<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NBT BANCORP
INC'S FORM 8-K DATED JULY 31, 2000 EXHIBIT  99.1 FOR THE PERIOD  ENDED  DECEMBER
31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000790359
<NAME>                        NBT BANCORP INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. DOLLARS

                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                      JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                       DEC-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                              1
<CASH>                                  65,839
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                   7,783
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                        14,140
<TRADING-ASSETS>                             0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>            523,254
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                 180,663
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                   181,741
<LOANS>                              1,277,241
<ALLOWANCE>                             18,231
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       2,169,855
<DEPOSITS>                           1,664,307
<SHORT-TERM>                            99,872
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                     17,670
<LONG-TERM>                            183,968
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<COMMON>                                23,188
<OTHER-SE>                             180,850
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>       2,169,855
<INTEREST-LOAN>                        108,492
<INTEREST-INVEST>                       49,099
<INTEREST-OTHER>                         1,011
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                       158,602
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                      58,898
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      74,736
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                   83,866
<LOAN-LOSSES>                            6,149
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                       1,567
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                         61,547
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         34,044
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>              26,895
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              0
<CHANGES>                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                            26,895
<EPS-BASIC>                               1.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                             1.14
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                             4.3
<LOANS-NON>                              7,673
<LOANS-PAST>                             2,755
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                         4,402
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                         34,636
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                        16,450
<CHARGE-OFFS>                            5,404
<RECOVERIES>                             1,036
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                       18,231
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                    14,621
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                          0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                  3,610