<ARTICLE>                                            9
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NBT BANCORP
INC'S FORM 8-K DATED JULY 31, 2000  99.1FOR THE PERIOD  ENDED  DECEMBER 31, 1997
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-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                      JAN-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                       DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                              1
<CASH>                                       0
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                       0
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                             0
<TRADING-ASSETS>                             0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                  0
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                       0
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                         0
<LOANS>                                      0
<ALLOWANCE>                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               0
<DEPOSITS>                                   0
<SHORT-TERM>                                 0
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                          0
<LONG-TERM>                                  0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<COMMON>                                     0
<OTHER-SE>                                   0
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>               0
<INTEREST-LOAN>                         99,789
<INTEREST-INVEST>                       46,622
<INTEREST-OTHER>                           927
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                       147,338
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                      56,966
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      68,892
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                   78,446
<LOAN-LOSSES>                            4,820
<SECURITIES-GAINS>                          34
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                         54,460
<INCOME-PRETAX>                         33,094
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>              22,188
<EXTRAORDINARY>                              0
<CHANGES>                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                            22,188
<EPS-BASIC>                               1.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                              .98
<YIELD-ACTUAL>                            4.44
<LOANS-NON>                              8,386
<LOANS-PAST>                             4,224
<LOANS-TROUBLED>                         2,877
<LOANS-PROBLEM>                         32,980
<ALLOWANCE-OPEN>                        15,053
<CHARGE-OFFS>                            4,470
<RECOVERIES>                             1,047
<ALLOWANCE-CLOSE>                       10,721
<ALLOWANCE-DOMESTIC>                    16,450
<ALLOWANCE-FOREIGN>                          0
<ALLOWANCE-UNALLOCATED>                  5,729