SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 1, 1994     


                         FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION                   
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                   New York                               
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


               1-9861                           16-0968385                
      (Commission File Number)      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


           One M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York                     14240     
      (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip Code)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (716) 842-5445


                             (Not Applicable)                             
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)







      Item 5.  Other Events.


             On April 1, 1994, First Empire State Corporation ("First
      Empire") announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement
      with Ithaca Bancorp, Inc. ("Ithaca Bancorp"), Ithaca, New York,
      pursuant to which Ithaca Bancorp, a unitary savings and loan holding
      company, will be acquired by First Empire upon the satisfaction of a
      number of conditions.  Upon consummation of the transaction,
      Citizens Savings Bank, F.S.B. ("Citizens Savings Bank"), Ithaca
      Bancorp's savings bank subsidiary, will be merged into Manufacturers
      and Traders Trust Company, First Empire's commercial bank
      subsidiary.

             Citizens Savings Bank operates 12 banking offices in
      Tompkins, Cortland and Broome Counties which are centered in and
      around Ithaca and Binghamton, New York.  At December 31, 1993,
      Ithaca Bancorp reported approximately $447 million in assets and
      $333 million in deposits.  Ithaca Bancorp's common stock is
      registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act
      of 1934, as amended (File No. 0-18705), and additional information
      concerning Ithaca Bancorp is on file with the Securities and
      Exchange Commission.

             First Empire will pay the holders of Ithaca Bancorp's common
      stock a cash consideration of $19.00 per share, subject to
      adjustment based on the extent to which Ithaca Bancorp's combined
      stockholders' equity and allowance for loan losses fall outside of a
      specified range.  Assuming no adjustment, aggregate cash
      consideration would approximate $46.6 million.

             Consummation of the transaction is subject to a number of
      conditions, including regulatory approvals and the approval of
      Ithaca Bancorp's stockholders.  Subject to the satisfaction of all
      conditions, it is anticipated that the transaction will be completed
      in the fourth quarter of 1994.

             Contemporaneous with the execution and delivery of the
      definitive agreement described above, Ithaca Bancorp granted First
      Empire a stock option to acquire up to 19.9% of the shares of common
      stock of Ithaca under certain circumstances.  In addition, each of
      the directors and executive officers of Ithaca Bancorp, each in his
      capacity as a shareholder of Ithaca Bancorp, has agreed to vote or
      cause to be voted in favor of the acquisition of Ithaca Bancorp by
      First Empire all of his Ithaca Bancorp shares entitled to vote with
      respect thereto.

             The foregoing description of is qualified in its entirety by
      reference to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 31,
      1994 by and among First Empire, Scholar Merger Corporation and
      Ithaca Bancorp (Exhibit No. 99.1 hereto) and the Stock Option
      Agreement dated as of March 31, 1994 by and between Ithaca Bancorp
      and First Empire (Exhibit No. 99.2 hereto).  



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      Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.


      The following exhibits filed herewith or incorporated herein by
      reference.

      Exhibit No.

             99.1     Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 31,
                      1994 by and among First Empire State Corporation,
                      Scholar Merger Corporation and Ithaca Bancorp, Inc. 
                      Incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 1 to First
                      Empire State Corporation's Schedule 13D dated
                      March 31, 1994 in respect of its beneficial
                      ownership of the common stock of Ithaca Bancorp.

             99.2     Stock Option Agreement dated as of March 31, 1994 by
                      and between First Empire State Corporation and
                      Ithaca Bancorp, Inc.  Incorporated by reference to
                      Exhibit No. 2 to First Empire State Corporation's
                      Schedule 13D dated March 31, 1994 in respect of its
                      beneficial ownership of the common stock of Ithaca
                      Bancorp.

































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                                   SIGNATURES

             Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
      of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
      its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                           First Empire State Corporation



      Date:  April 12, 1994           By:  James L. Vardon              
                                           James L. Vardon
                                           Executive Vice President
                                           and Chief Financial Officer









































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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

      Exhibit No.                                                  Page
      No.

             99.1     Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as
                      of March 31, 1994 by and among First
                      Empire State Corporation, Scholar
                      Merger Corporation and Ithaca Bancorp,
                      Inc.  Incorporated by reference to
                      Exhibit No. 1 to First Empire State
                      Corporation's Schedule 13D dated
                      March 31, 1994 in respect of its
                      beneficial ownership of the common
                      stock of Ithaca Bancorp.

             99.2     Stock Option Agreement dated as of
                      March 31, 1994 by and between First
                      Empire State Corporation and Ithaca
                      Bancorp, Inc.  Incorporated by
                      reference to Exhibit No. 1 to First
                      Empire State Corporation's
                      Schedule 13D dated March 31, 1994 in
                      respect of its beneficial ownership of
                      the common stock of Ithaca Bancorp.






























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