EXHIBIT 26.1

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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 FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
(EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION 36-0899825
(I.R.S. EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60670-0126
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60670-0286
ATTN: LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
(NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

BANKNORTH CAPITAL TRUST I
(EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

DELAWARE (Applied for)
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

300 FINANCIAL PLAZA
BURLINGTON, VERMONT 05401
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)

10.52% CAPITAL SECURITIES, SERIES B
(TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)

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.

Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C., Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., The Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

(B) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. IF THE OBLIGOR
IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
SUCH AFFILIATION.

No such affiliation exists with the trustee.

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 now in effect.*

2. A copy of the certificates of authority of the
trustee to commence business.*

3. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
exercise corporate trust powers.*

4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

5. Not Applicable.

6. The consent of the trustee required by
Section 321(b) of the Act.
3

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.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national
banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United
States of America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all
in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois, on the 18th day of
September, 1997.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
TRUSTEE

BY /S/ RICHARD D. MANELLA

RICHARD D. MANELLA
VICE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR COUNSEL

* EXHIBITS 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS
BEARING IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA INC. FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 25,
1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).

EXHIBIT 6

THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT

September 18, 1997

Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549

Gentlemen:

In connection with the qualification of the Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust of Banknorth Capital Trust I, the undersigned, in accordance with Section
321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, hereby consents that the
reports of examinations of the undersigned, made by Federal or State authorities
authorized to make such examinations, may be furnished by such authorities to
the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Very truly yours,

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

BY: /S/ RICHARD D. MANELLA

RICHARD D. MANELLA
VICE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR COUNSEL

EXHIBIT 7

Legal Title of Bank: The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date: 06/30/97 ST-BK: 17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address: One First National Plaza, Ste 0303 Page RC-1
City, State Zip: Chicago, IL 60670
FDIC Certificate No.: 0/3/6/1/8

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR JUNE 30, 1997

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN C400
THOUSANDS RCFD BIL MIL THOU

ASSETS

1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule
RC-A):
a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1).. 0081 4,415,563 1.a.
b. Interest-bearing balances(2)........................... 0071 7.049,275 1.b.
2. Securities
a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A) 1754 0 2.a.
b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)............ 1773 4,455,173 2.b.
3. Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
resell 1350 4,604,233 3.
4. Loans and lease financing receivables:
a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
RC-C)..................................................... RCFD 2122 24,185,099 4.a.
b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses.............. RCFD 3123 423,419 4.b.
c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve.................. RCFD 3128 0 4.c.
d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and

reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c).......... 2125 23,761,680 4.d.
5. Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D)....................... 3545 6.930.216 5.
6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases).. 2145 705,704 6.
7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)..... 2150 7,960 7.
8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
companies (from Schedule RC-M)............................ 2130 64,504 8.
9. Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding....... 2155 562,251 9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M).................... 2143 283,716 10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)......................... 2160 1,997,778 11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11).................. 2170 54,837,423 12.

(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.

Legal Title of Bank: The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date: 06/30/97 ST-BK: 17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address: One First National Plaza, Ste 0303 Page RC-2
City, State Zip: Chicago, IL 60670
FDIC Certificate No.: 0/3/6/1/8

SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED

DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
Thousands BIL MIL THOU

LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:

a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
from Schedule RC-E, part 1)................... RCON 2200 21,852,164 13.a
(1) Noninterest-bearing(1).................... RCON 6631 9,474,510 13.a.1
(2) Interest-bearing.......................... RCON 6636 12,377,654 13.a.2
b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)... RCFN 2200 13,756,280 13.b.
(1) Noninterest bearing....................... RCFN 6631 330,030 13.b.1
(2) Interest-bearing.......................... RCFN 6636 13,426,250 13.b.2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
to repurchase: RCFD 2800 3.827,159 14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury RCON 2840 40,307 15.a
b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D)..................................... RCFD 3548 4,985,577 15.b
16. Other borrowed money:
a. With original maturity of one year or less.... RCFD 2332 2,337,018 16.a
b. With original maturity of than one year through three years.... A547 265,393 16.b
. c. With a remaining maturity of more than three years ................................ A548 322,175 16.c
17. Not applicable
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding RCFD 2920 562,251 18
19. Subordinated notes and debentures (2)... RCFD 3200 1,700,000 19
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G).. RCFD 2930 929,875 20
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)... RCFD 2948 50,618,199 21
22. Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL

23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus.... RCFD 3838 0 23
24. Common stock..................................... RCFD 3230 200,858 24
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) RCFD 3839 2,948,616 25
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves........ RCFD 3632 1,059,214 26.a.
b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
securities.................................... RCFD 8434 12,788 26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments RCFD 3284 (2,252) 27
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27) RCFD 3210 4,219,224 28
29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)............... RCFD 3300 54,837,423 29

Memorandum

To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.

1. Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most
comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external Number
auditors as of any date during 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCFD 6724 . ... N/A M.1.

1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance 4. = Directors' examination of the bank performed by other with
generally accepted auditing standards by a certified external auditors (may be required by state chartering
which submits a report on the bank chartering authority) authority)

2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company 5 = Review of the bank's financial statements by external
conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing auditors
standards by a certified public accounting firm which 6 = Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
submits a report on the consolidated holding company auditors
(but not on the bank separately) 7 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in 8 = No external audit work
accordance with generally accepted auditing standard
by a certified public accounting firm (may be required
by state chartering authority)

(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
deposits.
(2) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.