FILED BY CCBT FINANCIAL COMPANIES, INC.
                       PURSUANT TO RULE 425 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND
     DEEMED FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 14A-12 OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                 SUBJECT COMPANY: CCBT FINANCIAL COMPANIES, INC.
                                                   COMMISSION FILE NO. 000-25381



THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE WAS ISSUED ON DECEMBER 9, 2003:


            BANKNORTH TO GAIN NUMBER TWO MARKET POSITION ON CAPE COD
                  WITH ACQUISITION OF CCBT FINANCIAL COMPANIES


Portland, Maine, December 9, 2003 - Banknorth Group, Inc. (NYSE: BNK) announced
today that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire CCBT Financial
Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCBT), the parent company of Cape Cod Bank and Trust
Company, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $300 million.

Cape Cod Bank & Trust, with $1.4 billion in assets and $1.0 billion in deposits,
has 26 branches in Barnstable and Plymouth Counties, Massachusetts. It has the
second highest market share in Barnstable County, which encompasses Cape Cod.
Barnstable County has the highest projected population growth in mainland
Massachusetts.

"In one transaction, we have become a significant banking and financial services
presence in this important Massachusetts market," said William J. Ryan,
Banknorth Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "With the pending
purchase of FleetBoston Financial by Bank of America, we want to extend our
market presence intelligently in Massachusetts to compete for customers. We look
forward to bringing a broader array of products and services to the customers of
Cape Cod Bank & Trust while maintaining that venerable institution's commitment
to the communities it serves."

Banknorth Group's banking subsidiary, Banknorth, N.A., currently operates 114
branches in Massachusetts and recently announced the acquisitions of Foxborough
Savings Bank and First & Ocean Bancorp. Pro forma, the three acquisitions will
increase Banknorth's total branches in Massachusetts by 35 to 149.

"We recognize the importance of aligning ourselves with a true New England
company," said Stephen B. Lawson, CCBT Financial's President and Chief Executive
Officer. "Like us, Banknorth has been an innovator in bringing its customers
insurance and investments services to complement a full range of banking
services. Through this strategic alliance, we enhance the commercial and
consumer lending expertise available to current and prospective customers."

The terms of the agreement call for outstanding shares of CCBT Financial to be
converted into 1.084 shares of Banknorth common stock, plus cash in lieu of any
fractional share interest. This values CCBT at $35.00 per share based on
Banknorth's closing common stock price of $32.30 on December 5, 2003.

"This is a good financial transaction for Banknorth that is consistent with our
history of acquisitions that add to earnings per share," said Peter J. Verrill,
Banknorth's Chief Operating Officer.





"The $35 price represents 259% of CCBT's book value and a deposit premium of
18.5%. We believe that this is a reasonable price given CCBT's outstanding
market share and branch franchise."

The transaction is intended to qualify as a reorganization for federal income
tax purposes and provide a tax-free exchange of shares.

Banknorth anticipates cost savings of 25% and will implement a restructuring of
a portion of CCBT's securities portfolio to increase net interest income.

The definitive agreement has been approved by the directors of both Banknorth
and CCBT. The transaction is subject to all required regulatory approvals, the
shareholders of CCBT Financial and other customary conditions. The transaction
is expected to be completed by mid-year 2004 with operational integration to
follow soon after.

Banknorth was advised by Lehman Brothers, Inc. and its legal counsel was Elias,
Matz, Tiernan & Herrick LLP. CCBT was advised by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
and its legal counsel was Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz.

Banknorth Group, headquartered in Portland, Maine, is one of the country's 35
largest commercial banking companies with $25.7 billion in assets and $28.7
billion on a pro forma basis. The Company's banking subsidiary, Banknorth, N.A.,
operates banking divisions in Connecticut (Banknorth Connecticut); Maine
(Peoples Heritage Bank); Massachusetts (Banknorth Massachusetts); New Hampshire
(Bank of New Hampshire); New York (Evergreen Bank); and Vermont (Banknorth
Vermont). The Company and Banknorth, N.A. also operate subsidiaries and
divisions in insurance, money management, merchant services, mortgage banking,
government banking and other financial services and offers investment products
in association with PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc. The Company's website is
at www.banknorth.com.

THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS REGARDING BANKNORTH'S
ACQUISITION OF CCBT FINANCIAL. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE CERTAIN
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTEMPLATED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE,
AMONG OTHERS, THE FOLLOWING POSSIBILITIES: (1) ESTIMATED COST SAVINGS FROM THE
ACQUISITION CANNOT BE FULLY REALIZED WITHIN THE EXPECTED TIME FRAME; (2)
REVENUES FOLLOWING THE ACQUISITION ARE LOWER THAN EXPECTED; (3) COMPETITIVE
PRESSURE AMONG DEPOSITORY INSTITUTIONS INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY; (4) COSTS OR
DIFFICULTIES RELATED TO THE INTEGRATION OF THE BUSINESSES OF BANKNORTH AND CCBT
FINANCIAL ARE GREATER THAN EXPECTED; (5) CHANGES IN THE INTEREST RATE
ENVIRONMENT REDUCE INTEREST MARGINS; (6) GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, EITHER
NATIONALLY OR IN THE MARKETS IN WHICH BANKNORTH WILL BE DOING BUSINESS, ARE LESS
FAVORABLE THAN EXPECTED; (7) LEGISLATION OR CHANGES IN REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BUSINESSES IN WHICH BANKNORTH WOULD BE ENGAGED OR (8)
FACTORS WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A CONDITION TO THE TRANSACTION NOT BEING MET.

BANKNORTH AND CCBT FINANCIAL WILL BE FILING RELEVANT DOCUMENTS CONCERNING THE
MERGER WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, INCLUDING A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 CONTAINING A PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT. WE URGE INVESTORS
TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. INVESTORS
WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THESE DOCUMENTS FREE OF CHARGE AT THE SEC'S WEBSITE,
WWW.SEC.GOV. IN ADDITION, DOCUMENTS FILED




WITH THE SEC BY BANKNORTH WILL BE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF
BANKNORTH (CAROL L. MITCHELL, SECRETARY, BANKNORTH GROUP, INC., TWO PORTLAND
SQUARE, P. O. BOX 9540, PORTLAND, MAINE 04112-9540, TELEPHONE (207) 761-8500),
AND DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BY CCBT FINANCIAL (JOHN S. BURNETT, CLERK, CCBT
FINANCIAL COMPANIES, INC., P.O. BOX 1180, SOUTH YARMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS,
02664-0180, TELEPHONE (508) 394-1300). THE DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF
CCBT FINANCIAL MAY BE DEEMED TO BE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
TO APPROVE THE MERGER. INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF
CCBT FINANCIAL AND OWNERSHIP OF CCBT FINANCIAL COMMON STOCK IS SET FORTH IN THE
PROXY STATEMENT FILED BY CCBT FINANCIAL WITH THE SEC ON MARCH 24, 2003.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE INTEREST OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS MAY BE OBTAINED
FROM READING THE DEFINITIVE PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED
ACQUISITION WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. CCBT FINANCIAL INVESTORS SHOULD READ THE
PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC
CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION CONCERNING THE MERGER.