-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001204717-04-000007.txt : 20041112
<SEC-HEADER>0001204717-04-000007.hdr.sgml : 20041111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041112120602
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001204717-04-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MITCHELL JOHN C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204717

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14703
		FILM NUMBER:		041137104

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		52 S BROAD ST
		CITY:			NORWICH
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			13815
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6075476068

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NBT BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000790359
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				161268674
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		52 S BROAD ST
		CITY:			NORWICH
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			13815
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6073372265

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		52 S. BROAD STREET
		CITY:			NORWICH
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			13815
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790359</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NBT BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NBTB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204717</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MITCHELL JOHN C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>52 SOUTH BROAD STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>13815</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NBT Bancorp Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-10</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>NBT Bancorp Inc. Common Stock</value>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>164041</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Corporation</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.3492</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>395</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-28</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.0625</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-22</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>395</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.8325</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-10</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>178</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
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                <value>2004-11-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NBT Bancorp Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>178</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1034</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.1388</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NBT Bancorp Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1438</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1438</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to NBT Non-Employee Director, Divisional Director and Subsidiary Director Stock Option Plan grant vests 40% for first year, 20% annually for following years.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to NBT Non-Employee Director, Divisional Director and Subsidiary Director Stock Option Plan reload grant vests 100% two years after date of its grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Michael J. Chewens, Power of Attorney  For: John C. Mitchell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----