-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KYzElS/bRrtTWgtVIaIoq9q5xSIZfkcgb4Xcv2ZvhLZOGjxQuSw3jjl+KzB6pJ6H
 9QnphXeMSOGzOUdJnHNhTg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001194226-05-000001.txt : 20050106
<SEC-HEADER>0001194226-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050106155851
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001194226-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POWERS WILLIAM D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194226

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-10592
		FILM NUMBER:		05515797

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TRUSTCO BANK CORP
		STREET 2:		5 SARNOWSKI DRIVE
		CITY:			GLENVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12302

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRUSTCO BANK CORP N Y
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000357301
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				141630287
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 SARNOWSKI DRIVE
		CITY:			GLENVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5183773311

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5 SARNOWSKI DRIVE
		CITY:			GLENVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12302
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000357301</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRUSTCO BANK CORP N Y</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRST</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194226</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>POWERS WILLIAM D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TRUSTCO BANK CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5 SARNOWSKI DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12302</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>OPTION: RT-TO-BUY</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <remarks>GRANT TO REPORTING PERSON OF OPTION TO BUY 2000 SHARES OF COMMON AS OF 11/19/04 DATE OF GRANT.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ROBERT T. CUSHING, BY POWER OF ATTORNEY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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