Exhibit 99(a)

 News Release

5 Sarnowski Drive, Glenville, New York, 12302

(518) 377-3311  Fax:  (518) 381-3668

Subsidiary: Trustco Bank NASDAQ -- TRST

Contact: Kevin T. Timmons

Vice President/Treasurer

(518) 381-3607

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

TrustCo Announces First Quarter

Net Income Increase of 6.4%

Glenville, New York –April 19, 2011

TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TrustCo, Nasdaq: TRST) today announced net income for the first quarter of 2011 of $7.4 million, up 6.4% over the prior-year period and equal to diluted earnings per share of $0.096, as compared to net income of $6.9 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.090 for the first quarter of 2010.   The first quarter of 2011 also saw continued core balance sheet growth.  Making the earnings announcement was Robert J. McCormick, President and Chief Executive Officer.  Mr. McCormick noted, “We are pleased that first quarter results continued 2010’s solid earnings and growth, and look forward to the remainder of 2011 with optimism as our internal trends remain positive.  The banking industry still faces challenges, but the progress we have made this year has helped to position the Company for continued growth and profitability.”  Return on average equity and return on average assets were 11.61% and 0.75%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2011, compared to 11.29% and 0.77% for the first quarter of 2010.

Mr. McCormick also noted “We are beginning to see signs of economic improvement both nationally and locally, although some core problems remain, particularly the high level of unemployment.  Our long-term focus on traditional lending criteria and conservative balance sheet management has helped us avoid most aspects of the problems that have afflicted many banks in recent years.  This has enabled us to maintain an extremely strong balance sheet and continued profitability, and allowed us to focus on conducting business rather than putting out fires.  We are particularly encouraged by the continued growth of our core loan and deposit portfolios.”

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TrustCo continued to report strong growth in loans and deposits on a year-over-year basis.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2011, average loans were up $66.5 million or 2.9% compared to the same period in 2010, while average deposits rose $284.2 million or 8.7% over the same period.  One new office was opened during the first quarter of 2011, bringing the total to 134.  Mr. McCormick noted that, “We are pleased with the progress that we have made in growing loans and deposits through our recently completed branch expansion program but are mindful that fully achieving our goals will take time and continued hard work.  Our success in growing customer relationships provides the basic building blocks that we believe will help drive profit growth over the coming years.”

Nonperforming loans were $50.4 million as of March 31, 2011, compared to $48.8 million as of December 31, 2010, and remain at manageable levels.  The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of gross loans and as a multiple of net charge-offs remains strong.  At March 31, 2011, nonperforming loans were equal to 2.14% of total loans, up slightly from 2.07% at the end of the fourth quarter.  The allowance for loan losses was unchanged at 0.9 times nonperforming loans.  Reserves to total loans was strengthened, increasing from 1.78% at December 31, 2010 to 1.85% at March 31, 2011, and covered annualized first quarter net charge-offs by 3.9 times.

TrustCo Bank Corp is a $4.0 billion bank holding company and through its subsidiary, Trustco Bank, operates 134 offices in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida.

In addition, the Bank operates a full service Trust Department.  The common shares of TrustCo are traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TRST.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release and other information contained in TrustCo’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings may express “forward-looking statements.”  Those “forward-looking statements” may involve risk and uncertainties, including statements containing future events or performance and assumptions and other statements of historical facts.

TrustCo wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.  The following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect TrustCo’s actual results, and could cause TrustCo’s actual financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in any forward-looking statement:  (1) credit risk, (2) interest rate risk, (3) competition, (4) changes in the regulatory environment, (5) real estate and collateral values, and (6) changes in local market areas and general business and economic trends.  The foregoing list should not be construed as exhaustive, and the Company disclaims any obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements, or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

