate the Plan subject  to the provisions of ERISA.  In the event of
     Plan  termination, the account of each participant shall become  fully
     vested and be distributed.

7.  Tax Status

     Effective January 1, 1989, the Plan was amended and restated to comply
     with the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
     of 1987, and the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988.  On
     February 26, 1993, the Internal Revenue Service ruled that the amended
     and restated Plan is qualified under the Internal Revenue Code and is,
     therefore, not subject to tax.

                                     -6-




                         FIRST ALBANY COMPANIES INC.
                               STOCK BONUS PLAN

                         ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT*
                              December 31, 1993





                                                       Current
     Description                        Cost            Value
     -----------                        ----           -------


First Albany Companies Inc.:
  Common stock ($0.01 - par value)    $3,566,335      $5,371,847
                                      ==========      ==========





  *    The supplemental schedule refers to item number 27a in Form 5500
(Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan).


                                     -7-

 

 




                                                First Albany Companies Inc.
                                                     Stock Bonus Plan

                                            Transactions In Excess of 5% Of The
                                               Current Value of Plan Assets*
                                           For The year Ended December 31, 1993


                                       Number                                           Value on
                                         Of               Purchase   Sales   Gains/    Transaction
DATE       DESCRIPTION                 Shares    Cost**     Amount   Amount  (Losses)      Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    

 3-Jan-93  First Albany Companies -  2,100.00                 15,225                     15,225
           Common Stock
 3-Jan-93  First Albany Companies -    840.00                  5,883                      5,883
           Common Stock
 8-Jan-93  First Albany Companies -  2,000.00                 15,003                     15,003
           Common Stock
14-Jan-93  First Albany Companies -    145.00                  1,018                      1,018
           Common Stock
28-Jan-93  First Albany Companies -    700.00                  5,078                      5,078
           Common Stock
29-Jan-93  First Albany Companies -  5,000.00                 36,253                     36,253
           Common Stock
 3-Feb-93  First Albany Companies -    294.00                  2,282                      2,282
           Common Stock
17-Feb-93  First Albany Companies -    550.00                  4,538                      4,538
           Common Stock
17-Feb-93  First Albany Companies -    112.00                    927                        927
           Common Stock
24-Feb-93  First Albany Companies -  3,851.00                 33,218                     33,218
           Common Stock
 4-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -    205.00                  1,797                      1,797
           Common Stock
 4-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -   (22.19)      (121)                 155      35        155
           Common Stock
 4-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -     22.19                   189                         189
           Common Stock
 4-Mar-93  First Albany Companies - (2,225.63)  (12,087)              18,918   6,830     18,918
           Common Stock
 4-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -  2,225.63                18,918                      18,918
           Common Stock
 4-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -   (551.32)   (3,002)               4,686   1,685      4,686
           Common Stock


 4-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -    551.32                 4,686                       4,686
           Common Stock
 8-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -    247.00                 2,164                       2,164
           Common Stock
22-Mar-93  First Albany Companies - (3,553.42)  (19,363)              24,874   5,511     24,874
           Common Stock
22-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -      1.42                    12                          12
           Common Stock
23-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -      1.00                     9                           9


                                                            -8-



           Common Stock
24-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -    250.00                 2,253                       2,253
           Common Stock
29-Mar-93  First Albany Companies -  3,800.00                34,203                      34,203
           Common Stock
 2-Apr-93  First Albany Companies -    100.00                   902                         902
           Common Stock
 5-Apr-93  First Albany Companies -    210.00                 1,864                       1,864
           Common Stock
26-Apr-93  First Albany Companies -  3,000.00                27,753                      27,753
           Common Stock
26-Apr-93  First Albany Companies -  1,000.00                 9,253                       9,253
           Common Stock
26-Apr-93  First Albany Companies -    500.00                 4,625                       4,625
           Common Stock
27-Apr-93  First Albany Companies -  5,000.00                45,628                      45,628
           Common Stock
27-Apr-93  First Albany Companies -  1,600.00                14,603                      14,603
           Common Stock
17-Jun-93  First Albany Companies -   (114.16)     (634)                 970     336        970
           Common Stock
 7-May-93  First Albany Companies -      0.16                     1                           1
           Common Stock
17-Jun-93  First Albany Companies - (2,283.27)  (12,689)              20,549   7,861     20,549
           Common Stock
 7-May-93  First Albany Companies -      0.27                     2                           2
           Common Stock
13-May-93  First Albany Companies -  6,800.00                62,053                      62,053
           Common Stock
13-May-93  First Albany Companies -    (16.63)      (93)                 141      48        141
           Common Stock
13-May-93  First Albany Companies -     16.63                   141                         141
           Common Stock
13-May-93  First Albany Companies -   (332.66)   (1,864)               2,994   1,130      2,994
           Common Stock
13-May-93  First Albany Companies -    332.66                 2,828                       2,828


           Common Stock
19-May-93  First Albany Companies - 17,097.00
           Common Stock
20-May-93  First Albany Companies -    220.00                 1,983                       1,983
           Common Stock
21-May-93  First Albany Companies -  9,187.00
           Common Stock


