PIONEER AMERICAN HOLDING CO CORP
SC 13D, 1999-12-16
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                     PIONEER AMERICAN HOLDING COMPANY CORP.
                             -----------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share
                -------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   723544 10 2
                 -----------------------------------------------
                      (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

                              Mr. Daryl R. Forsythe
                      President and Chief Executive Officer
                                NBT Bancorp Inc.
                              52 South Broad Street
                             Norwich, New York 13815
                                 (607) 337-2265
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
                     to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                    Copy to:

                              Brian D. Alprin, Esq.
                             Laurence S. Lese, Esq.
                          Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP
                         1667 K Street, N.W., Suite 700
                             Washington, D.C. 20006
                                 (202) 776-7800

                                        1
<PAGE>

                                December 7, 1999
                     ---------------------------------------
                          (Date of Event which Requires
                            Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  which  is the  subject  of  this  Statement  because  of  Rule
13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following:

                                       [ ]

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this Statement:
                                       [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)      NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

         NBT BANCORP INC.
         16-1268674
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)      CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
                              (a)      [ ]
                              (b)      [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3)      SEC USE ONLY

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4)      SOURCE OF FUNDS*

         WC/00
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5)      CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED
         PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
                                       [ ]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6)      CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

         DELAWARE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES                             (7)     SOLE VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY                                      569,997(1)
EACH REPORTING PERSON                                ---------------------------
WITH:                                        (8)     SHARED VOTING
                                                             -0-
                                                     ---------------------------

                                        2


<PAGE>



                                              (9)    SOLE DISPOSITIVE
                                                          569,997(1)
                                                     ---------------------------
                                             (10)    SHARED DISPOSITIVE
                                                            -0-

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11)     AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
         PERSON

         569,997(1)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12)     CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW 11 EXCLUDES CERTAIN
         SHARES*                       [ ]

         N/A
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13)     PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 11

         APPROXIMATELY 16.6%(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14)     TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

         CO
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*        SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

(1)      The  shares  of  Issuer   common  stock  covered  by  this  report  are
         purchasable  by Reporting  Person upon exercise of an option granted by
         Issuer to  Reporting  Person as of December 7, 1999,  and  described in
         Item 4 of this report.  Prior to the exercise of the option,  Reporting
         Person is not entitled to any rights as a  stockholder  of Issuer as to
         the shares covered by the option. The option may be exercised only upon
         the  happening of certain  events  referred to in Item 4, none of which
         has  occurred  as  of  the  date  hereof.  Reporting  Person  expressly
         disclaims  beneficial ownership of any of the shares of common stock of
         Issuer which are  purchasable by Reporting  Person upon exercise of the
         option until such time as Reporting  Person  purchases  any such shares
         upon any such exercise. The number of shares indicated represents 19.9%
         of the  total  outstanding  shares  of  common  stock of  Issuer  as of
         December  7, 1999,  excluding  shares  issuable  upon  exercise  of the
         option.

(2)      After giving effect to the exercise of the option as described herein.

ITEM 1.      SECURITY AND ISSUER.

                                        3

<PAGE>

This statement on Schedule 13D (the "Schedule 13D") relates to the common stock,
$1.00 par value per share  (the  "Shares"  or the  "Issuer  Common  Stock"),  of
Pioneer American Holding Company Corp., a Pennsylvania  corporation  ("Issuer").
The  principal  executive  office of Issuer is located at 41 North Main  Street,
Carbondale, PA 18407.

The  information   set  forth  in  the  Exhibits  hereto  is  hereby   expressly
incorporated herein by reference and the responses to each item of this Schedule
13D are qualified in their entirety by the provisions of such Exhibits.

ITEM 2.      IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.

(a)-(c) This Schedule 13D is filed by NBT Bancorp  Inc., a Delaware  corporation
("Reporting Person").

The business address of Reporting Person is 52 South Broad Street,  Norwich, New
York  13815.  The  principal  business  of  Reporting  Person is a bank  holding
company.

To the best of Reporting  Person's  knowledge  as of the date hereof,  the name;
business address;  present principal  occupation or employment;  name, principal
business  and address of any  corporation  or other  organization  in which such
employment is conducted;  and citizenship of each executive officer and director
of Reporting Person is set forth in Schedule I hereto. The information contained
in Schedule I is incorporated herein by reference.

(d)-(e) During the last five years,  neither  Reporting  Person nor, to the best
knowledge of Reporting  Person,  any of the  executive  officers or directors of
Reporting Person, has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic
violations or similar misdemeanors),  or been a party to a civil proceeding of a
judicial or  administrative  body of competent  jurisdiction  and as a result of
such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining
future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal
or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such items.

ITEM 3.      SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.

The Option  (defined in Item 4 below) to acquire Shares was granted by Issuer to
Reporting  Person  as an  inducement  to  Reporting  Person's  entering  into an
Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated as of  December  7, 1999,  by and  between
Reporting Person and Issuer (the "Plan of Merger"),  providing for the merger of
a  subsidiary  of  Reporting  Person with and into Issuer with Issuer  being the
surviving  corporation,  followed  immediately  by the merger of Issuer with and
into  Reporting  Person with  Reporting  Person being the surviving  corporation
(together, the "Merger"). Pursuant to the Plan of Merger, each outstanding Share
will be  converted  into the right to  receive  shares of common  stock,  no par
value, $1.00 stated value per share or $.01 par value per share, as the case may
be, of  Reporting  Person  ("Reporting  Person  Common  Stock").  At its special
stockholders'  meeting to  consider  its merger with Lake Ariel  Bancorp,  Inc.,
Reporting Person is also requesting that its stockholders consider a proposal to
change the par value of Reporting Person's common

                                        4


<PAGE>

stock  from no par  value,  $1.00  stated  value per share to $.01 par value per
share.  Depending upon the outcome of that vote by the stockholders of Reporting
Person,  the  stockholders  of  Issuer  will  receive  in the  Merger  Shares of
Reporting  Person Common Stock with such par value as determined by such vote of
Reporting  Person's  stockholders.  The  Merger is subject  to the  approval  of
Issuer's  and  Reporting   Person's   stockholders,   respectively,   regulatory
approvals,  and the satisfaction or waiver of various other conditions,  as more
fully described in the Plan of Merger. None of the Triggering Events (defined in
Item 4 below)  permitting the exercise of the Option has occurred as of the date
hereof.  In the event that the Option becomes  exercisable and Reporting  Person
wishes to purchase the Shares subject thereto, Reporting Person anticipates that
it would fund the exercise price of  $13,679,928  (assuming full exercise of the
Option) with working  capital or through other  financing  sources  available to
Reporting  Person  at the  time of  exercise.  A copy of the Plan of  Merger  is
attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1. See also Item 4 below.

ITEM 4.      PURPOSE OF THE TRANSACTION.

The information set forth in Item 3 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The purpose of the  transaction  is for Issuer to merge with and into  Reporting
Person, with Reporting Person being the surviving entity. In connection with the
Plan of Merger and in consideration thereof, Issuer and Reporting Person entered
into that  certain  Stock  Option  Agreement  (the  "Option  Agreement"),  dated
December 7, 1999,  whereby  Issuer  granted to  Reporting  Person an option (the
"Option") to purchase,  under certain  circumstances  described  therein,  up to
569,997  Shares at a cash  purchase  price per Share equal to $24.00  subject to
antidilution adjustment as provided therein (the "Purchase Price"). Based on the
number  of  Shares  outstanding  on  December  7,  1999,  the  Option  would  be
exercisable for approximately  19.9% of the outstanding Shares, or approximately
16.6% of the  Shares  that  would be  outstanding  after  giving  effect  to the
exercise of the Option.

Reporting  Person may exercise the Option,  in whole or in part, at any time and
from time to time following the happening of certain events (each, a "Triggering
Event"),  provided that Reporting Person provide written notice of such exercise
to Issuer in accordance with the Option  Agreement.  A Triggering Event includes
any one or more of the following events:

         (a) Issuer or Pioneer American Bank, N. A. ("Bank Subsidiary"), without
having received  Reporting  Person's prior written  consent,  shall have entered
into an agreement to engage in an  Acquisition  Transaction  (as defined  below)
with any person (the term "person" for purposes of the Option  Agreement  having
the meaning  assigned thereto in sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and the  rules and
regulations  thereunder)  other than Reporting Person or any of its subsidiaries
(each a "Reporting Person Subsidiary");

         (b) Any person  other than  Reporting  Person or any  Reporting  Person
Subsidiary  shall have  acquired  beneficial  ownership  or the right to acquire
beneficial ownership of 10 percent or more of

                                        5


<PAGE>

the  outstanding  Shares (the term  "beneficial  ownership"  for purposes of the
Option  Agreement  having the meaning  assigned  thereto in section 13(d) of the
Exchange Act and the rules and  regulations  thereunder),  or, to the extent any
such person has currently acquired beneficial  ownership or the right to acquire
beneficial  ownership  of 10 percent  or more of the  outstanding  Shares,  such
person  shall  have  acquired  beneficial  ownership  or the  right  to  acquire
beneficial ownership of any additional Shares;

         (c) The  shareholders  of  Issuer  shall  have  voted on and  failed to
approve the Plan of Merger at a meeting  which has been held for that purpose or
any  adjournment or  postponement  thereof,  or such meeting shall not have been
held in  violation  of the Plan of Merger or shall have been  canceled  prior to
termination  of the Plan of Merger if, prior to such meeting (or if such meeting
shall  not  have  been  held  or  shall  have  been  canceled,   prior  to  such
termination),  it shall have been publicly announced that any person (other than
Reporting Person or any Reporting Person Subsidiary) shall have made a bona fide
proposal to engage in an Acquisition Transaction;

          (d) The Board of Directors of Issuer (the "Issuer  Board")  shall have
withdrawn  or modified  (or  publicly  announced  its  intention  to withdraw or
modify) in any manner adverse to Reporting  Person its  recommendation  that the
shareholders  of Issuer  approve the  transactions  contemplated  by the Plan of
Merger or  Issuer or the  Issuer  Board or the Bank  Subsidiary  or the Board of
Directors of the Bank Subsidiary shall have authorized,  recommended or proposed
(or publicly  announced  its  intention to  authorize,  recommend or propose) an
agreement  to engage in an  Acquisition  Transaction  with any person other than
Reporting Person or any Reporting Person Subsidiary, or that the shareholders of
Issuer approve or accept any Acquisition  Transaction other than as contemplated
by the Plan of Merger;

           (e) Any person other than  Reporting  Person or any Reporting  Person
Subsidiary shall have made a bona fide proposal to Issuer or its shareholders to
engage in an Acquisition  Transaction and such proposal shall have been publicly
announced;

           (f) Any person other than  Reporting  Person or any Reporting  Person
Subsidiary shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission ("SEC")
a registration  statement or tender offer  materials with respect to a potential
exchange or tender offer that would constitute an Acquisition Transaction;

            (g) Issuer shall have breached any covenant or obligation  contained
in the Plan of Merger in anticipation of engaging in an Acquisition  Transaction
with any person other than Reporting  Person or a Reporting  Person  Subsidiary,
and following such breach,  Reporting  Person would be entitled to terminate the
Plan of Merger pursuant to section 11.2(b) of the Plan of Merger, or

             (h) any person other than Reporting  Person or any Reporting Person
Subsidiary shall have filed an application or notice with the Board of Governors
of the  Federal  Reserve  System or other  federal or state bank  regulatory  or
antitrust  authority,   which  application  or  notice  has  been  accepted  for
processing, for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

                                        6


<PAGE>

The term  "Acquisition  Transaction"  means any transaction under which a person
proposes  to or will  acquire a majority of the stock of,  merge or  consolidate
with,  or  acquire  all or  substantially  all of the  assets  of Issuer or Bank
Subsidiary,  or otherwise engage in any substantially  similar  transaction with
Issuer or Bank Subsidiary.

The Option and the Option  Agreement  will  terminate  upon the  earliest of (a)
occurrence  of the  Effective  Time  (as  such  term is  defined  in the Plan of
Merger); (b) termination of the Plan of Merger in accordance with the provisions
thereof except (each of the following exceptions being hereinafter  collectively
referred to as an "Excepted  Termination")  a  termination  by Reporting  Person
pursuant  to  section  11.2(b)  of the Plan of Merger as a result of a breach by
Issuer of the type  described  in such  provision,  or a  termination  by Issuer
pursuant to section 11.2(c)(iii) of the Plan of Merger; or (c) the passage of 18
months (or such  longer  period as  provided  in section  10) after an  Excepted
Termination.

Upon the  occurrence of certain  events set forth in the Option  Agreement,  the
Option may be repurchased by Issuer (the "Repurchase").  In addition, the Option
Agreement  grants certain  registration  rights (the  "Registration  Rights") to
Reporting Person with respect to the Shares represented by the Option. The terms
of  such  Repurchase  and  Registration  Rights  are  set  forth  in the  Option
Agreement.

A copy of the Option Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.3.

The purpose of the Option Agreement is to facilitate consummation of the Merger.

(a)-(j) Upon  consummation  of the Merger as contemplated by the Plan of Merger,
(a) Issuer will be merged into  Reporting  Person and the separate  existence of
Issuer will  terminate,  (b)  Reporting  Person by operation of law will own the
assets and be subject to the  liabilities  of Issuer in exchange  for  Reporting
Person Common Stock to be distributed to holders of the Issuer's securities, (c)
the Board of  Directors of Issuer will be  terminated,  (d) the  Certificate  of
Incorporation and Bylaws of Issuer will be canceled,  (e) all the Shares will be
canceled  upon  effectiveness  of the  Merger  and the  Shares  will cease to be
authorized to be traded in the over-the-counter  market, and (f) the Shares will
become eligible for termination of registration  pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

ITEM 5.      INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

(a)-(b)  The number of Shares  covered  by the Option is equal to 569,997  which
constitute  (i) 19.9% of Issuer  Common  Stock  based on the  Shares  issued and
outstanding  on December 7, 1999,  or (ii) 16.6% of the shares of Issuer  Common
Stock that would be  outstanding  after  giving  effect to the  exercise  of the
Option.

Prior to the exercise of the Option, Reporting Person (i) is not entitled to any
rights as a  stockholder  of Issuer as to the  Shares  covered by the option and
(ii)  disclaims  any  beneficial  ownership of the shares of Issuer Common Stock
which are purchasable by Reporting Person upon exercise of the

                                        7


<PAGE>

Option  because  the Option is  exercisable  only in the  limited  circumstances
referred to in Item 4 above,  none of which has  occurred as of the date hereof.
If the Option were exercised, Reporting Person would have the sole right to vote
or to dispose of the shares of Issuer  Common  Stock  issued as a result of such
exercise.

(c) Other  than as set forth in this Item 5, to the best of  Reporting  Person's
knowledge as of the date hereof (i) neither  Reporting Person nor any subsidiary
or  affiliate  of  Reporting  Person  nor any of  Reporting  Person's  executive
officers or directors  beneficially  owns any shares of Issuer Common Stock, and
(ii)  there  have been no  transactions  in the  shares of Issuer  Common  Stock
effected  during  the  past 60  days by  Reporting  Person,  nor to the  best of
Reporting Person's knowledge, by any subsidiary or affiliate of Reporting Person
or any of Reporting Person's executive officers or directors.

(d) No other person is known by Reporting Person to have the right to receive or
the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale
of, the Issuer Common Stock  obtainable by Reporting Person upon exercise of the
Option.

(e) Not applicable.

ITEM 6.       CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
              RESPECT TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.

The disclosure set forth in Items 3 and 4 above regarding the Plan of Merger and
Option Agreement is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

As a part  of the  Plan  of  Merger,  each  of  Issuer's  directors  has  agreed
individually  and  as  a  group,  subject  to  their  fiduciary  duties  to  the
stockholders,  to support the Plan of Merger and to  recommend  its  adoption by
other  stockholders  of Issuer and has  further  agreed,  individually  and as a
group,  to refrain from  soliciting  or,  subject to their  fiduciary  duties to
shareholders,  negotiating, or accepting any offer of merger, consolidation,  or
acquisition  of any of the Shares or all or  substantially  all of the assets of
Issuer or Bank Subsidiary.

ITEM 7.             MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

EXHIBIT             DESCRIPTION

2.1                 Agreement and Plan of Merger,  dated as of December 7, 1999,
                    by and among NBT Bancorp Inc., Levon Acquisition Company and
                    Pioneer American Holding Company Corp.

2.2                 The Directors'  Agreement,  dated as of December 7, 1999, is
                    part of the Plan of Merger,  which is filed as  Exhibit  2.1
                    above.

                                        8


<PAGE>

2.3                 Stock  Option  Agreement,  dated  December  7, 1999,  by and
                    between Pioneer  American  Holding Company Corp. as "Issuer"
                    and NBT Bancorp Inc. as "Grantee."

2.4                 Form of Employment Agreement with John W. Reuther.

2.5                 Form of Change-in-Control Agreement.

2.6                 Shareholders Voting Agreement.










                                        9


<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

         After reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that this statement is true, complete and correct.

                                            NBT BANCORP INC.

                                                 By: /s/ Daryl R. Forsythe
                                                     --------------------------
                                                     Name:   Daryl R. Forsythe
                                                     Title:  President and Chief
                                                             Executive Officer

Dated:  December 16, 1999







                                       10


<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

              DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF NBT BANCORP INC.

                    The following  table sets forth the name,  business  address
and present  principal  occupation  or employment of each director and executive
officer  of  Reporting  Person.  Each  such  person is a U.S.  citizen,  and the
business address of each such person is 52 South Broad Street, Norwich, New York
13815.

Name and Business                        Present Principal
    Address                                 Occupation
    -------                                 ----------

*Daryl R. Forsythe                  President and Chief Executive Officer

*Everett A. Gilmour                 Chairman, Retired

Joe C. Minor                        President and Chief Operating Officer,
                                        NBT Financial Services, Inc.

Michael J. Chewens                  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
                                        and Operating Officer

John D. Roberts                     Vice President and Secretary

*J. Peter Chaplin                   Retired

*Peter B. Gregory                   Partner, Gatehouse Antiques

*Andrew S. Kowalczyk, Jr.           Partner, Kowalczyk, Tolles, Deery
                                        & Johnston, attorneys

*Dan B. Marshman                    Marshman Farms, Inc.

*John C. Mitchell                   President, I.L. Richer Co.
                                        (agribusiness)

*William L. Owens                   Partner, Stafford, Trombley, Owens
                                         & Curtin, P.C., attorneys

*Paul O. Stillman                   Chairman, Preferred Mutual
                                         Insurance Co.

                                       11


<PAGE>

*Director of NBT Bancorp Inc.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT             DESCRIPTION

     2.1            Agreement and Plan of Merger,  dated as of December 7, 1999,
                    by and among NBT Bancorp Inc., Levon Acquisition Company and
                    Pioneer American Holding Company Corp.

     2.2            The Directors'  Agreement,  dated as of December 7, 1999, is
                    part of the Plan of Merger,  which is filed as  Exhibit  2.1
                    above.

     2.3            Stock  Option  Agreement,  dated  December  7, 1999,  by and
                    between Pioneer  American  Holding Company Corp. as "Issuer"
                    and NBT Bancorp Inc. as "Grantee."

     2.4            Form of Employment Agreement with John W. Reuther.

     2.5            Form of Change-in-Control Agreement.

     2.6            Shareholders Voting Agreement.








                                       12

                                   EXHIBIT 2.1

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     THIS  AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF MERGER made as of the seventh day of December,
1999,  among NBT  BANCORP  INC.  ("NBTB"),  a  Delaware  corporation  having its
principal office in Norwich,  New York, LEVON ACQUISITION  COMPANY ("Newco"),  a
Delaware  corporation  having its  principal  office in Norwich,  New York,  and
PIONEER  AMERICAN  HOLDING COMPANY CORP.  ("PAHC"),  a Pennsylvania  corporation
having its principal office in Carbondale, Pennsylvania

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

     WHEREAS, NBTB and PAHC are bank holding companies which desire to affiliate
with each other through the merger of Newco with and into PAHC,  with PAHC to be
the surviving corporation (the "First Merger"),  and the immediately  subsequent
merger of PAHC into NBTB, with NBTB to be the surviving corporation (the "Second
Merger")  (the First  Merger  and the Second  Merger  being  referred  to herein
collectively as the "Merger");

     WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of PAHC has determined that it would be in
the best  interests of PAHC,  its  shareholders,  its  customers,  and the areas
served by PAHC to become affiliated with NBTB through the Merger;

     WHEREAS,  subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the respective Boards
of  Directors  of NBTB and PAHC have agreed to cause the Merger  pursuant to the
provisions of section 251 et seq. of the Delaware  General  Corporation Law (the
"GCL") and section 1921 et seq. of the  Pennsylvania  Business  Corporation  Law
(the "BCL");

     WHEREAS, the parties intend that the Merger qualify as one or more tax-free
reorganizations  under section  368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and that the business  combination  contemplated hereby be
accounted for under the "pooling-of-interests" accounting method; and

     WHEREAS,  the parties desire to make certain  representations,  warranties,
and  agreements  in  connection  with the Merger and also to  prescribe  certain
conditions to the Merger;

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

                                        1


<PAGE>

1.   COMBINATION.

     1.1. First Merger. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the date
and at the time to be specified in the  Certificate of Merger to be filed on the
date of the  Closing  with  the  Secretary  of State  of the  State of  Delaware
pursuant to the GCL and in the Articles of Merger to be filed on the date of the
Closing with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant
to the BCL (the "Effective Time"), Newco will be merged with and into PAHC.

     1.2.  Effect of First Merger.  At the Effective Time:

         (a) Newco and PAHC (the "First Merger Constituent  Corporations") shall
be  merged  into a single  corporation,  which  shall be  PAHC.  PAHC is  hereby
designated as the surviving  corporation  in the First Merger and is hereinafter
sometimes called the "First Merger Surviving Corporation."

         (b) The separate existence of Newco shall cease.

         (c) The First Merger Surviving  Corporation  shall have all the rights,
privileges,  immunities,  and powers and shall  assume and be subject to all the
duties and liabilities of a corporation organized under the BCL.

         (d)  The  First  Merger  Surviving   Corporation  shall  thereupon  and
thereafter possess all of the rights, privileges, immunities, and franchises, of
a public as well as of a private nature, of each of the First Merger Constituent
Corporations;  and all property,  real, personal and mixed, and all debts due on
whatever  account,  including  subscriptions  for shares and all other choses in
action,  and all and every other  interest of and belonging to or due to each of
the  First  Merger  Constituent  Corporations  shall be taken  and  deemed to be
transferred  to and vested in the First  Merger  Surviving  Corporation  without
further action,  act or deed; and the title to any real estate,  or any interest
therein, vested in either of the First Merger Constituent Corporations shall not
revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the First Merger.

         (e)  The  First  Merger  Surviving  Corporation  shall  thenceforth  be
responsible  and liable for all the  liabilities  and obligations of each of the
First  Merger  Constituent  Corporations;  and any claim  existing  or action or
proceeding  pending  by or  against  either  of  the  First  Merger  Constituent
Corporations  may be prosecuted to judgment as if the First Merger had not taken
place, or the First Merger  Surviving  Corporation  may be proceeded  against or
substituted  in its place.  The First  Merger  Surviving  Corporation  expressly
assumes  and  agrees to  perform  all of Newco's  liabilities  and  obligations.
Neither the rights of creditors nor any liens upon the property of either of the
First Merger Constituent Corporations shall be impaired by the First Merger.

         (f) Any taxes, penalties, and public accounts of the State of Delaware,
claimed  against  either of the First Merger  Constituent  Corporations  but not
settled,  assessed,  or  determined  prior to the First Merger shall be settled,
assessed,  or determined  against the First Merger  Surviving  Corporation  and,
together  with  interest  thereon,  shall be a lien against the  franchises  and
property,

                                        2


<PAGE>

both real and personal, of the First Merger Surviving Corporation.

         (g) The Certificate of Incorporation  of PAHC as it exists  immediately
prior to the Effective  Time shall be the  Certificate of  Incorporation  of the
First Merger Surviving  Corporation until later amended pursuant to Pennsylvania
law.

         (h)  The  By-Laws  of  PAHC  as they  exist  immediately  prior  to the
Effective  Time shall be the By-Laws of the First Merger  Surviving  Corporation
until later amended pursuant to Pennsylvania law.

         (i) The authorized  shares of capital stock of PAHC as of the Effective
Time  shall be  25,000,000  shares of Common  Stock,  $1.00 par value (the "PAHC
Common Stock").

         (j) Subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations set forth herein,
at the  Effective  Time and until  surrendered  for exchange  and payment,  each
outstanding stock certificate  which,  prior to the Effective Time,  represented
shares of the common stock,  $1.00 par value, of PAHC (the "PAHC Common Stock"),
other  than any  shares  of PAHC  Common  Stock  held by NBTB  (other  than in a
fiduciary,  representative,  or  custodial  capacity),  which  shall be canceled
without any payment  therefor,  except for any dividends  declared  prior to the
Effective Time but not yet paid as of the Effective  Time, and other than shares
of PAHC Common Stock held by PAHC,  which shall be canceled  without any payment
therefor,  shall, by virtue of this Agreement and without any action on the part
of the holder or holders  thereof,  cease to  represent  an issued and  existing
share and shall be converted  into a right to receive  from NBTB,  and shall for
all purposes  represent the right to receive,  upon surrender of the certificate
formerly  representing  such shares,  a certificate  representing  the number of
shares of NBTB Common Stock specified in section 1.5 of this Agreement; provided
that, with respect to any matters  relating to stock  certificates  representing
PAHC Common Stock,  NBTB may rely  conclusively  upon the record of stockholders
maintained by PAHC  containing  the names and addresses of the holders of record
of PAHC's Common Stock at the Effective Time.

         (k) All shares of capital stock of Newco  outstanding  at the Effective
Time shall be converted into and exchanged for 100 shares of common stock of the
First Merger  Surviving  Corporation,  and any shares of capital  stock of Newco
held in the treasury of Newco shall be canceled.

     1.3.  Second Merger.  Subject to the provisions of this  Agreement,  on the
date of the Effective Time, and at such time subsequent to the Effective Time on
such date as shall be designated by NBTB, which date and time shall be specified
in the  Certificate  of Merger to be filed on the date of the  Closing  with the
Secretary  of State  of the  State of  Delaware  pursuant  to the GCL and in the
Articles of Merger to be filed on the date of the Closing with the  Secretary of
State of the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  pursuant  to the BCL (the  "Second
Merger Effective Time"), PAHC will be merged with and into NBTB.

     1.4.  Effect of Second Merger.  At the Second Merger Effective Time:

                                        3


<PAGE>

         (a) PAHC and NBTB (the "Second Merger Constituent  Corporations") shall
be  merged  into a single  corporation,  which  shall be  NBTB.  NBTB is  hereby
designated as the surviving  corporation in the Second Merger and is hereinafter
sometimes called the "Second Merger Surviving Corporation."

         (b) The separate existence of PAHC shall cease.

         (c) The Second Merger Surviving  Corporation shall have all the rights,
privileges,  immunities,  and powers and shall  assume and be subject to all the
duties and liabilities of a corporation organized under the GCL.

         (d)  The  Second  Merger  Surviving  Corporation  shall  thereupon  and
thereafter possess all of the rights, privileges, immunities, and franchises, of
a  public  as  well  as of a  private  nature,  of  each  of the  Second  Merger
Constituent  Corporations;  and all property,  real, personal and mixed, and all
debts due on whatever account,  including subscriptions for shares and all other
choses in action, and all and every other interest of and belonging to or due to
each of the Second Merger Constituent  Corporations shall be taken and deemed to
be transferred to and vested in the Second Merger Surviving  Corporation without
further action,  act or deed; and the title to any real estate,  or any interest
therein,  vested in either of the Second Merger  Constituent  Corporations shall
not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the Second Merger.

         (e) The  Second  Merger  Surviving  Corporation  shall  thenceforth  be
responsible  and liable for all the  liabilities  and obligations of each of the
Second  Merger  Constituent  Corporations;  and any claim  existing or action or
proceeding  pending  by or  against  either  of the  Second  Merger  Constituent
Corporations may be prosecuted to judgment as if the Second Merger had not taken
place, or the Second Merger  Surviving  Corporation may be proceeded  against or
substituted  in its place.  The Second Merger  Surviving  Corporation  expressly
assumes and agrees to perform all of PAHC's liabilities and obligations. Neither
the rights of creditors  nor any liens upon the property of either of the Second
Merger Constituent Corporations shall be impaired by the Second Merger.

         (f) Any taxes,  penalties,  and public accounts of the  Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania,   claimed   against  either  of  the  Second  Merger   Constituent
Corporations but not settled, assessed, or determined prior to the Second Merger
shall be settled,  assessed,  or determined  against the Second Merger Surviving
Corporation  and,  together with interest  thereon,  shall be a lien against the
franchises and property,  both real and personal, of the Second Merger Surviving
Corporation.