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TRUSTCO BANK CORP NY

GLENVILLE, NY

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	03/31/11			12/31/10		03/31/10
Summary of operations
Net interest income (TE)	$	32,924			32,353		32,298
Provision for loan losses		4,600			5,500		4,700
Noninterest income		3,984			3,720		3,860
Noninterest expense		20,846			20,656		20,089
Net income		7,382			6,904		6,935
Per common share
Net income per share:
- Basic	$	0.096			0.090		0.090
- Diluted		0.096			0.090		0.090
Cash dividends		0.066			0.066		0.063
Tangible Book value at period end		3.34			3.31		3.26
Market price at period end		5.93			6.34		6.17
At period end
Full time equivalent employees		740			738		730
Full service banking offices		134			133		133
Performance ratios
Return on average assets		0.75	%		0.71		0.77
Return on average equity		11.61			10.49		11.29
Efficiency (1)		52.18			53.25		50.15
Net interest spread (TE)		3.31			3.33		3.48
Net interest margin (TE)		3.40			3.43		3.62
Dividend payout ratio		68.67			73.33		69.19
Capital ratios at period end (2)
Total equity to assets		6.55	%		6.56		6.72
Tier 1 risk adjusted capital		12.66			12.57		12.35
Total risk adjusted capital		13.92			13.83		13.60
Asset quality analysis at period end
Nonperforming loans to total loans		2.14	%		2.07		2.05
Nonperforming assets to total assets		1.42			1.42		1.50
Allowance for loan losses to total loans		1.85			1.78		1.73
Coverage ratio (3)		0.9	X		0.9		0.8

(1) Calculated as noninterest expense (excluding ORE income/expense and any one-time charges) divided by taxable equivalent net interest income plus noninterest income (excluding net securities transactions, unrealized trading gains and losses and one-time income items).

(2) Capital ratios exclude the effect of accumulated other comprehensive income.

(3) Calculated as allowance for loan losses divided by total nonperforming loans.

TE = Taxable equivalent.

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	03/31/11		12/31/10		03/31/10
ASSETS
Loans, net	$	2,315,449		2,313,354		2,249,237
Securities available for sale		1,015,466		891,601		773,884
Held to maturity securities		171,351		191,712		247,733
Federal funds sold and other short-term investments		353,566		400,183		298,107
Total earning assets		3,855,832		3,796,850		3,568,961
Cash and due from banks		37,022		44,067		39,626
Bank premises and equipment		36,275		36,632		37,449
Other assets		78,761		77,235		72,727
Total assets	$	4,007,890		3,954,784		3,718,763
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
Demand	$	247,803		251,091		240,822
Interest-bearing checking		443,133		441,520		404,374
Savings		859,799		774,366		684,868
Money market		626,669		602,803		476,067
Certificates of deposit (in denominations of $100,000 or more)		455,563		456,837		450,951
Other time deposits		960,074		1,027,470		1,075,749
Total deposits		3,593,041		3,554,087		3,332,831
Short-term borrowings		137,710		124,615		116,306
Other liabilities		18,667		20,642		19,008
Total liabilities		3,749,418		3,699,344		3,468,145
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY		258,472		255,440		250,618
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	4,007,890		3,954,784		3,718,763
Number of common shares outstanding, in thousands		77,244		77,130		76,761

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	03/31/11		12/31/10		03/31/10
Interest income
Loans	$	31,677		32,122		31,753
Investment securities		7,694		7,227		9,411
Federal funds sold and other short term investments		246		259		164
Total interest income		39,617		39,608		41,328
Interest expense
Deposits		6,668		7,250		9,076
Borrowings		407		427		456
Total interest expense		7,075		7,677		9,532
Net interest income		32,542		31,931		31,796
Provision for loan losses		4,600		5,500		4,700
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		27,942		26,431		27,096
Net securities transactions		287		877		4
Noninterest income		3,984		3,720		3,860
Noninterest expense		20,846		20,656		20,089
Income before income taxes		11,367		10,372		10,871
Income tax expense		3,985		3,468		3,936
Net income	$	7,382		6,904		6,935
Net income per share:
- Basic	$	0.096		0.090		0.090
- Diluted		0.096		0.090		0.090
Avg equivalent shares outstanding, in thousands:
- Basic		77,241		77,113		76,758
- Diluted		77,241		77,113		76,758

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