                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

Written  Statement of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the
                                                                      ----------
Sarbanes-Oxley  Act  of  2002
-----------------------------

The  undersigned,  the  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  NBT  Bancorp  Inc.  (the
"Company"),  hereby  certifies  that  to  his  knowledge  on  the  date  hereof:

     (a)  the Form 10-Q of the Company for the Quarterly Period Ended September
          30, 2002, filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange
          Commission (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of
          Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (b)  information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
          respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
          Company.


                                            /s/  Daryl R. Forsythe
                                            ----------------------
                                            Daryl R. Forsythe
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                            November 13, 2002


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