         (g) The Certificate of Incorporation  of NBTB as it exists  immediately
prior  to  the  Second  Merger  Effective  Time  shall  be  the  Certificate  of
Incorporation  of the Second Merger  Surviving  Corporation  until later amended
pursuant to Delaware law.

         (h) The By-Laws of NBTB as they exist  immediately  prior to the Second
Merger  Effective  Time  shall be the  By-Laws of the  Second  Merger  Surviving
Corporation until later amended pursuant to Delaware law.

                                        4


<PAGE>

         (i) The  authorized  shares of  capital  stock of NBTB as of the Second
Merger Effective Time shall be that number of shares of preferred stock as exist
immediately  prior to the Second Merger  Effective  Date, with a par value or no
par value and, if applicable,  a stated value as exist  immediately prior to the
Second Merger Effective Date, and that number of shares of common stock as exist
immediately  prior to the Second Merger  Effective  Date, with a par value or no
par value and, if applicable,  a stated value as exist  immediately prior to the
Second Merger Effective Date (the "NBTB Common Stock").

         (j) At the Second Merger  Effective  Time, all the shares of PAHC shall
be canceled and only the shares of the Second Merger Surviving Corporation shall
remain as validly  issued  shares of the Second  Merger  Surviving  Corporation,
fully paid and nonassessable.

     1.5. Consideration for First Merger. Subject to the terms, conditions,  and
limitations  set forth herein  (including  the  procedures  specified in section
11.2(d)(ii) of this Agreement),  as a result of the First Merger,  each share of
PAHC Common  Stock  other than  shares of PAHC Common  Stock held by NBTB (other
than in a fiduciary,  representative, or custodial capacity) or by PAHC shall be
converted  into the right to receive,  in exchange for each share of PAHC Common
Stock held of record as of the Effective Time, 1.805 shares of NBTB Common Stock
(the "Exchange Ratio").

     1.6. No Fractional  Shares.  NBTB will not issue  fractional  shares of its
stock.  In  lieu of  fractional  shares  of  NBTB  Common  Stock,  if any,  each
shareholder  of PAHC who is entitled to a fractional  share of NBTB Common Stock
shall receive an amount of cash equal to the product of such fraction  times the
average of the closing bid price and the closing  asked price per share for NBTB
Common  Stock as  reported  on the Nasdaq  National  Market  (or, in the absence
thereof,  as reported by or  determined  by  reference to such other source upon
which NBTB and PAHC shall agree) for each of the twenty consecutive trading days
ending on and  including the eighth  trading day before the Effective  Time (the
"Average Closing  Price").  Such fractional share interest shall not include the
right to vote or to receive dividends or any interest thereon.

     1.7.  Dividends;  Interest.  No  shareholder  of PAHC will be  entitled  to
receive  dividends  on his,  her or its NBTB  Common  Stock  until he, she or it
exchanges his, her or its certificates  representing  PAHC Common Stock for NBTB
Common Stock.  Any dividends  declared on NBTB Common Stock to holders of record
on or after the  Effective  Time shall,  with  respect to stock to be  delivered
pursuant to this Agreement to  shareholders of PAHC who have not exchanged their
certificates  representing  PAHC Common Stock for NBTB Common Stock,  be paid to
the Exchange  Agent (as designated in section 1.8 of this  Agreement)  and, upon
receipt from a former shareholder of PAHC of certificates representing shares of
PAHC Common Stock,  the Exchange Agent shall forward to such former  shareholder
of PAHC (i)  certificates  representing  his,  her or its shares of NBTB  Common
Stock, (ii) dividends declared thereon subsequent to the Effective Time (without
interest)  and (iii)  the cash  value of any  fractional  shares  determined  in
accordance with section 1.6 hereof.

                                        5


<PAGE>

     1.8.  Designation of Exchange Agent.

         (a) The  parties to this  Agreement  hereby  designate  American  Stock
Transfer and Trust  Company,  New York,  New York  ("AST") as Exchange  Agent to
effect the exchanges contemplated hereby.

         (b) NBTB will,  promptly after the Effective Time, issue and deliver to
AST the share certificates representing shares of NBTB Common Stock (each a "New
Certificate")  and the  cash  to be paid to  holders  of PAHC  Common  Stock  in
accordance with this Agreement.

         (c) If any New Certificate is to be issued in a name other than that in
which  the  certificate  formerly   representing  PAHC  Common  Stock  (an  "Old
Certificate")  and surrendered  for exchange was issued,  the Old Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer
and the person  requesting  such exchange shall pay to AST any transfer or other
taxes  required  by reason of the  issuance of the New  Certificate  in any name
other than that of the registered holder of the Old Certificate surrendered,  or
establish  to the  satisfaction  of AST that  such  tax has been  paid or is not
payable.

         (d) In the event that any Old  Certificates  have not been  surrendered
for  exchange  in  accordance  with  this  Agreement  on or  before  the  second
anniversary  of the Effective  Time,  NBTB may at any time  thereafter,  with or
without notice to the holders of record of such Old  Certificates,  sell for the
accounts  of any or all of such  holders any or all of the shares of NBTB Common
Stock which such holders are entitled to receive  under  Section 1.5 hereof (the
"Unclaimed Shares"). Any such sale may be made by public or private sale or sale
at any broker's board or on any  securities  exchange in such manner and at such
times as NBTB shall  determine.  If, in the opinion of counsel  for NBTB,  it is
necessary or desirable,  any Unclaimed  Shares may be registered  for sale under
the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act") and applicable
state laws. NBTB shall not be obligated to make any sale of Unclaimed  Shares if
it shall determine not to do so, even if notice of sale of the Unclaimed  Shares
has been given.  The net proceeds of any such sale of Unclaimed  Shares shall be
held for holders of the  unsurrendered  Old Certificates  whose Unclaimed Shares
have been sold, to be paid to them upon surrender of the Old Certificates.  From
and after any such sale, the sole right of the holders of the  unsurrendered Old
Certificates whose Unclaimed Shares have been sold shall be the right to collect
the net sale  proceeds  held by NBTB for  their  respective  accounts,  and such
holders  shall not be entitled to receive any interest on such net sale proceeds
held by NBTB.

         (e) If any Old  Certificates  are not surrendered  prior to the date on
which such  certificates or the proceeds of the sale of the Unclaimed Shares, as
the case may be,  would  otherwise  escheat  to or become  the  property  of any
governmental unit or agency,  the unclaimed items shall, to the extent permitted
by abandoned  property and any other applicable law, become the property of NBTB
(and to the extent  not in its  possession  shall be paid over to it),  free and
clear of all  claims or  interest  of any  person  previously  entitled  to such
claims.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither NBTB nor its agents or any other
person  shall be  liable  to any  former  holder  of PAHC  Common  Stock for any
property delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable

                                        6


<PAGE>

abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

     1.9. Notice of Exchange.  Promptly after the Effective Time, AST shall mail
to each holder of one or more  certificates  formerly  representing  PAHC Common
Stock a notice  specifying  the  Effective  Time and  notifying  such  holder to
surrender his, her or its certificate or certificates to AST for exchange.  Such
notice  shall be mailed to  holders by regular  mail at their  addresses  on the
records of PAHC.

     1.10.  Acts to Carry Out This Merger Plan.

         (a) PAHC and its proper  officers and directors  shall do all such acts
and things as may be  necessary or proper to vest,  perfect,  or confirm in NBTB
title to such property or rights as are specified in sections  1.4(c) and 1.4(d)
of this Agreement and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.

         (b) If, at any time after the Effective Time, NBTB shall consider or be
advised that any further  assignments or assurances in law or any other acts are
necessary or desirable to (i) vest, perfect, or confirm, of record or otherwise,
in NBTB its right, title, or interest in or under any of the rights, properties,
or assets  of PAHC  acquired  or to be  acquired  by NBTB as a result  of, or in
connection  with, the Merger,  or (ii) otherwise  carry out the purposes of this
Agreement,  PAHC and its proper  officers and directors  shall be deemed to have
granted to NBTB an irrevocable power of attorney to execute and deliver all such
proper deeds, assignments, and assurances in law and to do all acts necessary or
proper to vest,  perfect,  or confirm  title to and  possession  of such rights,
properties,  or assets in NBTB and  otherwise  to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement; and the proper officers and directors of NBTB are fully authorized in
the name of PAHC or otherwise to take any and all such action.

     1.11.  Treatment of Stock Options. At the Effective Time, each stock option
to purchase PAHC Common Stock not exercised prior to the Effective Time (each, a
"Converted  Option"),   whether  vested  or  unvested,  shall  automatically  be
converted into an option (a "Replacement  Option") to acquire, on the same terms
and conditions as were applicable  under the terms of such Converted  Option and
any option plan under which such Converted Option was issued (or as near thereto
as is  practicable),  a number of shares of NBTB Common  Stock equal to (rounded
down to the  nearest  whole  number of shares)  (a) the number of shares of PAHC
Common  Stock  subject  to  such  Converted  Option  as of  the  Effective  Time
multiplied by (b) the Exchange  Ratio,  at an exercise  price per share (rounded
down to the nearest whole cent) equal to (x) the aggregate  exercise price under
such Converted Option for all of the shares of PAHC Common Stock subject to such
Converted  Option at the  Effective  Time divided by (y) the number of shares of
NBTB  Common  Stock  subject to such  Replacement  Option.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing, in the case of each Converted Option to which section 421 of the Code
applies by reason of its qualification  under section 422 of the Code, the terms
of the  Replacement  Option  into  which  such  Converted  Option is  converted,
including  the  option  price,  the  number  of  shares  of  NBTB  Common  Stock
purchasable pursuant to such option, and the terms and conditions of exercise of
such option shall be determined so as to comply with section 424(a) of the Code.
At or prior to the Effective Time, PAHC shall

                                        7


<PAGE>

take all action,  if any,  necessary  with respect to any  Converted  Options or
stock  plans  under  which  Converted  Options  have been  issued to permit  the
replacement of the Converted Options with Replacement Options as contemplated by
this section 1.11. At the  Effective  Time,  NBTB shall assume such stock plans;
provided,  that such  assumption  shall only be in  respect  of the  Replacement
Options and that NBTB shall have no obligation  with respect to any awards under
such plans other than the  Replacement  Options and shall have no  obligation to
make any additional grants or awards under such assumed plans.

     1.12. Stock Option Agreement.  Simultaneously herewith, NBTB and PAHC shall
execute and deliver the Stock Option  Agreement in the form  attached  hereto as
Exhibit I. The option that is the  subject of the Stock  Option  Agreement  will
terminate as of, and will not be exercisable following, the Effective Time.

     1.13.  Executive Officers and Directors of PAHC.

         (a) At the Effective Time, in consideration for and against delivery of
a full and  unconditional  release  granted in favor of NBTB,  PAHC, and Pioneer
American Bank,  National  Association ("PA Bank") by John W. Reuther ("Reuther")
from any and all claims,  actions,  or  liabilities  which Reuther may have, may
have had, or could have against  NBTB,  PAHC,  or PA Bank  (except  entitlements
granted to Reuther by this  Agreement or the employment  agreement  described in
section 4.8 hereof (the "Reuther Employment Agreement") or granted to Reuther by
the  Executive  Retirement  Plan of PA Bank  adopted on October  25, 1988 or the
Split Dollar Agreement/Key  Executive Equity Program dated February 15, 1994, as
restated  April 16,  1999),  and  subject in every case to section  18(k) of the
Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Act (12 U.S.C.  ss.  1828(k)),  NBTB will tender to
Reuther the Reuther  Employment  Agreement and the change-in-  control agreement
described in section 5.5 hereof.

         (b) At the Effective Time, in consideration for and against delivery of
a full and unconditional  release granted in favor of NBTB, PAHC, and PA Bank by
Patricia A. Cobb ("Cobb") from any and all claims, actions, or liabilities which
Cobb may have,  may have had,  or could  have  against  NBTB,  PAHC,  or PA Bank
(except  entitlements  granted to Cobb by this Agreement),  and subject in every
case to section  18(k) of the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Act (12  U.S.C.  ss.
1828(k)), NBTB will tender to Cobb the change-in-control  agreement described in
section 5.5 hereof.

         (c) At the Effective Time, in consideration for and against delivery of
a full and unconditional  release granted in favor of NBTB, PAHC, and PA Bank by
James E. Jackson  ("Jackson") from any and all claims,  actions,  or liabilities
which Jackson may have,  may have had, or could have against  NBTB,  PAHC, or PA
Bank (except entitlements granted to Jackson by this Agreement),  and subject in
every case to section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit  Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. ss.
1828(k)), NBTB will tender to Jackson the change-in-control  agreement described
in section 5.5 hereof.

         (d) Subject to the fiduciary duties of its directors to NBTB, NBTB will
cause Joseph

                                        8


<PAGE>

G. Nasser ("Nasser"), Gene E. Goldenziel ("Goldenziel"),  and Richard Chojnowski
("Chojnowski")  to be  elected  or  appointed  as  directors  of NBTB with terms
commencing  at the  Effective  Time,  with  Nasser to serve as a director of the
class whose term expires in 2000, Goldenziel to serve as a director of the class
whose term expires in 2001,  and  Chojnowski to serve as a director of the class
whose term expires in 2002.

         (e) If the  Merger  has  occurred  prior to the date of  mailing of the
proxy materials to NBTB  stockholders in connection with the 2000 annual meeting
of the  stockholders  of NBTB,  NBTB will propose to its  stockholders  in those
proxy  materials that Nasser be reelected to the board of directors of NBTB as a
member of the class whose term shall expire in 2003.

     1.14.  Employee Benefits.

         (a) If any employee of PAHC or of PA Bank becomes a participant  in any
employment  benefit  plan,  practice,  or policy  of NBTB or NBT Bank,  National
Association  ("NBT Bank"),  such employee shall be given credit under such plan,
practice,  or policy for all service prior to the Effective Time with PAHC or PA
Bank for  purposes of  eligibility  and  vesting,  but not for  benefit  accrual
purposes,  for which such service is taken into account or  recognized,  and, if
necessary,  NBTB shall cause any and all pre-existing  condition limitations and
eligibility  waiting  periods under group health plans to be waived with respect
to such  participants and their eligible  dependents  (except to the extent such
pre-existing condition limitations are no more onerous than similar limitations,
or such waiting  periods do not extend any waiting  period,  applicable  to such
employee  under  the  plans  of PAHC or PA  Bank),  provided  that  there  be no
duplication of such benefits as are provided  under any employee  benefit plans,
practices,  or policies of PAHC or PA Bank that continue in effect following the
Effective Time.

         (b)  Each  employee  of PAHC  or PA Bank  (except  Reuther,  Cobb,  and
Jackson)  who  becomes an employee  of NBTB or any of its  subsidiaries  or who,
following the Effective  Time,  remains an employee of PA Bank and is terminated
by  NBTB  or any of its  subsidiaries  (including  PA  Bank)  subsequent  to the
Effective  Time shall be entitled to severance  pay, if any, in accordance  with
the general  severance  policy of NBTB. Such employee's  service with PAHC or PA
Bank shall be  treated as service  with NBTB for  purposes  of  determining  the
amount of severance pay, if any, under the severance policy of NBTB.

     1.15. Voting Agreements.  Simultaneously herewith, each shareholder of PAHC
who is  listed on  Schedule  1.15  attached  hereto  shall  each  enter  into an
agreement  with NBTB,  substantially  in form and substance as that set forth as
Exhibit II attached hereto, in which he or she agrees to vote all shares of PAHC
Common Stock which may be voted,  or whose vote may be directed,  by him or her,
in favor of the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement at the meeting of
shareholders at which such transactions shall be considered.

     1.16.  Optional  Bank  Merger  Transaction.  NBTB in its sole and  absolute
discretion  may  elect  to  cause  a  merger  of PA Bank  to be  consummated  in
accordance with the following terms and conditions:

                                        9


<PAGE>

         (a) At any time  following  the date of this  Agreement,  and until and
including  February 5, 2000,  NBTB shall be entitled to give notice to PAHC that
NBTB wishes on the date of the Effective  Time,  and at such time  subsequent to
the  Effective  Time on such date as shall be  designated by NBTB, to consummate
the merger of PA Bank with and into LA Bank,  National  Association ("LA Bank"),
or the  merger of LA Bank  into PA Bank,  as the case may be  specified  in such
notice (in either case, the "Bank Merger"). The day on which NBTB gives any such
notice is referred to herein as the "Bank Merger Notice Date."

         (b) Following the Bank Merger Notice Date, NBTB shall use  commercially
reasonable efforts to cause LA Bank to promptly enter into, and PAHC shall cause
PA Bank to promptly enter into, an agreement of merger substantially in form and
substance as that set forth as Exhibit III attached hereto.

         (c)  Following  the Bank Merger Notice Date and at the request of NBTB,
PAHC shall cause PA Bank to  promptly  become a party to this  Agreement  and to
join in such representations,  warranties,  covenants, and agreements to or with
NBTB as  PAHC  has,  with  respect  to PA  Bank,  made  to or with  NBTB in this
Agreement.

         (d) Following the Bank Merger Notice Date, NBTB shall use  commercially
reasonable  efforts to cause LA Bank to promptly  seek to obtain the approval of
the  Office of the  Comptroller  of the  Currency  (the  "OCC")  and such  other
approvals,  if any,  as LA Bank may  require  for the  consummation  of the Bank
Merger,  and PAHC shall cause PA Bank to promptly seek to obtain such approvals,
if any, as PA Bank may require for the consummation of the Bank Merger.

         (e) Anything in this  Agreement to the  contrary  notwithstanding,  the
Bank Merger shall not occur unless, at the time of the Bank Merger, LA Bank is a
direct or indirect subsidiary of NBTB.

2.   EFFECTIVE TIME.

     The Effective  Time shall be the date and time specified in the articles of
merger  to be  filed  with  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  Commonwealth  of
Pennsylvania pursuant to section 1927 of the BCL to effectuate the First Merger,
the date of which shall be the latest of:

     2.1. PAHC Shareholder Approval. The day upon which the shareholders of PAHC
approve,  ratify,  and confirm the Merger by the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least 70 percent of the votes which all  shareholders of PAHC are entitled
to cast thereon;

     2.2. NBTB Shareholder Approval. The day upon which the shareholders of NBTB
approve the issuance of NBTB Common Stock  pursuant to this Agreement and ratify
this Agreement;

     2.3.  Federal Reserve  Approval.  The first to occur of (a) the date thirty
days  following  the date of the order of the Board of  Governors of the Federal
Reserve  System or the  Federal  Reserve  Bank of New York  acting  pursuant  to
authority delegated to it by the Board of Governors of the Federal

                                       10


<PAGE>

Reserve System (collectively, the "Board of Governors") approving the Merger, or
(b) if,  pursuant  to section  321(a) of the Riegle  Community  Development  and
Regulatory  Improvement  Act of 1994 (the "Riegle Act"),  the Board of Governors
shall  have  prescribed  a shorter  period of time with the  concurrence  of the
Attorney General of the United States,  the date on which such shorter period of
time  shall  elapse,  or (c) the date ten days  following  the date on which the
Board of Governors indicates its waiver of jurisdiction over the Merger; or

     2.4.  OCC  Approval.  If the Bank  Merger  Notice  Date shall  have  timely
occurred,  the first to occur of (a) the date thirty days  following the date of
the order of the OCC approving the Bank Merger,  or (b) if,  pursuant to section
321(b) of the Riegle Act, the OCC shall have prescribed a shorter period of time
with the concurrence of the Attorney  General of the United States,  the date on
which such shorter period of time shall elapse; or

     2.5.  Pennsylvania  Department  of  Banking  Approval.  The  date  ten days
following the date of the order of the Department of Banking of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania (the  "Department")  approving the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement;

     2.6.  Other  Regulatory  Approvals.  The date upon which any other material
order,  approval,  or  consent  of a federal  or state  regulator  of  financial
institutions or financial institution holding companies authorizing consummation
of the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement is obtained or any waiting
period mandated by such order, approval, or consent has run;

     2.7.  Expiration of Stays.  Ten days after any stay of the approvals of any
of the Board of Governors or the Department of the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement or any injunction against closing of said transactions is lifted,
discharged, or dismissed; or

     2.8.  Mutual  Agreement.  Such other date as shall be mutually agreed to by
NBTB and PAHC.

3.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES.

     The  obligations of NBTB and PAHC to consummate the Merger shall be subject
to the conditions that on or before the Effective Time:

     3.1.  Regulatory  Approvals.  Orders,  consents,  and approvals required to
consummate  the Merger  and,  if the Bank  Merger  Notice Date shall have timely
occurred,  the Bank Merger shall have been entered by the requisite governmental
authorities,  and all statutory  waiting  periods in respect  thereof shall have
expired.

     3.2.  Registration Statement.

         (a) Effectiveness.  The registration statement to be filed by NBTB with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the "SEC")  pursuant to the Securities
Act in connection with the registration of the shares of NBTB Common Stock to be
used as consideration in connection with

                                       11


<PAGE>

the Merger (the "Registration  Statement") shall have become effective under the
Securities Act, and NBTB shall have received all required state  securities laws
or "blue sky" permits and other required  authorizations or confirmations of the
availability of exemptions  from  registration  requirements  necessary to issue
NBTB Common Stock in the Merger.

         (b) Absence of Stop-Order.  Neither the Registration  Statement nor any
such  required  permit,  authorization,  or  confirmation  shall be subject to a
stop-order  or  threatened  stop-order  by  the  SEC  or  any  state  securities
authority.

     3.3.  Approval by Shareholders of PAHC. The shareholders of PAHC shall have
authorized,  ratified,  and confirmed the Merger by the affirmative  vote of the
holders of at least 70 percent of the votes which all  shareholders  of PAHC are
entitled to cast thereon.

     3.4. Approval by Shareholders of NBTB.

         (a) The  shareholders  of NBTB shall have approved the issuance of NBTB
Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and ratified this Agreement.

         (b) The  shareholders of NBTB shall have approved a proposed  amendment
to NBTB's  Certificate  of  Incorporation  to increase the number of  authorized
shares of NBTB common stock from fifteen  million to thirty  million (the "Share
Increase Amendment").

     3.5. Federal Income  Taxation.  NBTB and PAHC shall have received a written
opinion of Blank Rome  Comisky & McCauley  LLP, or of Duane,  Morris & Heckscher
LLP, or of another firm mutually  agreeable to NBTB and PAHC,  applying existing
law, that the Merger shall qualify as one or more reorganizations  under section
368(a)(1) of the Code and the regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder. In
rendering such opinion, the firm rendering the opinion may require and rely upon
representations contained in certificates of officers of NBTB, PAHC, and others.

     3.6.  Adverse  Legislation.  Subsequent to the date of this  Agreement,  no
legislation  shall have been  enacted and no  regulation  or other  governmental
requirement  shall  have been  adopted or imposed  that  renders or will  render
consummation of the Merger impossible or illegal.

     3.7. Absence of Litigation.  No action, suit, or proceeding shall have been
instituted or shall have been threatened before any court or other  governmental
body or by any public authority to restrain,  enjoin, or prohibit the Merger, or
which would  reasonably be expected to restrict  materially the operation of the
business of NBTB, that of PAHC, or that of PA Bank or the exercise of any rights
with respect  thereto or to subject either of the parties hereto or any of their
subsidiaries,  directors,  or  officers  to  any  liability,  fine,  forfeiture,
divestiture, or penalty on the ground that the transactions contemplated hereby,
the parties hereto, or their subsidiaries,  directors, or officers have breached
or  will  breach  any  applicable  law or  regulation  or have  otherwise  acted
improperly  in connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and with
respect to which the parties  hereto have been advised by counsel  that,  in the
opinion of such counsel,  such action,  suit, or proceeding  raises  substantial
questions of law or fact which could reasonably be decided materially  adversely
to

                                       12


<PAGE>

either party hereto or its subsidiaries, directors, or officers.

4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PERFORMANCE OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF NBTB.

     The  obligations of NBTB hereunder are subject to the  satisfaction,  on or
prior to the Effective  Time, of all the following  conditions,  compliance with
which or the  occurrence  of which  may be waived in whole or in part by NBTB in
writing unless not so permitted by law:

     4.1.  Representations  and  Warranties;  Performance  of  Obligations.  All
representations and warranties of PAHC contained in this Agreement shall be true
and  correct in all  material  respects as of the  Effective  Time with the same
effect as if such  representations  and warranties had been made or given at and
as of such date, except that representations and warranties of PAHC contained in
this Agreement  which  specifically  relate to an earlier date shall be true and
correct in all material  respects as of such earlier  date.  All  covenants  and
obligations  to be  performed or met by PAHC on or prior to the  Effective  Time
shall have been so  performed  or met. On the date of the  Effective  Time,  the
president and chief executive  officer and the chief  financial  officer of PAHC
shall  deliver  to NBTB a  certificate  to that  effect.  The  delivery  of such
certificates   shall  in  no  way  diminish  the  warranties,   representations,
covenants, and obligations of PAHC made in this Agreement.

     4.2.  Opinion of PAHC  Counsel.  NBTB shall have  received  (a) a favorable
opinion from Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP,  dated the date of the Effective
Time,  substantially  in form and  substance as that set forth as Exhibit  IV(a)
attached hereto, and (b) a favorable opinion from Patricia A. Cobb, Esq., Senior
Executive  Vice  President/In-House  Counsel  of  PAHC,  dated  the  date of the
Effective Time, substantially in form and substance as that set forth in Exhibit
IV(b) attached hereto.

     4.3.  Opinion  of PAHC  Litigation  Counsel.  NBTB  shall  have  received a
favorable opinion from legal counsel handling litigation matters for PAHC and PA
Bank, dated the date of the Effective Time,  substantially in form and substance
as that set forth as Exhibit V attached hereto.

     4.4.  No Adverse Developments.

          (a) During the period from  September 30, 1999 to the Effective  Time,
(i) there shall not have been any material  adverse effect as defined in section
12.7(d) (a "Material Adverse Effect") with respect to PAHC; and (ii) none of the
events  described in clauses (a) through (f) of section  6.16 of this  Agreement
shall have  occurred,  and each of the  practices  and  conditions  described in
clauses (x) through (z) of that section shall have been maintained.

          (b) As of the Effective  Time,  the capital  structure of PAHC and the
capital structure of PA Bank shall be as stated in section 6.9.

          (c) As of the Effective Time, other than  liabilities  incurred in the
ordinary course of business  subsequent to September 30, 1999, there shall be no
liabilities of PAHC or PA Bank

                                       13


<PAGE>

which are material to PAHC on a  consolidated  basis which were not reflected on
the  consolidated  statement of condition of PAHC as of September 30, 1999 or in
the related  notes to the  consolidated  statement  of  condition  of PAHC as of
September 30, 1999.

         (d) No adverse action shall have been instituted or threatened  against
PAHC or any of its subsidiaries by any governmental  authority, or referred by a
governmental authority to another governmental authority, for the enforcement or
assessment of penalties for the violation of any laws of regulations relating to
equal credit opportunity, fair housing, or fair lending.

         (e) NBTB  shall  have  received  a  certificate  dated  the date of the
Effective Time, signed by the president and the chief financial officer of PAHC,
certifying to the matters set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this
section 4.4. The delivery of such officers' certificate shall in no way diminish
the warranties and representations of PAHC made in this Agreement.

     4.5.  Consolidated  Net  Worth.  On  and  as of  the  Effective  Time,  the
consolidated  net  worth of PAHC as  determined  in  accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  but without regard to the change in unrealized
gains and  losses on  securities  (net of  reclassification  adjustment  and tax
effects)  between  September 30, 1999 and the Effective Time,  shall not be less
than  the sum of (a)  $31,906,000,  (b)  the  proceeds  to  PAHC of the  sale of
treasury  stock since  September  30, 1999,  and (c) the proceeds to PAHC of the
exercise  of stock  options  to  purchase  shares  of PAHC  Common  Stock  since
September 30, 1999.

     4.6. Loan Loss  Reserve.  On and as of the  Effective  Time,  the aggregate
reserve for loan losses of PA Bank as determined in  accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting principles shall not be less than $3,000,000.

     4.7.  CRA  Rating.  The  CRA  rating  of PA Bank  shall  be no  lower  than
"satisfactory."

     4.8.  Employment  Agreement.  Reuther shall have entered into an employment
agreement  with NBTB  substantially  in form and  substance as that set forth as
Exhibit VI attached hereto.

     4.9.  Releases.  The releases  described in sections 1.13(a),  (b), and (c)
shall have been delivered to NBTB.

     4.10. Accounting Treatment.  NBTB shall have received letters (the "Pooling
Letters") from KPMG LLP ("KPMG"),  in its capacity as the  independent  auditing
firm of NBTB,  dated the date of or shortly prior to each of the mailing date of
the proxy  materials to the  shareholders of PAHC, and the date of the Effective
Time,   stating  the  opinion  of  KPMG  that  the  Merger  shall   qualify  for
pooling-of-interest accounting treatment.

