NBT Bancorp Raises Quarterly Dividend 8.11% to $0.40

NBT Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ: NBTB) raised its quarterly dividend to $0.40 per share from $0.37, an increase of 8.11%. The shares traded ex-dividend on Sept. 1, 2026.

The higher distribution equates to an annualized dividend of $1.60 per share. Based on a share price of $50.31, the forward annual yield is 3.11%.

The increase extends NBT Bancorp’s dividend-growth streak to 13 consecutive years. That record spans varying interest-rate and credit environments, providing useful context for shareholders who follow the consistency of bank dividends.

Earnings and operating context

NBT announced the increase alongside its second-quarter results. The Norwich, New York-based financial holding company reported net income of $53.0 million, or $1.02 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Net interest income increased from both the previous quarter and the year-earlier period, aided by organic growth in interest-earning assets, lower funding costs and the Evans Bancorp acquisition, according to the company’s earnings release.

NBT also reported loan growth during the quarter and said its deposit mix improved from year-end, although deposits declined sequentially because of expected seasonal municipal outflows. Management did not identify a single operating factor behind the dividend increase. Chief Executive Scott Kingsley instead framed the action as part of the company’s commitment to long-term shareholder returns in the same release.

The company’s scale expanded through its acquisition of Evans Bancorp, completed in May 2025. That transaction added a Western New York presence, including operations in the Buffalo and Rochester markets, and broadened NBT’s regional banking franchise. NBT primarily operates through community bank NBT Bank and also owns retirement-plan administration and insurance businesses, according to its corporate announcement.

What it means for income investors

The new rate increases expected annual dividend income by $0.12 per share compared with the previous quarterly rate maintained for a full year. The dividend carries a safety score of 99 out of 100 and an A safety grade. Those measures, together with the 13-year growth streak, describe a record of distribution stability, though future dividends remain subject to board approval and the bank’s financial and regulatory position.