Document:

EXHIBIT 10.8
            Form of Employment Agreement between NBT Bancorp Inc. and
                  John G. Martines made as of February 17, 2000

<PAGE>

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made and entered into this
seventeenth day of February, 2000, by and between JOHN G. MARTINES ("Executive")
and NBT BANCORP  INC., a Delaware  corporation  having its  principal  office in
Norwich, New York ("NBTB")

                          W I T N E S S E T H T H A T :

         WHEREAS,  the  Agreement  and Plan of Merger (the  "Merger  Agreement")
dated as of August 16, 1999, as amended as of December 13, 1999,  and as further
amended as of December 27, 1999, and as further amended as of February 17, 2000,
by and between NBTB and Lake Ariel  Bancorp,  Inc., a  Pennsylvania  corporation
having its principal office in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania ("LABN"),  provides that
LABN will be merged with and into NBTB (the "Merger");

         WHEREAS,  Executive is the president and chief executive  officer of LA
Bank,  National   Association,   a  national  banking  association  which  is  a
wholly-owned   subsidiary  of  LABN  (referred  to  herein,  together  with  the
operations  of any  Pennsylvania-based  bank with which it may combine,  as "New
Bank");

         WHEREAS, NBTB desires to secure the employment of Executive upon
consummation of the Merger;

         WHEREAS,  Executive is desirous of entering into the Agreement for such
periods and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

         WHEREAS,  to assist in achieving  the  objectives  of the  transactions
described  in  the  Merger  Agreement,  section  4.8  of  the  Merger  Agreement
contemplates  that  Executive  will  enter  into an  employment  agreement  as a
condition to the consummation of the transactions described therein.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
and agreements hereinafter set forth, intending to be legally bound, the parties
agree as follows:

         1.       EMPLOYMENT; RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES.

                  (a) Contingent upon the occurrence of the Merger,  NBTB hereby
agrees to cause New Bank to employ  Executive,  and  Executive  hereby agrees to
serve  as  chief  executive   officer  of  New  Bank,  or  of  the  northeastern
Pennsylvania  operations of any successor entity to New Bank, during the Term of
Employment.  Executive shall have such executive duties,  responsibilities,  and
authority  as shall be set  forth in the  bylaws  of New Bank or such  successor
entity on the date of this  Agreement or as may  otherwise be determined by NBTB
or by New  Bank  or such  successor  entity.  During  the  Term  of  Employment,
Executive shall report directly to the chief executive officer of NBTB.

<PAGE>

                  (b) Contingent upon the occurrence of the Merger,  NBTB hereby
agrees to cause  Executive to be reelected to the board of directors of New Bank
for successive terms throughout the Term of Employment. Subject to the fiduciary
duties of its directors to NBTB, as promptly as practicable after the occurrence
of the Merger NBTB will use its best efforts to cause Executive to be elected or
appointed as a director of NBTB,  to serve as a director of the class whose term
expires in 2000, and to propose to its  stockholders  at its next annual meeting
of stockholders that Executive be reelected to the board of directors of NBTB as
a member of the class whose term shall expire in 2003.

                  (c)  Executive  shall  devote his full  working  time and best
efforts to the performance of his  responsibilities  and duties hereunder and to
the retention of the customer  relationships  to which New Bank has been a party
prior  to the  date  of  this  Agreement  and  the  expansion  of  the  customer
relationships  of New Bank subsequent to the date of this Agreement.  During the
Term of Employment,  Executive  shall not,  without the prior written consent of
the Board of Directors of New Bank, render services as an employee,  independent
contractor,  or otherwise,  whether or not compensated,  to any person or entity
other  than New Bank or its  affiliates;  provided  that  Executive  may,  where
involvement  in  such  activities  does  not  individually  or in the  aggregate
significantly  interfere  with the  performance  by  Executive  of his duties or
violate the  provisions of section 4 hereof,  (i) render  services to charitable
organizations,  (ii) manage his personal  investments,  and (iii) with the prior
permission of the Board of Directors of NBTB, hold such other  directorships  or
part-time  academic  appointments  or have such other business  affiliations  as
would otherwise be prohibited under this section 1.

         2.       TERM OF EMPLOYMENT.

                  (a) The term of this Agreement ("Term of Employment") shall be
the period commencing on the first business day following the date of the Merger
(the "Commencement Date") and continuing until the Termination Date, which shall
mean the earliest to occur of:

                           (i)      the third anniversary of the Commencement
Date, unless the Term of Employment shall be extended for one additional year by
Executive,  upon written notice provided by Executive to NBTB not  later  than
nine  months  prior to the  third  anniversary  of the Commencement Date;

                           (ii)     the death of Executive;

                           (iii)    Executive's inability to perform his duties
hereunder, as a result of physical or mental disability as reasonably determined
by the personal physician of Executive, for a period of at least 180 consecutive
days or for at least 180 days  during any period of twelve consecutive months
during the Term of Employment; or

                           (iv)     the discharge of Executive by NBTB "for
cause," which shall mean one or more of the following:

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                                    (A)     any willful or gross misconduct by
Executive with respect to the business and affairs of NBTB or New Bank, or with
respect to any of its affiliates  for which  Executive is assigned material
responsibilities or duties;

                                    (B)     the conviction of Executive of a
felony (after the earlier of the expiration of any applicable  appeal  period
without  perfection of an appeal by Executive or the denial of any appeal as to
which no  further  appeal or review is  available  to Executive) whether or not
committed in the course of his employment by NBTB;

                                    (C)    Executive's willful neglect, failure,
or refusal to carry out his duties hereunder in a
reasonable  manner  (other than any such failure  resulting  from  disability or
death or from termination by Executive for Good Reason, as hereinafter  defined)
after a written  demand for  substantial  performance  is delivered to Executive
that  specifically  identifies  the manner in which NBTB believes that Executive
has not  substantially  performed  his  duties  and  Executive  has not  resumed
substantial  performance of his duties on a continuous  basis within thirty days
of receiving such demand; or

                                    (D)     the breach by Executive of any
representation or warranty in section 6(a) hereof or of
any  agreement  contained  in section 1, 4, 5, or 6(b)  hereof,  which breach is
material  and  adverse  to NBTB or New Bank or any of its  affiliates  for which
Executive is assigned material responsibilities or duties; or

                           (v)      Executive's resignation from his position as
chief executive officer of New Bank other than for "Good Reason," as hereinafter
defined; or

                           (vi)     the termination of Executive's employment by
NBTB "without cause," which shall be for any reason
other than those set forth in subsections (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), or (v) of this
section 2(a), at any time, upon the thirtieth day following notice to Executive;
or

                           (vii)    Executive's resignation for "Good Reason."

"Good  Reason"  shall  mean,  without   Executive's   express  written  consent,
reassignment of Executive to a position other than as chief executive officer of
New Bank, or of the northeastern Pennsylvania operations of any successor entity
to New Bank,  other than for  "Cause,"  or a decrease  in the amount or level of
Executive's salary or benefits from the amount or level established in section 3
hereof.