     4.11. Affiliates' Agreements.  NBTB shall have received a written agreement
substantially  in form and  substance  as that set forth as Exhibit VII attached
hereto (an "Affiliates Agreement"):

         (a) on or before the date of this  Agreement,  from each person who, on
the date of this

                                       14


<PAGE>

Agreement,  is an  "affiliate"  of PAHC (as that term is used in section  7.6 of
this Agreement), and

         (b) not  later  than  ten  days  after  any  other  person  becomes  an
"affiliate"  of PAHC (as that term is used in  section  7.6 of this  Agreement),
from such person.

     4.12.  Fairness Opinion.  NBTB shall have received a letter from McConnell,
Budd & Downes, Inc. ("MB&D"),  dated the date of or shortly prior to the mailing
date of the proxy materials to the shareholders of NBTB,  stating the opinion of
MB&D that the Exchange  Ratio is fair,  from a financial  point of view,  to the
shareholders of NBTB.

5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF PAHC.

     The  obligations of PAHC hereunder are subject to the  satisfaction,  on or
prior to the Effective  Time, of all the following  conditions,  compliance with
which or the  occurrence  of which  may be waived in whole or in part by PAHC in
writing unless not so permitted by law:

     5.1.  Representations  and  Warranties;  Performance  of  Obligations.  All
representations and warranties of NBTB contained in this Agreement shall be true
and  correct in all  material  respects as of the  Effective  Time with the same
effect as if such  representations  and warranties had been made or given at and
as of such date, except that representations and warranties of NBTB contained in
this Agreement  which  specifically  relate to an earlier date shall be true and
correct in all material  respects as of such earlier  date.  All  covenants  and
obligations  to be  performed or met by NBTB on or prior to the  Effective  Time
shall have been so performed or met. On the date of the Effective  Time,  either
the  president or an executive  vice  president of NBTB shall  deliver to PAHC a
certifi cate to that effect. The delivery of such officer's certificate shall in
no way diminish the warranties,  representations,  covenants, and obligations of
NBTB made in this Agreement.

     5.2. Opinion of NBTB Counsel.  PAHC shall have received a favorable opinion
of  Duane,  Morris  &  Heckscher  LLP,  dated  the date of the  Effective  Time,
substantially  in form and  substance as that set forth as Exhibit VIII attached
hereto.

     5.3. No Adverse Developments.  During the period from September 30, 1999 to
the Effective Time,  there shall not have been any Material  Adverse Effect with
respect to NBTB,  and PAHC shall have received a  certificate  dated the date of
the Effective Time signed by either the President or an Executive Vice President
of NBTB to the  foregoing  effect.  The delivery of such  officer's  certificate
shall in no way diminish the warranties and representations of NBTB made in this
Agreement.

     5.4.  Status of NBTB Common  Stock.  The shares of NBTB Common  Stock to be
issued to the  shareholders  of PAHC upon  consummation of the Merger shall have
been authorized for inclusion on the Nasdaq National Market (or another national
securities exchange) subject to official notice of issuance.

                                       15


<PAGE>

     5.5.  Change-in-Control  Agreements.  NBTB shall have  tendered  to each of
Reuther, Cobb, and Jackson a change-in-control  agreement  substantially in form
and substance as that set forth as Exhibit IX attached hereto.

     5.6. Board of Directors.  Subject to the fiduciary  duties of its directors
to NBTB,  NBTB  shall  have  taken  all  necessary  action  to  comply  with its
obligations under section 1.13(d) of this Agreement.

     5.7.  Fairness  Opinion.  PAHC shall have received a letter from  Danielson
Associates Inc. ("Danielson"), dated the date of or shortly prior to the mailing
date of the proxy materials to the shareholders of PAHC,  stating the opinion of
Danielson  that the Exchange Ratio is fair,  from a financial  point of view, to
the shareholders of PAHC.

     5.8.  Accounting  Treatment.  NBTB shall have received the Pooling Letters,
provided, however, that if NBTB shall not have received the Pooling Letters as a
result  of the  action  of PAHC or one or  more  of its  affiliates,  directors,
officers,  or  shareholders,  then PAHC shall be deemed to have duly  waived the
condition set forth in this section 5.8.

6.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PAHC.

     PAHC represents and warrants to NBTB as follows:

     6.1. Organization, Powers, and Qualification. Each of PAHC and PA Bank is a
corporation  which is duly  organized,  validly  existing,  and in good standing
under  the  laws of its  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  and has all  requisite
corporate  power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets,  to
lease  properties  used in its  business,  and to carry on its  business  as now
conducted.  Each of PAHC and PA Bank owns or possesses  in the  operation of its
business all  franchises,  licenses,  permits,  branch  certificates,  consents,
approvals,  waivers, and other authorizations,  governmental or otherwise, which
are necessary for it to conduct its business as now conducted,  except for those
where the  failure of such  ownership  or  possession  would not have a Material
Adverse  Effect on PAHC or PA Bank.  Each of PAHC and PA Bank is duly  qualified
and licensed to do business and is in good standing in every  jurisdiction  with
respect to which the failure to be so  qualified  or licensed  could result in a
Material Adverse Effect on PAHC or PA Bank.

     6.2.  Execution and  Performance  of Agreement.  Subject to the approval of
this Agreement by the affirmative  vote of the holders of at least 70 percent of
the votes which all shareholders of PAHC are entitled to cast thereon,  PAHC has
all  requisite  corporate  power and  authority  to  execute  and  deliver  this
Agreement and to perform its respective terms.

     6.3.  Absence of Violations.

         (a)  Neither  PAHC nor PA Bank is (i) in  violation  of its  respective
charter documents or bylaws, (ii) in violation of any applicable federal, state,
or local law or ordinance or any order,

                                       16


<PAGE>

rule, or regulation of any federal,  state,  local, or other governmental agency
or body, or (iii) in violation of or in default with respect to any order, writ,
injunction, or decree of any court, or any order, license, regulation, or demand
of any  governmental  agency,  except,  in the case of (ii) or  (iii),  for such
violations or defaults  which in the aggregate  could not reasonably be expected
to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on PAHC or PA Bank;  and neither PAHC nor PA
Bank has received any claim or notice of violation with respect thereto;

         (b) neither PAHC nor PA Bank nor any member of the management of either
of  them  is  a  party  to  any  assistance  agreement,  supervisory  agreement,
memorandum of understanding,  consent order, cease and desist order or condition
of any regulatory order or decree with or by the Board of Governors, the Federal
Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the OCC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(the "FDIC"), the SEC, the Department, any other banking or securities authority
of the  United  States  or  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  or  any  other
regulatory agency that relates to the conduct of the business of PAHC or PA Bank
or any of their subsidiaries or their assets; and except as previously disclosed
to NBTB in writing, no such agreement,  memorandum,  order, condition, or decree
is pending or threatened;

         (c)  PA  Bank  has  established  policies  and  procedures  to  provide
reasonable  assurance of  compliance in a safe and sound manner with the federal
banking,  credit,  housing,  consumer protection,  and civil rights laws and the
regulations  adopted under each of those laws, so that  transactions be executed
and assets be maintained in accordance with such laws and  regulations;  and the
policies and practices of PA Bank with respect to all such laws and  regulations
reasonably  limit  noncompliance  and  detect and  report  noncompliance  to its
management; and

         (d) PA Bank has  established a CRA policy which  provides for goals and
objectives  consistent  with  CRA and for  procedures  whereby  all  significant
CRA-related activity is documented;  and PA Bank has officially designated a CRA
officer who reports  directly to the board of directors and is  responsible  for
the CRA program of PA Bank.

     6.4.  Compliance with Agreements.  Neither PAHC nor PA Bank is in violation
of any  term  of any  security  agreement,  mortgage,  indenture,  or any  other
contract,  agreement,   instrument,  lease,  or  certificate,  except  for  such
violations  which in the  aggregate  could not  reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on PAHC or PA Bank.

     6.5. Binding Obligations. Subject to the approval of its shareholders, this
Agreement  consti  tutes  valid,   legal,  and  binding   obligations  of  PAHC,
enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms,  except as enforcement may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium or similar law, or
by general  principles of equity.  The execution,  delivery,  and performance of
this  Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  thereby have been duly and
validly authorized by the board of directors of PAHC.

     6.6.  Absence of Default; Due Authorization.

         (a)  None of the  execution  or the  delivery  of this  Agreement,  the
consummation of the

                                       17


<PAGE>

transactions  contemplated thereby, or the compliance with or fulfillment of the
terms  thereof will  conflict  with,  or result in a breach of any of the terms,
conditions,  or provisions of, or constitute a default under the  organizational
documents or bylaws of PAHC or PA Bank or any subsidiary of either of them. Such
execution,  consummation,  and fulfillment will not (i) conflict with, or result
in a breach  of the  terms,  conditions,  or  provisions  of,  or  constitute  a
violation,  conflict,  or default under, or, except as set forth on Schedule 6.6
hereof,  give rise to any right of termination,  cancel lation,  or acceleration
with respect to, or result in the creation of any lien,  charge,  or encumbrance
upon,  any property or assets of PAHC or PA Bank or any  subsidiary of either of
them pursuant to any agreement or instrument  under which PAHC or PA Bank or any
such  subsidiary is obligated or by which any of its properties or assets may be
bound,  including without limitation any lease, contract,  mortgage,  promissory
note,  deed  of  trust,  loan,  credit  arrangement,   or  other  commitment  or
arrangement of PAHC or PA Bank or any subsidiary of either of them in respect of
which  it is an  obligor,  except  for  such  conflicts,  breaches,  violations,
defaults, rights of termination, cancellation, or acceleration, or results which
in the aggregate  could not  reasonably  be expected to have a Material  Adverse
Effect  on PAHC or PA Bank;  (ii) if the  Merger  is  approved  by the  Board of
Governors  under the Bank  Holding  Company  Act of 1956,  as amended  (the "BHC
Act"),  or if the Board of Governors  waives its  jurisdiction  over the Holding
Company  Merger,  and if the Bank  Merger  is  approved  by the OCC,  and if the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  are approved by the  Department,
violate any law,  statute,  rule, or  regulation of any  government or agency to
which PAHC or PA Bank or any  subsidiary  of either of them is subject and which
is material to its  operations;  or (iii)  violate any  judgment,  order,  writ,
injunction,  decree,  or ruling to which  PAHC or PA Bank or any  subsidiary  of
either of them or any of the  properties  or assets of either of them is subject
or bound. None of the execution or delivery of this Agreement,  the consummation
of the transactions  contemplated  hereby, or the compliance with or fulfillment
of the terms  hereof  will  require any  authorization,  consent,  approval,  or
exemption  by any person  which has not been  obtained,  or any notice or filing
which  has not been  given or done,  other  than  approval  of the  transactions
contemplated  by this  Agreement by, notices to, or filings with by the Board of
Governors,  the OCC, the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "SEC"),  state
securities commissions,  the Department,  the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, and the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

         (b) Except for approval of this  Agreement by the  affirmative  vote of
the holders of at least 70 percent of the votes which all  shareholders  of PAHC
are entitled to cast thereon,  and except for approval of the Bank Merger by the
board of directors and  shareholders of PA Bank, no other corporate  proceedings
on the part of PAHC are necessary to approve or authorize  this  Agreement,  the
Merger,  the  Stock  Option  Agreement,   the  issuance  of  the  stock  options
contemplated by the Stock Option Agreement, the subsequent exercise of the stock
options thereby issued, the Bank Merger, or the other transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement  and the Stock  Option  Agreement  or the carrying out of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

         (c) The Board of Directors of PAHC has taken all necessary action under
the articles of incorporation of PAHC to approve unconditionally and irrevocably
the right of NBTB and any  transferee of NBTB and the right of any "person" that
includes  either NBTB or any such transferee (i) to cast more than 10 percent of
the total votes entitled to be cast by all holders of the voting

                                       18


<PAGE>

securities of PAHC at any meeting,  and (ii) to have  "holdings"  (as defined in
the  articles  of  incorporation  of PAHC) that  exceed 10 percent of the voting
securities  of PAHC,  whether such votes or holdings are acquired by NBTB in the
First  Merger,  by the issuance of the stock options  contemplated  by the Stock
Option  Agreement,  by the  subsequent  exercise  of the  stock  options  issued
thereby, or otherwise.

         (d) The Board of  Directors of PAHC has taken all  necessary  action so
that the  provisions  of sections  2561 et seq.  of the BCL (and any  applicable
provisions  of the  takeover  laws  of  any  other  state)  and  any  comparable
provisions of PAHC's articles of incorporation do not and will not apply to this
Agreement,  the First Merger, the Second Merger, the Stock Option Agreement,  or
the transactions contemplated hereby.

         (e) PAHC has not adopted any shareholder  rights plan, "poison pill" or
similar plan, or any other plan which could result in the grant of any rights to
any  person,  or which  could  enable or  require  any  rights to be  exercised,
distributed  or  triggered,  in  the  event  of  the  execution,   delivery,  or
announcement of this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement, or in the event of
the  consummation  of the Merger or the Bank  Merger or any of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement.

     6.7.  Compliance with BHC Act; Certain Banking Regulatory Matters.

         (a) PAHC is duly  registered  as a bank holding  company  under the BHC
Act. All of the activities and  investments of PAHC conform to the  requirements
applicable  generally  to  bank  holding  companies  under  the  BHC Act and the
regulations of the Board of Governors adopted thereunder.

         (b) No corporation  or other entity,  other than PAHC, is registered or
is required to be  registered  as a bank  holding  company  under the BHC Act by
virtue  of its  control  over PA  Bank or over  any  company  that  directly  or
indirectly has control over PA Bank.

         (c)  Each of the  activities  engaged  in by PAHC  and its  direct  and
indirect  subsidiaries  has  been  determined  by  regulation  of the  Board  of
Governors to be so closely  related to banking or managing or controlling  banks
as to be a proper incident thereto.

         (d) The capital  ratios of each of PAHC and PA Bank  comply  fully with
all terms of all currently outstanding  supervisory and regulatory  requirements
and with the conditions of all regulatory orders and decrees.

     6.8.  Subsidiaries.

         (a) Other than PA Bank, which is a direct,  wholly-owned  subsidiary of
PAHC,  PAHC  does not have any  direct  or  indirect  subsidiaries  and does not
directly or indirectly own,  control,  or hold with the power to vote any shares
of the  capital  stock of any  company  (except  shares  held by PA Bank for the
account of others in a fiduciary or custodial capacity in the ordinary course of
its

                                       19


<PAGE>

business and shares of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia  and the Federal
Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh). There are no outstanding subscriptions,  options,
warrants,  convertible securities, calls, commitments, or agreements calling for
or requiring the issuance, transfer, sale, or other disposition of any shares of
the capital  stock of PA Bank,  or calling for or requiring  the issuance of any
securities  or rights  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for shares of capital
stock of PA Bank.  There are no other  direct or indirect  subsidiaries  of PAHC
which are required to be  consolidated  or accounted for on the equity method in
the consolidated  financial statements of PAHC or the financial statements of PA
Bank prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

         (b) Except as specified in the previous subsection, neither PAHC nor PA
Bank has a direct or indirect  equity or ownership  interest which  represents 5
percent or more of the  aggregate  equity or  ownership  interest  of any entity
(including, without limitation, corporations, partnerships, and joint ventures).

     6.9.  Capital Structure.

         (a) The authorized  capital stock of PAHC consists of 1,000,000  shares
of PAHC Preferred Stock,  $10.00 par value, none of which have been issued as of
the date of this  Agreement,  and  25,000,000  shares of PAHC Common  Stock,  of
which, as of the date of this Agreement,  2,864,307 shares have been duly issued
and  are  validly  outstanding,  fully  paid,  and  nonassessable,  and  held by
approximately  1,460 shareholders of record, and an additional 71,600 shares are
held in the treasury of PAHC. The aforementioned shares of PAHC Common Stock are
the only voting securities of PAHC authorized, issued, or outstanding as of such
date;  and except as set forth on Schedule 6.9 hereof,  there are no outstanding
subscriptions,  options, warrants,  convertible securi ties, calls, commitments,
or agreements  calling for or requiring the issuance,  transfer,  sale, or other
disposition  of any  shares of the  capital  stock of PAHC,  or  calling  for or
requiring  the  issuance  of  any  securities  or  rights  convertible  into  or
exchangeable  for shares of capital stock of PAHC. None of the PAHC Common Stock
is subject to any restrictions  upon the transfer thereof under the terms of the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of PAHC.

         (b) Schedule 6.9 hereof lists all options to purchase  PAHC  securities
currently  outstanding and, for each such option, the date of issuance,  date of
exercisability, exercise price, type of security for which exercisable, and date
of expiration. Schedule 6.9 hereof further lists all shares of PAHC Common Stock
reserved  for  issuance   pursuant  to  stock  option  plans,   agreements,   or
arrangements but not yet issued and all options upon shares of PAHC Common Stock
designated or made available for grant but not yet granted.

         (c) The authorized  capital stock of PA Bank consists of 325,000 shares
of common stock,  $10.00 par value (the "PA Bank Common Stock"), of which, as of
the date of this Agreement, 267,748 shares have been duly issued and are validly
outstanding, fully paid, and nonassessable,  and all of which are held of record
and  beneficially by PAHC directly,  free and clear of any adverse  claims.  The
aforementioned  shares of PA Bank Common Stock are the only voting securities of
PA Bank authorized, issued, or outstanding as of such date. None of the PA Bank

                                       20


<PAGE>

Common Stock is subject to any restrictions  upon the transfer thereof under the
terms of the  corporate  charter  or bylaws of PA Bank or under the terms of any
agreement to which PA Bank is a party or under which it is bound.

         (d) None of the shares of PAHC Common Stock or PA Bank Common Stock has
been issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any shareholder.

         (e) As of the date hereof,  to the best of the  knowledge of PAHC,  and
except  for  this  Agreement,  there  are no  shareholder  agreements,  or other
agreements,  understandings,  or commitments relating to the right of any holder
or beneficial owner of more than 1 percent of the issued and outstanding  shares
of any  class  of the  capital  stock  of  either  PAHC or PA Bank to vote or to
dispose of his, her or its shares of capital stock of that entity.

     6.10.  Articles of Incorporation,  Bylaws,  and Minute Books. The copies of
the articles of incorporation  or association and all amendments  thereto and of
the bylaws, as amended,  of PAHC and PA Bank that have been provided to NBTB are
true, correct, and complete copies thereof. The minute books of PAHC and PA Bank
that have been made available to NBTB contain  accurate  minutes of all meetings
and  accurate  consents in lieu of meetings of the board of  directors  (and any
committee  thereof)  and of the  shareholders  of PAHC and PA Bank  since  their
respective  inceptions.  These minute books accurately  reflect all transactions
referred to in such  minutes and  consents in lieu of meetings  and disclose all
material  corporate  actions of the shareholders and boards of directors of PAHC
and PA Bank and all  committees  thereof.  Except as  reflected  in such  minute
books,  there are no minutes of  meetings or consents in lieu of meetings of the
board of directors (or any committee  thereof) or of  shareholders of PAHC or PA
Bank.

     6.11. Books and Records.  The books and records of each of PAHC and PA Bank
fairly  reflect  the  transactions  to  which  it is a  party  or by  which  its
properties are subject or bound.  Such books and records have been properly kept
and  maintained  and  are  in  compliance  in all  material  respects  with  all
applicable  accounting and legal requirements.  Each of PAHC and PA Bank follows
generally  accepted  accounting  principles applied on a consistent basis in the
preparation and maintenance of its books of account and financial statements.

     6.12. Regulatory Approvals and Filings, Contracts,  Commitments,  etc. PAHC
has made available to NBTB:

         (a) All  regulatory  approvals  received since January 1, 1992, of PAHC
and PA Bank relating to all bank and nonbank  acquisitions or the  establishment
of de novo operations;

         (b) All employment contracts, election contracts,  retention contracts,
deferred  compensation,  non-competition,  bonus, stock option,  profit-sharing,
pension,  retirement,  consul  tation  after  retirement,  incentive,  insurance
arrangements  or  plans  (including  medical,  disability,  group  life or other
insurance  plans),  and any other  remuneration  or fringe benefit  arrangements
applicable to employees,  officers, or directors of PAHC or PA Bank, accompanied
by any agreements,  including trust agreements, embodying such contracts, plans,
or arrangements, and all

                                       21


<PAGE>

employee  manuals and memoranda  relating to employment and benefit policies and
practices of any nature  whatsoever  (whether or not distributed to employees or
any of them), and any actuarial reports and audits relating to such plans;

         (c)  All  material  contracts,   agreements,   leases,  mortgages,  and
commitments  to which PAHC or PA Bank is a party or may be bound;  or, if any of
the same be oral, true,  accurate,  and complete  written  summaries of all such
oral contracts, agreements, leases, mortgages, and commitments;

         (d) All contracts,  agreements,  leases,  mortgages,  and  commitments,
whether or not material, to which PAHC or PA Bank is a party or may be bound and
which  require the consent or approval  of third  parties to the  execution  and
delivery of this Agreement or to the  consummation  or performance of any of the
transactions  contemplated  thereby  or,  if any  of the  same  be  oral,  true,
accurate, and complete written summaries of all such oral contracts, agreements,
leases, mortgages, and commitments;

         (e)  All  deeds,  leases,   contracts,   agreements,   mortgages,   and
commitments, whether or not material, to which PAHC or PA Bank is a party or may
be bound and which relate to land,  buildings,  fixtures, or other real property
upon or within which PAHC or PA Bank operates its businesses or is authorized to
operate  its  businesses,  or with  respect  to  which  PAHC or PA Bank  has any
application pending for authorization to operate its businesses;

         (f) Any pending  application,  including  any  documents  or  materials
related  thereto,  which has been  filed by PAHC or PA Bank with any  federal or
state regulatory agency with respect to the establishment of a new office or the
acquisition or establishment of any additional banking or nonbanking subsidiary;
and

         (g) All federal,  state,  and local tax returns,  including any amended
returns, filed by PAHC or PA Bank for the years 1995 through 1998, a copy of the
calculation of the 1999 tax provision made by PAHC for the year 1999 as recorded
on its books and records, and a copy of all substantive  correspondence or other
documents with respect to any examination that has not yet been resolved, a copy
of the most recent  examination  from each state or local tax agency if any, for
each of PAHC and PA Bank, and a copy of all substantive  correspondence or other
documents with respect to any  examination  that has not yet been resolved,  and
all tax rulings, closing agreements, settlement agreements, or similar documents
with respect to PAHC or PA Bank  received from or entered into with the Internal
Revenue Service (the "IRS") or any other taxing  authority since January 1, 1989
or that would have continuing effect after the Effective Time.

     6.13.  Financial  Statements.  PAHC has furnished to NBTB its  consolidated
audited  statement of  condition  as of each of December 31, 1996,  December 31,
1997, and December 31, 1998, and its related audited  consolidated  statement of
income,  consolidated  statement of cash flows,  and  consolidated  statement of
changes in  stockholders'  equity for each of the periods  then  ended,  and the
notes  thereto,  and its  consolidated  unaudited  statement  of condition as of
September 30, 1999 and its related unaudited  consolidated  statement of income,
consolidated statement of cash flows,

                                       22


<PAGE>

and  consolidated  statement of changes in  stockholders'  equity for the period
then ended, and the notes thereto, each as filed with the SEC (collectively, the
"PAHC Financial  Statements").  All of the PAHC Financial Statements,  including
the related notes,  (a) except as indicated in the notes thereto,  were prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
in all  material  respects  (subject,  in the case of unaudited  statements,  to
recurring audit adjustments normal in nature and amount),  (b) are in accordance
with the  books  and  records  of PAHC  and PA  Bank,  (c)  fairly  reflect  the
consolidated  financial  position of PAHC as of such dates, and the consolidated
results of operations  of PAHC for the periods  ended on such dates,  and do not
fail to disclose any material  extraordinary  or  out-of-period  items,  and (d)
reflect,   in  accordance   with  generally   accepted   accounting   principles
consistently  applied in all  material  respects,  adequate  provision  for,  or
reserves against, the consolidated loan losses of PAHC as of such dates.

     6.14.  Call Reports; Bank Holding Company Reports.

         (a) PA Bank has made available to NBTB its FFIEC  Consolidated  Reports
of Condition  and Income ("Call  Reports") for the calendar  quarter dated March
31,  1996  and each  calendar  quarter  thereafter.  All of such  Call  Reports,
including  the  related   schedules  and  memorandum  items,  were  prepared  in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied in
all  material  respects  or, to the extent  different  from  generally  accepted
accounting   principles,   accounting  principles  mandated  by  the  applicable
instructions to such Call Reports.

         (b) No  adjustments  are  required  to be  made to the  equity  capital
account  of PA  Bank as  reported  on any of the  Call  Reports  referred  to in
Subsection  6.14(a)  hereof,  in any material  amount,  in order to conform such
equity  capital  account to equity  capital as would be determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles as of such date.

         (c) PAHC has  furnished  to NBTB its  annual  report  on Form FR Y-6 as
filed with the Board of Governors as of December 31, 1998 and all amendments and
periodic and current reports filed with the Board of Governors under the BHC Act
subsequent to December 31, 1998.

     6.15.  Absence of Undisclosed  Liabilities.  At September 30, 1999, neither
PAHC  nor PA  Bank  had any  obligation  or  liability  of any  nature  (whether
absolute,  accrued,  contingent, or otherwise, and whether due or to become due)
which was  material,  or which when  combined  with all similar  obligations  or
liabilities  would have been material,  to PAHC,  except (a) as disclosed in the
PAHC Financial  Statements,  or (b) as set forth on Schedule 6.15 hereof, or (c)
for unfunded loan  commitments made by PAHC or PA Bank in the ordinary course of
their  business  consistent  with past  practice.  The amounts set up as current
liabilities  for taxes in the PAHC  Financial  Statements are sufficient for the
payment of all federal, state, local and foreign income,  payroll,  withholding,
excise,  sales,  use,  personal  property,  use  and  occupancy,   business  and
occupation,  mercantile,  real  estate,  gross  receipts,  license,  employment,
severance,  stamp,  premium,  windfall  profits,  social  security  (or  similar
unemployment),  disability, transfer, registration, value added, alternative, or
add-on minimum,  estimated,  or capital stock and franchise tax and other tax of
any kind  whatsoever,  including  any  interest,  penalty or  addition  thereto,
whether disputed or not ("Tax" or

                                       23


<PAGE>



"Taxes") accrued in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
unpaid at September 30, 1999. Since September 30, 1999, neither PAHC nor PA Bank
has incurred or paid any  obligation  or liability  that would be material (on a
consolidated  basis) to PAHC,  except (x) for  obligations  incurred  or paid in
connection  with  transactions  by it in the  ordinary  course  of its  business
consistent with past practices,  or (y) as set forth on Schedule 6.15 hereof, or
(z) as expressly contemplated herein.

     6.16. Absence of Certain Developments.  Since September 30, 1999, except as
set forth on Schedule 6.16 hereof, there has been (a) no Material Adverse Effect
with respect to PAHC and PA Bank, (b) no material  deterioration  in the quality
of the  consolidated  loan  portfolio of PAHC,  and no material  increase in the
consolidated  level of nonperforming  assets or non-accrual  loans at PAHC or in
the level of its  consolidated  provision for credit losses or its  consolidated
reserve for credit losses; (c) no declaration, setting aside, or payment by PAHC
or PA Bank of any regular dividend, special dividend, or other distribution with
respect to any class of capital stock of PAHC or PA Bank, other than, subject to
the dividend-coordination provisions of section 7.9 of this Agreement, customary
cash  dividends paid by PAHC whose amounts have not exceeded $0.20 per share per
calendar  quarter and the intervals  between which  dividends have not been more
frequent than past practice,  and other than customary cash dividends paid by PA
Bank whose amounts have not exceeded  past  practice and the  intervals  between
which  dividends  have  not  been  more  frequent  than  past  practice;  (d) no
repurchase  by  PAHC  of  any of  its  capital  stock;  (e)  no  material  loss,
destruction,  or damage to any material property of PAHC or PA Bank, which loss,
destruction,  or  damage  is not  covered  by  insurance;  and  (f) no  material
acquisition or disposition of any asset,  nor any material  contract outside the
ordinary course of business  entered into by PAHC or PA Bank nor any substantial
amendment or termination of any material contract outside the ordinary course of
business to which PAHC or PA Bank is a party, nor any other  transaction by PAHC
or PA Bank involving an amount in excess of $50,000 other than for fair value in
the ordinary  course of its business.  Since  September 30, 1999,  except as set
forth on Schedule  6.16 hereof,  (x) each of PAHC and PA Bank has  conducted its
business only in the ordinary  course of such business and consistent  with past
practice;  (y) PAHC, on a consolidated  basis, has maintained the quality of its
loan  portfolio and that of each of its major  components at  approximately  the
same level as existed at September  30, 1999;  and (z) PAHC,  on a  consolidated
basis,  has administered  its investment  portfolio  pursuant to essentially the
same policies and  procedures as existed during 1997 and 1998 and the first nine
months of 1999, and has taken no action to lengthen the average  maturity of the
investment  portfolio,  or of any significant  category thereof, to any material
extent.

