NBT Bancorp, Inc. announced that the Board of Directors declared a 2016 first-quarter cash dividend of $0.22 per share at a meeting held on January 25, 2016. The dividend will be paid on March 15, 2016 to shareholders of record as of March 1, 2016.

The company reported un-audited consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $19.1 million, up from $18.5 million for the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share was $0.43, up from $0.42 for the same period last year. Net interest income was $63.5 million, down $0.7 million from the previous quarter, and down $0.5 million from $64.0 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2014. The company reported total interest, fee and dividend income of $68.8 million compared to $69.4 million, income before income taxes of $29.6 million compared to $27.4 million, return on average assets of 0.93% compared to 0.94% and return on average equity of 8.58% compared to 8.46% for the last year.

For the year, the company reported net income of $76.4 million, up from $75.1 million from the prior year. Earnings per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2015 was $1.72, up from $1.69 for the prior year. Net interest income was $252.6 million in 2015, up $0.7 million from $251.9 million reported in 2014. The company reported total interest, fee and dividend income of $273.2 million compared to $275.1 million, income before income taxes of $116.6 million compared to $112.3 million, return on average assets of 0.96% compared to 0.97% and return on average equity of 8.70% compared to 8.84% for the last year. Book value per share as at December 31, 2015 was $20.31 compared to $19.69 per share as at December 31, 2014.

Net charge-offs were $7.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015, up from $5.1 million for the
prior quarter, and down from $9.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2014.