SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

       DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED) NOVEMBER 15, 2004


                                NBT Bancorp Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Delaware                     0-14703                  16-1268674
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     (State or other         (Commission File Number)        (IRS Employer
     jurisdiction of                                       Identification No.)
     incorporation)


52 South Broad Street, Norwich, New York                         13815
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (607) 337-2265
                                                      --------------



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if  the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following  provisions:
[ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)
[ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)
[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))




Item  3.03.     Material  Modification  to  Rights  of  Security  Holders.
                ----------------------------------------------------------

     As previously announced, on October 25, 2004, the Board of Directors of the
Company  adopted  a  stockholder rights plan to become effective on November 15,
2004  and  declared  a  dividend  distribution  of  one right ("Right") for each
outstanding  share of common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock") of
the  Company.  The  distribution  was paid to stockholders of record on November
16,  2004.

     The  Rights  Agreement  between  the  Company  and  Registrar  and Transfer
Company, as Rights Agent, specifying the terms of the Rights, which includes the
form  of  Certificate  of  Designation  of  the  Series  A  Junior Participating
Preferred  Stock as Exhibit A, the Summary of Rights to Purchase Series A Junior
                    ---------
Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit B and the form of Rights Certificate as
                                 ---------
Exhibit  C,  is  attached  hereto  as  Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by
- ----------
reference.

Item  5.03     Amendments  to  Articles  of  Incorporation  or Bylaws; Change in
Fiscal  Year.

     In  connection  with  the adoption of the Rights Agreement discussed above,
the  Company  designated  a  new  series  of  preferred stock as Series A Junior
Participating  Preferred  Stock.  A  copy  of  the  Certificate  of  Designation
relating  to  the  Series  A Junior Participating Preferred Stock is attached as
Exhibit  A  to  the  Rights  Agreement  and is incorporated herein by reference.
- ----------


                                      - 2 -

Item  9.01.    Financial  Statements  and  Exhibits.
               ------------------------------------

(a)            Not Applicable.

(b)            Not Applicable.

(c)            Exhibits.

               4.1. Rights Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2004, between the
                    Company  and  Registrar & Transfer Company, as Rights Agent,
                    which includes the form of Certificate of Designation of the
                    Series  A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A,
                                                                      ---------
                    the  Summary  of  Rights  to  Purchase  Series  A  Junior
                    Participating  Preferred Shares as Exhibit B and the form of
                                                       ---------
                    Rights  Certificate  as  Exhibit  C.
                                             ----------


                                      - 3 -

                                   SIGNATURES



     Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended,  the  Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf
by  the  undersigned  thereunto  duly  authorized.


                                         NBT BANCORP INC.


Date:  November 16, 2004                 By:  /s/Michael  J.  Chewens
                                            ------------------------------------

                                            Michael J. Chewens
                                            Senior Executive Vice President,
                                            Chief Financial Officer and
                                            Corporate Secretary



                                      - 4 -

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------



Exhibit No.         Description
- -----------         -----------


4.1                 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2004, between the
                    Company  and  Registrar & Transfer Company, as Rights Agent,
                    which includes the form of Certificate of Designation of the
                    Series  A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A,
                                                                      ---------
                    the  Summary  of  Rights  to  Purchase  Series  A  Junior
                    Participating  Preferred Shares as Exhibit B and the form of
                                                       ---------
                    Rights  Certificate  as  Exhibit C.
                                             ---------


                                      - 5 -