     6.17.  Reserve for Credit  Losses.  The most  recent of the PAHC  Financial
Statements reflect a consolidated  reserve for credit losses that is adequate in
accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles to absorb reasonably
anticipated  losses in the  consolidated  loan and lease  portfolios of PAHC, in
view of the size and character of such portfolios,  current economic conditions,
and other pertinent factors. Management reevaluates the adequacy of such reserve
quarterly based on portfolio performance, current economic conditions, and other
factors.

                                       24


<PAGE>

     6.18.  Tax Matters.

         (a) Except as set forth on Schedule  6.18  hereof,  all Tax returns and
reports required to be filed by or on behalf of PAHC or PA Bank have been timely
filed with the appropriate  governmental  agencies in all jurisdictions in which
such  returns and reports are required to be filed,  or requests for  extensions
have been timely filed,  granted,  and have not expired for periods ending on or
before  December 31, 1998,  and all returns  filed are complete and accurate and
properly reflect its Taxes for the periods covered  thereby.  All Taxes shown or
required to be shown on filed returns have been paid, except for any not yet due
and payable. As of the date hereof, there is no audit, examination,  deficiency,
or refund  litigation  or tax  claim or any  notice of  assessment  or  proposed
assessment  by the IRS or any other  taxing  authority,  or any other  matter in
controversy  with  respect  to any Taxes that  might  result in a  determination
adverse to PAHC or PA Bank,  except as  reserved  against in the PAHC  Financial
Statements.  All Taxes due with respect to completed and settled examinations or
concluded litigation have been properly accrued or paid.

         (b) Except as set forth on Schedule  6.18  hereof,  neither PAHC nor PA
Bank has executed an extension  or waiver of any statute of  limitations  on the
assessment or collection of any Tax due that is currently in effect.

         (c) To the  extent  any Taxes are due from,  but have not yet been paid
by,  PAHC or PA Bank for the  period or  periods  beginning  January  1, 1999 or
thereafter  through and including the Effective Time,  adequate  provision on an
estimated basis has been made for the payment of such taxes by  establishment of
appropriate tax liability accounts on the monthly financial statements of PAHC.

         (d)  Deferred  Taxes  of PAHC and PA Bank  have  been  provided  for in
accordance  with generally  accepted  accounting  principles as in effect on the
date of this Agreement.

         (e) The deductions of PA Bank for bad debts taken and the reserve of PA
Bank for loan losses for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 1998,  were
not greater than the maximum  amount  permitted  under the provisions of section
585 of the Code.

         (f) Other than liens arising under the laws of the United States or the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania  with respect to Taxes assessed and not yet due and
payable, there are no tax liens on any of the properties or assets of PAHC or PA
Bank.

         (g) PAHC and PA Bank (i) have timely filed all  information  returns or
reports required to be filed with respect to Taxes, including but not limited to
those required by sections 6041,  6041A,  6042, 6045, 6049,  6050H, and 6050J of
the Code,  (ii) have  properly and timely  provided to all  persons,  other than
taxing  authorities,  all  information  reports or other documents (for example,
Form 1099s,  Form W-2s,  and so forth)  required to be provided to such  persons
under  applicable  law,  and (iii) have  exercised  due  diligence  in obtaining
certified taxpayer identification numbers as required under applicable law.

                                       25


<PAGE>

         (h) The taxable  year end of PAHC for federal  income tax  purposes is,
and since the inception of PAHC has continuously been, December 31.

         (i)  PAHC  and PA Bank  have in all  material  respects  satisfied  all
federal,  state, local, and foreign  withholding tax requirements  including but
not limited to income, social security, and employment tax withholding.

         (j) Neither  PAHC nor PA Bank (i) is, or has been,  a member of a group
filing a consolidated,  combined,  or unitary tax return, other than a group the
common  parent of which is or was PAHC,  or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes
of any person (other than PAHC and PA Bank) under Treas.  Reg. ss.  1.1502-6 (or
any similar  provision of state,  local,  or foreign  law),  as a transferee  or
successor, by contract, or otherwise.

     6.19.  Consolidated  Net Worth.  The  consolidated net worth of PAHC on the
date of this  Agreement,  as determined in accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles but without regard to the change in unrealized  gains and
losses  on  securities  (net of  reclassification  adjustment  and tax  effects)
between September 30, 1999 and the date of this Agreement,  is not less than the
sum of (a)  $31,906,000,  (b) the proceeds to PAHC of the sale of treasury stock
since  September 30, 1999, and (c) the proceeds to PAHC of the exercise of stock
options to purchase shares of PAHC Common Stock since September 30, 1999.

     6.20. Examinations.  To the extent consistent with law, PAHC has heretofore
disclosed   to  NBTB   relevant   information   contained  in  the  most  recent
safety-and-soundness,  compliance, Community Reinvestment Act, and other Reports
of  Examination  with respect to PAHC issued by the Board of  Governors  and the
most recent  safety-and-soundness,  compliance,  Community Reinvestment Act, and
other  Reports of  Examination  with respect to PA Bank issued by the OCC.  Such
information so disclosed  consists of all material  information  with respect to
the financial,  operational, and legal condition of the entity under examination
which is included in such reports.

     6.21. Reports. Since January 1, 1996, each of PAHC and PA Bank has effected
all  registrations  and filed all  reports  and  statements,  together  with any
amendments  required to be made with respect  thereto,  which it was required to
effect or file with (a) the Board of Governors,  (b) the OCC, (c) the FDIC,  (d)
the United  States  Department  of the  Treasury,  (e) the  Department,  (e) the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and (f) any other governmental or regulatory
authority  or  agency  having  jurisdiction  over its  operations.  Each of such
registrations,  reports,  and  documents,  including the  financial  statements,
exhibits,  and schedules  thereto,  does not contain any statement which, at the
time and in the light of the circumstances  under which it was made, is false or
misleading  with  respect  to any  material  fact or which  omits  to state  any
material fact  necessary in order to make the statements  contained  therein not
false or misleading.

     6.22. FIRA Compliance and Other Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set
forth  on  Schedule  6.22  hereof,  (a)  none  of the  officers,  directors,  or
beneficial  holders of 5 percent or more of the common  stock of PAHC or PA Bank
and  no  person   "controlled"  (as  that  term  is  defined  in  the  Financial
Institutions  Regulatory  and  Interest  Rate Control Act of 1978) by PAHC or PA
Bank

                                       26


<PAGE>

(collectively,  "Insiders") has any ongoing material transaction with PAHC or PA
Bank on the date of this Agreement; (b) no Insider has any ownership interest in
any business,  corporate or  otherwise,  which is a party to, or in any property
which is the subject of, business arrangements or relationships of any kind with
PAHC or PA Bank  not in the  ordinary  course  of  business;  and (c) all  other
extensions  of credit by PAHC or PA Bank to any  Insider  have  heretofore  been
disclosed in writing by PAHC to NBTB.

     6.23.  SEC  Registered  Securities.  Other than the PAHC Common  Stock,  no
equity or debt  securities  of PAHC or PA Bank are  registered or required to be
registered  under the Securities Act or the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act").

     6.24.  Legal  Proceedings.  Except  as  disclosed  in  the  PAHC  Financial
Statements or as set forth on Schedule 6.24 hereof,  there is no claim,  action,
suit, arbitration, investigation, or other proceeding pending against PAHC or PA
Bank before any court, governmental agency, authority or commission, arbitrator,
or  "impartial  mediator"  or, to the best of the knowledge of PAHC and PA Bank,
threatened  or  contemplated  against or affecting it or its  property,  assets,
interests,  or rights,  or any basis  therefor  of which  notice has been given,
which, if adversely determined,  would have a Material Adverse Effect on PAHC or
which otherwise could prevent, hinder, or delay consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     6.25. Absence of Governmental Proceedings.  Except as set forth on Schedule
6.25 hereof,  neither PAHC nor PA Bank is a party defendant or respondent to any
pending legal,  equitable,  or other  proceeding  commenced by any  governmental
agency and, to the best of the knowledge of PAHC and PA Bank, no such proceeding
is threatened.

     6.26.  Federal Deposit Insurance.

         (a) The deposits held by PA Bank are insured within statutory limits by
the Bank  Insurance  Fund of the FDIC (the "BIF")  pursuant to the provisions of
the Federal Deposit  Insurance Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. ss. 1811 et seq.) (the
"FDI Act"),  and PA Bank has paid all regular  premiums and special  assessments
and filed all related reports and statements required under the FDI Act.

         (b) PA Bank is a member of and pays  insurance  assessments to the BIF.
None of the deposits of PA Bank are insured by the Savings Association Insurance
Fund of the FDIC (the "SAIF"), and PA Bank pays no insurance  assessments to the
SAIF.

     6.27.  Other  Insurance.  Each of PAHC and PA Bank carries  insurance  with
reputable  insurers,  including  blanket bond  coverage,  in such amounts as are
reasonable to cover such risks as are customary in relation to the character and
location of its properties and the nature of its  businesses.  All such policies
of insurance  are in full force and effect,  and no notice of  cancellation  has
been received.  All premiums to date have been paid in full. Neither PAHC nor PA
Bank is in default with respect to any such policy which is material to it.

                                       27


<PAGE>

     6.28.  Labor Matters.

         (a) Neither  PAHC nor PA Bank is a party to or bound by any  collective
bargaining  contracts  with respect to any  employees of PAHC or PA Bank.  Since
their respective inceptions there has not been, nor to the best of the knowledge
of PAHC and PA Bank was  there or is there  threatened,  any  strike,  slowdown,
picketing,  or work  stoppage by any union or other group of  employees  against
PAHC or PA Bank or any of its  premises,  or any other  labor  trouble  or other
occurrence,  event, or condition of a similar character.  As of the date hereof,
neither  PAHC nor PA Bank is aware of any  attempts  to  organize  a  collective
bargaining unit to represent any of its employee groups.

         (b) As of the date hereof,  each of PAHC and PA Bank is, to the best of
its knowledge, in compliance in all material respects with all federal and state
laws,  regulations,  and orders respecting  employment and employment  practices
(including  Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964),  terms and conditions of
employment,  and wages and hours; and neither PAHC nor PA Bank is engaged in any
unfair labor  practice.  As of the date hereof,  except as set forth on Schedule
6.28 hereof,  no dispute  exists between PAHC or PA Bank and any of its employee
groups  regarding  any employee  organization,  wages,  hours,  or conditions of
employment which would  materially  interfere with the business or operations of
PAHC or PA Bank.

     6.29.  Employee Benefit Plans.

         (a)  Schedule  6.29  hereto  contains a complete  list of all  pension,
retirement,   stock  purchase,  stock  bonus,  stock  ownership,  stock  option,
performance  share,  stock  appreciation  right,  phantom  stock,  savings,  and
profit-sharing plans, all employment, deferred compensation, consul ting, bonus,
and collective  bargaining  agreements,  and group insurance contracts and other
incentive,   welfare,  life  insurance,  death  or  survivor's  benefit,  health
insurance, sickness, disability,  medical, surgical, hospital, severance, layoff
and vacation plans,  contracts,  and arrangements and employee benefit plans and
agreements, whether or not subject to ERISA, whether formal or informal, whether
written or oral,  whether  legally  binding or not,  under  which any current or
former  employee of PAHC or PA Bank has any present right to future  benefits or
payments  or under  which PAHC or PA Bank has any  present  or future  liability
(together, the "PAHC Plans").

         (b) As to each of the PAHC Plans, PAHC has made available to NBTB true,
complete, current, and accurate copies of (i) the executed document or documents
governing the plan, including the related trust agreement, insurance policy, and
summary  plan  description  (or other  description  in the case of an  unwritten
plan);  (ii) the most recent and prior two years' actuarial and financial report
prepared  with respect to the plan if it  constitutes  a "qualified  plan" under
section 401(a) of the Code; (iii) the Forms 5500 with all schedules for the last
three years; (iv) all IRS rulings,  determination letters, and any open requests
for such  rulings and letters  that  pertain to the plan;  and (v) to the extent
they  pertain  to the plan,  attorneys'  responses  to  auditors'  requests  for
information for the last three years.

         (c) Except for  funding  obligations  and  liabilities  to the  Pension
Benefit Guaranty

                                       28


<PAGE>

Corporation  ("PBGC") pursuant to section 4007 of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended  ("ERISA"),  all of which have been fully paid,
neither PAHC nor PA Bank has any tax, penalty,  or liability with respect to any
PAHC Plan under ERISA,  the Code, or any other  applicable law,  regulation,  or
ruling.  As to each PAHC Plan with  respect to which a Form 5500 has been filed,
no material  change has occurred with respect to the matters covered by the most
recent  Form 5500  since the date  thereof,  other  than  regular  accruals  and
contributions.

         (d) Each PAHC Plan  intended  to be a  "qualified  plan" under the Code
complies with ERISA and applicable  provisions of the Code.  Neither PAHC nor PA
Bank has any material  liability  under any PAHC Plan which is not  reflected on
the PAHC Financial  Statements (other than such normally unrecorded  liabilities
under the Plans for sick leave, holiday, education,  bonus, vacation,  incentive
compensation,  and anniversary awards, provided that such liabilities are not in
any event  material).  There have not been any  "prohibited  transactions"  with
respect to any PAHC Plan within the  meaning of section  406 of ERISA or,  where
applicable,  section  4975 of the  Code,  nor have  there  been any  "reportable
events"  within  section 4043 of ERISA nor any  accumulated  funding  deficiency
within section 302 of ERISA or section 402 of the Code. Neither PAHC nor PA Bank
nor any entity under common  control  under section  414(b),  (c), or (m) of the
Code has or had any  obligation to contribute to any  multiemployer  plan. As to
each PAHC Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, the value of assets of such
PAHC Plan is at least  equal to the  present  value of the vested  and  unvested
accrued  benefits in such PAHC Plan on a termination  and ongoing  basis,  based
upon applicable PBGC regulations and the actuarial  methods and assumptions used
in the most  recent  actuarial  report.  Except  as set forth on  Schedule  6.29
hereof,  neither PAHC nor PA Bank has any obligation to provide  retiree welfare
benefits.

         (e) No  action,  claim,  or  demand  of any kind has  been  brought  or
threatened by any potential  claimant or representative of such a claimant under
any plan, contract, or arrangement referred to in subsection (a) of this section
6.29, other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course,  where PAHC
or PA Bank may be either (i) liable  directly on such action,  claim, or demand;
or (ii)  obligated to  indemnify  any person,  group of persons,  or entity with
respect to such action, claim, or demand which is not fully covered by insurance
maintained with reputable,  responsible  financial insurers or by a self-insured
plan.

     6.30.  Compensation.  Schedule  6.30  hereto  contains  a true and  correct
statement of the names,  relationships  with PAHC and PA Bank,  present rates of
compensation  (whether  in the form of salary,  bonuses,  commissions,  or other
supplemental  compensation now or hereafter payable), and aggregate compensation
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 of each director,  officer, or other
employee of PAHC and PA Bank whose  aggregate  compensation  for the fiscal year
ended  December 31, 1998 exceeded  $60,000 or whose  aggregate  compensation  at
present  exceeds the rate of $60,000 per annum.  Except as set forth on Schedule
6.30  hereto,  since  December 31, 1998 neither PAHC nor PA Bank has changed the
rate of  compensation  of any of its  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents,
dealers,  or  distributors,  nor has any PAHC Plan or program been instituted or
amended to increase  benefits  thereunder.  Except as set forth on Schedule 6.30
hereto, there is no contract,  agreement,  plan,  arrangement,  or understanding
covering any person that,  individually or collectively,  could give rise to the
payment of any amount that would not be deductible by PAHC or

                                       29


<PAGE>

PA Bank by reason of section 280G of the Code.

     6.31. Fiduciary Activities. PA Bank engages and, since January 1, 1998, has
engaged  in (a) no  fiduciary  or  custodial  activity  that would  require  its
qualification  or  registration  under the laws of any  jurisdiction  and (b) no
advisory  activity  that  would  require  it to  register  under the  Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.

     6.32.  Environmental Liability.

         (a) Except as set forth on Schedule  6.32  hereof,  neither PAHC nor PA
Bank is in violation of any  judgment,  decree,  order,  law,  license,  rule or
regulation  pertaining to environmental  matters,  including those arising under
the Resource  Conservation  and Recovery  Act, the  Comprehensive  Environmental
Response,  Compensation  and  Liability  Act of 1980  ("CERCLA"),  the Superfund
Amendments and  Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act or any state or
local statute, regulation, ordinance, order or decree relating to health, safety
or the environment ("Environmental Laws").

         (b) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.32 hereof, neither PAHC, PA Bank,
nor, to the best of the knowledge of either of them,  any borrower of PAHC or of
PA Bank has received  notice that it has been  identified  by the United  States
Environmental  Protection Agency as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA
with respect to a site listed on the National  Priorities  List, 40 C.F.R.  Part
300  Appendix  B, nor has PAHC or PA Bank or,  to the best of the  knowledge  of
either of them,  any borrower of PAHC or of PA Bank  received  any  notification
that any hazardous  waste, as defined by 42 U.S.C.  ss.  6903(5),  any hazardous
substances,   as  defined  by  42  U.S.C.  ss.   9601(14),   any  "pollutant  or
contaminant,"  as defined by 42 U.S.C.  ss.  9601(33),  or any toxic  substance,
hazar dous  materials,  oil, or other  chemicals or substances  regulated by any
Environmental  Laws  ("Hazardous  Substances")  that it has disposed of has been
found at any site at which a federal or state  agency is  conducting  a remedial
investigation or other action pursuant to any Environmental Law.

         (c) No portion of any real property at any time owned or leased by PAHC
or PA Bank  (collectively,  the "PAHC Real  Estate") has been used by PAHC or PA
Bank for the handling,  processing,  storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances
in a manner  which  violates  any  Environ  mental  Laws and, to the best of the
knowledge of PAHC and PA Bank, no underground tank or other underground  storage
receptacle  for Hazardous  Substances is located on any of the PAHC Real Estate.
In the course of its  activities,  neither PAHC nor PA Bank has  generated or is
generating any hazardous  waste on any of the PAHC Real Estate in a manner which
violates any  Environmental  Laws. There has been no past or present  releasing,
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting,
escaping,  leaching,  disposing  or  dumping  (collectively,   a  "Release")  of
Hazardous  Substances  by PAHC or PA Bank on, upon, or into any of the PAHC Real
Estate. In addition, to the best of the knowledge of PAHC and PA Bank, except as
set forth on Schedule 6.32 hereof, there have been no such Releases on, upon, or
into any real  property in the  vicinity  of any of the PAHC Real  Estate  that,
through soil or groundwater contamination, may be

                                       30


<PAGE>

located on any of such PAHC Real Estate.

         (d) With  respect to any real  property at any time held as  collateral
for any outstanding loan by PAHC or PA Bank (collectively,  the "Collateral Real
Estate"),  except as set forth on Schedule 6.32 hereof, neither PAHC nor PA Bank
has since  January 1, 1988  received  notice from any borrower  thereof or third
party,  and has no knowledge,  that such borrower has generated or is generating
any  hazardous  waste on any of the  Collateral  Real  Estate in a manner  which
violates any Environmental  Laws or that there has been any Release of Hazardous
Substances by such borrower on, upon, or into any of the Collateral Real Estate,
or that there has been any Release on,  upon,  or into any real  property in the
vicinity of any of the Collateral Real Estate that,  through soil or groundwater
contamination, may be located on any of such Collateral Real Estate.

         (e) As used in this  section  6.32,  each of the terms  "PAHC"  and "PA
Bank"  includes the  applicable  entity and any  partnership or joint venture in
which it or any of its subsidiaries has an interest.

     6.33.  Intangible  Property.  To the best of the  knowledge  of PAHC and PA
Bank, each of them owns or possesses the right,  free of the claims of any third
party, to use all material trademarks,  service marks, trade names,  copyrights,
patents,  and licenses  currently used by it in the conduct of its business.  To
the best of the  knowledge of PAHC and PA Bank,  no material  product or service
offered and no material trademark, service mark, or similar right used by either
of them  infringes any rights of any other  person,  and, as of the date hereof,
neither PAHC nor PA Bank has received any written or oral notice of any claim of
such infringement.

     6.34.  Real and  Personal  Property.  Except as set forth on Schedule  6.34
hereof, and except for property and assets disposed of in the ordinary course of
business,  each of PAHC and PA Bank possesses  good and marketable  title to and
owns, free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, or other encumbrance
or other third party interest of any nature  whatsoever  which would  materially
interfere  with the business or operations  of either PAHC or PA Bank,  its real
and personal  property and other  assets,  including  without  limitation  those
properties and assets reflected in the PAHC Financial Statements as of September
30, 1999, or acquired by PAHC or PA Bank  subsequent  to the date  thereof.  The
leases  pursuant  to which PAHC and PA Bank lease real or  personal  property as
lessee are valid and effective in accordance with their  respective  terms;  and
there is not, under any such lease,  any material  existing default or any event
which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or otherwise, would constitute
a material  default.  The real and personal property leased by either PAHC or PA
Bank as lessee is free from any adverse claim which would  materially  interfere
with its business or operation  taken as a whole.  The material  properties  and
equipment owned or leased as lessee by PAHC and PA Bank are in normal  operating
condition,  free from any known  defects,  except  such minor  defects as do not
materially interfere with the continued use thereof in the conduct of its normal
operations.

                                       31


<PAGE>

     6.35.  Loans, Leases, and Discounts.

         (a) To the best of the knowledge of PAHC and PA Bank, each loan, lease,
and discount  reflected as an asset of PAHC in the PAHC Financial  Statements as
of September 30, 1999, or acquired  since that date,  is the legal,  valid,  and
binding obligation of the obligor named therein,  enforceable in accordance with
its terms; and no loan,  lease, or discount having an unpaid balance  (principal
and accrued interest) in excess of $50,000,  and no outstanding letter of credit
or commitment to extend credit having a notional amount in excess of $50,000, is
subject to any asserted  defense,  offset,  or counterclaim  known to PAHC or PA
Bank.

         (b) Except as set forth on Schedule  6.35  hereof,  neither PAHC nor PA
Bank  holds  any  loans  or  loan-participation  interests  purchased  from,  or
participates in any loans originated by, any person other than PAHC or PA Bank.

     6.36. Material  Contracts.  Neither PAHC nor PA Bank nor any of the assets,
businesses, or operations of either of them is as of the date hereof a party to,
or is bound or affected by, or receives  benefits under any material  agreement,
arrangement,  or commitment not cancelable by it without penalty, other than (a)
the  agreements  set forth on  Schedule  6.36 hereof or set forth in one or more
other  schedules  of  this  Agreement,  and  (b)  agreements,  arrangements,  or
commitments  entered into in the ordinary course of its business consistent with
past practice,  or, if there has been no past practice,  consistent with prudent
banking practices.

     6.37.  Employment  and  Severance  Arrangements.  Schedule 6.37 hereof sets
forth

         (a) all employment  contracts  granted by PAHC or PA Bank to any of its
officers,  directors,  shareholders,  consultants, or other management officials
and any officer,  director,  shareholder,  consultant, or management official of
any affiliate  providing for increased or acceler ated compensation in the event
of a change  of  control  with  respect  to PAHC or PA Bank or any  other  event
affecting the ownership, control, or management of PAHC or PA Bank; and

         (b)  all   employment   and  severance   contracts,   agreements,   and
arrangements between PAHC or PA Bank and any officer,  director,  consultant, or
other management official of any of them.

     6.38.  Material  Contract  Defaults.  All  contracts,  agreements,  leases,
mortgages, or commitments referred to in section 6.12(c) hereof are valid and in
full force and effect on the date hereof.  As of the date of this  Agreement and
as of the Effective  Time,  neither PAHC nor PA Bank is or will be in default in
any  material  respect  under  any  material  contract,  agreement,  commitment,
arrangement, lease, insurance policy, or other instrument to which it is a party
or by which its  assets,  business,  or  operations  may be bound or affected or
under which it or its assets,  business,  or operations  receive  benefits;  and
there has not  occurred  any event  that with the lapse of time or the giving of
notice or both would constitute such a default.

     6.39.  Capital  Expenditures.  Except as set forth on Schedule 6.39 hereof,
neither PAHC nor PA

                                       32


<PAGE>

Bank has any outstanding  commitments to make capital  expenditures which in the
aggregate exceed $50,000.

     6.40.  Repurchase  Agreements.  With respect to all agreements  pursuant to
which  PAHC or PA Bank has  purchased  securities  subject  to an  agreement  to
resell,  it has a  valid,  perfected  first  lien or  security  interest  in the
securities securing the agreement, and the value of the collateral securing each
such  agreement  equals  or  exceeds  the  amount  of the debt  secured  by such
collateral under such agreement.

     6.41.  Internal Controls; Year 2000 Problem.

         (a) Each of PAHC and PA Bank  maintains  internal  controls  to provide
reasonable  assurance to its board of directors and officers that its assets are
safeguarded,  its  records  and reports  are  prepared  in  compliance  with all
applicable legal and accounting  requirements and with its internal policies and
practices,  and applicable  federal,  state,  and local laws and regulations are
complied  with.  These  controls  extend  to the  preparation  of its  financial
statements to provide  reasonable  assurance  that the  statements are presented
fairly in conformity with generally  accepted  accounting  principles or, in the
case of PA Bank and to the extent different from generally  accepted  accounting
principles,  accounting  principles  mandated by the OCC. The  controls  contain
self- monitoring  mechanisms,  and appropriate  actions are taken on significant
deficiencies as they are identified.

         (b) Each of PAHC and PA Bank has reviewed the areas within its business
and  operations  which could be adversely  affected by, and has  developed or is
developing a program to address on a timely basis the risk that certain computer
applications  used  by it or by any of its  major  suppliers  may be  unable  to
recognize and perform properly date-sensitive functions involving dates prior to
and after  December 31, 1999 and prior to and after February 28, 2000 (the "Year
2000  Problem").  The Year 2000 Problem will not result,  and is not  reasonably
expected to result, in any Material Adverse Effect on PAHC or PA Bank.

     6.42.  Dividends.  Neither  PAHC nor PA Bank has paid any  dividend  to its
shareholders which caused its regulatory capital to be less than the amount then
required  by  applicable  law, or which  exceeded  any other  limitation  on the
payment of dividends imposed by law, agreement, or regulatory policy.

     6.43.  Brokers and  Advisers.  Except as set forth on Schedule 6.43 hereof,
(a) there are no claims for  brokerage  commissions,  finder's  fees, or similar
compensation  arising out of or due to any act of PAHC or PA Bank in  connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or based upon any agreement
or arrangement made by or on behalf of PAHC or PA Bank, and (b) neither PAHC nor
PA Bank has entered into any agreement or understanding  with any party relating
to financial  advisory  services  provided or to be provided with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                                       33


<PAGE>

     6.44.  Interest Rate Risk Management Instruments.

         (a) Schedule  6.44 contains a true,  correct,  and complete list of all
interest-rate   swaps,   caps,   floors,   and  options   agreements  and  other
interest-rate  risk management  arrangements to which PAHC or PA Bank is a party
or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound.

         (b) All interest rate swaps,  caps,  floors,  and option agreements and
other interest rate risk  management  arrangements to which PAHC or PA Bank is a
party or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound were entered into
in the ordinary  course of its business  and, to the best of its  knowledge,  in
accordance with prudent banking practice and applicable rules, regulations,  and
regulatory  policies  and  with   counterparties   believed  to  be  financially
responsible  at  the  time  and  are  legal,   valid,  and  binding  obligations
enforceable  in  accordance  with  their  terms  (except  as may be  limited  by
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium,  reorganization, or similar laws affecting
the rights of creditors  generally and the availability of equitable  remedies),
and are in full force and effect.  PAHC and PA Bank have duly  performed  in all
material  respects  of all of their  respective  obligations  thereunder  to the
extent that such  obligations  to perform have  accrued;  and to the best of the
knowledge of PAHC and PA Bank, there are no breaches,  violations or defaults or
allegations or assertions of such by any party thereunder.

     6.45. Accounting Treatment.  PAHC is aware of no reason why the Merger will
fail to qualify for "pooling of interests" accounting treatment.

     6.46. COBRA Matters. Schedule 6.46 sets forth the name, address,  telephone
number,  social  security  number,  and date of Qualifying  Event (as defined in
section 603 of ERISA) of each individuals covered under a group health plan that
is subject to section  601 of ERISA and  sponsored  by PAHC or PA Bank or any of
their  subsidiaries  who have experienced a Qualifying Event since June 7, 1998,
together  with  documentation  of compliance by PAHC or PA Bank, as the case may
be, with applicable notice requirements.