                  (b)  In the  event  that  the  Term  of  Employment  shall  be
terminated  for any  reason  other than that set forth in  section  2(a)(vi)  or
2(a)(vii) hereof, Executive shall be entitled to receive, upon the occurrence of
any such event:

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                           (i)      any salary (as hereinafter defined) payable
pursuant to section 3(a)(i) hereof which shall have accrued as of the
Termination Date; and

                           (ii)     such rights as Executive shall have accrued
as of the Termination Date under the terms of any
plans or arrangements in which he participates  pursuant to section 3(b) hereof,
any right to  reimbursement  for  expenses  accrued as of the  Termination  Date
payable  pursuant  to section  3(j)  hereof,  and the right to receive  the cash
equivalent  of paid annual  leave and sick leave  accrued as of the  Termination
Date pursuant to section 3(e) hereof.

                  (c)  In the  event  that  the  Term  of  Employment  shall  be
terminated  for the reason set forth in section  2(a)(vi) or  2(a)(vii)  hereof,
Executive shall be entitled to receive:

                           (i)      any salary payable pursuant to section 3(a)
(i) hereof which shall have accrued as of the
Termination  Date,  and,  for the  period  commencing  on the  date  immediately
following  the  Termination  Date and  ending  upon  and  including  the  fourth
anniversary of the  Commencement  Date,  salary payable at the rate  established
pursuant  to section  3(a)(i)  hereof,  in a manner  consistent  with the normal
payroll  practices of New Bank with respect to executive  personnel as presently
in effect or as they may be modified by New Bank from time to time; and

                           (ii)     such rights as Executive may have accrued as
of the Termination Date under the terms of any plans
or arrangements in which he  participates  pursuant to section 3(b) hereof,  any
right to  reimbursement  for expenses accrued as of the Termination Date payable
pursuant to section 3(j) hereof, and the right to receive the cash equivalent of
paid annual leave and sick leave accrued as of the Termination  Date pursuant to
section 3(e) hereof.

                  (d)  Any   provision   of  this  section  2  to  the  contrary
notwithstanding,  in the event that the employment of Executive with NBTB or New
Bank  is   terminated   in  any   situation   described  in  section  3  of  the
change-in-control  letter  agreement  dated  February  17, 2000 between NBTB and
Executive (the  "Change-in-Control  Agreement") so as to entitle  Executive to a
severance   payment  and  other   benefits   described   in  section  3  of  the
Change-in-Control  Agreement,  then  Executive  shall be entitled to receive the
following, and no more, under this section 2:

                           (i)      any salary payable pursuant to section 3(a)
(i) hereof which shall have accrued as of the Termination Date;

                           (ii)     such rights as Executive shall have accrued
as of the Termination Date under the terms of any
plans or arrangements in which he participates  pursuant to section 3(b) hereof,
any right to  reimbursement  for  expenses  accrued as of the  Termination  Date
payable  pursuant  to section  3(j)  hereof,  and the right to receive  the cash
equivalent  of paid annual  leave and sick leave  accrued as of the  Termination
Date pursuant to section 3(e) hereof; and

                           (iii)    the severance payment and other benefits
provided in the Change-in-Control Agreement.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
         3.       COMPENSATION.  For the services to be performed by Executive
for New Bank under this Agreement, Executive shall be compensated in the
following manner:

                  (a)      SALARY.  During the Term of Employment:

                           (i)      New Bank shall pay Executive a salary which,
on an annual basis, shall not be less than $230,000,
assuming Executive performs  competently.  Salary shall be payable in accordance
with  the  normal  payroll  practices  of New Bank  with  respect  to  executive
personnel  as  presently  in effect or as they may be  modified by New Bank from
time to time.

                           (ii)     Executive shall be eligible to be considered
for salary increases, upon review, in accordance with
the  compensation  policies  of NBTB with  respect  to  executive  personnel  as
presently in effect or as they may be modified by NBTB from time to time.

                           (iii)    Executive shall be eligible to be considered
for performance bonuses of up to 75 percent of salary
(with his  performance  evaluated  primarily  based upon the  performance of New
Bank, or of the northeastern  Pennsylvania operations of any successor entity to
New Bank, and secondarily  based upon the performance of NBTB taken as a whole),
in accordance with the  compensation  policies of NBTB with respect to executive
personnel as presently in effect or as they may be modified by NBTB from time to
time.

                  (b) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS OR ARRANGEMENTS. During the Term of
Employment,  Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee  benefit
plans of NBTB,  as  presently  in effect or as they may be modified by NBTB from
time to time,  under such terms as may be applicable to officers of  Executive's
rank employed by NBTB or its affiliates,  including,  without limitation,  plans
providing retirement benefits, stock options, medical insurance, life insurance,
disability insurance, and accidental death or dismemberment insurance,  provided
that there be no  duplication  of such benefits as are provided  under any other
provision of this Agreement.  During the Term of Employment,  medical  insurance
for Executive will be procured through the same carrier that provided  insurance
coverage to Executive  as an employee of New Bank as of June 30,  1999,  or from
such other  insurance  carrier as shall be mutually  acceptable to Executive and
NBTB.

                  (c) STOCK OPTIONS.  Each January or February  annually  during
the Term of Employment,  NBTB will cause Executive to be granted a non-statutory
("non-qualified")  stock  option  (each an  "Option")  to purchase the number of
shares of the common stock of NBTB,  no par value,  $1.00 stated  value,  or the
common stock of NBTB as  reclassified  to have a par value of $.01 per share, as
the case may be (the "NBTB Common Stock"), pursuant to the NBT Bancorp Inc. 1993
Stock Option Plan, as amended,  or any  appropriate  successor  plan (the "Stock
Option  Plan"),  computed by dividing  250 percent of the  annualized  salary of
Executive on the date of grant of the Option by the "Fair Market  Value" of NBTB
Common Stock (as defined in the Stock Option Plan).  The option  exercise  price
per share of the shares  subject to each Option shall be such Fair Market Value,
and the terms, conditions of exercise, and vesting schedule of such Option shall
be as set forth in section 8 of the Stock Option Plan.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
                  (d) SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLANS. NBTB shall assume
and continue in effect the LA Bank, N.A. Salary  Continuation  Agreement between
New Bank and Executive dated March 7, 1997, the Supplementary Retirement Benefit
Agreement  between New Bank and Executive  dated January 6, 1995, and the Salary
Continuation Agreement between New Bank and Executive dated May 5, 1989, and, in
return  therefor,   Executive  renounces   entitlement  to  benefits  under  any
supplemental  executive  retirement plan to which he would otherwise be entitled
as an executive of NBTB or an affiliate of NBTB.

                  (e)  VACATION AND SICK LEAVE.  During the Term of  Employment,
Executive  shall be entitled to paid annual  vacation  periods and sick leave in
accordance with the policies of NBTB as in effect as of the Commencement Date or
as may be modified by NBTB from time to time as may be applicable to officers of
Executive's  rank employed by NBTB or its affiliates,  but in no event less than
four weeks of paid vacation per year.

                  (f) AUTOMOBILE. During the Term of Employment, Executive shall
be entitled to the use of an automobile owned by New Bank, the make,  model, and
year of which  automobile shall be appropriate to an officer of Executive's rank
employed by NBTB or its affiliates  and consistent  with that provided to others
of  Executive's  rank  employed by NBTB or its  affiliates.  Executive  shall be
responsible for all expenses of ownership and use of such automobile, subject to
reimbursement of expenses for business use in accordance with section 3(j).

