-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SKycz9tCMuEcvzUCkIDZ5YpRgzmRrBYmL80DibleOom/hW/ljSFzXSrXqUr8+oG5
 qDNajv67i1lXCnztbKfZ8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001455754-10-000032.txt : 20100505
<SEC-HEADER>0001455754-10-000032.hdr.sgml : 20100505
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100505143301
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001455754-10-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100501
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100505
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100505

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRENTICE F SHELDON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001250514

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14703
		FILM NUMBER:		10801165

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MERCHANTS BANCSHARES, INC.
		STREET 2:		275 KENNEDY DRIVE
		CITY:			SOUTH BURLINGTON
		STATE:			VT
		ZIP:			05401

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>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250514</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PRENTICE F SHELDON</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Corp SVP, Gen. Counsel, Sec'y</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-05-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-05-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>NBT Bancorp Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to NBT Bancorp Inc. 2009 Omnibus Stock Option Agreement the grant vests 40% for first year, 20% annually for following years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Michael J. Chewens, Power of Attorney  For: F. Sheldon Prentice</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----