     6.47.   Disclosure.   No  representation  or  warranty   hereunder  and  no
certificate, statement, or other document delivered by PAHC or PA Bank hereunder
or in connection  with this  Agreement or any of the  transactions  contemplated
thereunder  contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the  statements  contained  herein,  in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  There is
no fact known to PAHC which  reasonably  might have a Material Adverse Effect on
PAHC or PA Bank which has not been disclosed in the PAHC Financial Statements or
a  certificate  or other  document  delivered  to NBTB by PAHC.  All  copies  of
documents delivered to NBTB by PAHC under this Agreement are true, correct,  and
complete   copies  thereof  and  include  all   amendments,   supplements,   and
modifications thereto and all waivers thereunder.

     6.48.  Regulatory and Other Approvals.  As of the date hereof,  PAHC is not
aware of any  reason  why all  material  consents  and  approvals  shall  not be
procured from all regulatory  agencies having jurisdiction over the transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement,  as shall be necessary for (a)  consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (b) the continuation

                                       34


<PAGE>

after the Effective Time of the business of PAHC and PA Bank as such business is
carried on immediately  prior to the Effective  Time,  free of any conditions or
requirements  which,  in the reasonable  opinion of PAHC,  could have a Material
Adverse  Effect on PAHC. As of the date hereof,  PAHC is not aware of any reason
why all material  consents and  approvals  shall not be procured  from all other
persons and  entities  whose  consent or  approval  shall be  necessary  for (y)
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  or (z) the
continuation  after the  Effective  Time of the  business of PAHC and PA Bank as
such business is carried on immediately prior to the Effective Time.

7.   COVENANTS OF PAHC.

     PAHC covenants and agrees as follows:

     7.1.  Rights of Access.  In  addition  and not in  limitation  of any other
rights of access  provided to NBTB herein,  until the Effective Time PAHC and PA
Bank  will  give to NBTB and to its  representatives,  including  its  certified
public accountants, KPMG, full access during normal business hours to all of the
property, documents, contracts, books, and records of PAHC and PA Bank, and such
information  with respect to their business  affairs and properties as NBTB from
time to time may reasonably request.

     7.2. Monthly and Quarterly  Financial  Statements;  Minutes of Meetings and
Other Materials.

         (a) PAHC and PA Bank will  continue  to prepare  all of the monthly and
quarterly financial  statements and financial reports to regulatory  authorities
for the months and  quarterly  periods  ending  between  October 1, 1999 and the
Effective Time which it customarily  prepared  during the period between January
1, 1996 and  September 30, 1999 and shall  promptly  provide NBTB with copies of
all such financial  statements and reports. All of such financial statements and
reports, including the related notes, schedules, and memorandum items, will have
been  prepared in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles
consistently  applied in all material  respects (except that Call Reports may be
prepared in accordance with the official instructions  applicable thereto at the
time of filing).

         (b) PAHC and PA Bank shall promptly provide NBTB with (i) copies of all
of its periodic  reports to directors and to  shareholders,  whether or not such
reports were prepared or distributed  in connection  with a meeting of the board
of directors or a meeting of the shareholders,  prepared or distributed  between
the date of this Agreement and the Effective  Time, and (ii) complete  copies of
all  minutes  of  meetings  of its board of  directors  and  shareholders  which
meetings take place between the date of this  Agreement and the Effective  Time,
certified by the  secretary  or cashier or an  assistant  secretary or assistant
cashier of PAHC or PA Bank, as the case may be.

         (c) From the date of this Agreement to the Effective  Time, PAHC shall,
contemporaneously with its filing with the SEC of any periodic or current report
pursuant to section

                                       35


<PAGE>

13 of the Exchange Act, deliver a copy of such report to NBTB.

     7.3. Extraordinary Transactions. Without the prior written consent of NBTB,
neither  PAHC nor PA Bank  will,  on or after  the date of this  Agreement:  (a)
subject to section 7.9, declare or pay any cash dividends or property  dividends
with  respect  to any class of its  capital  stock,  with the  exception  of (i)
subject  to  the  dividend-coordination   provisions  of  section  7.9  of  this
Agreement,  customary  periodic  cash  dividends  paid by PAHC to holders of its
common stock in amounts not exceeding  $0.20 per share per calendar  quarter and
at intervals  that are not shorter than past  practice,  and (ii) customary cash
dividends  paid by PA Bank whose  amounts have not exceeded past practice and at
intervals that are not shorter than past practice; (b) declare or distribute any
stock  dividend,  authorize  a stock  split,  or  authorize,  issue  or make any
distribution of its capital stock or any other securities  (except for issuances
of PAHC Common Stock upon exercise of stock options  outstanding  on the date of
this Agreement), or grant any options to acquire such additional securities; (c)
either (i) merge into,  consolidate  with,  or sell or otherwise  dispose of its
assets to any other  corporation or person,  or enter into any other transaction
or agree to  effect  any other  transaction  not in the  ordinary  course of its
business  except  as  explicitly  contemplated  herein,  or (ii)  engage  in any
discussions   concerning  such  a  possible  transaction  except  as  explicitly
contemplated herein unless the board of directors of PAHC, based upon the advice
of Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP,  determines in good faith that such action
is required for the board of directors  to comply with its  fiduciary  duties to
stockholders  imposed by law;  (d)  convert  the charter or form of entity of PA
Bank from that in existence on the date of this  Agreement to any other  charter
or form of entity;  (e) make any direct or  indirect  redemption,  purchase,  or
other acquisition of any of its capital stock; (f) except in the ordinary course
of  its  business  or  to  accomplish  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement,   incur  any  liability  or   obligation,   make  any  commitment  or
disbursement,  acquire or dispose of any property or asset, make any contract or
agreement,   pay  or  become  obligated  to  pay  any  legal,   accounting,   or
miscellaneous other expense, or engage in any transaction; (g) other than in the
ordinary  course of  business,  subject any of its  properties  or assets to any
lien, claim, charge, option, or encumbrance; (h) enter into or assume any one or
more commitments to make capital expenditures, any of which individually exceeds
$20,000 or which in the aggregate  exceed  $50,000;  (i) except for increases in
the  ordinary  course of  business  in  accordance  with past  practices,  which
together with all other  compensation  rate  increases do not exceed 4.5 percent
per annum of the  aggregate  payroll as of  September  30,  1999,  and except as
explicitly contemplated by this Agreement,  increase the rate of compensation of
any employee or enter into any agreement to increase the rate of compensation of
any  employee;  (j) except as  otherwise  required by law,  create or modify any
pension or profit sharing plan, bonus, deferred compensation,  death benefit, or
retirement  plan, or the level of benefits  under any such plan, nor increase or
decrease any severance or termination  pay benefit or any other fringe  benefit;
(k) enter into any employment or personal  services  contract with any person or
firm,  including  without  limitation  any contract,  agreement,  or arrangement
described  in  section  6.37(a)  hereof,   except  directly  to  facilitate  the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement;  nor (l)  purchase  any loans or
loan-participation  interests  from, or participate in any loans  originated by,
any person other than PAHC or PA Bank.

     7.4.  Preservation of Business.  Each of PAHC and PA Bank will (a) carry on
its business and

                                       36


<PAGE>

manage its assets and properties diligently and substantially in the same manner
as  heretofore;  (b)  maintain  the  ratio  of  its  loans  to its  deposits  at
approximately  the same level as existed at September  30, 1999,  as adjusted to
allow for  seasonal  fluctuations  of loans and  deposits  of a kind and  amount
experienced  traditionally  by  it;  (c)  manage  its  investment  portfolio  in
substantially  the same manner and pursuant to substantially the same investment
policies as in 1997 and 1998,  and will take no action to change to any material
extent the percentage which its investment  portfolio bears to its total assets,
or to lengthen to any  material  extent the average  maturity of its  investment
portfolio,  or  of  any  significant  category  thereof;  (d)  use  commercially
reasonable  efforts to continue in effect its present insurance  coverage on all
properties,  assets,  business, and personnel;  (e) use commercially  reasonable
efforts to preserve its business  organization  intact,  to keep  available  its
present employees,  and to preserve its present relationships with customers and
others having business  dealings with it; (f) not do anything and not fail to do
anything  which will cause a breach of or  default in any  contract,  agreement,
commitment,  or  obligation  to which it is a party or by which it may be bound;
(g)  conduct  its   affairs  so  that  at  the   Effective   Time  none  of  its
representations  and warranties  will be  inaccurate,  none of its covenants and
agreements  will be breached,  and no condition  in this  Agreement  will remain
unfulfilled  by  reason  of its  actions  or  omissions;  and (h) not  amend its
articles of incorporation or bylaws.

     7.5. Comfort Letter.  At the time of the  effectiveness of the Registration
Statement,  but prior to the  mailing of the Joint Proxy  Statement,  and on the
date of the Effective Time, PAHC shall furnish NBTB with a letter from KPMG LLP,
in its  capacity  as the  independent  auditors of PAHC,  in form and  substance
acceptable  to NBTB,  stating  that (a) they are  independent  accountants  with
respect to PAHC within the meaning of the Securities Act and the published rules
and  regulations  thereunder,  (b) in their opinion the  consolidated  financial
statements of PAHC included in the  Registration  Statement comply as to form in
all  material  respects  with  the  applicable  accounting  requirements  of the
Securities Act and the published  rules and  regulations  thereunder,  and (c) a
reading of the latest available unaudited  consolidated  financial statements of
PAHC and  unaudited  financial  statements  of PA Bank and  inquiries of certain
officials of PAHC and PA Bank  responsible for financial and accounting  matters
as to  transactions  and events  since the date of the most recent  consolidated
statement of  condition  included in their most recent audit report with respect
to PAHC did not cause them to believe that (i) such latest  available  unaudited
consolidated  financial  statements of PAHC are not stated on a basis consistent
with that followed in PAHC's audited consolidated financial statements;  or (ii)
except  as  disclosed  in the  letter,  at a  specified  date not more than five
business  days prior to the date of such letter,  there was any change in PAHC's
capital stock or any change in  consolidated  long-term  debt or any decrease in
the consolidated  net assets of PAHC or the consolidated  allowance for loan and
lease losses of PAHC as compared with the  respective  amounts shown in the most
recent PAHC audited  consolidated  financial  statements.  The letter shall also
cover such other matters  pertaining to PAHC's and PA Bank's  financial data and
statistical information included in the Registration Statement as may reasonably
be requested by NBTB.

     7.6.  Affiliates' Agreements.

         (a) PAHC will  furnish to NBTB (i) a list of all persons  known to PAHC
who at the date of this  Agreement and (ii) if different  from the list required
by section 7.6(a)(i), a list of all

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<PAGE>

persons known to PAHC who at the date of PAHC's special  meeting of shareholders
to vote upon the transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be deemed to be
"affiliates" of PAHC within the meaning of Rule 145 under the Securities Act and
for  purposes of  qualifying  the Merger for "pooling of  interests"  accounting
treatment.

         (b) PAHC will use  commercially  reasonable  efforts to cause each such
"affiliate"  of PAHC to deliver to NBTB on or before the date of this  Agreement
(or, in the case of any person who becomes an "affiliate" of PAHC after the date
of this  Agreement,  not  later  than ten days  after  such  person  becomes  an
"affiliate" of PAHC) an Affiliates Agreement.

     7.7.  Pooling Treatment.

         (a) PAHC will take no action  that  would  prevent or impede the Merger
from  qualifying  for "pooling of interests"  accounting  treatment or KPMG from
delivering the Pooling Letters.

         (b) PAHC shall deliver to KPMG such certificates or  representations as
KPMG may reasonably request to enable it to deliver the Pooling Letters.

     7.8.  Shareholders'  Meeting. PAHC shall hold a meeting of its shareholders
in accordance  with the BCL as promptly as possible after the  effectiveness  of
the  Registration  Statement,  after at least twenty days' prior written  notice
thereof to the  shareholders  of PAHC, to consider and vote upon the adoption of
this  Agreement.  Subject to its fiduciary  duty to  shareholders,  the board of
directors of PAHC shall approve this Agreement and recommend to its shareholders
that it be adopted.

     7.9. Dividend Coordination.  After the date of this Agreement, each of NBTB
and PAHC shall  coordinate  with the other the  declaration  of any dividends in
respect of NBTB  Common  Stock and PAHC  Common  Stock and the record  dates and
payment dates  relating  thereto,  it being the intention of the parties  hereto
that  holders of PAHC Common Stock shall not receive two  dividends,  or fail to
receive one  dividend,  for any  quarter  with  respect to their  shares of PAHC
Common  Stock and any shares of NBTB Common  Stock any such  holder  receives in
exchange therefor in the Merger.

     7.10.  Inconsistent Activities.

         (a) Subject to subsection  (b) of this section  7.10,  unless and until
the  Merger  has been  consummated  or this  Agreement  has been  terminated  in
accordance  with its  terms,  neither  PAHC  nor PA Bank  will  (a)  solicit  or
encourage,   directly  or  indirectly,  any  inquiries  or  proposals  (each  an
"Alternative  Proposal") to acquire more than 1 percent of the PAHC Common Stock
or any  capital  stock of PA Bank or any  significant  portion  of the assets of
either of them (whether by tender offer,  merger,  purchase of assets,  or other
transactions  of any type) (each an "Alternative  Transaction");  (b) afford any
third party which may be  considering  an  Alternative  Proposal or  Alternative
Transaction  access to its  properties,  books or records  except as required by
mandatory provisions of law; (c) enter into any discussions or negotiations for,
or enter into any agreement or understanding which provides for, any Alternative
Transaction, or (d) authorize or permit any of its directors,

                                       38


<PAGE>

officers,  employees or agents to do or permit any of the foregoing.  If PAHC or
PA Bank becomes aware of any  Alternative  Proposal or of any other matter which
could  adversely  affect this  Agreement  or the Merger,  PAHC and PA Bank shall
immediately give notice thereof to NBTB.

         (b) Nothing  contained  in  subsection  (a) of this  section 7.10 shall
prohibit  the board of  directors  of PAHC  from  furnishing  information  to or
entering  into  discussions  or  negotiations  with  any  person  that  makes an
unsolicited bona fide Alternative  Proposal if, and only to the extent that, (i)
the board of  directors  of the  Company,  based  upon the  advice of Blank Rome
Comisky & McCauley  LLP,  determines  in good faith that such action is required
for the board of directors to comply with its fiduciary  duties to  stockholders
imposed by law, (ii) prior to furnishing  such  information to, or entering into
discussions or negotiations  with, such person,  PAHC provides written notice to
NBTB to the  effect  that it is  furnishing  information  to, or  entering  into
discussions  or  negotiations  with,  such  person,  and (iii)  PAHC  keeps NBTB
informed of the status and all  material  information  with  respect to any such
discussions or negotiations.

         (c) Nothing in subsection (b) of this section 7.10 or in subsection (c)
of  section  7.3 of this  Agreement  shall (i)  permit  PAHC to  terminate  this
Agreement  (except as  specifically  provided  in  section  11.1 or 11.2 of this
Agreement), (ii) permit PAHC or PA Bank to enter into any agreement with respect
to an Alternative  Transaction  for as long as this Agreement  remains in effect
(it being agreed that for as long as this Agreement remains in effect,  PAHC and
PA Bank shall not enter into any agreement with any person that provides for, or
in any way facilitates, an Alternative Transaction (other than a confidentiality
agreement in customary  form)),  or (iii) affect any other obligation of PAHC or
PA Bank under this Agreement.

     7.11. COBRA Obligations.  For all individuals  covered under a group health
plan that is subject to section 601 of ERISA and sponsored by PAHC or PA Bank or
any of their subsidiaries,  and who experience a Qualifying Event (as defined in
section 603 of ERISA) within thirty days of the date of this Agreement,  PAHC or
PA Bank, as the case may be, shall remain  responsible for providing all notices
and election  forms  necessary to comply with ERISA and the Code,  and will take
all steps necessary to implement elections pursuant to such notices.

     7.12. Updated  Schedules.  Not less than fifteen business days prior to the
Effective  Time and as of the  Effective  Time,  PAHC will  deliver  to NBTB any
updates  to the  schedules  to its  representations  which  may be  required  to
disclose events or circumstances  arising after the date hereof.  Such schedules
shall  be  updated  only for the  purpose  of  making  the  representations  and
warranties  contained  in this  Agreement  to which such part of such  schedules
relate true and correct in all material respects as of the date such schedule is
updated,  and the  updated  schedule  shall not have the  effect  of making  any
representation  or warranty  contained in this Agreement true and correct in all
material respects as of a date prior to the date of such updated  schedule.  For
purposes of determining whether the condition set forth in section 4.1 to NBTB's
obligations have been met, any such updated schedules delivered to NBTB shall be
disregarded  unless NBTB shall have agreed to accept any  changes  reflected  in
such updated schedules.

     7.13.  Subsequent  Events.  Until the Effective Time, PAHC will immediately
advise NBTB in a

                                       39


<PAGE>

detailed  written  notice of any fact or occurrence or any pending or threatened
occurrence of which it obtains knowledge and which (if existing and known at the
date of the  execution  of this  Agreement)  would have been  required to be set
forth or disclosed in or pursuant to this Agreement which (if existing and known
at any time prior to or at the  Effective  Time) would make the  performance  by
PAHC  of a  covenant  contained  in  this  Agreement  impossible  or  make  such
performance  materially  more  difficult  than in the  absence  of such  fact or
occurrence,  or which (if existing and known at the time of the Effective  Time)
would cause a condition to NBTB's  obligations  under this  Agreement  not to be
fully satisfied.

8.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NBTB.

     NBTB represents and warrants to PAHC as follows:

     8.1. Organization,  Powers, and Qualification.  NBTB is a corporation which
is duly organized,  validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction  of  incorporation  and  has  all  requisite  corporate  power  and
authority to own and operate its properties and assets, to lease properties used
in its  business,  and to carry on its business as now  conducted.  NBTB owns or
possesses in the operation of its business all  franchises,  licenses,  permits,
branch certificates,  consents,  approvals,  waivers, and other  authorizations,
governmental or otherwise, which are necessary for it to conduct its business as
now  conducted,  except  for  those  where  the  failure  of such  ownership  or
possession  would  not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on NBTB.  NBTB is duly
qualified  and  licensed  to do  business  and  is in  good  standing  in  every
jurisdiction  with  respect to which the failure to be so  qualified or licensed
could result in a Material Adverse Effect on NBTB.

     8.2.  Execution and  Performance  of Agreement.  Provided that prior to the
Effective Time the shareholders of NBTB approve the Share Increase Amendment and
an appropriate  Certificate of Amendment is filed with the Delaware Secretary of
State  reflecting  such  approval,  NBTB has all requisite  corporate  power and
authority to execute and deliver this  Agreement  and to perform its  respective
terms.

     8.3. Binding Obligations; Due Authorization. This Agreement constitutes the
valid,  legal,  and  binding  obligations  of  NBTB  enforceable  against  it in
accordance  with its terms,  except as enforcement  may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium or similar law, or by general principles of
equity.  The  execution,  delivery,  and  performance  of this Agreement and the
transactions  contemplated  thereby have been duly and validly authorized by the
board of  directors  of NBTB.  No other  corporate  proceedings  on its part are
necessary to authorize  this  Agreement or the carrying out of the  transactions
contemplated hereby.

     8.4.  Absence of Default.  Provided  that prior to the  Effective  Time the
shareholders  of NBTB approve the Share  Increase  Amendment and an  appropriate
Certificate  of  Amendment  is  filed  with  the  Delaware  Secretary  of  State
reflecting  such  approval,  none  of the  execution  or the  delivery  of  this
Agreement,  the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  or the
compliance with or fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, or result
in a breach of any of the terms,

                                       40


<PAGE>

conditions,  or provisions of, or constitute a default under the  organizational
documents  or  bylaws  of  NBTB.  None  of  such  execution,   consummation,  or
fulfillment will (a) conflict with, or result in a material breach of the terms,
conditions,  or provisions of, or constitute a material violation,  conflict, or
default  under,  or give  rise to any  right of  termination,  cancellation,  or
acceleration with respect to, or result in the creation of any lien,  charge, or
encumbrance upon, any of the property or assets of NBTB pursuant to any material
agreement  or  instrument  under  which it is  obligated  or by which any of its
properties or assets may be bound,  including  without  limitation  any material
lease,  contract,  mortgage,  promissory  note,  deed  of  trust,  loan,  credit
arrangement  or other  commitment or arrangement of it in respect of which it is
an obligor, or (b) if the Merger is approved by the Board of Governors under the
BHC Act, or if the Board of Governors waives its  jurisdiction  over the Holding
Company  Merger,  and if the Bank  Merger  is  approved  by the OCC,  and if the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  are approved by the  Department,
violate any law,  statute,  rule, or  regulation of any  government or agency to
which NBTB is subject and which is material  to its  operations,  or (c) violate
any judgment,  order, writ, injunction,  decree, or ruling to which it or any of
its properties or assets is subject or bound.  None of the execution or delivery
of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby, or
the  compliance  with or  fulfillment  of the  terms  hereof  will  require  any
authorization,  consent, approval, or exemption by any person which has not been
obtained,  or any notice or filing which has not been given or done,  other than
approval of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement by, notices to, or
filings  with by the Board of  Governors,  the OCC,  the SEC,  state  securities
commissions,  the  Department,  the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
and the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

     8.5.  Capital Structure.

         (a)  The  authorized  capital  stock  of  NBTB  as of the  date of this
Agreement  consists of (i) 2,500,000  shares of preferred  stock,  no par value,
stated value $1.00 per share ("NBTB Preferred Stock"),  of which, as of the date
of this  Agreement,  no shares are issued or  outstanding,  and (ii)  15,000,000
shares  of NBTB  Common  Stock,  of  which,  as of the  date of this  Agreement,
12,440,384  shares have been duly issued and are validly  outstanding  and fully
paid,  and 575,  405  additional  shares are issued and held in the  treasury of
NBTB. The  aforementioned  shares of NBTB Preferred  Stock and NBTB Common Stock
are the only voting securities of NBTB authorized,  issued, or outstanding as of
such date.

         (b)  None of the  shares  of NBTB  Common  Stock  has  been  issued  in
violation of the preemptive rights of any shareholder.

         (c) As of the date hereof,  to the best of the  knowledge of NBTB,  and
except  for  this  Agreement,  there  are no  shareholder  agreements,  or other
agreements,  understandings,  or commitments relating to the right of any holder
or beneficial owner of more than 1 percent of the issued and outstanding  shares
of any class of the capital  stock of NBTB to vote or to dispose of his,  her or
its shares of capital stock of NBTB.

     8.6. Books and Records.  The books and records of each of NBTB and NBT Bank
fairly reflect

                                       41


<PAGE>

the  transactions  to which it is a party or by which its properties are subject
or bound.  Such books and records have been properly kept and maintained and are
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable  accounting and legal
requirements.  Each of NBTB and NBT Bank follows generally  accepted  accounting
principles  applied on a consistent  basis in the preparation and maintenance of
its books of account and financial statements,  including but not limited to the
application of the accrual  method of accounting  for interest  income on loans,
leases,  discounts, and investments,  interest expense on deposits and all other
liabilities,  and all other  items of income and  expense.  Each of NBTB and NBT
Bank has made all accruals in amounts which accurately report income and expense
in  the  proper  periods  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted   accounting
principles. Each of NBTB and NBT Bank has filed all material reports and returns
required by any law or regulation to be filed by it.

     8.7.  Financial  Statements.  NBTB has  furnished to PAHC its  consolidated
audited  statement of  condition  as of each of December 31, 1996,  December 31,
1997, and December 31, 1998, and its related audited  consolidated  statement of
income,  consolidated  statement of cash flows,  and  consolidated  statement of
changes in  stockholders'  equity for each of the periods  then  ended,  and the
notes  thereto,  and its  consolidated  unaudited  statement  of condition as of
September 30, 1999, and its related unaudited  consolidated statement of income,
consolidated  statement of cash flows, and consolidated  statement of changes in
stockholders'  equity for the period then ended, and the notes thereto,  each as
filed with the SEC (collectively,  the "NBTB Financial Statements").  All of the
NBTB Financial Statements,  including the related notes, (a) except as indicated
in the notes  thereto,  were  prepared in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles consistently applied in all material respects (subject, in
the case of unaudited  statements,  to  recurring  audit  adjustments  normal in
nature and  amount),  and (b) are in  accordance  with the books and  records of
NBTB, (c) fairly reflect the consolidated  financial position of NBTB as of such
dates, and the consolidated  results of operations of NBTB for the periods ended
on such  dates,  and do not  fail to  disclose  any  material  extraordinary  or
out-of-period  items,  and (d) reflect,  in accordance  with generally  accepted
accounting  principles  consistently applied in all material respects,  adequate
provision for, or reserves  against,  the consolidated loan losses of NBTB as of
such dates.

     8.8.  Nasdaq  Reporting.  Trading of NBTB  Common  Stock is reported on the
Nasdaq National Market.

     8.9. Absence of Certain  Developments.  Since September 30, 1999, there has
been (a) no Material  Adverse  Effect with respect to NBTB,  and (b) no material
deterioration  in the  quality  of the loan  portfolio  of NBTB or of any  major
component thereof, and no material increase in the level of nonperforming assets
or  nonaccrual  loans at NBTB or in the level of its provision for credit losses
or its reserve for credit losses.

     8.10. Brokers and Advisers.  Other than with respect to MB&D, (a) there are
no claims for brokerage  commissions,  finder's  fees,  or similar  compensation
arising  out of or due to any act of NBTB in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement or based upon any agreement or arrangement  made
by or on behalf of NBTB,  and (b) NBTB has not  entered  into any  agreement  or
understanding with any party relating to financial advisory services provided or
to be

                                       42


<PAGE>

provided with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     8.11.   Disclosure.   No  representation  or  warranty   hereunder  and  no
certificate,  statement,  or other  document  delivered by NBTB  hereunder or in
connection  with  this  Agreement  or  any  of  the  transactions   contemplated
thereunder  contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the  statements  contained  herein,  in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  There is
no fact known to NBTB which  might  materially  adversely  affect its  business,
assets,  liabilities,  financial condition,  results of operations, or prospects
which has not been disclosed in the NBTB  Financial  Statements or a certificate
or other document  delivered by NBTB to PAHC. Copies of all documents  delivered
to PAHC by NBTB under this  Agreement  are true,  correct,  and complete  copies
thereof and include all amendments,  supplements,  and modifications thereto and
all waivers thereunder.

     8.12.  Regulatory and Other Approvals.  As of the date hereof,  NBTB is not
aware of any  reason  why all  material  consents  and  approvals  shall  not be
procured from all regulatory  agencies having jurisdiction over the transactions
contemplated  by this Agreement,  as shall be necessary for (a)  consummation of
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement, and (b) the continuation after
the  Effective  Time of the  business  of NBTB as such  business  is  carried on
immediately  prior to the Effective Time, free of any conditions or requirements
which, in the reasonable  opinion of NBTB,  could have a Material Adverse Effect
on NBTB. As of the date hereof, NBTB is not aware of any reason why all material
consents and approvals shall not be procured from all other persons and entities
whose  consent  or  approval  shall be  necessary  for (y)  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  or (z) the continuation after the
Effective  Time  of the  business  of  NBTB  as  such  business  is  carried  on
immediately prior to the Effective Time.

9.   COVENANTS OF NBTB.

     NBTB covenants and agrees as follows:

     9.1.  Rights of Access.  From the date hereof to the Effective  Time,  NBTB
shall give to PAHC and to its  representatives,  including its certified  public
accountants,  KPMG LLP, full access during normal  business  hours to all of the
property, documents, contracts, books, and records of NBTB, and such information
with respect to their business  affairs and properties as PAHC from time to time
may reasonably request.

     9.2. Securities  Reports.  From the date hereof to the Effective Time, NBTB
shall, contemporaneously with the filing with the SEC of any periodic or current
report pursuant to section 13 of the Exchange Act, deliver a copy of such report
to PAHC.

     9.3.  Shareholders'  Meeting. NBTB shall hold a meeting of its shareholders
in accordance  with the GCL as promptly as possible after the  effectiveness  of
the  Registration  Statement,  after at least twenty days' prior written  notice
thereof to the  shareholders  of NBTB, to consider and vote upon this Agreement,
it being agreed, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall require NBTB to

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<PAGE>

hold a special meeting of its shareholders within the thirty-day period prior to
its 2000 annual meeting of shareholders  if NBTB proposes for the  consideration
of its  shareholders  at such annual meeting that the issuance of shares of NBTB
Common Stock  pursuant to this  Agreement be approved and that this Agreement be
ratified. Subject to its fiduciary duty to shareholders,  the board of directors
of NBTB shall recommend to its shareholders  that the issuance of shares of NBTB
Common Stock  pursuant to this  Agreement be approved and that this Agreement be
ratified.

     9.4. Nasdaq Approval. NBTB shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
cause the shares of NBTB Common  Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved
for  inclusion  on the Nasdaq  National  Market,  subject to official  notice of
issuance, prior to the Effective Time.