                  (g)      COUNTRY CLUB DUES.  During the Term of Employment,
Executive shall be reimbursed for dues and assessments incurred in relation to
Executive's membership at Country Club of Scranton.

                  (h)  LIFE  INSURANCE.  During  the  Term of  Employment,  life
insurance  paid by New  Bank on the life of  Executive  for the  benefit  of his
designated  beneficiary or beneficiaries shall be maintained at no less than the
level of insurance maintained as of June 30, 1999.

                  (i)      WITHHOLDING.  All compensation to be paid to
Executive hereunder shall be subject to required withholding and other taxes.

                  (j) EXPENSES.  During the Term of Employment,  Executive shall
be  reimbursed  for  reasonable  travel and other  expenses  incurred or paid by
Executive  in  connection  with  the  performance  of his  services  under  this
Agreement,  upon  presentation  of expense  statements or vouchers or such other
supporting information as may from time to time be requested, in accordance with
such policies of NBTB as are in effect as of the Commencement Date and as may be
modified  by NBTB from time to time,  under such terms as may be  applicable  to
officers of Executive's rank employed by NBTB or its affiliates.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
         4.       CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION; NON-COMPETITION.

                  (a)  Executive  acknowledges  that certain  business  methods,
creative techniques,  and technical data of NBTB and its affiliates and the like
are deemed by NBTB to be and are in fact  confidential  business  information of
NBTB or its  affiliates or are  entrusted to third  parties.  Such  confidential
information  includes  but  is  not  limited  to  procedures,   methods,   sales
relationships  developed  while  in the  service  of  NBTB  or  its  affiliates,
knowledge  of  customers  and their  requirements,  marketing  plans,  marketing
information,  studies, forecasts, and surveys, competitive analyses, mailing and
marketing  lists, new business  proposals,  lists of vendors,  consultants,  and
other  persons  who render  service or provide  material  to NBTB or New Bank or
their affiliates,  and compositions,  ideas,  plans, and methods belonging to or
related to the affairs of NBTB or New Bank or their affiliates.  In this regard,
NBTB asserts  proprietary rights in all of its business  information and that of
its affiliates  except for such  information as is clearly in the public domain.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  information  that would be generally  known or
available to persons  skilled in  Executive's  fields shall be  considered to be
"clearly in the public  domain"  for the  purposes  of the  preceding  sentence.
Executive agrees that he will not disclose or divulge to any third party, except
as may be required by his duties hereunder,  by law,  regulation,  or order of a
court or government  authority,  or as directed by NBTB, nor shall he use to the
detriment of NBTB or its  affiliates  or use in any business or on behalf of any
business  competitive with or  substantially  similar to any business of NBTB or
New Bank or their affiliates,  any confidential  business  information  obtained
during the course of his  employment  by New Bank.  The  foregoing  shall not be
construed as  restricting  Executive  from  disclosing  such  information to the
employees of NBTB or New Bank or their affiliates.

                  (b) Executive  hereby agrees that from the  Commencement  Date
until the second  anniversary of the Termination Date (or, in the event that the
Term of  Employment  has been  terminated  for the  reason  set forth in section
2(a)(vi) or 2(a)(vii) hereof,  Executive agrees that until the first anniversary
of the  Termination  Date),  Executive  will not (i) engage in any aspect of the
banking,  trust or financial  services  business  over which  Executive has had,
during   the  Term  of   Employment,   significant   executive   or   managerial
responsibilities,  other than on behalf of NBTB or New Bank or their affiliates,
within the Market Area (as  hereinafter  defined),  (ii)  directly or indirectly
own,  manage,  operate,  control,  be  employed  by, or  provide  management  or
consulting  services in any capacity to any firm,  corporation,  or other entity
(other than NBTB or New Bank or their affiliates)  engaged in the Market Area in
any aspect of the  banking,  trust or  financial  services  business  over which
Executive  has had,  during the Term of  Employment,  significant  executive  or
managerial  responsibilities,   or  (iii)  directly  or  indirectly  solicit  or
otherwise  intentionally  cause any person known to Executive to be an employee,
officer,  or member of the respective  Boards of Directors of New Bank or any of
its  affiliates  to engage in any  action  prohibited  under (i) or (ii) of this
section  4(b);  provided  that the  ownership by Executive as an investor of not
more than five percent of the outstanding shares of stock of any corporation, or
the shares of any  investment  company as defined in section 3 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended,  shall not in itself  constitute a violation of
Executive's obligations under this section 4(b).

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
                  (c) Executive  acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury
will  result to NBTB in the event of a breach of any of the  provisions  of this
section 4 (the  "Designated  Provisions")  and that  NBTB will have no  adequate
remedy at law with  respect  thereto.  Accordingly,  in the event of a  material
breach of any  Designated  Provision,  and in  addition  to any  other  legal or
equitable  remedy NBTB or New Bank may have, NBTB shall be entitled to the entry
of a  preliminary  and  permanent  injunction  (including,  without  limitation,
specific  performance) by a court of competent  jurisdiction in Chenango County,
New York, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, or elsewhere, to restrain the violation or
breach thereof by Executive,  and Executive  submits to the jurisdiction of such
court in any such action.

                  (d) It is the  desire  and  intent  of the  parties  that  the
provisions of this section 4 shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible
under  the  laws and  public  policies  applied  in each  jurisdiction  in which
enforcement is sought.  Accordingly, if any particular provision of this section
4 shall be adjudicated to be invalid or  unenforceable,  such provision shall be
deemed amended to delete therefrom the portion thus adjudicated to be invalid or
unenforceable, such deletion to apply only with respect to the operation of such
provision in the particular  jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made. In
addition, should any court determine that the provisions of this section 4 shall
be unenforceable with respect to scope, duration, or geographic area, such court
shall be empowered to substitute, to the extent enforceable,  provisions similar
hereto or other  provisions  so as to provide  to NBTB,  to the  fullest  extent
permitted by applicable law, the benefits intended by this section 4.

                  (e) As used herein, "Market Area" shall mean the area or areas
delineated by circles formed by radii extending  twenty-five  miles from (i) the
head office of New Bank,  (ii) the  authorized  branches of New Bank as they may
exist  from time to time,  and (iii)  each  branch of a  depository  institution
affiliated  with  New  Bank  for  which  Executive  has or has  had  significant
executive or managerial responsibilities.

         5. LIFE INSURANCE.  In light of the unusual abilities and experience of
Executive, NBTB in its discretion may apply for and procure as owner and for its
own benefit insurance on the life of Executive,  in such amount and in such form
as NBTB may choose.  NBTB shall make all payments for such  insurance  and shall
receive all benefits from it. Executive shall have no interest whatsoever in any
such policy or policies  but,  at the request of NBTB,  shall  submit to medical
examinations  and supply such  information  and execute  such  documents  as may
reasonably be required by the  insurance  company or companies to which NBTB has
applied for insurance.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
         6.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

                  (a)  Executive  represents  and  warrants  to  NBTB  that  his
execution,  delivery,  and  performance  of this Agreement will not result in or
constitute  a breach of or  conflict  with any  term,  covenant,  condition,  or
provision  of any  commitment,  contract,  or  other  agreement  or  instrument,
including,   without  limitation,  any  other  employment  agreement,  to  which
Executive is or has been a party.

