EXHIBIT 32.1

         CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER UNDER 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

I, Robert G. Wilmers, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer of M&T Bank Corporation, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that:

         (1)      the Annual Report on Form 10-K of M&T Bank Corporation for the
                  annual period ended December 31, 2003 (the "Report") fully
                  complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
                  the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d));
                  and

         (2)      the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of M&T Bank Corporation.

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate
disclosure document.

/s/ Robert G. Wilmers
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Robert G. Wilmers
February 26, 2004

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to M&T Bank Corporation and will be
retained by M&T Bank Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange
Commission or its staff upon request.