     9.5.  Options.  At or prior to the  Effective  Time,  NBTB  shall  take all
corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares
of NBTB Common  Stock for  delivery  upon  exercise of options to purchase  PAHC
Common Stock  assumed by it in accordance  with section 1.11 hereof.  NBTB shall
use  commercially  reasonable  efforts  to  maintain  the  effectiveness  of the
registration  statement that pertains to the shares subject to such options (and
maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein)
for so long as such  options  remain  outstanding.  NBTB  shall at and after the
Effective Time have reserved sufficient shares of NBTB Common Stock for issuance
with  respect to such  options.  NBTB shall also take any action  required to be
taken under any applicable  state blue sky or securities laws in connection with
the issuance of such shares.

     9.6.  Indemnification  of Directors and  Officers.  Following the Effective
Time NBTB will take no action to abrogate or diminish any right  accorded  under
the articles of  incorporation  or by-laws of PAHC as they  existed  immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time to any person  who,  on or prior to the  Effective
Time,  was a  director  or officer  of PAHC to  indemnification  from or against
losses,  expenses,  claims, demands,  damages,  liabilities,  judgments,  fines,
penalties,  costs,  expenses (including without limitation  reasonable attorneys
fees) and amounts paid in  settlement  pertaining  to or incurred in  connection
with any threatened or actual action, suit, claim, or proceeding (whether civil,
criminal, administrative,  arbitration, or investigative) arising out of events,
matters,  actions,  or omissions occurring on or prior to the Effective Time. To
the extent not provided by the  foregoing,  following the Effective  Time and to
the extent permitted by law, all rights to such  indemnification  accorded under
the articles of incorporation and by-laws of PAHC to any person who, on or prior
to the  Effective  Time,  was a director  or officer of PAHC shall  survive  the
Effective Time and,  following the Merger,  to the extent permitted by law, NBTB
will honor such  obligations  in  accordance  with their  terms with  respect to
events, acts, or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time.

     9.7.  Subsequent  Events.  Until the Effective Time, NBTB will  immediately
advise  PAHC in a  detailed  written  notice  of any fact or  occurrence  or any
pending or  threatened  occurrence  of which it obtains  knowledge and which (if
existing and known at the date of the  execution of this  Agreement)  would have
been  required to be set forth or  disclosed  in or  pursuant to this  Agreement
which (if  existing  and known at any time  prior to or at the  Effective  Time)
would make the  performance  by NBTB of a covenant  contained in this  Agreement
impossible or make such performance materially

                                       44


<PAGE>

more  difficult  than in the  absence of such fact or  occurrence,  or which (if
existing and known at the time of the Effective Time) would cause a condition to
PAHC's obligations under this Agreement not to be fully satisfied.

10.  CLOSING.

     10.1. Place and Time of Closing.  Closing shall take place at the principal
executive  offices  of  NBTB or at  such  other  place  as the  parties  choose,
commencing at 9:00 a.m., local time, on the date of the Effective Time, provided
that all conditions  precedent to the obligations of the parties hereto to close
have then been met or waived.

     10.2.  Events To Take  Place at  Closing.  At the  Closing,  the  following
actions will be taken:

         (a) Such  certificates  and other  documents  as are  required  by this
Agreement to be executed and  delivered  at or prior to the  Effective  Time and
have  not been so  executed  and  delivered,  and such  other  certificates  and
documents as are mutually  deemed by the parties to be otherwise  desirable  for
the effectuation of the Closing, will be so executed and delivered; and then

         (b) the First Merger and the issuance of shares incident  thereto shall
be effected;  provided, however, that the administrative and ministerial aspects
of the  issuance  of shares  incident  to the  Merger  will be  settled  as soon
thereafter as shall be reasonable under the circumstances; and then

         (c) the Second Merger and the Bank Merger shall be effected.

11.  TERMINATION, DAMAGES FOR BREACH, WAIVER, AND AMENDMENT.

     11.1.  Termination  by  Reason  of  Lapse of Time.  This  Agreement  may be
terminated by any party on or after July 31, 2000, by instrument duly authorized
and executed and delivered to the other  parties,  unless (a) the Effective Time
shall have  occurred on or before such date or (b) the failure of the  Effective
Time to have  occurred on or before such date has been due to the failure of the
party  seeking to terminate  this  Agreement to perform or observe its covenants
and agreements as set forth herein.

     11.2. Grounds for Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated by written
notice of termination  at any time before the Effective Time (whether  before or
after action by shareholders of PAHC or NBTB):

         (a) by mutual consent of the parties hereto;

         (b) by NBTB,  upon written  notice to PAHC given at any time (i) if any
of the  representations and warranties of PAHC contained in section 6 hereof was
materially  incorrect  when made,  or (ii) in the event of a material  breach or
material failure by PAHC of any covenant or

                                       45


<PAGE>

agreement of PAHC contained in this Agreement  which has not been, or cannot be,
cured within thirty days after written notice of such breach or failure is given
to PAHC, and which inaccuracy, breach, or failure, if continued to the Effective
Time,  would  result in any  condition  set forth in  section 4 hereof not being
satisfied;

         (c) by PAHC,  upon written  notice to NBTB given at any time (i) if any
of the  representations and warranties of NBTB contained in section 8 hereof was
materially  incorrect  when made,  or (ii) in the event of a material  breach or
material  failure by NBTB of any covenant or agreement of NBTB contained in this
Agreement  which has not been,  or cannot be,  cured  within  thirty  days after
written notice of such breach or failure is given to NBTB, and which inaccuracy,
breach,  or failure,  if continued to the  Effective  Time,  would result in any
condition  set forth in  section 4 hereof  not being  satisfied  or (iii) if the
board of  directors  of PAHC,  based  upon the  advice of Blank  Rome  Comisky &
McCauley LLP, determines in good faith that such termination is required for the
board of directors to comply with its fiduciary  duties to stockholders  imposed
by law by reason of an Alternative Proposal being made; provided that PAHC shall
notify NBTB promptly of its intention to terminate  this Agreement or enter into
a definitive agreement with respect to any Alternative Proposal, but in no event
shall such notice be given less than 48 hours  prior to the public  announcement
of PAHC's termination of this Agreement;

         (d) by PAHC, in accordance with the following provisions:

                    (i)  at  any  time  during  the  three-business-day   period
beginning on the  Determination  Date, if both of the following  conditions  are
satisfied, subject, however, to subsection 11.2(d)(ii):

                           (A) The Average  Closing  Price is less than  $15.00;
and

                           (B) The number,  expressed as a percentage,  obtained
by  dividing  the  Average  Closing  Price by $16.75 is more than 15  percentage
points less than the Index Differential.

                    (ii) If PAHC chooses to exercise its right  pursuant to this
section 11.2(d),  it shall give immediate written notice thereof to NBTB. During
the three-business-day period commencing with receipt of such notice, NBTB shall
have the option to agree that the Exchange  Ratio shall be $15.00 divided by the
Average Closing Price. If NBTB so elects within such three-business-day  period,
it shall give immediate written notice thereof to PAHC, whereupon no termination
shall have occurred  pursuant to this section  11.2(d) and this Agreement  shall
remain in effect in accordance  with its terms  (except that the Exchange  Ratio
shall be $15.00 divided by the Average Closing Price).

                    (iii) Definitions.  The following terms used in this section
11.2(d) shall have the meanings set forth in this Subparagraph (iii).

                           (A)  Determination  Date.  The seventh  business  day
preceding the Effective Time.

                                       46


<PAGE>

                           (B) Index  Price.  For any member of the Index Group,
the Average Closing Price  calculated  using,  instead of NBTB Common Stock, the
common stock of that member of the Index Group.

                           (C)  Index  Differential.  The sum of the  respective
numbers (expressed as percentages),  for each of the members of the Index Group,
obtained by multiplying the weighting (as set forth in section  11.2(d)(iii)(D))
of that member of the Index Group times the quotient of the Index Price for that
member of the Index  Group  divided  by the Base  Price (as set forth in section
11.2(d)(iii)(D)) for that member of the Index Group.

                           (D) Index Group.  The twenty  companies listed below,
the common stock of all of which shall be publicly  traded and as to which there
shall not have been a publicly  announced  proposal  between  the day before the
date of the execution of this Agreement and the Determination  Date for any such
company to be  Acquired.  In the event that the common stock of any such company
ceases to be publicly  traded or a proposal to Acquire that company is announced
between  the day  before the date of the  execution  of this  Agreement  and the
Determination  Date, such company will be removed from the Index Group,  and the
weights attributed to the remaining  companies will be adjusted  proportionately
for  purposes of  determining  the Index  Price.  The twenty  companies  and the
weights attributed to them are as follows:

                                       47

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     Company                                                  Weighting            Base Price
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------            ----------
<S>                                                           <C>                  <C>
Arrow Financial Corporation, Glens Falls, NY                     4.051%              $20.2500
BSB Bancorp, Inc., Binghamton, NY                                5.622%              $20.9375
BT Financial Corporation, Johnstown, PA                          9.340%              $22.3750
CCBT Bancorp, Inc., Hyannis, MA                                  3.532%              $15.1250
Century Bancorp, Inc., Medford, MA                               1.589%              $16.8750
Community Bank System, Inc., Dewitt, NY                          4.796%              $25.5625
Community Banks, Inc., Millersburg, PA                           4.020%              $22.4375
F&M Bancorp, Frederick, MD                                       5.810%              $23.6250
Granite State Bankshares, Inc., Keene, NH                        3.325%              $21.8750
Harleysville National Corporation, Harleysville, PA              6.706%              $32.2500
Independent Bank Corp., Rockland, MA                             4.922%              $13.3750
National Penn Bancshares, Inc., Boyertown, PA                   12.082%              $25.8750
Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., Olney, MD                            6.765%              $26.7500
State Bancorp, Inc., New Hyde Park, NY                           2.805%              $13.3125
Sterling Bancorp, New York, NY                                   3.810%              $18.1250
Suffolk Bancorp, Riverhead, NY                                   4.350%              $27.3125
Sun Bancorp, Inc., Vineland, NJ                                  3.010%              $11.3750
U.S.B. Holding Co., Inc., Orangeburg, NY                         6.282%              $15.0625
Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc., Westerly, RI                     5.095%              $17.8125
Yardville National Bancorp, Mercerville, NJ                      2.088%              $12.0000

                                                               -------
                                                               100.000%
                                                               =======

</TABLE>


                     (E) Acquire.  A company within the Index Group is deemed to
have been "Acquired" in any combination in which,  immediately  thereafter,  its
equity  holders do not control  more than 50 percent of the equity of the entity
resulting from the combination;

         (e) by either NBTB or PAHC upon  written  notice  given to the other if
the board of directors of either NBTB or PAHC shall have  determined in its sole
judgment  made in good faith,  after due  consideration  and  consultation  with
counsel,  that the Merger has become  inadvisable or  impracticable by reason of
the institution of litigation by the federal government or the government of the
State of New York or the  Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to restrain or invalidate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

         (f) by either NBTB or PAHC upon  written  notice  given to the other if
any of the  approvals  referred  to in section 3.1 (other  than  approvals  that
relate  solely to the Bank  Merger) are denied and such denial has become  final
and nonappealable;

         (g) by either NBTB or PAHC upon  written  notice  given to the other if
(i) the  shareholders  of either  NBTB or PAHC shall have voted on and failed to
adopt  this  Agreement,  at the  meeting  of such  shareholders  called for such
purpose, or (ii) the shareholders of NBTB shall

                                       48


<PAGE>



have voted on and failed to approve the Share Increase Amendment; or

         (h) by either NBTB or PAHC upon  written  notice  given to the other if
NBTB  shall  have been  advised  by KPMG that  KPMG is  unable  to  deliver  its
favorable  opinion under  section 4.10 of this  Agreement due to the action of a
party or one or more of the affiliates,  directors, officers, or shareholders of
that party.

     11.3.  Effect  of  Termination.   In  the  event  of  the  termination  and
abandonment  hereof  pursuant to the provisions of section 11.1 or section 11.2,
this  Agreement  shall  become  void and have no force or  effect,  without  any
liability on the part of NBTB, PAHC, PA Bank, or their  respective  directors or
officers or  shareholders,  in respect of this  Agreement.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,   (a)  as  provided   in  section   12.4  of  this   Agreement,   the
confidentiality   agreement   contained  in  that  section  shall  survive  such
termination;  (b) the provisions of sections 11.3(b),  11.3(c),  12.1, and 12.11
shall survive; (c) if such termination is a result of any of the representations
and  warranties of a party being  materially  incorrect when made or a result of
the  material  breach or material  failure by a party of a covenant or agreement
hereunder,  such party whose  representations  and  warranties  were  materially
incorrect  or who  materially  breached  or failed to perform  its  covenant  or
agreement  shall be  liable  in the  amount of  $500,000  to the other  party or
parties hereto that are not affiliated with it; and (d) if

                    (i)  such termination is pursuant to section 11.2(c)(iii) of
this Agreement, or if

                    (ii) this Agreement is terminated  for any reason  specified
in section 11.2(b)(ii) of this Agreement and a definitive agreement with respect
to an Alternative  Proposal is executed by PAHC or PA Bank within one year after
such termination,

then in either  case,  and in  addition  to any  amount  payable  or paid  under
subsection (c) of this section 11.3, PAHC shall be liable to NBTB for liquidated
damages in the further  amount of  $3,000,000,  which  amount will be payable to
NBTB in immediately  available  funds within two business days after such amount
becomes due. PAHC acknowledges  that the agreements  contained in subsection (d)
of this section 11.3 are an integral part of the  transactions  contemplated  in
this  Agreement and that,  without these  agreements,  NBTB would not enter into
this Agreement.

     11.4. Waiver of Terms or Conditions. Any of the terms or conditions of this
Agreement,  to the extent legally permitted,  may be waived at any time prior to
the Effective Time by the party which is, or whose shareholders are, entitled to
the benefit thereof,  by action taken by that party (if an individual) or by the
board of directors of such party (if a corporation),  or by its chairman,  or by
its president;  provided that such waiver shall be in writing and shall be taken
only if, in the judgment of the party,  board of  directors,  or officer  taking
such  action,  such  waiver  will not have a  materially  adverse  effect on the
benefits  intended  hereunder  to  it or to  the  shareholders  of  its  or  his
corporation;  and the other  parties  hereto may rely on the  delivery of such a
waiver as conclusive evidence of such judgment and the validity of the waiver.

                                       49


<PAGE>



     11.5.   Amendment.   Anything   herein  or   elsewhere   to  the   contrary
notwithstanding, to the extent permitted by law, this Agreement and the exhibits
hereto may be amended,  supplemented,  or  interpreted  at any time prior to the
Effective Time by written instrument duly authorized and executed by each of the
parties hereto; provided,  however, that (except as specifically provided herein
or as may be approved by such  shareholders)  this  Agreement may not be amended
after:

         (a) the action by shareholders of PAHC in any respect that would change
(i) the amount or kind of shares,  obligations,  cash, property, or rights to be
received in exchange for or on  conversion  of the PAHC Common  Stock;  (ii) any
term of the certificate of  incorporation  of NBTB to be effected by the Merger;
or (iii) any of the terms and  conditions of this  Agreement if the change would
adversely affect the shareholders of PAHC, or

         (b) the action by shareholders of NBTB in any respect that would change
(i) the amount or kind of shares,  obligations,  cash, property, or rights to be
received in exchange  for the NBTB Common  Stock to be  delivered in the Merger;
(ii) any term of the certificate of  incorporation of NBTB to be effected by the
Merger; or (iii) any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement if the change
would adversely affect the shareholders of NBTB.

12.  GENERAL PROVISIONS.

     12.1. Allocation of Costs and Expenses. Except as provided in this section,
each  party  hereto  shall  pay its own fees  and  expenses,  including  without
limitation the fees and expenses of its own counsel and its own  accountants and
tax advisers,  incurred in connection  with this Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated thereby. For purposes of this section, (i) the cost of printing the
Joint Proxy Statement shall be apportioned  between NBTB and PAHC based upon the
number of copies each shall  request to be printed,  (ii) the cost of delivering
the Joint Proxy  Statement and other material to be transmitted to  shareholders
of NBTB  shall be deemed  to be  incurred  on behalf of NBTB,  (iii) the cost of
delivering  the Joint Proxy  Statement and other  material to be  transmitted to
shareholders  of PAHC shall be deemed to be incurred on behalf of PAHC, (iv) the
cost of registering under federal and state securities laws the stock of NBTB to
be received by the shareholders of PAHC shall be deemed to be incurred on behalf
of NBTB,  and (v) the cost of procuring  the tax opinion  referred to in section
3.4 of this Agreement shall be deemed to be incurred on behalf of PAHC.

     12.2.  Mutual Cooperation.

         (a) Subject to the terms and  conditions  herein  provided,  each party
shall use its best efforts,  and shall  cooperate fully with the other party, in
expeditiously carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and in expeditiously
making all filings and obtaining all necessary  governmental  approvals,  and as
soon as  practicable  shall  execute and  deliver,  or cause to be executed  and
delivered,   such  governmental   notifications  and  additional  documents  and
instruments and do or cause to be done all additional things necessary,  proper,
or  advisable  under  applicable  law to  consummate  and make  effective on the
earliest practicable date the transactions contemplated

                                       50


<PAGE>



hereby.

         (b) NBTB and PAHC  shall  promptly  prepare  and file  with the SEC the
Joint Proxy Statement, and NBTB shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC the
Registration  Statement in which the Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a
prospectus.  NBTB  and  PAHC  shall  use all  reasonable  efforts  to  have  the
Registration  Statement  declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly
as  practicable  after such filing.  Each party will supply in a timely  fashion
such information  concerning such party as shall be necessary or appropriate for
inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement and Registration Statement.

     12.3. Form  of Public  Disclosures.  NBTB and PAHC shall  mutually agree in
advance upon the form and substance of all public  disclosures  concerning  this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

     12.4. Confidentiality.  NBTB, PAHC, and their respective subsidiaries shall
use all information  that each obtains from the other pursuant to this Agreement
solely for the effectuation of the trans actions  contemplated by this Agreement
or for other  purposes  consistent  with the intent of this  Agreement.  Neither
NBTB, PAHC, nor their respective subsidiaries shall use any of such informa tion
for any other purpose, including,  without limitation, the competitive detriment
of any other party.  NBTB and PAHC shall maintain as strictly  confidential  all
information  each of them  learns  from the other and  shall,  at any time after
termination  of this Agreement in accordance  with the terms  thereof,  upon the
request of the other, return promptly to it all documentation  provided by it or
made  available  to  third  parties.  Each  of the  parties  may  disclose  such
information to its respective affiliates,  counsel,  accountants,  tax advisers,
and  consultants,  provided  that such  parties are advised of the  confidential
nature of such  information  and agree to be bound by the terms of this  section
12.4. The confidentiality  agreement contained in this section 12.4 shall remain
operative  and in full force and effect,  and shall survive the  termination  of
this Agreement.

     12.5.  Claims of Brokers.

         (a) PAHC shall indemnify, defend, and hold NBTB harmless for, from, and
against  any claim,  suit,  liability,  fees,  or expenses  (including,  without
limitation,  attorneys'  fees and costs of court)  arising  out of any claim for
brokerage commissions,  finder's fees, or similar compensation arising out of or
due to any of its acts in connection with the transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement or based upon any agreement or arrangement made by it or on its behalf
with respect to NBTB.

         (b) NBTB shall indemnify, defend, and hold PAHC harmless for, from, and
against  any claim,  suit,  liability,  fees,  or expenses  (including,  without
limitation,  attorneys'  fees and costs of court)  arising  out of any claim for
brokerage commissions,  finder's fees, or similar compensation arising out of or
due to any of its acts in connection with any of the  transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement or based upon any agreement or  arrangement  made by it or on
its behalf with respect to PAHC.

                                       51


<PAGE>



     12.6.  Information for Applications and Registration Statement.

         (a) Each party represents and warrants that all information  concerning
it  which  is  included  in  any  statement  and   application   (including  the
Registration  Statement) made to any governmental  agency in connection with the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  shall not,  with respect to such
party,  contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made, in light
of the  circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading.  The party so
representing and warranting will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other,
each of its directors and officers,  each  underwriter and each person,  if any,
who controls the other within the meaning of the  Securities  Act, for, from and
against any and all losses, claims, suits, damages,  expenses, or liabilities to
which any of them may become subject under applicable laws  (including,  but not
limited to, the Securities  Act and the Exchange Act) and rules and  regulations
thereunder and will  reimburse  them for any legal or other expenses  reasonably
incurred by them in  connection  with  investigating  or  defending  any actions
whether or not resulting in liability,  insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
expenses,  liabilities,  or  actions  arise out of or are based  upon any untrue
statement or alleged  untrue  statement of a material fact contained in any such
application  or  statement  or arise out of or are based  upon the  omission  or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein,
or necessary in order to make the statements  therein not  misleading,  but only
insofar as any such  statement  or  omission  was made in  reliance  upon and in
conformity  with  information  furnished  in  writing  by the  representing  and
warranting  party expressly for use therein.  Each party agrees at any time upon
the request of the other to furnish to the other a written  letter or  statement
confirming  the accuracy of the  information  contained in any proxy  statement,
registration  statement,   report,  or  other  application  or  statement,   and
confirming  that  the  information  contained  in such  document  was  furnished
expressly  for  use  therein  or,  if  such  is not  the  case,  indicating  the
inaccuracies  contained in such document or draft or indicating the  information
not furnished  expressly for use therein.  The indemnity  agreement contained in
this  section  12.6(a)  shall  remain  operative  and in full force and  effect,
regardless  of any  investigation  made  by or on  behalf  of  any of the  other
parties, and shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the consummation
of the transactions contemplated thereby.

         (b) In  order  to  provide  for  just  and  equitable  contribution  in
circumstances in which the indemnity  agreement  contained in section 12.6(a) of
this Agreement is for any reason held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
unenforceable as to any or every party,  then the parties in such  circumstances
shall  contribute  to the  aggregate  losses,  claims,  damages and  liabilities
(including any  investigation,  legal and other expenses  incurred in connection
with, and any amounts paid in settlement  of, any action,  suit or proceeding or
any claims asserted) to which any party may be subject in such proportion as the
court of law determines based on the relative fault of the parties.

     12.7.  Standard of Materiality and of Material Adverse Effect.

         (a) For purposes of sections 4, 6, and 7 of this  Agreement,  the terms
"material"  and  "materially,"  when  used  with  reference  to  items  normally
expressed in dollars,  shall be deemed to refer to amounts  individually  and in
the aggregate in excess of 3 percent of the shareholders' equity

                                       52


<PAGE>



of PAHC as of September 30, 1999, as  determined  in accordance  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.

         (b) For purposes of sections 5, 8, and 9 of this  Agreement,  the terms
"material"  and  "materially,"  when  used  with  reference  to  items  normally
expressed in dollars,  shall be deemed to refer to amounts  individually  and in
the aggregate in excess of 3 percent of the  shareholders'  equity of NBTB as of
September  30,  1999,  as  determined  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.

         (c) For other purposes and, notwithstanding  subsections (a) and (b) of
this section 11.7, when used anywhere in this Agreement with explicit  reference
to any  of  the  federal  securities  laws  or to  the  Proxy  Statement  or the
Registration Statement, the terms "material" and "materially" shall be construed
and  understood  in  accordance  with  standards of  materiality  as  judicially
determined under the federal securities laws.

         (d) The term "Material  Adverse Effect" wherever used in this Agreement
shall mean, with respect to a person, a material adverse effect on the business,
results of operations,  financial  condition or prospects of such person and its
subsidiaries  taken as a whole or a  material  adverse  effect on such  person's
ability to consummate the  transactions  contemplated  hereby on a timely basis;
provided,  that, in determining  whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred,
there shall be excluded any effect on the  referenced  person the cause of which
is (i) any change in banking laws, rules or regulations of general applicability
or  interpretations  thereof  by courts or  governmental  authorities,  (ii) any
change in generally  accepted  accounting  principles or  regulatory  accounting
requirements applicable to banks or their holding companies generally, (iii) any
action  or  omission  of PAHC or any of its  subsidiaries  taken  with the prior
written  consent of NBTB, or of NBTB or any of its  subsidiaries  taken with the
prior  written  consent  of  PAHC,  or (iv)  any  changes  in  general  economic
conditions affecting banks or their holding companies.

     12.8.  Adjustments  for Certain  Events.  Anything in this agreement to the
contrary  notwithstanding,  all  prices  per  share,  share  amounts,  per-share
amounts,  and exchange ratios referred to in this Agreement  (including  without
limitation section 11.2(d) of this Agreement) shall be appropriately adjusted to
account   for   stock   dividends,   split-ups,   mergers,    recapitalizations,
combinations,  conversions,  exchanges of shares or the like, but not for normal
and recurring cash dividends  declared or paid in a manner  consistent  with the
established practice of the payer.

     12.9.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may  be  executed  in  two  or  more
counterparts  each of which shall be deemed to constitute an original,  but such
counterparts  together shall be deemed to be one and the same  instrument and to
become effective when one or more  counterparts  have been signed by each of the
parties  hereto.  It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement or
any counterpart hereof to produce or account for the other counterpart.

     12.10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding
of the parties hereto with respect to their  commitments to each other and their
undertakings  vis-a-vis each other on the subject  matter  hereof.  Any previous
agreements or understandings among the parties

                                       53


<PAGE>



regarding  the  subject  matter  hereof are merged into and  superseded  by this
Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement express or implied is intended or shall be
construed to confer upon or to give any person,  other than NBTB,  Newco,  PAHC,
and their respective shareholders,  any rights or remedies under or by reason of
this Agreement.

     12.11. Survival of Representations,  Warranties, and Covenants. None of the
representations,  warranties,  covenants, and agreements in this Agreement or in
any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement (other than the Stock Option
Agreement,  the employment  agreement  described in section 4.8 hereof,  and the
change-in-control  agreements  described  in section 5.5  hereof,  each of which
shall terminate in accordance with its terms), shall survive the Effective Time,
except for sections 9.6, 12.4,  12.6,  and those other  covenants and agreements
contained  herein and  therein  which by their  terms  apply in whole or in part
after the Effective Time.

     12.12.  Section 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.  Any  reference to a "person"
herein shall  include an  individual,  firm,  corporation,  partnership,  trust,
government  or  political  subdivision  or  agency or  instrumentality  thereof,
association, unincorporated organization, or any other entity.

     12.13.  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

                                       54


<PAGE>



If to PAHC or PA Bank:

             Pioneer American Holding Company Corp.
             41 North Main Street
             Carbondale, Pennsylvania 18407

             Attention:       Mr. John W. Reuther
                              President and Chief Executive Officer

With a required copy to:

             Lawrence R. Wiseman, Esq.
             Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
             One Logan Square
             Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6998

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

             12.14.  Choice of Law and Venue.  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,
except that the BCL (in the case of PAHC) shall govern with respect to the terms
and conditions of the Merger,  the approval and effectiveness  thereof,  and the
authorization,  cancellation,  or  issuance of the stock or options of PAHC with
respect  thereto.  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.

             12.15.  Knowledge of a Party.  References in this  Agreement to the
knowledge  of a party shall mean the actual  knowledge  possessed by the present
executive officers of such party.

             12.16. Binding Agreement.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the
parties and their respective successors and assigns.

                                       55


<PAGE>


             IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.

                                  NBT BANCORP INC.

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

                                  By:              JOHN D. ROBERTS
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                   John D. Roberts
                                            Senior Vice President and Secretary

                                  LEVON ACQUISITION COMPANY

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

                                  By:              JOHN D. ROBERTS
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                   John D. Roberts
                                                      Secretary
                                       56


<PAGE>

                                  PIONEER AMERICAN HOLDING
                                  COMPANY CORP.


                                  By:               JOHN W. REUTHER
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                    John W. Reuther
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

                                  By:               ANTOINETTE STICKER
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                    Antoinette Sticker
                                                        Secretary

                                       57


<PAGE>





- ----------------------------------------------------------)
State of New York                                         )
                                                          )        ss.
County of Chenango                                        )
                                                          )
- ----------------------------------------------------------)

          On this seventh day of December,  1999, before me personally  appeared
Daryl R. Forsythe,  to me known to be the President and Chief Executive  Officer
of NBT  Bancorp  Inc.,  and John D.  Roberts,  to me known to be the Senior Vice
President  and  Secretary  of NBT  Bancorp  Inc.,  and  each  acknowledged  said
instrument to be the free and voluntary  act and deed of said  corporation,  for
the uses and  purposes  therein  mentioned,  and on oath each stated that he was
authorized to execute said instrument and that the seal affixed is the corporate
seal of said corporation.

          In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
seal the day and year first above written.

                DAVID R. THELEMAN
         -------------------------------
                  Notary Public

                DAVID R. THELEMAN
        Notary Public, State of New York
            Broome County, # 4940266
         Commission Expires Aug. 8, 2000

                                       58


<PAGE>





- ----------------------------------------------------------)
State of New York                                         )
                                                          )        ss.
County of Chenango                                        )
                                                          )
- ----------------------------------------------------------)

          On this seventh day of December,  1999, before me personally  appeared
Daryl R. Forsythe,  to me known to be the President and Chief Executive  Officer
of  Levon  Acquisition  Company,  and  John D.  Roberts,  to me  known to be the
Secretary of Levon Acquisition Company, and each acknowledged said instrument to
be the free and  voluntary  act and deed of said  corporation,  for the uses and
purposes  therein  mentioned,  and on oath each stated that he was authorized to
execute said  instrument and that the seal affixed is the corporate seal of said
corporation.