                  (b) Executive shall indemnify,  defend, and hold harmless NBTB
for, from, and against any and all losses, claims, suits, damages,  expenses, or
liabilities,  including court costs and counsel fees, which NBTB has incurred or
to which  NBTB may  become  subject,  insofar  as such  losses,  claims,  suits,
damages,  expenses,  liabilities,  costs, or fees arise out of or are based upon
any  failure of any  representation  or warranty of  Executive  in section  6(a)
hereof to be true and correct when made.

         7. NOTICES.  All notices,  consents,  waivers, or other  communications
which are required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and deemed to have
been duly given if delivered personally or by messenger, transmitted by telex or
telegram,  by express courier,  or sent by registered or certified mail,  return
receipt requested, postage prepaid. All communications shall be addressed to the
appropriate address of each party as follows:

If to NBTB:

         NBT Bancorp Inc.
         52 South Broad Street
         Norwich, New York  13815

         Attention:        Mr. Daryl R. Forsythe
                           President and Chief Executive Officer

With a required copy to:

         Brian D. Alprin, Esq.
         Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP
         1667 K Street, N.W., Suite 700
         Washington, D.C.  20006

If to Executive:

         Mr. John G. Martines
         R.D. 1, Box 824
         Carbondale, Pennsylvania  18407

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
All such  notices  shall be  deemed to have  been  given on the date  delivered,
transmitted, or mailed in the manner provided above.

         8.       ASSIGNMENT.

                  (a)      Neither party may assign this Agreement or any rights
or obligations hereunder without the consent of the other party.

                  (b) The parties contemplate that at the time of the Merger, or
subsequent to such time, New Bank may engage in a merger or similar  transaction
with an affiliated  bank, in which case references in this Agreement to New Bank
shall be construed to apply to the successor institution in such transaction.

         9. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by,  construed,  and
enforced in accordance  with the laws of the State of Delaware,  without  giving
effect  to the  principles  of  conflict  of law  thereof.  The  parties  hereby
designate  the Chancery  Court in New Castle  County,  Delaware to be the proper
jurisdiction  and venue for any suit or action  arising  out of this  Agreement.
Each of the parties  consents to personal  jurisdiction in such venue for such a
proceeding  and agrees  that it may be served  with  process in any action  with
respect to this Agreement or the transactions  contemplated thereby by certified
or registered  mail,  return receipt  requested,  or to its registered agent for
service of process in the State of Delaware. Each of the parties irrevocably and
unconditionally  waives and agrees,  to the fullest extent permitted by law, not
to plead any objection  that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue
or the  convenience  of the forum of any  action or claim  with  respect to this
Agreement  or the  transactions  contemplated  thereby  brought  in  the  courts
aforesaid.

         10.  ENTIRE   AGREEMENT.   This   Agreement   constitutes   the  entire
understanding among NBTB, New Bank, and Executive relating to the subject matter
hereof. Any previous agreements or understandings  between the parties hereto or
between  Executive and New Bank or any of its  affiliates  regarding the subject
matter  hereof,  including  without  limitation  the  terms  and  conditions  of
employment,    compensation,   benefits,   retirement,   competition   following
employment,  and the like,  are merged into and  superseded  by this  Agreement.
Neither this  Agreement  nor any  provisions  hereof can be  modified,  changed,
discharged, or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against whom any waiver, change, discharge, or termination is sought.

         11.      ILLEGALITY; SEVERABILITY.

                  (a)    Anything   in   this    Agreement   to   the   contrary
notwithstanding,  this  Agreement  is not intended and shall not be construed to
require  any  payment to  Executive  which  would  violate  any federal or state
statute or  regulation,  including  without  limitation  the  "golden  parachute
payment  regulations" of the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation  codified to
Part 359 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
                  (b)    If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall
be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever:

                           (i)      the validity, legality, and enforceability
of the remaining provisions of this Agreement
(including,  without  limitation,  each portion of any section of this Agreement
containing  any such provision held to be invalid,  illegal,  or  unenforceable)
shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and

                           (ii)     to the fullest extent possible, the
provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation,
each portion of any section of this  Agreement  containing  any such  provisions
held to be invalid,  illegal, or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give
effect to the intent  manifested by the  provision  held  invalid,  illegal,  or
unenforceable.

         12.  ARBITRATION.  Subject to the right of each party to seek  specific
performance  (which  right  shall not be subject to  arbitration),  if a dispute
arises out of or related to this Agreement,  or the breach thereof, such dispute
shall be referred to arbitration in accordance  with the Commercial  Arbitration
Rules of the American Arbitration  Association ("AAA"). A dispute subject to the
provisions  of this section will exist if either party  notifies the other party
in  writing  that a dispute  subject to  arbitration  exists  and  states,  with
reasonable  specificity,  the issue  subject to  arbitration  (the  "Arbitration
Notice").  The parties agree that, after the issuance of the Arbitration Notice,
the  parties  will try in good faith to resolve  the  dispute  by  mediation  in
accordance  with the Commercial  Rules of Arbitration of AAA between the date of
the  issuance  of the  Arbitration  Notice  and the date the  dispute is set for
arbitration. If the dispute is not settled by the date set for arbitration, then
any  controversy  or claim  arising out of this  Agreement or the breach  hereof
shall be resolved by binding arbitration and judgment upon any award rendered by
arbitrator(s) may be entered in a court having jurisdiction.  Any person serving
as a  mediator  or  arbitrator  must  have at least  ten  years'  experience  in
resolving  commercial  disputes through  arbitration.  In the event any claim or
dispute involves an amount in excess of $100,000,  either party may request that
the  matter  be heard by a panel of three  arbitrators;  otherwise  all  matters
subject to arbitration shall be heard and resolved by a single  arbitrator.  The
arbitrator  shall have the same power to compel the  attendance of witnesses and
to order the production of documents or other materials and to enforce discovery
as could be exercised by a United  States  District  Court judge  sitting in the
Northern District of New York. In the event of any arbitration, each party shall
have a reasonable right to conduct discovery to the same extent permitted by the
Federal  Rules  of  Civil  Procedure,  provided  that  such  discovery  shall be
concluded  within ninety days after the date the matter is set for  arbitration.
In the event of any  arbitration,  the arbitrator or arbitrators  shall have the
power to award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party. Any provision
in this  Agreement  to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  this  section  shall  be
governed by the Federal  Arbitration  Act and the parties have entered into this
Agreement pursuant to such Act.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
         13.  COSTS OF  LITIGATION.  In the event  litigation  is  commenced  to
enforce  any of the  provisions  hereof,  or to  obtain  declaratory  relief  in
connection  with any of the provisions  hereof,  the  prevailing  party shall be
entitled to recover  reasonable  attorney's fees. In the event this Agreement is
asserted in any litigation as a defense to any liability, claim, demand, action,
cause of action,  or right asserted in such litigation,  the party prevailing on
the issue of that defense shall be entitled to recovery of reasonable attorney's
fees.

         14.      AFFILIATION.  A company will be deemed to be "affiliated" with
NBTB or New Bank according to the definition of "Affiliate" set forth in Rule
12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

         15.      HEADINGS.  The section and subsection headings herein have
been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way modify or
restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

          16.      AGREEMENT CONTINGENT UPON MERGER.  This Agreement is
contingent upon the occurrence of the Merger and, if the Merger
fails to occur, this Agreement will be null and void and of no past or
future effect.

         IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  executed  or  caused  this
Agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                NBT BANCORP INC.

                                By:   /S/ DARYL R. FORSYTHE
                                      Daryl R. Forsythe
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer

                                JOHN G. MARTINES

                                /S/ JOHN G. MARTINES

                                      -12-
<PAGE>EXHIBIT 10.9
          Form of Change-In-Control Agreement between NBT Bancorp Inc.
      and the following officers of NBT Bancorp Inc. or one or more of its
       subsidiaries: John R. Bradley, Michael J. Chewens, Rita K. DeMarko,
   Martin A. Dietrich, Joseph J. Earyes, Daryl R. Forsythe, John G. Martines,
         Joe C. Minor, Jane Neal, David E. Raven, Kenneth C. Reilly, and
                                 John D. Roberts

<PAGE>

                                  [ 1 ], 2000

[                                ]
[                                ]
[                                ]

Dear Mr./Ms. [                        ]:
              ------------------------

         NBT  Bancorp  Inc.  (which,  together  with its  wholly-owned  [ 2 ] is
referred to as the  "Company")  considers  the  stability of its key  management
group to be essential to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The  Company   recognizes   that,  as  is  the  case  with  many   publicly-held
corporations,  the  possibility  of a change in  control  may arise and that the
attendant  uncertainty  may  result  in  the  departure  or  distraction  of key
management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders.

         Accordingly,  the Board of Directors  of the Company (the  "Board") has
determined that  appropriate  steps should be taken to encourage  members of the
Company's key management group to

[FN]
1                 "January 1" for Messrs. Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Forsythe,
Minor, Raven, Reilly, Roberts, Ms. DeMarko, and Ms. Neal; "February 17" for
Messrs. Earyes and Martines.
2                 "subsidiary, NBT Bank, National Association," for Messrs.
Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Forsythe, Minor, Raven, Reilly, Roberts, Ms.
DeMarko, and Ms. Neal; "subsidiaries, NBT Bank, National Association and LA
Bank, National Association" for Messrs. Earyes and Martines.
</FN>

continue as employees notwithstanding the possibility of a change in control
of the Company.

         The Board also  believes it important  that, in the event of a proposal
for transfer of control of the  Company,  you be able to assess the proposal and
advise the Board  without  being  influenced  by the  uncertainties  of your own
situation.

         In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company, [ 3 ]
         1.       AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES; RIGHT TO TERMINATE.

                  (a) TERMINATION  PRIOR TO CERTAIN OFFERS.  Except as otherwise
provided in paragraph (b) below, or in any written employment  agreement between
you and the Company,  the Company or you may  terminate  your  employment at any
time. If, and only if, such termination  occurs after a change in control of the
Company (as defined in section 6), the  provisions of this  Agreement  regarding
the payment of severance compensation and benefits shall apply.

<PAGE>
[FN]
3 "we entered an agreement,  approved by the Board, dated February 21, 1995, and
revised by Board action on April 28, 1998, providing for severance  compensation
that the Board agreed would be provided to you in the event your employment with
the Company terminated subsequent to a change in control ("Agreement").  We have
agreed upon various changes to the Agreement,  agreed to by the Board,  and have
agreed to amend and restate the  Agreement in its entirety as follows:"  for Mr.
Forsythe; "we entered an agreement, approved by the Board, dated January 2, 1997
and  revised by Board  action on  October  27,  1998,  providing  for  severance
compensation  that the Board  agreed  would be provided to you in the event your
employment  with  the  Company  terminated  subsequent  to a change  in  control
("Agreement").  We have agreed upon various changes to the Agreement,  agreed to
by the Board, and have agreed to amend and restate the Agreement in its entirety
as follows:" for Messrs. Dietrich, Minor, and Roberts; "we entered an agreement,
approved  by the Board,  dated  January 2, 1997 and  revised by Board  action on
April 28, 1998, providing for severance compensation that the Board agreed would
be provided  to you in the event your  employment  with the  Company  terminated
subsequent  to a change in control  ("Agreement").  We have agreed upon  various
changes to the Agreement,  agreed to by the Board,  and have agreed to amend and
restate the Agreement in its entirety as follows:" for Mr. Bradley;  "we entered
an agreement,  approved by the Board, dated January 1, 1998 and revised by Board
action on April 28, 1998,  providing for severance  compensation  that the Board
agreed  would be provided to you in the event your  employment  with the Company
terminated subsequent to a change in control ("Agreement").  We have agreed upon
various  changes to the  Agreement,  agreed to by the Board,  and have agreed to
amend and  restate  the  Agreement  in its  entirety  as  follows:"  for Messrs.
Chewens,  Raven,  and  Reilly  and Ms.  Neal;  "this  Agreement,  which has been
approved by the Board, sets forth the severance  compensation  which the Company
agrees will be provided to you in the event your  employment with the Company is
terminated  subsequent  to a  "change  in  control"  of the  Company  under  the
circumstances described below." for Messrs. Earyes and Martines and Ms. DeMarko.
</FN>

                  (b) TERMINATION  SUBSEQUENT TO CERTAIN OFFERS.  In the event a
tender offer or exchange offer is made by a person (as defined in section 6) for
more than 30 percent of the combined  voting power of the Company's  outstanding
securities  ordinarily  having  the  right  to vote at  elections  of  directors
("Voting  Securities"),  including  shares of common stock, no par value, of the
Company (the "Company Shares"),  you agree that you will not leave the employ of
the  Company  (other than as a result of  Disability  as such term is defined in
section 6) and will render  services to the Company in the capacity in which you
then serve  until such  tender  offer or exchange  offer has been  abandoned  or
terminated  or a change in control of the  Company  has  occurred as a result of
such tender offer or exchange offer.  If, during the period you are obligated to
continue in the employ of the Company pursuant to this section 1(b), the Company
reduces your  compensation,  terminates  your  employment  without Cause, or you
provide  written notice of your decision to terminate  your  employment for Good

<PAGE>
Reason,  your obligations under this section 1(b) shall thereupon  terminate and
you will be entitled to payments provided under Section 3(b).

         2. TERM OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof
and shall continue in effect until December 31, 2002;  provided,  however,  that
commencing December 31, 2000 and each December 31 thereafter, the remaining term
of this Agreement shall  automatically be extended for one additional year (to a
total of three  years)  unless at least 90 days prior to such  anniversary,  the
Company  or you  shall  have  given  notice  that  this  Agreement  shall not be
extended;  and  provided,  however,  that if a change in control of the  Company
shall  occur  while  this  Agreement  is  in  effect,   this   Agreement   shall
automatically  be  extended  for 24 months  from the date the  change in control
occurs.  This Agreement  shall  terminate if you or the Company  terminates your
employment prior to a change in control of the Company but without  prejudice to
any remedy the Company may have for breach of your  obligations,  if any,  under
section 1(b).

