Filed by TrustCo Bank Corp NY
                           Pursuant      to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of
                                         1933 and deemed filed  pursuant to Rule
                                         14d-2
                                          of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
         Subject Companies:  Cohoes Bancorp, Inc.(Commission File No. 000-25027)
                   and Hudson River Bancorp, Inc.(Commission File No. 000-24187)




TRUSTCO Bank Corp NY                                                New Release
192 Erie Boulevard, Schenectady, New York, 12305
(518) 377-3311   Fax:(518) 381-3668


Subsidiary: Trustco Bank                                           NASDAQ--TRST


Contact:                     William F. Terry, Secretary


     TRUSTCO BANK CORP NY TAKING  ACQUISITION  OFFERS TO  SHAREHOLDERS OF COHOES
     BANCORP, INC. AND HUDSON RIVER BANCORP, INC.

- -    On Friday,  June 9th,  TrustCo  Bank Corp NY made offers to acquire  Cohoes
     Bancorp,  Inc. and Hudson River Bancorp, Inc. These offers were extended in
     letters delivered to the boards of directors of each institution.

- -    The terms of the  Cohoes  offer  specified  a merger in which each share of
     Cohoes common stock would be exchanged  for shares of TrustCo  common stock
     equal to $16.00 per Cohoes share.

- -    The terms of the Hudson River offer  specified a merger in which each share
     of Hudson  common  stock would be  exchanged  for shares of TrustCo  common
     stock equal to $14.00 per Hudson share.

- -    On Friday,  June 23,  both  Cohoes and Hudson  River  rejected  the TrustCo
     offers. As a result of these responses, TrustCo is announcing its intention
     to launch  Tender  Offers in which it will attempt to acquire the shares of
     Cohoes and Hudson directly from each corporation's shareholders. The formal
     Tender  Offer  documents  will  be  filed  with  the  Securities   Exchange
     Commission in the coming weeks.

- -    TrustCo's management believes these offers are in the best interests of all
     three banks, their customers,  their shareholders and the Capital Region in
     general.  Our rationale for this position is described in the attached open
     letter to the community.



                                       1





     TrustCo  Bank  Corp NY  intends  to file a  Tender  Offer  Statement  and a
     Registration  Statement  with the United  States  Securities  and  Exchange
     Commission  because its offers to acquire Cohoes  Bancorp,  Inc. and Hudson
     River Bancorp, Inc. have been rejected. We urge investors to carefully read
     these  documents  at the time they are  filed  because  they  will  contain
     important information regarding the proposed acquisitions.  These documents
     will be available for free to any investor at the United States  Securities
     and Exchange Commission's web site (www.sec.gov).  Shareholders of TrustCo,
     Cohoes and  Hudson  River may  obtain a free copy of these  documents  upon
     written request to TrustCo Bank Corp NY, 320 State Street, Schenectady, New
     York 12305, Attention: Secretary.




(See advertisement attached)


                                       2


An Open Letter to the Community
from Robert A. McCormick,
President and CEO, TrustCo Bank Corp NY

On Friday,  June 9th,  2000,  TrustCo Bank Corp NY made offers to acquire Cohoes
Bancorp,  Inc. and Hudson River  Bancorp,  Inc. On June 23, 2000,  The Boards of
Directors of Cohoes and Hudson River rejected TrustCo's offers.

I would like to tell you why we  extended  these  offers-and  why we believe our
proposals  can benefit the Capital  Region in  general,  and the  customers  and
shareholders of these two institutions in particular.

First,  we are  motivated  by our bedrock  belief that this area needs a strong,
locally owned and managed bank.  Banks  headquartered  in distant cities do not,
indeed cannot, put our area's interests first. We can-and do.

Second,  consolidation  in the  banking  industry  is here to stay.  Though both
Cohoes  and  Hudson  River are  solid  institutions,  ultimately  they are prime
candidates for an out-of-town takeover; that would mean the loss of local focus,
jobs and opportunities.  Upstate New York and our region have suffered enough in
recent years. The last thing we need is the loss of more financial influence.

Third,  TrustCo Bank is uniquely suited to make this  combination  work. We have
the financial  strength-with  over $2.4 billion in assets. We are considered one
of the best-managed and strongest banks in the country. Most important,  serving
the best interests of our home area is our highest priority.

For  businesses,  our  proposals  would  create a  locally  owned  bank with the
resources to finance larger transactions.  For consumers,  it would mean a wider
range of  products  and  greater  convenience  through a more  extensive  branch
network.

For  Cohoes  shareholders,  the  proposal  would  result in a  premium  on their
investment of roughly 50% above the presently  contemplated  Cohoes-Hudson River
merger, and for Hudson  shareholders an increase in cash dividends of 328% based
upon historical dividend rates.

As always,  we remain committed to preserving  independent  community banking in
the Capital Region.

Sincerely,

Robert A. McCormick
President and CEO

TrustCo Bank Corp NY intends to file a Tender Offer Statement and a Registration
Statement with the United States Securities and Exchange  Commission because its
offers to acquire Cohoes Bancorp,  Inc. and Hudson River Bancorp, Inc. have been
rejected.  We urge investors to carefully read these  documents at the time they
are filed because they will contain important information regarding the proposed
acquisitions.  These documents will be available for free to any investor at the
United  States  Securities  and Exchange  Commission's  web site  (www.sec.gov).
Shareholders of TrustCo, Cohoes and Hudson River may obtain a free copy of these
documents  upon  written  request  to TrustCo  Bank Corp NY,  320 State  Street,
Schenectady, New York 12305, Attention: Secretary.