          In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
seal the day and year first above written.

                  DAVID R. THELEMAN
            ----------------------------
                    Notary Public

                DAVID R. THELEMAN
         Notary Public, State of New York
             Broome County, # 4940266
          Commission Expires Aug. 8, 2000

                                       59


<PAGE>





- ----------------------------------------------------------)
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania                              )
                                                          )        ss.
County of Lackawanna                                      )
                                                          )
- ----------------------------------------------------------)

          On this seventh day of December,  1999, before me personally  appeared
John W. Reuther,  to me known to be the President and Chief Executive Officer of
Pioneer American Holding Company Corp., and Antoinette  Sticker,  to me known to
be  the  Secretary  of  Pioneer   American   Holding  Company  Corp.,  and  each
acknowledged  said  instrument to be the free and voluntary act and deed of said
corporation,  for the uses and  purposes  therein  mentioned,  and on oath  each
stated  that he was  authorized  to execute  said  instrument  and that the seal
affixed is the corporate seal of said corporation.

          In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
seal the day and year first above written.



                   LISA ANN BUCHINSKI
               --------------------------
                      Notary Public

                      Notarial Seal
             Lisa Ann Buchinski, Notary Public
              Carbondale, Lackawanna County
           My Commission Expires Oct. 16, 2000

                                       60


<PAGE>



           The undersigned members of the Board of Directors of Pioneer American
Holding Company Corp. ("PAHC"), acknowledging that NBT Bancorp Inc. ("NBTB") has
relied upon the action  heretofore  taken by the board of  directors in entering
into the  Agreement,  and has  required  the same as a  prerequisite  to  NBTB's
execution of the Agreement,  do  individually  and as a group agree,  subject to
their  fiduciary  duties  to  shareholders,  to  support  the  Agreement  and to
recommend its adoption by the other shareholders of PAHC.

           The  undersigned do hereby,  individually  and as a group,  until the
Effective Time or  termination  of the Agreement,  further agree to refrain from
soliciting or, subject to their fiduciary duties to shareholders, negotiating or
accepting  any offer of  merger,  consolidation,  or  acquisition  of any of the
shares or all or  substantially  all of the assets of PAHC or PA Bank,  National
Association.

           JOSEPH G. NASSER                           MICHAEL M. MURPHY
- ----------------------------------------       ---------------------------------

            R. CHOJNOWSKI                              JOHN W. WALSKI
- ----------------------------------------       ---------------------------------

         ELDORE SEBASTIANELLI                        GENE E. GOLDENZIEL
- ----------------------------------------       ---------------------------------

            JOHN W. REUTHER                      MARGARET O'CONNOR-FLETCHER
- ----------------------------------------       ---------------------------------





                                       61


<PAGE>



                                  SCHEDULE 1.10

                               Richard Chojnowski
                               Gene E. Goldenziel
                                Michael M. Murphy
                                Joseph G. Nasser
                             William K. Nasser, Sr.
                             William K. Nasser, Jr.
                          Margaret L. O'Connor-Fletcher
                                 John W. Reuther
                              Eldore Sebastianelli
                                 John W. Walski









                                       62

                                   EXHIBIT 2.3

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

           STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of the seventh day
of December, 1999 between NBT Bancorp Inc., a Delaware corporation  ("Grantee"),
and  Pioneer  American   Holding  Company  Corp.,  a  Pennsylvania   corporation
("Issuer").

                                    RECITALS

           WHEREAS,  contemporaneously  with the  execution and delivery of this
Agreement,  Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of December 7, 1999 (the "Merger Agreement"); and

           WHEREAS, as an inducement to the willingness of Grantee to enter into
the Merger  Agreement,  Grantee has  requested  that Issuer grant and Issuer has
agreed to grant Grantee the Option (as hereinafter defined).

           NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement, intending
to be legally bound, the parties hereto agree as follows:

           1.       Grant of Option.

                    (a)  Issuer  hereby  grants  to  Grantee  an  unconditional,
irrevocable  option (the "Option") to purchase,  subject to the terms hereof, up
to an aggregate of 569,997 fully paid and nonassessable  shares of common stock,
par value $1.00 per share, of Issuer ("Common Stock") at a price per share equal
to $24.00 (such price,  as adjusted in the manner set forth herein,  the "Option
Price");  provided,  however,  that in no event  shall the  number of shares for
which  this  Option  is  exercisable  exceed  19.9  percent  of the  issued  and
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock.  The number of shares of Common Stock that
may be received upon the exercise of the Option and the Option Price are subject
to adjustment as herein set forth.

                    (b) In the event that any additional  shares of Common Stock
are issued or  otherwise  become  outstanding  after the date of this  Agreement
(other  than  pursuant  to this  Agreement  and other than  pursuant to an event
described in section 5(a) hereof),  the number of shares of Common Stock subject
to the Option  shall be  increased so that,  after such  issuance,  such number,
together  with any shares of Common Stock  previously  issued  pursuant  hereto,
equals 19.9  percent of the number of shares  subject or issued  pursuant to the
Option.  Nothing  contained in this section 1(b) or elsewhere in this  Agreement
shall be deemed to authorize  Issuer to issue shares in breach of any  provision
of the Merger Agreement.

                                       1


<PAGE>



           2.       Exercise of Option.

                    (a) The Holder (as  hereinafter  defined)  may  exercise the
Option, in whole or part, at any time after the occurrence of a Triggering Event
(as  hereinafter  defined),  provided  that such  Triggering  Event  shall  have
occurred  prior  to  the  occurrence  of  an  Exercise   Termination  Event  (as
hereinafter  defined),  and  provided  further  that  the  date of the  Holder's
exercise of the Option precedes the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event.
Each of the following shall be an "Exercise  Termination  Event": (i) occurrence
of the Effective  Time (as such term is defined in the Merger  Agreement);  (ii)
termination of the Merger  Agreement in accordance  with the provisions  thereof
except (each of the following exceptions being hereinafter collectively referred
to as an "Excepted  Termination")  a termination by Grantee  pursuant to section
11.2(b)  of the Merger  Agreement  as a result of a breach by Issuer of the type
described in such  provision,  or a  termination  by Issuer  pursuant to section
11.2(c)(iii) of the Merger Agreement; or (iii) the passage of 18 months (or such
longer period as provided in section 10) after an Excepted Termination. The term
"Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of the Option.

                    (b)  The  term  "Triggering  Event"  shall  mean  any of the
following events or transactions occurring on or after the date hereof:

                         (i)   Issuer  or  Pioneer   American   Bank,   National
Association  (the "Bank  Subsidiary"),  without having received  Grantee's prior
written  consent,  shall  have  entered  into  an  agreement  to  engage  in  an
Acquisition  Transaction  (as defined  below) with any person (the term "person"
for purposes of this Agreement  having the meaning  assigned thereto in sections
3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder) other than Grantee or
any of its subsidiaries (each a "Grantee Subsidiary");

                         (ii)  Any person other than the Grantee or any  Grantee
Subsidiary  shall have  acquired  beneficial  ownership  or the right to acquire
beneficial  ownership of 10 percent or more of the outstanding  shares of Common
Stock (the term "beneficial ownership" for purposes of this Agreement having the
meaning  assigned thereto in section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations  thereunder),  or,  to the  extent  any such  person  has  currently
acquired beneficial ownership or the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 10
percent or more of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  such person shall
have acquired beneficial  ownership or the right to acquire beneficial ownership
of any additional shares of Common Stock;


                         (iii) The  shareholders  of  Issuer shall have voted on
and failed to approve the Merger  Agreement at a meeting which has been held for
that purpose or any adjournment or postponement  thereof,  or such meeting shall
not have been held in  violation  of the  Merger  Agreement  or shall  have been
canceled prior to termination of the Merger  Agreement if, prior to such meeting
(or if such meeting shall not have been held or shall have been canceled,  prior
to such  termination),  it shall have been  publicly  announced  that any person
(other  than  Grantee  or any  Grantee  Subsidiary)  shall have made a bona fide
proposal to engage in an Acquisition Transaction;

                                       2


<PAGE>



                         (iv)    The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Issuer (the
"Issuer  Board")  shall have  withdrawn or modified (or publicly  announced  its
intention  to  withdraw  or  modify)  in  any  manner  adverse  to  Grantee  its
recommendation   that  the  shareholders  of  Issuer  approve  the  transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement,  or Issuer or the Issuer Board or the Bank
Subsidiary  or  the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Bank  Subsidiary  shall  have
authorized,  recommended  or proposed (or publicly  announced  its  intention to
authorize,  recommend  or  propose)  an  agreement  to engage in an  Acquisition
Transaction  with any person  other than Grantee or any Grantee  Subsidiary,  or
that the  shareholders of Issuer approve or accept any  Acquisition  Transaction
other than as contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

                         (v)     Any  person  other  than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary shall have made a bona fide proposal to Issuer or its shareholders to
engage in an Acquisition  Transaction and such proposal shall have been publicly
announced;

                         (vi)    Any person other than Grantee  or  any  Grantee
Subsidiary shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange  Commission ("SEC")
a registration  statement or tender offer  materials with respect to a potential
exchange or tender offer that would constitute an Acquisition Transaction;

                         (vii)   Issuer  shall  have  breached  any  covenant or
obligation  contained in the Merger  Agreement in anticipation of engaging in an
Acquisition  Transaction  with  any  person  other  than  Grantee  or a  Grantee
Subsidiary,  and following  such breach,  Grantee would be entitled to terminate
the Merger Agreement pursuant to section 11.2(b) of the Merger Agreement; or

                         (viii)  any  person  other  than Grantee or any Grantee
Subsidiary shall have filed an application or notice with the Board of Governors
of the Federal  Reserve  System (the "Board of  Governors")  or other federal or
state bank regulatory or antitrust  authority,  which  application or notice has
been  accepted  for  processing,  for  approval  to  engage  in  an  Acquisition
Transaction.

                    (c)  The  term  "Acquisition  Transaction"  shall  mean  any
transaction  under which a person  proposes to or will acquire a majority of the
stock of, merge or consolidate  with, or acquire all or substantially all of the
assets  of the  Issuer  or the  Bank  Subsidiary,  or  otherwise  engage  in any
substantially similar transaction with the Issuer or the Bank Subsidiary.

                    (d) Issuer shall notify Grantee in writing of the occurrence
of any Triggering Event promptly after becoming aware of the occurrence thereof,
it being  understood  that the  giving of such  notice by Issuer  shall not be a
condition to the right of the Holder to exercise the Option.

                    (e) In the event that the Holder is  entitled  to and wishes
to  exercise  the Option  (or any  portion  thereof),  it shall send to Issuer a
written notice (the date of which being herein referred to as the "Notice Date")
specifying  (i) the total  number of shares it will  purchase  pursuant  to such
exercise  and (ii) a place and date not  earlier  than three  business  days nor
later  than 60  business  days  from the  Notice  Date for the  closing  of such
purchase (the "Closing"); provided, that

                                       3


<PAGE>



if prior  notification  to or  approval of the Board of  Governors  or any other
federal or state  regulatory  or antitrust  authority is required in  connection
with such  purchase,  the Holder  shall  promptly  file the  required  notice or
application for approval, shall promptly notify Issuer of such filing, and shall
expeditiously  process the same, and the period of time that otherwise would run
pursuant to this sentence  shall run instead from the date on which any required
notification periods have expired or been terminated or such approval shall have
been obtained and any requisite waiting period or periods shall have passed. Any
exercise  of the  Option  shall be deemed to occur on the Notice  Date  relating
thereto.

                    (f) At the Closing,  the Holder shall (i) pay the Issuer the
aggregate  purchase price for the shares of Common Stock  purchased  pursuant to
the exercise of the Option in immediately  available funds by wire transfer to a
bank account  designated by Issuer and (ii) present and surrender this Agreement
to Issuer at its  principal  executive  offices,  provided  that the  failure or
refusal of the Issuer to designate  such a bank  account or accept  surrender of
this Agreement shall not preclude the Holder from exercising the Option.

                    (g) At any  Closing,  simultaneously  with the  delivery  of
immediately  available  funds as provided in  subsection  (f) of this section 2,
Issuer shall deliver to the Holder a certificate  or  certificates  representing
the number of shares of Common Stock  purchased by the Holder and, if the Option
shall have been  exercised in part only, a new Option  evidencing  the rights of
the Holder thereof to purchase the balance of the shares purchasable  hereunder.
Certificates  for shares of Common Stock purchased by the Holder hereunder shall
be  delivered  by  Issuer  free and  clear of all  liens,  claims,  charges  and
encumbrances of any kind, and shall be in such  denominations  and in such names
designated by the Holder.

                    (h)  Certificates  for Common  Stock  delivered at a Closing
hereunder  may  be  endorsed   with  a   restrictive   legend  that  shall  read
substantially as follows:

                    "The  transfer of the shares  represented  by this
                    certificate is subject to certain provisions of an
                    agreement,  dated as of December 7, 1999,  between
                    the  registered  holder  hereof  and Issuer and to
                    resale  restrictions  arising under the Securities
                    Act of 1933, as amended.  A copy of such agreement
                    is on file at the  principal  office of Issuer and
                    will be  provided  to the  holder  hereof  without
                    charge upon receipt by Issuer of a written request
                    therefor."

It is understood and agreed that (i) the reference to the resale restrictions of
the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  in the above
legend shall be removed by delivery of  substitute  certificate(s)  without such
reference  if the Holder or any Owner (as  defined  below),  as the case may be,
shall have  delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff of the SEC, or
an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory to Issuer,
to the effect that such legend is not required  for  purposes of the  Securities
Act; (ii) the reference to the  provisions of this Agreement in the above legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if the shares have been sold or transferred in compliance with the provisions of
this

                                  4


<PAGE>



Agreement  and under  circumstances  that do not require the  retention  of such
references in the  reasonable  opinion of counsel to the Holder or any Owner (as
defined below), as the case may be; and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its
entirety  if the  conditions  in the  preceding  clauses  (i) and  (ii) are both
satisfied.  In addition, such certificates shall bear any other legend as may be
required by law.

                    (i) Upon the giving by the  Holder to Issuer of the  written
notice of  exercise  of the Option  provided  for under  subsection  (e) of this
section  2 and the  tender  of the  applicable  purchase  price  in  immediately
available  funds,  the Holder  shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the
shares of Common Stock  issuable upon such  exercise,  notwithstanding  that the
stock  transfer  books of  Issuer  shall  then be  closed  or that  certificates
representing such shares of Common Stock shall not then be actually delivered to
the Holder.  Issuer shall pay all expenses,  and any and all federal,  state and
local taxes and other charges that may be payable in connection with the initial
preparation,  issue and delivery of stock  certificates  under this section 2 in
the name of the Holder or its assignee, transferee or designee.

           3.       Covenants of Issuer.

           Issuer  agrees:  (i) that it shall at all times  maintain,  free from
preemptive  rights,  sufficient  authorized  but unissued or treasury  shares of
Common   Stock  so  that  the  Option  may  be  exercised   without   additional
authorization  of  Common  Stock  after  giving  effect  to all  other  options,
warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii)
that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation,
merger,  dissolution or sale of assets,  or by any other voluntary act, avoid or
seek  to  avoid  the   observance  of  performance  of  any  of  the  covenants,
stipulations  or conditions to be observed or performed  hereunder by Issuer (it
being  agreed  that this clause (ii) shall not be deemed to prohibit or restrict
Issuer from engaging in one or more  transactions  contemplated  by section 8(a)
hereof  if the  provisions  of  section  8  hereof  shall  be  complied  with in
connection with each such transaction); (iii) promptly to take all action as may
from time to time be  required  (including  (x)  complying  with all  applicable
premerger  notification,  reporting and waiting period requirements specified in
15 U.S.C.  section 18a and  regulations  promulgated  thereunder  and (y) in the
event that, under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, or any other
applicable  federal or state  banking  law,  prior  notice to or approval of the
Board of  Governors  or any  other  federal  or state  regulatory  authority  is
necessary before the Option may be exercised,  cooperating fully with the Holder
in preparing such  applications or notices and providing such information to the
Board of Governors or such other federal or state  regulatory  authority as they
may  require)  in order to permit the Holder to  exercise  the Option and Issuer
duly and effectively to issue shares of Common Stock pursuant  hereto;  and (iv)
promptly to take all action  provided  in sections 5 and 8 as and when  required
pursuant to such sections.

           4.       Exchangeability.

           This  Agreement  (and the Option  granted  hereby) are  exchangeable,
without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation and surrender of
this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements providing
for Options of different denominations entitling the Holder

                                  5


<PAGE>



thereof to purchase, on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are
set forth  herein,  in the  aggregate  the same number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include
any  Agreements  and related  Options for which this  Agreement  (and the Option
granted hereby) may be exchanged.  Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence reasonably
satisfactory  to it of the  loss,  theft,  destruction  or  mutilation  of  this
Agreement,  and (in the  case of  loss,  theft  or  destruction)  of  reasonably
satisfactory  indemnification,  and  upon  surrender  and  cancellation  of this
Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like
tenor and date in  substitution  for the lost,  stolen,  destroyed  or mutilated
Agreement.

           5.       Adjustment.

           In addition to the adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock
that are  purchasable  upon exercise of the Option pursuant to section 1 of this
Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the
Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment  from time to time as
provided in this section 5.

                    (a) In the  event of any  change  in,  or  distributions  in
respect of, the Common Stock by reason of stock dividends,  split-ups,  mergers,
recapitalizations,  reclassifications,  combinations, subdivisions, exchanges of
shares or the like,  the type and number of shares of Common  Stock  purchasable
upon exercise hereof shall be appropriately  adjusted and proper provision shall
be made so that, in the event that the number of shares of Common Stock that are
issued or issuable is to be increased or  decreased  (other than  pursuant to an
exercise  of the  Option),  the  number of shares of Common  Stock  that  remain
subject to the Option shall be increased  or  decreased,  as the case may be, so
that,  after such issuance and together  with shares of Common Stock  previously
issued  pursuant to the exercise of the Option (as adjusted on account of any of
the foregoing changes in the Common Stock), such number is equal to 19.9 percent
of the number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding.

                    (b) Whenever    the   number  of  shares  of  Common   Stock
purchasable  upon exercise hereof is adjusted as provided in this section 5, the
Option Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Option Price immediately prior
to the  adjustment  by a fraction,  the numerator of which shall be equal to the
number of shares of Common Stock  purchasable  prior to the  adjustment  and the
denominator  of which  shall be equal to the  number of  shares of Common  Stock
purchasable after the adjustment.

           6.       Registration of Option Shares.

           Upon the occurrence of the first  Triggering  Event that occurs prior
to an  Exercise  Termination  Event,  Issuer  shall,  at the  request of Grantee
delivered from time to time (but not more frequently than once every six months)
after  such  Triggering  Event  (whether  on its own  behalf or on behalf of any
subsequent  Holder of this  Option (or part  thereof)  or any Owner (as  defined
below) of any of the shares of Common Stock issued  pursuant  hereto),  promptly
prepare, file and keep current a registration statement under the Securities Act
covering any shares issued and issuable

                                  6


<PAGE>



pursuant to this Option and shall use its reasonable  best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective and remain current in order to permit
the sale or other disposition of any shares of Common Stock issued upon total or
partial exercise of this Option ("Option Shares") in accordance with any plan of
disposition requested by Grantee. Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such  registration  statement  promptly  to become  effective  and then to
remain  effective  for such  period  not in excess of 180 days from the day such
registration  statement  first becomes  effective or such shorter time as may be
reasonably  necessary to effect such sales or other dispositions.  Grantee shall
have the right to demand no more than two such registrations.  Issuer shall bear
the  cost  of  such  registrations  (including,  but not  limited  to,  Issuer's
attorneys'  fees,  printing  costs and filing  fees),  except  for  underwriting
discounts  or  commissions,  brokers'  fees and the fees  and  disbursements  of
Grantee's  counsel related thereto.  The foregoing  notwithstanding,  if, at the
time of any request by Grantee  for  registration  of Option  Shares as provided
above, Issuer is in registration with respect to an underwritten public offering
by Issuer of shares of Common  Stock,  and if in the good faith  judgment of the
managing underwriter or managing underwriters, or, if none, the sole underwriter
or underwriters,  of such offering the offer and sale of the Option Shares would
interfere with the successful marketing of the shares of Common Stock offered by
Issuer,  the number of Option Shares otherwise to be covered in the registration
statement contemplated hereby may be reduced, provided,  however, that after any
such  required  reduction  the number of Option  Shares to be  included  in such
offering for the account of the Holder shall  constitute  at least 25 percent of
the total number of shares to be sold by Holder and Issuer in the aggregate; and
provided further, however, that if such reduction occurs, then Issuer shall file
a registration  statement for the balance as promptly as practicable  thereafter
as to which no reduction  pursuant to this section 6 shall be permitted or occur
and the Holder shall thereafter be entitled to one additional registration. Each
such Holder shall  provide all  information  reasonably  requested by Issuer for
inclusion in any registration  statement to be filed hereunder.  If requested by
any such Holder in  connection  with such  registration,  Issuer  shall become a
party to any  underwriting  agreement  relating to the sale of such shares,  but
only  to  the  extent  of  obligating  itself  in  respect  of  representations,
warranties,  indemnities  and  other  agreements  customarily  included  in such
underwriting  agreements  for Issuer.  Upon  receiving  any  request  under this
section 6 from any  Holder,  Issuer  agrees to send a copy  thereof to any other
person known to Issuer to be entitled to registration  rights under this section
6, in each case by promptly mailing the same, postage prepaid, to the address of
record of the persons entitled to receive such copies.  Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary  contained herein, in no event shall the number of registrations
that Issuer is obligated to effect be increased by reason of the fact that there
shall be more than one Holder as a result of any  assignment or division of this
Agreement.

           7.       Option Repurchase.

                    (a) At any time after the  occurrence of a Repurchase  Event
(as defined  below),  (i) at the request of the  Holder,  delivered  prior to an
Exercise  Termination  Event (or such later  period as provided in section  10),
Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase the Option from the Holder at
a price (the  "Option  Repurchase  Price")  equal to the amount by which (A) the
Market/Offer  Price (as defined below) exceeds (B) the Option Price,  multiplied
by the number of shares for which this Option may then be exercised  and (ii) at
the request of the owner of Option

                                  7


<PAGE>



Shares  from  time  to  time  (the  "Owner"),  delivered  prior  to an  Exercise
Termination  Event (or such later period as provided in section 10),  Issuer (or
any successor  thereto) shall  repurchase  such number of the Option Shares from
the Owner as the Owner shall designate at a price (the "Option Share  Repurchase
Price")  equal to the  Market/Offer  Price  multiplied  by the  number of Option
Shares so designated.  The term  "Market/Offer  Price" shall mean the highest of
(i) the highest price per share of Common Stock paid by any person that acquires
beneficial ownership of 50 percent or more of the then outstanding Common Stock,
(ii) the price per share of Common Stock to be paid by any third party  pursuant
to an agreement  with Issuer entered into after the date hereof and prior to the
date the Holder gives notice of the  required  repurchase  of this Option or the
Owner gives notice of the required  repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may
be,  (iii) the  highest  closing  price for  shares of Common  Stock  within the
six-month period  immediately  preceding the date the Holder gives notice of the
required  repurchase  of this Option or the Owner gives  notice of the  required
repurchase of Option Shares,  as the case may be, or (iv) in the event of a sale
of all or any substantial  part of the Issuer's or Bank  Subsidiary's  assets or
deposits,  the sum of the net price paid in such sale of such assets or deposits
and the current  market  value of the  remaining  net assets of Issuer or Issuer
Subsidiary  as  determined by a nationally  recognized  investment  banking firm
selected  by the  Holder  or the  Owner,  as the  case  may be,  and  reasonably
acceptable to Issuer,  divided by the number of shares of Common Stock of Issuer
outstanding at the time of such sale on a  fully-diluted  basis.  In determining
the  Market/Offer  Price,  the value of  consideration  other than cash shall be
determined by a nationally  recognized  investment  banking firm selected by the
Holder or Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to Issuer.

                    (b) The  Holder  or any  Owner,  as the  case  may  be,  may
exercise  its right to  require  Issuer to  repurchase  the Option or any Option
Shares pursuant to this section 7 by surrendering for such purpose to Issuer, at
its  principal  office,  a copy of this  Agreement  or  certificates  for Option
Shares,  as applicable,  accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that
the  Holder  or the  Owner,  as the case may be,  elects  to  require  Issuer to
repurchase  this  Option  and/or  the  Option  Shares  in  accordance  with  the
provisions  of this  section 7. As  promptly  as  practicable,  and in any event
within five business days after the surrender of the Option and/or  certificates
representing  Option  Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices  relating
thereto,  Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder the Option
Repurchase  Price and/or to the Owner the Option Share Repurchase Price therefor
or the portion thereof that Issuer is not then prohibited  under applicable law,
regulation and administrative policy from so delivering.

                    (c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable
law  or  regulation,   or  as  a  consequence  of  administrative  policy,  from
repurchasing  the  Option  and/or  the  Option  Shares  in  full,  Issuer  shall
immediately  so notify the Holder  and/or  the Owner and  thereafter  deliver or
cause to be delivered,  from time to time,  to the Holder  and/or the Owner,  as
appropriate,  the portion of the Option  Repurchase  Price and the Option  Share
Repurchase Price, respectively, that it is no longer prohibited from delivering,
within  five  business  days  after  the date on which  Issuer  is no  longer so
prohibited;  provided,  however,  that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a
notice of  repurchase  pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section 7 is prohibited
under  applicable  law or  regulation,  or as a  consequence  of  administrative
policy,  from  delivering to the Holder and/or the Owner,  as  appropriate,  the
Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price,

                                  8


<PAGE>



respectively,  in full (and Issuer hereby  undertakes to use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain all required  regulatory  and legal  approvals and to file any
required  notices as promptly as  practicable  in order to accomplish  each such
repurchase),  the Holder or Owner may revoke  its  notice of  repurchase  of the
Option  and/or  Option  Shares,  either  in  whole  or  to  the  extent  of  the
prohibition.  If the Holder or Owner  revokes  its notice of  repurchase  of the
Option and/or the Option Shares in its entirety,  Issuer shall promptly  deliver
to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate,  all documents  delivered to the
Issuer by the Holder and/or Owner under  paragraph (b) of this section 7. If the
Holder or Owner  revokes its notice of  repurchase  of the Option  and/or Option
Shares to the extent of the  prohibition to which the Issuer is subject,  Issuer
shall promptly (i) deliver to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate,  that
portion of the Option  Repurchase Price and/or the Option Share Repurchase Price
that Issuer is not prohibited from delivering, and (ii) deliver, as appropriate,
either (A) to the Holder, a new Agreement  evidencing the right of the Holder to
purchase  that  number of shares of Common  Stock  obtained by  multiplying  the
number  of shares of Common  Stock  for  which  the  surrendered  Agreement  was
exercisable  at the time of delivery of the notice of  repurchase by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the Option  Repurchase  Price less the portion thereof
theretofore  delivered to the Holder and the  denominator of which is the Option
Repurchase Price and/or (B) to the Owner, a certificate for the Option Shares it
is then so prohibited from repurchasing.  If an Exercise Termination Event shall
have occurred  prior to the date of the notice by Issuer  described in the first
sentence  of this  subsection  (c), or shall be  scheduled  to occur at any time
before the  expiration  of a period ending on the thirtieth day after such date,
the Holder  shall  nonetheless  have the right to exercise  the Option until the
expiration of such 30-day period.

                    (d) For  purposes of this  section 7, a  "Repurchase  Event"
shall be deemed to have  occurred  upon the  occurrence  of any of the following
events or transactions after the date hereof:

                        (i)  the acquisition by  any  person (other than Grantee
or any Grantee  Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 50 percent or more of the
then outstanding Common Stock; or

                        (ii) the consummation of any Acquisition  Transaction by
any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary.