         3.  SEVERANCE  PAYMENT AND  BENEFITS IF  TERMINATION  OCCURS  FOLLOWING
CHANGE IN CONTROL FOR DISABILITY, WITHOUT CAUSE, OR WITH GOOD REASON. If, within
24 months  from the date of  occurrence  of any event  constituting  a change in
control of the  Company (it being  recognized  that more than one such event may
occur in which case the 24-month period shall run from the date of occurrence of
each such event),  your  employment  with the Company is  terminated  (i) by the
Company for Disability,  (ii) by the Company without Cause, or (iii) by you with
Good  Reason (as defined in section 6), or within 90 days of a Change in Control
by you without  Good  Reason,  you shall be entitled to a severance  payment and
other benefits as follows:

                  (a)  DISABILITY.  If  your  employment  with  the  Company  is
terminated  for  Disability,  your  benefits  shall  thereafter be determined in
accordance with the Company's long-term disability income insurance plan. If the
Company's  long-term  disability income insurance plan is modified or terminated
following a change in control,  the Company  shall  substitute  such a plan with
benefits applicable to you substantially  similar to those provided by such plan
prior to its  modification  or  termination.  During any period that you fail to
perform  your  duties  hereunder  as a result of  incapacity  due to physical or
mental illness,  you shall continue to receive your full base salary at the rate
then  in  effect  until  your  employment  is  terminated  by  the  Company  for
Disability.

                  (b) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR WITH GOOD REASON OR WITHIN 90
DAYS OF CHANGE IN CONTROL.  If your  employment  with the Company is  terminated
without  Cause by the  Company or with Good  Reason by you,  or by you within 90
days of a Change in Control  without Good Reason,  then the Company shall pay to
you, upon demand, the following amounts (net of applicable payroll taxes):

                           (i)      Your full base salary plus year-to-date
accrued vacation through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect on the
date the change in control occurs.

<PAGE>
                           (ii)     As severance pay, an amount equal to the
product of your "Base Amount" multiplied by the number [
4 ]. As used in the previous sentence,  your "Base Amount" will be determined in
accordance  with Section 280G of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
which   generally   provides  that  the  base  amount  is  your  average  annual
compensation includible in your gross income for federal income tax purposes for
the five  years  immediately  preceding  the year in which the change in control
occurs (or,  if you shall have been  employed by the Company for less than those
five  years,  for the  number of those  years  during  which you shall have been
employed by the  Company,  with any partial  year  annualized),  including  base
salary, non-deferred amounts under annual incentive,  long-term performance, and
profit-sharing  plans,  distributions of previously  deferred amounts under such
plans, and ordinary income recognized with respect to stock options.

(C)  RELATED  BENEFITS.  Unless you die or your  employment is terminated by the
     Company  for Cause or  Disability,  or by you other than for Good Reason or
     within 90 days of a Change in  Control  by you  without  Good  Reason,  the
     Company shall maintain in full force and effect,  for the continued benefit
     of you for one year after the Date of  Termination,  all  noncash  employee
     benefit plans,  programs, or arrangements  (including,  without limitation,
     pension and retirement  plans and  arrangements,  stock option plans,  life
     insurance and health and accident plans and arrangements, medical insurance
     plans,  disability plans, and vacation plans) in which you were entitled to
     participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination provided that your
     continued  participation  is possible after  Termination  under the general
     terms and provisions of such plans, programs,  and arrangements;  provided,
     however,  that if you become  eligible to  participate  in a benefit  plan,
     program,  or  arrangement of another  employer which confers  substantially
     similar  benefits upon you, you shall cease to receive  benefits under this
     subsection in respect of such plan, program,  or arrangement.  In the event
     that your  participation  in any such  plan,  program,  or  arrangement  is
     barred,   the  Company   shall   arrange  to  provide  you  with   benefits
     substantially similar to those which you are entitled to receive under such
     plans,  programs and arrangements or alternatively,  pay an amount equal to
     the reasonable  value of such  substantially  similar  benefits.  If, after
     termination  of employment  following a Change in Control,  you elect COBRA
     continuation  coverage,  the  Company  will  pay  you [ 5 ]  worth  of  the
     applicable  COBRA  premium.  If  termination  follows a Change  in  Control
     specified  in  Section  6(b)(iii),  then  you may  elect  in lieu of  COBRA
     continuation

[FN]
4                 "2.99" for Messrs. Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Forsythe,
Martines, Minor, Roberts, and Ms. Neal; "2" for Mr. Earyes; "1" for Messrs.
Raven and Reilly and Ms. DeMarko.
5                 "18 months" for Messrs. Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Earyes,
Forsythe, Martines, Minor, Roberts, and Ms. Neal; "12 months" for Messrs.
Raven and Reilly and Ms. DeMarko.
</FN>
<PAGE>

coverage to have the acquiring entity obtain an individual or
group health insurance coverage and the acquiring entity will pay [ 6 ] worth of
premiums thereunder.

[FN]
6                 "18 months" for Messrs. Bradley, Chewens, Dietrich, Earyes,
Forsythe, Martines, Minor, Roberts, and Ms. Neal; "12 months" for Messrs. Raven
and Reilly and Ms. DeMarko.
</FN>

                  (d)  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  TRUST.   Within  five  days  following
conclusion  of a Change in  Control,  the Company  shall  establish a trust that
conforms in all  regards  with the model trust  published  in Revenue  Procedure
92-64 and deposit an amount sufficient to satisfy all liabilities of the Company
under Section 3(b) of this Agreement.

                  (e) AUTOMATIC EXTENSION.  Notwithstanding the prior provisions
of this  Section,  if an individual is elected to the Board of Directors who has
not  been  nominated  by the  Board of  Directors  as  constituted  prior to his
election,  then the term of this Agreement will  automatically be extended until
two years from the date on which such  individual  was elected if such  extended
termination  date is later than the normal  termination  date of this Agreement,
otherwise,  the  termination  date of this Agreement will be as provided  above.
This  extension  will take effect only upon the first  instance of an individual
being  elected to the Board of Directors  without  having been  nominated by the
original Board.
                  (f)  ALTERNATIVE TO LUMP SUM PAYOUT.  The amount  described in
this  subsection will be paid to you in a single  lump-sum  unless,  at least 30
days  before  the  conclusion  of a Change in  Control,  you elect in writing to
receive the severance  pay in 3 equal annual  payments with the first payment to
be made  within  30 days of demand  and the  subsequent  payments  to be made by
January 31st of each year  subsequent  to the year in which the first payment is
made,  provided that under no  circumstances  will two payments be made during a
single tax year of the recipient.

         4. PAYMENT IF TERMINATION  OCCURS FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL,  BECAUSE
OF DEATH,  FOR CAUSE,  OR  WITHOUT  GOOD  REASON.  If your  employment  shall be
terminated  following any event  constituting a change in control of the Company
because of your death,  or by the  Company  for Cause,  or by you other than for
Good Reason and not within 90 days of a Change in Control, the Company shall pay
you your full base salary plus year-to-date accrued vacation through the Date of
Termination  at the rate in effect on the date of the change in control  occurs.
The Company shall have no further obligations to you under this Agreement.

         5. NO  MITIGATION.  You shall not be required to mitigate the amount of
any payment  provided  for in this  Agreement  by seeking  other  employment  or
otherwise,  nor,  except as expressly set forth herein,  shall the amount of any

<PAGE>
payment provided for in this Agreement be reduced by any compensation  earned by
you  as the  result  of  employment  by  another  employer  after  the  Date  of
Termination, or otherwise.