                                                            -9-



21-May-93  First Albany Companies -    220.00                 1,983                       1,983
           Common Stock
24-May-93  First Albany Companies -    110.00                   979                         979
           Common Stock
26-May-93  First Albany Companies -  3,300.00                28,878                      28,878
           Common Stock
27-May-93  First Albany Companies -    100.00                   903                         903
           Common Stock
15-Jun-93  First Albany Companies -  2,500.00                21,566                      21,566
           Common Stock
16-Jun-93  First Albany Companies -  2,500.00                21,566                      21,566
           Common Stock
23-Jun-93  First Albany Companies -  1,897.00                16,365                      16,365
           Common Stock
19-Jul-93  First Albany Companies -  4,000.00                34,003                      34,003
           Common Stock
19-Jul-93  First Albany Companies -  5,030.00                43,387                      43,387
           Common Stock
19-Jul-93  First Albany Companies -    551.00                 4,755                       4,755
           Common Stock
20-Jul-93  First Albany Companies -    110.00                   911                         911
           Common Stock
28-Jul-93  First Albany Companies -    100.00                   703                         703
           Common Stock
12-Aug-93  First Albany Companies -   (822.00)   (4,486)               5,549   1,062      5,549
           Common Stock
12-Aug-93  First Albany Companies -    822.00                 5,549                       5,549
           Common Stock
17-Aug-93  First Albany Companies - (8,866.48)  (48,406)              77,582  29,175     77,582
           Common Stock
26-Aug-93  First Albany Companies -      0.59                     4                           4
           Common Stock
26-Aug-93  First Albany Companies - (2,013.59)  (10,993)              17,619   6,626     17,619
           Common Stock
26-Aug-93  First Albany Companies -  4,046.48                27,314                      27,314
           Common Stock
26-Aug-93  First Albany Companies -      0.70                     5                           5
           Common Stock


26-Aug-93  First Albany Companies -  1,712.70)   (9,366)              14,986   5,620     14,986
           Common Stock
26-Aug-93  First Albany Companies -      1.36                     9                           9
           Common Stock
26-Aug-93  First Albany Companies -   (107.36)     (587)                 939     352        939


                                                           -10-



           Common Stock
 8-Sep-93  First Albany Companies -    200.00                 1,503                       1,503
           Common Stock
10-Sep-93  First Albany Companies -  2,000.00                15,003                      15,003
           Common Stock
15-Sep-93  First Albany Companies -   (111.00)     (608)                 971     363        971
           Common Stock
17-Sep-93  First Albany Companies -  5,000.00                38,128                      38,128
           Common Stock
24-Sep-93  First Albany Companies -  3,500.00                26,691                      26,691
           Common Stock
28-Sep-93  First Albany Companies -  1,000.00                 7,878                       7,878
           Common Stock
12-Oct-93  First Albany Companies -  4,900.00                40,428                      40,428
           Common Stock
14-Oct-93  First Albany Companies -  1,312.00                10,991                      10,991
           Common Stock
 4-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -  4,000.00                33,503                      33,503
           Common Stock
 5-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -      7.00                    62                          62
           Common Stock
10-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -  6,300.00                57,491                      57,491
           Common Stock
15-Nov-93  First Albany Companies - 19,662.00
           Common Stock
15-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -  9,646.00
           Common Stock
15-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -    (47.99)     (256)                 432     176        432
           Common Stock
15-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -   (959.77)   (5,121)               7,318   2,197      7,318
           Common Stock
15-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -      0.76                     6                           6
           Common Stock
22-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -  5,000.00                43,128                      43,128
           Common Stock
22-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -  5,000.00                43,128                      43,128
           Common Stock
26-Nov-93  First Albany Companies -  1,000.00                 8,628                       8,628
           Common Stock
 1-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -  5,000.00                43,128                      43,128


           Common Stock
 1-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    300.00                 2,591                       2,591
           Common Stock


                                                           -11-



 2-Dec-93  First Albany Companies - (1,790.54)   (9,704)              15,220   5,515     15,220
           Common Stock
 6-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -  1,790.54                15,220                      15,220
           Common Stock
 7-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -  1,653.00                13,640                      13,640
           Common Stock
 7-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    115.00                   963                         963
           Common Stock
 9-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -   (484.46)   (2,634)               3,694   1,060      3,694
           Common Stock
 9-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    (24.22)     (132)                 218      86        218
           Common Stock
 9-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -      0.68                     6                           6
           Common Stock
13-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    131.00                 1,117                       1,117
           Common Stock
16-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -  5,000.00                42,503                      42,503
           Common Stock
16-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    115.00                   981                         981
           Common Stock
16-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    115.00                   981                         981
           Common Stock
21-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    100.00                   866                         866
           Common Stock
22-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -  1,000.00                 8,503                       8,503
           Common Stock
23-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    315.00                 2,681                       2,681
           Common Stock
23-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    100.00                   866                         866
           Common Stock
29-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    331.00                 2,817                       2,817
           Common Stock
31-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -  1,000.00                 8,253                       8,253
           Common Stock
31-Dec-93  First Albany Companies -    578.00                 4,844                       4,844
           Common Stock
                                   ------------------------------------------------------------
                    
TOTALS:                            153,381.00  (142,147)  1,040,691  217,816  75,669  1,258,507
                                   ============================================================




     *    The supplemental schedule refers to item number 27d in Form 5500 (Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan)
     - Schedule of Reportable Transactions.

     **   Cost of Securities sold on an "average cost" basis.

 




                                     -12-