NBT Bank
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking |
| Founded | March 3, 1856 in Norwich, New York, United States |
| Founder | Warren Newton, Isaac Newton, James H. Smith |
| Headquarters | Norwich , United States |
Area served | New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut |
Key people | Richard J. Cantele Jr. (board member and executive leadership) |
| Products | Banking services |
| Parent | NBT Bancorp Inc. |
| Website | www |
NBT Bank, N.A. is a U.S.-based banking organization with a network exceeding 175 branches throughout New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut. Its headquarters are situated in Norwich, New York. The bank's parent entity, NBT Bancorp Inc., is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol NBTB.
History
The institution was established in 1856 by Warren Newton—formerly involved in Erie and Chenango canal construction—alongside his brother Isaac Newton and James H. Smith, who served as the inaugural president. Initially chartered by the state as the Bank of Norwich, the first board convened on March 3, 1856, with banking activities commencing on July 15 from a location on South Main Street.
Transitioning to a national charter on June 28, 1865, the bank adopted the name National Bank of Norwich. In 1918, it became one of the earliest national banks in New York to secure trust powers under the Federal Reserve Act and launched its Trust Department. To mirror its evolving services and growth, the bank's name was revised multiple times: in 1925 for broader service representation; in 1989 to The National Bank and Trust Company; and ultimately in 1995 to NBT Bank, N.A., coinciding with the unveiling of its current logo featuring a blue star with red lettering.
Celebrating its 160th year in 2016, NBT Bank released an updated corporate history emphasizing its enduring regional influence and service diversification.
Mergers and acquisitions
NBT Bank has pursued growth through acquisitions since the 1930s, supplementing organic expansion with strategic purchases of banks and branches.
From 2000 onwards, notable acquisitions include LA Bank (Scranton, Pennsylvania, 2000); Pioneer American Bank (Carbondale, Pennsylvania, 2000); First National Bank of Northern New York (Norfolk, New York, 2001); Central National Bank (Canajoharie, New York, 2001); City National Bank and Trust Company (Gloversville, New York, 2005); Hampshire First Bank (Manchester, New Hampshire, 2012); and Alliance Bank (Syracuse, New York, 2013). The merger with Alliance Bank finalized on March 8, 2013 remains the largest in NBT’s history. In December 2022, NBT announced a $204 million equity purchase of Salisbury Bancorp based in Connecticut; this transaction closed in August 2023. Following this acquisition, Salisbury Bank President and CEO Richard J. Cantele Jr. joined NBT’s board of directors and executive leadership.
On May 2, 2025, NBT expanded further by acquiring Evans Bank from Williamsville, NY. This deal added fourteen branches in Buffalo and four additional locations across greater Rochester, significantly increasing NBT’s footprint within Western New York.
Naming rights
The naming rights for NBT Bank Stadium located in Syracuse, New York are held by NBT Bank.