         6.       DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS.  For the purpose of this
Agreement, the terms defined in this section 6 shall have the meanings assigned
to them herein.

                  (a) CAUSE.  Termination of your  employment by the Company for
"Cause" shall mean termination  because,  and only because, you committed an act
of fraud,  embezzlement,  or theft constituting a felony or an act intentionally
against the interests of the Company which causes the Company  material  injury.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  you shall not be deemed to have been terminated
for Cause  unless and until there shall have been  delivered  to you a copy of a
resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than  three-quarters
of the entire  membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held
for the purpose  (after  reasonable  notice to you and an  opportunity  for you,
together with your counsel,  to be heard before the Board),  finding that in the
good faith opinion of the Board you were guilty of conduct constituting Cause as
defined above and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.

                  (b)      CHANGE IN CONTROL.  A "Change in Control" of the
Company shall mean:

                           (i)      A change in control of a nature that would
be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of
Schedule 14A of Regulation  14A as in effect on the date hereof  pursuant to the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange  Act");  provided that,  without
limitation,  such a change in control  shall be deemed to have  occurred at such
time as any Person hereafter becomes the "Beneficial  Owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly,  of 30 percent or more of
the combined voting power of the Company's Voting Securities; or

                           (ii)     During any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period
constitute  the Board  cease for any  reason to  constitute  at least a majority
thereof  unless the election,  or the  nomination  for election by the Company's
shareholders, of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds
of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the
period; or

                           (iii)    There shall be consummated (x) any
consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is
not the  continuing  or  surviving  corporation  or  pursuant  to  which  Voting
Securities would be converted into cash,  securities,  or other property,  other
than a  merger  of the  Company  in  which  the  holders  of  Voting  Securities
immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate  ownership of common
stock of the  surviving  corporation  immediately  after the merger,  or (y) any
sale,  lease,  exchange,  or other  transfer (in one  transaction or a series of
related transactions) of all, or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
provided that any such  consolidation,  merger,  sale, lease,  exchange or other

<PAGE>
transfer  consummated  at the insistence of an  appropriate  banking  regulatory
agency shall not constitute a change in control; or

                           (iv)     Approval by the shareholders of the Company
of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

                  (c) DATE OF TERMINATION.  "Date of Termination" shall mean (i)
if your  employment is terminated by the Company for  Disability,  30 days after
Notice of Termination is given (provided that you shall not have returned to the
performance of your duties on a full-time basis during such 30-day period),  and
(ii) if your employment is terminated for any other reason,  the date on which a
Notice of Termination is given; provided that if within 30 days after any Notice
of Termination is given the party receiving such Notice of Termination  notifies
the other party that a dispute exists  concerning the  termination,  the Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either
by mutual written  agreement of the parties or by a final  judgment,  order,  or
decree  of a court of  competent  jurisdiction  (the time for  appeal  therefrom
having expired and no appeal having been perfected).  The term of this Agreement
shall be extended until the Date of Termination.

                  (d) DISABILITY.  Termination of your employment by the Company
for "Disability" shall mean termination because of your absence from your duties
with the Company on a full-time  basis for 180  consecutive  days as a result of
your  incapacity due to physical or mental illness and your failure to return to
the  performance  of your duties on a full-time  basis during the 30-day  period
after Notice of Termination is given.

                  (e)      GOOD REASON.  Termination by you of your employment
for "Good Reason" shall mean termination based on any of the following:

                           (i)      A change in your status or position(s) with
the Company, which in your reasonable judgment, does
not  represent  a  promotion  from  your  status  or  position(s)  as in  effect
immediately  prior to the  change  in  control,  or a change  in your  duties or
responsibilities  which, in your reasonable judgment,  is inconsistent with such
status or  position(s),  or any removal of you from, or any failure to reappoint
or reelect you to, such  position(s),  except in connection with the termination
of your  employment  for Cause or  Disability or as a result of your death or by
you other than for Good Reason.

                           (ii)     A reduction by the Company in your base
salary as in effect immediately prior to the change in control.

                           (iii)    The failure by the Company to continue in
effect any Plan (as hereinafter defined) in which you
are  participating at the time of the change in control of the Company (or Plans
providing  you with at least  substantially  similar  benefits)  other than as a
result of the normal expiration of any such Plan in accordance with its terms as
in effect at the time of the change in control,  or the taking of any action, or
the failure to act, by the Company which would  adversely  affect your continued
participation in any of such Plans on at least as favorable a basis to you as is
the case on the date of the change in control or which would  materially  reduce
your  benefits  in the  future  under any of such  Plans or  deprive  you of any
material benefit enjoyed by you at the time of the change in control.

<PAGE>
                           (iv)     The failure by the Company to provide and
credit you with the number of paid vacation days to
which you are then entitled in accordance  with the  Company's  normal  vacation
policy as in effect immediately prior to the change in control.

                           (v)      The Company's requiring you to be based
anywhere other than where your office is located
immediately  prior to the change in control  except for  required  travel on the
Company's  business  to an extent  substantially  consistent  with the  business
travel  obligations  which you  undertook on behalf of the Company  prior to the
change in control.

                           (vi)     The failure by the Company to obtain from
any successor the assent to this Agreement contemplated by section 8 hereof.

                           (vii)    Any purported termination by the Company of
your employment which is not effected pursuant to a
Notice of Termination  satisfying the  requirements of this  Agreement;  and for
purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination shall be effective.

                           (viii)   Any refusal by the Company to continue to
allow you to attend to matters or engage in activities
not directly  related to the business of the Company which,  prior to the change
in control, you were permitted by the Board to attend to or engage in.

For purposes of this subsection, "Plan" shall mean any compensation plan such as
an incentive or stock option plan or any employee benefit plan such as a thrift,
pension, profit sharing, medical, disability,  accident, life insurance plan, or
a relocation plan or policy or any other plan, program, or policy of the Company
intended to benefit employees.

                  (f) NOTICE OF  TERMINATION.  A "Notice of Termination" of your
employment  given by the Company shall mean a written notice given to you of the
termination of your  employment  which shall  indicate the specific  termination
provision  in this  Agreement  relied  upon,  and shall set forth in  reasonable
detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
your employment under the provision so indicated.

                  (g)  PERSON.  The term  "Person"  shall mean and  include  any
individual, corporation,  partnership, group, association, or other "person," as
such term is used in section 14(d) of the Exchange  Act,  other than the Company
or any employee benefit plan(s) sponsored by the Company.

         7. NOTICE.  For the purposes of this  Agreement,  notices and all other
communications  provided for in the  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be

<PAGE>
deemed  to have been  duly  given  when  delivered  or  mailed by United  States
certified  or  registered  mail,  return  receipt  requested,  postage  prepaid,
addressed  to the  respective  addresses  set  forth on the  first  page of this
Agreement,  provided  that all notices to the  Company  shall be directed to the
attention  of the Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company  with a copy to the
Secretary  of the  Company,  or to such other  address as either  party may have
furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of
change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

         8.       SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT.

                  (a) This  Agreement  shall  inure to the  benefit  of,  and be
binding upon, any corporate or other  successor or assignee of the Company which
shall acquire, directly or indirectly, by merger,  consolidation or purchase, or
otherwise,  all or  substantially  all of the business or assets of the Company.
The  Company  shall  require any such  successor,  by an  agreement  in form and
substance  satisfactory  to you,  expressly  to assume and agree to perform this
Agreement  in the same  manner and to the same  extent as the  Company  would be
required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

                  (b)  This  Agreement  shall  inure  to the  benefit  of and be
enforceable   by   your   personal   or   legal   representatives,    executors,
administrators,  successors, heirs, distributees,  devisees and legatees. If you
should die while any amount  would still be payable to you  hereunder if you had
continued to live, all such amounts,  unless otherwise provided herein, shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to your devisee, legatee, or
other designee or, if there is no such designee, to your estate.