           8.       Conversion or Exchange of Option.

                    (a) In the  event  that,  prior to an  Exercise  Termination
Event,  Issuer  or  Bank  Subsidiary  shall  enter  into  an  agreement  (i)  to
consolidate  with or merge  into any  person,  other  than  Grantee or a Grantee
Subsidiary,  or engage in a plan of exchange with any person, other than Grantee
or a Grantee  Subsidiary,  and  Issuer or the Bank  Subsidiary  shall not be the
continuing  or  surviving  corporation  of such  consolidation  or merger or the
acquirer in such plan of exchange, (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee
or a Grantee  Subsidiary,  to merge  into  Issuer or the Bank  Subsidiary  or be
acquired by Issuer or the Bank  Subsidiary  in a plan of exchange  and Issuer or
the  Bank  Subsidiary   shall  be  the  continuing  or  surviving  or  acquiring
corporation,  but, in connection with such merger or plan of exchange,  the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be

                                       9


<PAGE>



changed into or exchanged  for stock or other  securities of any other person or
cash or any other property or the then outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall
after  such  merger or plan of  exchange  represent  less than 50 percent of the
outstanding shares and share equivalents of the merged or acquiring company,  or
(iii) to sell or otherwise  transfer all or substantially all of the Issuer's or
the Bank Subsidiary's assets or deposits to any person,  other than Grantee or a
Grantee  Subsidiary,  then, and in each such case, the agreement  governing such
transaction  shall make  proper  provision  so that the Option  shall,  upon the
consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein,  be  converted  into,  or  exchanged  for,  an option  (the  "Substitute
Option"), at the election of the Holder, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation
(as  hereinafter  defined),  or (y)  any  person  that  controls  the  Acquiring
Corporation.

                    (b)     The following terms have the meanings indicated:

                            (i)    "Acquiring  Corporation"  shall  mean (i) the
continuing or surviving  person of a consolidation  or merger with Issuer or the
Bank  Subsidiary  (if  other  than  Issuer  or the  Bank  Subsidiary),  (ii) the
acquiring  person in a plan of exchange in which  Issuer or Bank  Subsidiary  is
acquired,  (iii)  the  Issuer  or the Bank  Subsidiary  in a  merger  or plan of
exchange in which Issuer or the Bank  Subsidiary is the  continuing or surviving
or acquiring  person,  and (iv) the  transferee of all or  substantially  all of
Issuer's or the Bank Subsidiary's assets or deposits.

                            (ii)   "Substitute  Common  Stock"  shall  mean  the
common stock issued by the issuer of the Substitute  Option upon exercise of the
Substitute Option.

                            (iii)  "Assigned Value"  shall mean the Market/Offer
Price, as defined in section 7.

                            (iv)   "Average  Price"  shall  mean   the   average
closing price of a share of the Substitute Common Stock for one year immediately
preceding the consolidation, merger or sale in question; provided that if Issuer
is the issuer of the Substitute Option, the Average Price shall be computed with
respect to a share of common stock  issued by the person  merging into Issuer or
the Bank  Subsidiary or by any company  which  controls or is controlled by such
person, as the Holder may elect.

                    (c) The  Substitute  Option shall have the same terms as the
Option,  provided that if the terms of the Substitute  Option cannot,  for legal
reasons,  be the same as the Option,  such terms shall be as similar as possible
and in no event less  advantageous  to the Holder.  The issuer of the Substitute
Option shall also enter into an agreement with the then Holder or Holders of the
Substitute Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement (after giving
effect for such purpose to the provisions of section 9), which  agreement  shall
be applicable to the Substitute Option.

                    (d) The  Substitute  Option  shall be  exercisable  for such
number of shares of  Substitute  Common Stock as is equal to the Assigned  Value
multiplied  by the  number of shares of Common  Stock for which the  Option  was
exercisable immediately prior to the event described in

                                       10


<PAGE>



the first sentence of section 8(a),  divided by the Average Price.  The exercise
price of the Substitute  Option per share of Substitute  Common Stock shall then
be equal to the Option Price  multiplied  by a fraction,  the numerator of which
shall be the  number  of  shares of  Common  Stock  for  which  the  Option  was
exercisable  immediately  prior to the event  described in the first sentence of
section  8(a) and the  denominator  of which  shall be the  number  of shares of
Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.

                    (e)  In  no  event,   pursuant  to  any  of  the   foregoing
paragraphs,  shall  the  Substitute  Option  be  exercisable  for more than 19.9
percent of the shares of Substitute  Common Stock  outstanding prior to exercise
of the  Substitute  Option.  In the event that the  Substitute  Option  would be
exercisable for more than the maximum number of the shares of Substitute  Common
Stock permitted by the preceding sentence but for this clause (e), the issuer of
the Substitute Option (the "Substitute Option Issuer") shall make a cash payment
to Holder equal to the excess of (i) the value of the Substitute  Option without
giving  effect to the  limitation  in this clause (e) over (ii) the value of the
Substitute Option after giving effect to the limitation in this clause (e). This
difference in value shall be determined  by a nationally  recognized  investment
banking firm selected by the Holder and reasonably acceptable to the Issuer.

                    (f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in
subsection (a) of this section 8 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person
that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder.

           9.       Substitute Option Repurchase.

                    (a) At the  request of the holder of the  Substitute  Option
(the "Substitute Option Holder"),  the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase
the  Substitute  Option  from  the  Substitute  Option  Holder  at a price  (the
"Substitute  Option  Repurchase  Price")  equal to the  amount  by which (i) the
Highest Closing Price (as hereinafter  defined)  exceeds (ii) the exercise price
of the  Substitute  Option,  multiplied  by the  number of shares of  Substitute
Common Stock for which the Substitute  Option may then be exercised,  and at the
request  of the owner (the  "Substitute  Share  Owner") of shares of  Substitute
Common Stock (the  "Substitute  Shares"),  the  Substitute  Option  Issuer shall
repurchase the Substitute  Shares at a price (the  "Substitute  Share Repurchase
Price")  equal  to  the  Highest  Closing  Price  multiplied  by the  number  of
Substitute Shares so designated. The term "Highest Closing Price" shall mean the
highest closing price for shares of Substitute Common Stock within the six-month
period immediately  preceding the date the Substitute Option Holder gives notice
of the required  repurchase of the  Substitute  Option or the  Substitute  Share
Owner  gives  notice  of  the  required  repurchase  of  Substitute  Shares,  as
applicable.

                    (b) The  Substitute  Option Holder or any  Substitute  Share
Owner,  as the case may be, may  exercise its  respective  rights to require the
Substitute  Option Issuer to repurchase the Substitute  Option or any Substitute
Shares  pursuant  to this  section 9 by  surrendering  for such  purpose  to the
Substitute  Option  Issuer,  at its  principal  office,  the  agreement for such
Substitute  Option  (or in the  absence  of  such an  agreement,  a copy of this
Agreement) and/or  certificates for Substitute  Shares  accompanied by a written
notice or notices stating that the Substitute Option

                                       11


<PAGE>



Holder or the Substitute  Share Owner, as the case may be, elects to require the
Substitute  Option  Issuer  to  repurchase  the  Substitute  Option  and/or  the
Substitute  Shares in  accordance  with the  provisions  of this  section  9. As
promptly as  practicable,  and in any event within five  business days after the
surrender of the Substitute Option and/or certificates  representing  Substitute
Shares  and  the  receipt  of such  notice  of  notices  relating  thereto,  the
Substitute  Option  Issuer  shall  deliver  or  cause  to be  delivered  to  the
Substitute  Option Holder the Substitute  Option  Repurchase Price and/or to the
Substitute  Share Owner the Substitute  Share  Repurchase  Price therefor or the
portion thereof which the Substitute  Option Issuer is not then prohibited under
applicable law, regulation and administrative policy from so delivering.

                    (c) To the  extent  that the  Substitute  Option  Issuer  is
prohibited  under  applicable  law  or  regulation,   or  as  a  consequence  of
administrative  policy,  from  repurchasing  the  Substitute  Option  and/or the
Substitute  Shares in full,  the Substitute  Option Issuer shall  immediately so
notify the  Substitute  Option  Holder  and/or the  Substitute  Share  Owner and
thereafter  deliver  or  cause  to be  delivered,  from  time  to  time,  to the
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate,  the
portion of the Substitute  Option  Repurchase  Price and/or the Substitute Share
Repurchase  Price,   respectively,   which  it  is  no  longer  prohibited  from
delivering,  within five  business  days after the date on which the  Substitute
Option  Issuer  is no  longer  so  prohibited;  provided,  however,  that if the
Substitute Option Issuer is at any time after delivery of a notice of repurchase
pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section 9 prohibited  under  applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from delivering to the
Substitute Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate,  the
Substitute  Option  Repurchase Price and the Substitute Share Repurchase  Price,
respectively, in full (and the Substitute Option Issuer hereby undertakes to use
its  reasonable  best  efforts  to  obtain  all  required  regulatory  and legal
approvals and to file any required  notices as promptly as  practicable in order
to accomplish such  repurchase),  the Substitute Option Holder and/or Substitute
Share  Owner may revoke its notice of  repurchase  of the  Substitute  Option or
Substitute Shares,  either in whole or to the extent of the prohibition.  If the
Substitute  Option  Holder or  Substitute  Share  Owner  revokes  its  notice of
repurchase of the Substitute  Option and/or  Substitute  Shares in its entirety,
the  Substitute  Option Issuer shall promptly  deliver to the Substitute  Option
Holder  and/or  the  Substitute  Share  Owner,  as  appropriate,  all  documents
delivered to the Substitute Option Issuer by the Substitute Option Holder or the
Substitute  Share  Owner  under  paragraph  (b)  of  this  Paragraph  9.  If the
Substitute  Option  Holder or the  Substitute  Share Owner revokes its notice of
repurchase of the Substitute  Option and/or the Substitute  Shares to the extent
of the  prohibition  to which  the  Substitute  Option  Issuer is  subject,  the
Substitute  Option Issuer shall  promptly (i) deliver to the  Substitute  Option
Holder or the  Substitute  Share  Owner,  as  appropriate,  that  portion of the
Substitute Option Repurchase Price or the Substitute Share Repurchase Price that
the  Substitute  Option  Issuer  is not  prohibited  from  delivering,  and (ii)
deliver,  as  appropriate,  either (A) to the Substitute  Option  Holder,  a new
Substitute  Option  evidencing  the  right of the  Substitute  Option  Holder to
purchase  that  number of shares of the  Substitute  Common  Stock  obtained  by
multiplying  the  number  of  shares of  Substitute  Common  Stock for which the
surrendered  Substitute  Option was  exercisable  at the time of delivery of the
notice of  repurchase by a fraction,  the  numerator of which is the  Substitute
Option  Repurchase Price less the portion thereof  theretofore  delivered to the
Substitute  Option Holder and the denominator of which is the Substitute  Option
Repurchase Price

                                       12


<PAGE>


and/or (B) to the  Substitute  Share Owner,  a  certificate  for the  Substitute
Option  Shares  it is then  so  prohibited  from  repurchasing.  If an  Exercise
Termination  Event  shall have  occurred  prior to the date of the notice by the
Substitute Option Issuer described in the first sentence of this subsection (c),
or shall be  scheduled  to occur at any time before the  expiration  of a period
ending on the thirtieth day after such date, the Substitute  Option Holder shall
nevertheless  have  the  right to  exercise  the  Substitute  Option  until  the
expiration of such 30-day period.

           10.      Extension of Time Periods.

           The periods of  exercise of those  rights of any party other than the
Issuer and the Bank  Subsidiary  set forth in  sections  2, 6, 7, and 9 shall be
extended: (i) to the extent necessary to obtain all regulatory approvals for the
exercise of such rights (for so long as the  Holder,  Owner,  Substitute  Option
Holder or  Substitute  Share  Owner,  as the case may be, is using  commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain such regulatory approvals),  and for the expiration
of all  statutory  waiting  periods;  (ii) during the pendency of any  temporary
restraining order, injunction or other legal bar to exercise of such rights; and
(iii) to the extent  necessary to avoid  liability  under  section  16(b) of the
Exchange Act by reason of such exercise.

           11.      Representations and Warranties of Issuer.

           Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:

                    (a) Issuer has full corporate power and authority to execute
and deliver this  Agreement  and to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly and validly  authorized by the
Issuer Board on the date hereof and no other  corporate  proceedings on the part
of Issuer are  necessary  to  authorize  this  Agreement  or to  consummate  the
transactions so contemplated.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed
and delivered by Issuer.

                    (b)  Issuer  has taken  all  necessary  corporate  action to
authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue,  and at all times from the date
hereof through the  termination  of this Agreement in accordance  with its terms
will have reserved for issuance, upon the exercise of the Option, that number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the maximum  number of shares of Common Stock at
any time and from time to time  issuable  hereunder,  and all such shares,  upon
issuance pursuant thereto, will be duly authorized,  validly issued, fully paid,
nonassessable,  and will be  delivered  free and  clear  of all  claims,  liens,
encumbrances and security interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.

           12.      Assignment.

           Neither  of the  parties  hereto  may  assign  any of its  rights  or
obligations  under this Agreement or the Option  created  hereunder to any other
person without the express written  consent of the other party,  except that, in
the  event  a  Triggering  Event  shall  have  occurred  prior  to  an  Exercise
Termination Event, Grantee, subject to the express provisions hereof, may assign
in whole

                                       13


<PAGE>



or in part its  rights  and  obligations  hereunder  following  the date of such
Triggering Event;  provided,  however, that until the date 15 days following the
date on which the Board of Governors has approved an  application  by Grantee to
acquire the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option, Grantee may not assign
its  rights  under  the  Option  except  in  (i)  a  widely   dispersed   public
distribution,  (ii) a private placement in which no one party acquires the right
to  purchase  in excess of 2 percent  of the voting  shares of Issuer,  (iii) an
assignment to a single party (e.g., a broker or investment  banker) for the sole
purpose of conducting a widely dispersed public distribution on Grantee's behalf
or (iv) any other manner approved by the Board of Governors.

           13.      Further Assurances.

           Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its  reasonable  best  efforts to
make all filings with, and to obtain  consents of, all third parties  (including
but not limited to their respective  stockholders) and governmental  authorities
necessary  to  the  consummation  of  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this
Agreement.

           14.      Remedies.

           The parties  hereto  acknowledge  that damages would be an inadequate
remedy  for a breach of this  Agreement  by  either  party  hereto  and that the
obligations  of the parties  hereto shall be enforceable by either party through
injunctive or other  equitable  relief.  In connection  therewith,  both parties
waive the posting of any bond or similar requirement.

           15.      Validity.

           If any term,  provision,  covenant or  restriction  contained in this
Agreement  is held  by a court  or a  federal  or  state  regulatory  agency  of
competent  jurisdiction to be invalid,  void or unenforceable,  the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or  invalidated.  If for any reason such court or regulatory  agency  determines
that the Holder is not  permitted  to  acquire,  or Issuer is not  permitted  to
repurchase  pursuant  to  section 7, the full  number of shares of Common  Stock
provided in section 1(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to section 1(b) or section
5 hereof),  it is the express intention of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire
or to  require  Issuer  to  repurchase  such  lesser  number of shares as may be
permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.

           16.      Notices.

           All  notices,  requests,  claims,  demands  and other  communications
hereunder  shall be deemed to have been duly given when  delivered in the manner
and at the respective addresses of the parties set forth in section 12.13 of the
Merger Agreement.


                                       14


<PAGE>

           17.      Governing Law.

           This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
internal  laws of the State of Delaware,  without  regard to the conflict of law
principles thereof.

           18.      Execution.

           This Agreement may be executed in two or more  counterparts,  each of
which shall be deemed to be an original,  but all of which shall  constitute one
and the same agreement.

           19.      Expenses.

           Except as otherwise  expressly  provided herein,  each of the parties
hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf
in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereunder,  including fees and
expenses of its own financial consultants,  investment bankers,  accountants and
counsel.

           20.      Entire Agreement.

           Except  as  otherwise  expressly  provided  herein  or in the  Merger
Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder and  supersedes  all prior
arrangements or  understandings  in respect thereof,  written or oral. The terms
and  conditions of this  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assignees.
Nothing in this Agreement,  expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective  successors except as
assignees, any rights, remedies obligations or liabilities under or by reason of
this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

           21.      Meaning of Terms.

           Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein shall
have the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.

                                       15


<PAGE>



           IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  each of the parties had caused this Agreement to
be executed on its behalf by its officers  thereunto duly authorized,  all as of
the date first above written.

                                  NBT BANCORP INC.


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


                                  By:            JOHN D. ROBERTS
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                                 John D. Roberts
                                      Senior Vice President and Secretary


                                  PIONEER AMERICAN HOLDING
                                  COMPANY CORP.


                                  By:            JOHN W. REUTHER
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                                 John W. Reuther
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer


                                  By:           ANTOINETTE STICKER
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                                Antoinette Sticker
                                                    Secretary

                                       16

                                   EXHIBIT 2.4

                          FORM OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made and entered into this
[ ] day of [ ], 2000,  by and  between  JOHN W.  REUTHER  ("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 December 7, 1999 by and between  NBTB and Pioneer  American  Holding
Company  Corp.,  a  Pennsylvania  corporation  having  its  principal  office in
Carbondale,  Pennsylvania  ("PAHC"),  provides that PAHC will be merged with and
into NBTB (the "Merger");

         WHEREAS, Executive is the president and chief executive officer of PAHC
and president and chief  executive  officer of Pioneer  American Bank,  National
Association,  a national banking association which is a wholly-owned  subsidiary
of PAHC ("PA 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 agree  ments  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 PA Bank to employ  Executive,  and  Executive  hereby  agrees to
serve  as  president  and  chief  operating  officer  of  PA  Bank,  or  of  the
northeastern  Pennsylvania operations of any successor entity to PA Bank, during
the  Term  of  Employment.   Executive   shall  have  such   executive   duties,
responsibilities,  and  authority  as shall be set forth in the  bylaws of PA or
such successor  entity Bank on the date of this Agreement or as may otherwise be
determined by NBTB or by PA Bank or such  successor  entity.  During the Term of
Employment, Executive shall report directly to the chief

                                       1


<PAGE>


executive officer of NBTB.

                  (b) Contingent upon the occurrence of the Merger,  NBTB hereby
agrees to cause  Executive  to be reelected to the board of directors of PA Bank
for successive terms throughout the Term of Employment.

                  (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 PA Bank has been a party
prior  to the  date  of  this  Agreement  and  the  expansion  of  the  customer
relationships  of PA 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 PA Bank,  render services as an employee,  independent
contractor,  or otherwise,  whether or not compensated,  to any person or entity
other  than  PA 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;

                      (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:

                               (A) any willful or gross  misconduct by Executive
with respect to the business and affairs of NBTB or PA 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

                                       2


<PAGE>



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 PA 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 operating  officer of PA 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  president  and chief
operating officer of PA Bank, or of the northeastern  Pennsylvania operations of
any  successor  entity to PA 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:

                       (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(i)
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(d) hereof.

                                       3


<PAGE>



                  (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 third 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 PA Bank  with  respect  to
executive personnel as presently in effect or as they may be modified by PA 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(i)
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(d) hereof.

                  (d)  Any   provision   of  this  section  2  to  the  contrary
notwithstanding,  in the event that the  employment of Executive with NBTB or PA
Bank  is   terminated   in  any   situation   described  in  section  3  of  the
change-in-control  letter  agreement  dated [       ] 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(i)
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(d) hereof;
and

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

         3.       Compensation.  For the services to be performed  by  Executive
for PA  Bank  under  this  Agreement,  Executive  shall  be  compensated  in the
following manner:

                  (a)      Salary.  During the Term of Employment:

                           (i)   PA 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 PA Bank with respect to executive  personnel as presently in effect
or as they may be modified by PA Bank from time to time.

                                       4


<PAGE>



                           (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  PA  Bank,  or  of  the
northeastern  Pennsylvania  operations of any successor  entity to PA 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 PA Bank as of  September  30, 1999,  or
from such other insurance  carrier as shall be mutually  acceptable to Executive
and NBTB.

                  (c) Executive  Retirement Plan; Split Dollar  Agreement.  NBTB
shall assume and continue in effect the PA Bank Executive  Retirement Plan dated
October 25, 1988, but only to the extent that the same relates to Executive, and
the Split Dollar Agreement/Key Executive Equity Program dated February 15, 1994,
as  restated  April  16,  1999,  but  only to the  extent  the same  relates  to
Executive, 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.

                  (d)  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.

                  (e) Automobile. During the Term of Employment, Executive shall
be entitled to the use of an automobile  owned by PA 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
reimburse ment of expenses for business use in accordance with section 3(i).

                                       5


<PAGE>



                  (f)  Country  Club  Dues.   During  the  Term  of  Employment,
Executive shall be reimbursed for dues and  assessments  incurred in relation to
Executive's membership at [                 ].

                  (g)  Life  Insurance.  During  the  Term of  Employment,  life
insurance  paid by PA  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 September 30, 1999.

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

                  (i) 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.

         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  require  ments,  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 PA Bank or their
affiliates, and compositions,  ideas, plans, and methods belonging to or related
to the  affairs of NBTB or PA 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 PA
Bank or their affiliates,  any confidential business information obtained during
the course of his employment by PA Bank. The foregoing shall not be construed as
restricting  Executive from disclosing such information to the employees of NBTB
or PA Bank or their affiliates.

                  (b)  Executive  hereby  agrees that from the Commencement Date
until the second

                                       6


<PAGE>



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 the banking business other
than on behalf of NBTB or PA 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 PA Bank or their
affiliates)  engaged  in the  banking  business  in the  Market  Area,  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 PA 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).

                  (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 PA 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,  Lackawanna  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 PA Bank,  (ii) the  authorized  branches  of PA Bank as they may
exist  from time to time,  and (iii)  each  branch of a  depository  institution
affiliated with PA 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

                                       7


<PAGE>



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.

         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

                                       8


<PAGE>



If to Executive:

         Mr. John W. Reuther
         Four David Terrace
         Scranton, Pennsylvania  18505

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,  PA Bank  may  engage  in a  merger  or  similar
transaction  with an affiliated bank, in which case references in this Agreement
to PA 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 contem plated 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, PA Bank, and Executive relating to the subject matter
hereof. Any previous agreements or understandings  between the parties hereto or
between  Executive  and PA 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

                                       9


<PAGE>



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.

                    (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.

                                       10


<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 PA 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:
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                Daryl R. Forsythe
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer

                                     JOHN W. REUTHER

                                     -------------------------------------------

                                       11







                                   EXHIBIT 2.5

                       FORM OF CHANGE-IN-CONTROL AGREEMENT

                                       [_____________________], 2000

[___________________]
[___________________]
[___________________]

Dear Mr. [___________________]:

           NBT Bancorp Inc. (which, together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
NBT Bank,  National  Association,  LA Bank,  National  Association,  and Pioneer
American Bank, National Association,  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 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,  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.

           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.

                    (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

                                        1


<PAGE>


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,  your
obligations under this section 1(b) shall thereupon terminate.

           2. Term of  Agreement.  This  Agreement  shall  commence  on the date
hereof and shall  continue  in effect  until the third  anniversary  of the date
hereof; provided,  however, that commencing on the first anniversary of the date
hereof,  and  each  such  anniversary  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 auto matically 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), 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.  If your
employment  with the Company is terminated  without Cause by the Company or with
Good  Reason  by you,  then the  Company  shall  pay to you,  upon  demand,  the
following amounts (net of applicable payroll taxes):

                                        2


<PAGE>



                        (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.

                        (ii) As severance pay, an amount equal to the product of
your "Base  Amount"  multiplied  by the number [ ]. (1) As used in the  previous
sentence,  your "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,  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.

           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,  the Company shall pay you such amounts as are to be paid to you in
such circumstance under any written  employment  agreement in effect between you
and the Company or, if there be no such written employment  agreement in effect,
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 the
change in control occurs.  The Company shall have no further  obligations to you
under this Agreement.

- --------------
         (1)        [John W. Reuther:  insert "2.99."]
                    [Patricia A. Cobb:  insert "2."]
                    [James E. Jackson:  insert "2."]

                                        3


<PAGE>



           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
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 transfer consummated at the insistence of an

                                        4


<PAGE>



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 judg ment, 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

                                        5


<PAGE>



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.

                        (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 Agree ment; 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
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

                                        6


<PAGE>



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,
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

                                        7


<PAGE>



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
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

                                        8


<PAGE>



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.

           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.

                                          By:
                                             -----------------------------------

                                          Daryl R. Forsythe
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

AGREED TO:

- ---------------------------
        [______________]



                                        9

                                   EXHIBIT 2.6

                          SHAREHOLDERS VOTING AGREEMENT

                                December 7, 1999

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

Mesdames and Gentlemen:

           The undersigned  understands  that NBT Bancorp Inc.  ("NBTB") and its
affiliate,  Levon  Acquisition  Company  ("Newco"),  are about to enter  into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the  "Agreement")  with Pioneer  American  Holding
Company Corp. ("PAHC").  The Agreement provides for the merger of Newco with and
into PAHC (the  "First  Merger")  and the merger of PAHC with and into NBTB (the
"Second  Merger")  (the First  Merger and the Second  Merger  being  referred to
herein collectively as the "Merger") and the conversion of outstanding shares of
PAHC Common Stock into NBTB Common Stock and cash in lieu of  fractional  shares
in accordance with the formula therein set forth.

           In order to induce NBTB to enter into the Agreement, and intending to
be legally bound hereby, the undersigned,  subject to the conditions hereinafter
stated, represents,  warrants, and agrees that at the PAHC Shareholders' Meeting
contemplated  by  section  3.3  of  the  Agreement  (the  "Meeting"),   and  any
adjournment  thereof, the undersigned will, in person or by proxy, vote or cause
to be voted in favor of the  Agreement  and the Merger the shares of PAHC Common
Stock  beneficially  owned by the undersigned  individually or, to the extent of
the undersigned's  proportionate voting interest, jointly with other persons, as
well as, to the extent of the under signed's  proportionate voting interest, any
other  shares of PAHC  Common  Stock over which the  undersigned  may  hereafter
acquire beneficial  ownership in such capacities  (collectively,  the "Shares").
Subject to the final paragraph of this agreement, the undersigned further agrees
that he or she will use his or her best  efforts  to cause any  other  shares of
PAHC Common Stock over which he or she has or shares voting power to be voted in
favor of the Agreement and the Merger.

           The  undersigned  further  represents,   warrants,  and  agrees  that
beginning  upon the  authorization  and execution of the Agreement by PAHC until
the earlier of (i) the consummation of the Merger or (ii) the termination of the
Agreement in accordance with its terms,  the undersigned  will not,  directly or
indirectly:

           (a) solicit proxies or become a "participant" in a "solicitation" (as
such terms are defined in Regulation  14A under the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934) in  opposition  to the  Agreement  or the Merger or in  opposition  to the
recommendation of the majority of the directors of

                                       1


<PAGE>



PAHC with respect to any other matter related in any way to the Agreement or the
Merger,  or encourage or recommend to any shareholder of PAHC that he, she or it
vote in  opposition  to or abstain  from voting upon or not vote with respect to
the Agreement or the Merger.

           (b)  voluntarily  sell or otherwise  transfer  any of the Shares,  or
cause or permit any of the Shares to be sold or  otherwise  transferred  (i) for
the purpose of avoiding the obligations of the undersigned under this agreement,
or (ii) to any transferee unless such transferee  expressly agrees in writing to
be bound by the terms of this agreement in all events.

           It is understood and agreed that this agreement relates solely to the
capacity of the  undersigned as a shareholder or other  beneficial  owner of the
Shares  and does not  prohibit  the  undersigned,  if a member  of the  Board of
Directors  of PAHC,  from acting,  in his or her capacity as a director,  as the
undersigned  may determine to be appropriate in light of the  obligations of the
undersigned  as a director.  It is further  understood  and agreed that the term
"Shares" shall not include any securities  beneficially owned by the undersigned
as a trustee or fiduciary  for another  (unless such other person is  affiliated
with the undersigned or is bound by an agreement with NBTB substantially similar
to this agreement), and that this agreement is not in any way intended to affect
the exercise by the undersigned of the undersigned's fiduciary responsibility in
respect of any such securities.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                      (*)
                                                --------------------------------

Accepted and Agreed to:
NBT BANCORP INC.

By:
   ---------------------------

Title:
      ------------------------

- -------------
   (*)  [this form of agreement has been executed by each of RICHARD CHOJNOWSKI,
GENE E. GOLDENZIEL, MICHAEL M. MURPHY, JOSEPH G. NASSER, WILLIAM K. NASSER, SR.,
WILLIAM  K.  NASSER, JR., MARGARET L. O'CONNOR-FLETCHER, JOHN W. REUTHER, ELDORE
SEBASTIANELLI, and JOHN W. WALSKI]

                                       2


<PAGE>


Name of Shareholder:

        Shares of Common Stock of Pioneer American Holding Company Corp.
                               Beneficially Owned
                             As of December 7, 1999

  Name(s) of                                                        Number of
Record Owner(s)             Beneficial Ownership (2)                  Shares
- ---------------             ------------------------                  ------









- -------------
       (2)   For purposes of this Agreement,  shares are  beneficially  owned by
the  shareholder  named  above if held in any  capacity  other than a  fiduciary
capacity  (other  than a  revocable  living  trust  and other  than a  fiduciary
capacity  on behalf of a person who is  affiliated  with the  shareholder  or is
bound by an agreement with NBTB substantially  similar to this agreement) and if
the shareholder  named above has the power (alone or, in the case of shares held
jointly with his or her spouse,  together  with his or her spouse) to direct the
voting of such shares.

                                       3





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