EXHIBIT 25.1

     ___________________________________________________________________

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D. C.  20549
                          _________________________

                                  FORM  T-1
                                  FORM  T-1

                           STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
                  A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
                 ___________________________________________
             CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF
               A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ________
                   ________________________________________

                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
             (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


New York                                                           13-4994650
New York                                                           13-4994650
(State of incorporation                                      (I.R.S. employer
if not a national bank)                                   identification No.)

270 Park Avenue
270 Park Avenue
New York, New York                                                      10017
New York, New York                                                      10017
(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)

                              William H. McDavid
                               General Counsel
                               270 Park Avenue
                           New York, New York 10017
                             Tel:  (212) 270-2611
          (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                _____________________________________________
                         Community Bank System, Inc.
                         Community Bank System, Inc.
             (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                           16-1213679
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                            identification No.)

5790 Widewaters Parkway
5790 Widewaters Parkway
DeWitt, New York                                                        13214
DeWitt, New York                                                        13214
(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip Code)
                                            
                                            
                                 ___________
         Series B Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
         Series B Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
                     (Title of the indenture securities)




















                                   GENERAL
                                   GENERAL

Item 1.  General Information.
         Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

    (a)  Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which
         it is subject.
         New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 
       12110.     Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,
       Washington, D.C., 20551

         Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street,
         New York, N.Y.

         Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.


    (b)  Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

         Yes.


Item 2.  Affiliations with the Obligor.

         If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
         affiliation.

         None.


Item 16.   List of Exhibits

         List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of
Eligibility.

    1.   A  copy of  the Articles  of Association  of the  Trustee as  now in
effect, including  the   Organization  Certificate  and the  Certificates  of
Amendment  dated February  17,  1969,  August 31,  1977,  December 31,  1980,
September 9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see
Exhibit 1 to  Form T-1 filed in  connection with Registration Statement   No.
333-06249, which is incorporated by reference).

    2.   A copy  of the Certificate of  Authority of  the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit  2 to Form  T-1 filed in  connection with  Registration
Statement  No. 33-50010,  which is  incorporated by reference.   On  July 14,
1996, in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The  Chase Manhattan
Bank  (National Association), Chemical  Bank, the surviving  corporation, was
renamed The Chase Manhattan Bank).

    3.    None,  authorization  to  exercise  corporate  trust  powers  being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

    4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4  to Form
T-1 filed in  connection with Registration Statement No.  333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

    5.  Not applicable.

    6.   The consent  of the Trustee  required by Section  321(b) of  the Act
(see Exhibit  6 to Form  T-1 filed in connection  with Registration Statement
No. 33-50010,  which  is incorporated  by  reference. On  July  14, 1996,  in
connection with  the merger  of Chemical  Bank and The  Chase Manhattan  Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

    7.   A copy of  the latest report of  condition of the Trustee, published


pursuant  to  law  or  the  requirements  of  its  supervising  or  examining
authority.

    8.  Not applicable.

    9.  Not applicable.

                                  SIGNATURE
                                  SIGNATURE

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of
eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 24th
                                                                      24th
day of June, 1997.
       June, 1997.

                                THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
                                THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                By                                        
                                  ________________________________________
                                      James D. Heaney    
                                      Vice President

















































                            Exhibit 7 to Form T-1


                               Bank Call Notice

                            RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
                     CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

                           The Chase Manhattan Bank
                 of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
                    and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
                   a member of the Federal Reserve System,

                 at the close of business March 31, 1997, in
       accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
       District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

                                                                              
                                                    Dollar Amounts
                                                    Dollar Amounts
          ASSETS                                in Millions
          ASSETS                                in Millions


Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
   Noninterest-bearing balances and
   currency and coin    . . . . . . . . . . .      $  11,721
   Interest-bearing balances    . . . . . . .          3,473
Securities:   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Held to maturity securities . . . . . . . . .          2,965
Available for sale securities   . . . . . . .         35,903
Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under
   agreements to resell   . . . . . . . . . .         24,025
Loans and lease financing receivables:
   Loans and leases, net of unearned income                  $123,957
   Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses                      2,853
   Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve ............................        
                                                                        _____
 13
___
   Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
   allowance, and reserve   . . . . . . . . .        121,091
Trading Assets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         54,340
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
   leases)    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          2,875
Other real estate owned   . . . . . . . . . .            302
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
   associated companies   . . . . . . . . . .            139
Customers  liability to this bank on acceptances
   outstanding    . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          2,270
Intangible assets   . . . . . . . . . . . . .          1,535
Other assets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         10,283               
                                                      ______
TOTAL ASSETS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       $270,922
          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . =========


















                                 LIABILITIES

Deposits
   In domestic offices    . . . . . . . . . .        $84,776
   Noninterest-bearing    . . . . . . . . . .        $32,492
   Interest-bearing   . . . . . . . . . . . .         52,284
                                                     _______

   In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
   and IBF's    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         69,171
   Noninterest-bearing    . . . . . . . . . .        $ 4,181
   Interest-bearing   . . . . . . . . . . . .         64,990

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under 
   agreements to repurchase   . . . . . . . .         32,885
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury  . .          1,000
Trading liabilities   . . . . . . . . . . . .         42,538

Other Borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
   and obligations under calitalized leases): 
   With a remaining maturity of one year or less            4,431
   With a remaining maturity of more than one year .        466
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding
                                                       2,270
Subordinated notes and debentures   . . . . .          5,911
Other liabilities   . . . . . . . . . . . . .         11,575

TOTAL LIABILITIES   . . . . . . . . . . . . .        255,023
                                                     _______

                                EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual Preferred stock and related surplus              0
Common stock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          1,211
Surplus  (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)   10,283
Undivided profits and capital reserves  . . .          4,941
Net unrealized holding gains (Losses)
on available-for-sale securities  . . . . . .          (552)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments         16

TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL  . . . . . . . . . . . .         15,899
          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ______
TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED 
   STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL   . . . . . . . .       $270,922
          . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      ==========
I, Joseph L. Sclafani, E.V.P. & Controller of the above-named
bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has
been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued
by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true
to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                    JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness 
of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been
examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and
belief has been prepared in conformance with the in-
structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory
authority and is true and correct.

                    WALTER V. SHIPLEY          )
                    THOMAS G. LABRECQUE        )DIRECTORS
                    WILLIAM B. HARRISON, JR.   )