         9.       INCREASED SEVERANCE PAYMENTS UPON APPLICATION OF EXCISE TAX.

                  (a)  ADJUSTMENT  OF  PAYMENT.  In the  event any  payments  or
benefits you become  entitled to pursuant to the Agreement or any other payments
or benefits  received or to be  received by you in  connection  with a change in
control of the Company or your  termination of employment  (whether  pursuant to
the terms of any other agreement,  plan, or arrangement,  or otherwise, with the
Company,  any person whose  actions  result in a change in control or any person
affiliated  with  the  Company  or such  person)  (collectively  the  "Severance
Payments") will be subject to the tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by section 4999
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Company shall
pay you an  additional  amount (the  "Gross-Up  Payment") so that the net amount
retained by you, after deduction of the Excise Tax (but before deduction for any
federal,  state  or  local  income  tax) on the  Severance  Payments  and  after
deduction  for the  aggregate  of any  federal,  state,  or local income tax and
Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment,  shall be equal to the Severance Payments.
For  purposes of  determining  whether  any of the  Severance  Payments  will be
subject  to the Excise Tax and the  amount of such  Excise  Tax,  (i) the entire
amount of the Severance Payments shall be treated as "parachute payments" within
the meaning of section  280G(b)(2) of the Code and as subject to the Excise Tax,

<PAGE>
unless and to the extent, in the written opinion of outside tax counsel selected
by the Company's independent  accountants and reasonably acceptable to you, such
payments  (in whole or in part) are not subject to the Excise Tax;  and (ii) the
value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit (constituting a
part of the Severance Payments) shall be determined by the Company's independent
auditors in accordance with the principles of sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the
Code. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment,  you shall
be  deemed to pay  federal  income  taxes at the  highest  marginal  rate of the
federal income taxation  applicable to individuals  (without taking into account
surtaxes or loss or reduction of deductions)  for the calendar year in which the
Gross-Up  Payment is to be made and state and local  income taxes at the highest
marginal  rates of taxation in the state and  locality of your  residence on the
date of Termination. In the event that the amount of Excise Tax you are required
to pay is subsequently  determined to be less than the amount taken into account
hereunder,  you  shall  repay to the  Company  promptly  after the time that the
amount of such  reduction in Excise Tax is finally  determined the amount of the
reduction, together with interest on the amount of such reduction at the rate of
6 percent  per annum  from the date of the  Gross-Up  Payment,  plus,  if in the
written  opinion of outside tax counsel  selected by the  Company's  independent
accountants  and  reasonably  acceptable  to you,  such  payment  (or a  portion
thereof) was not taxable income to you when reported or is deductible by you for
federal  income tax  purposes,  the net federal  income tax benefit you actually
realize as a result of making such  payment  pursuant to this  sentence.  In the
event  that the  amount of Excise Tax you are  required  to pay is  subsequently
determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder,  the Company shall
make an additional  Gross-Up Payment in the manner set forth above in respect of
such excess (plus any  interest,  additions to tax, or penalties  payable by you
with  respect  to such  excess)  promptly  after the time that the amount can be
reasonably determined.

                  (b) TIME OF PAYMENT:  ESTIMATED PAYMENT. The payments provided
for in subsection (a) above, shall be made not later than the fifth business day
following the Date of  Termination;  provided,  however,  that if the amounts of
such  payments  cannot be finally  determined on or before such day, the Company
shall pay to you on such day an  estimate,  as  determined  in good faith by the
Company, of the minimum amount of such payments,  and shall pay the remainder of
such  payments  (together  with  interest at the rate of 6 percent per annum) as
soon as the amount  thereof can be  determined.  In the event that the amount of
the estimated payments exceeds the amount  subsequently  determined to have been
due, such excess shall  constitute a loan by the Company to you,  payable on the
fifth day after demand by the Company  (together  with interest at the rate of 6
percent per annum).

         10.  MISCELLANEOUS.  No  provision of this  Agreement  may be modified,
waived, or discharged unless such  modification,  waiver, or discharge is agreed
to in a writing  signed by you and the Chief  Executive  Officer or President of
the  Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the
other party hereto of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this

<PAGE>
Agreement  to be  performed  by such  other  party  shall be  deemed a waiver of
similar or  dissimilar  provisions or conditions at the same, or at any prior or
subsequent,  time. No agreements or representations,  oral or otherwise, express
or implied,  with respect to the subject  matter hereof have been made by either
party  which  are not  expressly  set  forth in this  Agreement.  The  validity,
interpretation,  construction,  and  performance  of  this  Agreement  shall  be
governed  by  laws  of the  State  of New  York  without  giving  effect  to the
principles of conflict of laws thereof.

         11. LEGAL FEES AND  EXPENSES.  The Company  shall pay or reimburse  any
reasonable  legal fees and expenses you may incur in  connection  with any legal
action to  enforce  your  rights  under,  or to defend  the  validity  of,  this
Agreement.  The Company will pay or reimburse  such legal fees and expenses on a
regular,  periodic basis upon  presentation  by you of a statement or statements
prepared by your counsel in accordance with its usual practices.

         12.      VALIDITY.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

         13. PAYMENTS DURING  CONTROVERSY.  Notwithstanding  the pendency of any
dispute  or  controversy,  the  Company  will  continue  to pay  you  your  full
compensation  in effect  when the notice  giving  rise to the  dispute was given
(including,  but not  limited  to, base  salary and  installments  of  incentive
compensation)  and continue you as a participant in all  compensation,  benefit,
and insurance plans in which you were  participating when the notice giving rise
to the dispute was given,  until the dispute is finally  resolved in  accordance
with section 7(c).  Amounts paid under this section are in addition to all other
amounts due under this  Agreement and shall not be offset  against or reduce any
other amounts due under this  Agreement.  You shall be entitled to seek specific
performance  of your right to be paid until the Date of  Termination  during the
pendency of any dispute or controversy  arising under or in connection with this
Agreement.

         14.   ILLEGALITY.   Anything  in  this   Agreement   to  the   contrary
notwithstanding,  this  Agreement  is not intended and shall not be construed to
require any payment to you which would  violate any federal or state  statute or
regulation,   including   without   limitation  the  "golden  parachute  payment
regulations" of the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation  codified to Part 359
of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations.

         If this letter correctly sets forth our agreement on the subject matter
hereof,  kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copy of this letter,
which will then constitute our agreement on this subject.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                NBT BANCORP INC.

<PAGE>

                                                 By:__________________________

AGREED TO: ___________________________________

<PAGE>

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00009-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00009-of-00352.parquet"}]]