UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM 13F
                              FORM 13F COVER PAGE

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: 09/30/2008

Check here if Amendment       [ ]          Amendment Number:

This Amendment                [ ]          is a restatement

Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report:

Name:      TRUSTCO BANK
Address:   3 SARNOWSKI DRIVE
           GLENVILLE, NY 12302


13F File Number: 28-10307

The institutional investment Manager filing this report and the person by whom
it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is authorized
to submit it, that all information contained herein is true, correct and
complete, and that it is understood that all required items, statements,
schedules, lists, and tables, are considered integral parts of this form.

Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager:

Name: Richard W. Provost
Title: Trust Officer
Phone: 518.381.3699
Signature, Place, and Date of Signing:

/s/ Richard W. Prouost         Glenville, NY        10/7/2008
------------------------       ---------------      -----------
[Signature]                    [City,State]         [Date]


Report Type  (Check only one)
             [X]           13F HOLDINGS REPORT
             [ ]           13F COMBINATION REPORT

COLUMN TOTALS                                                   1053

AGGREGATE TOTAL                                               172731
FORM 13F SUMMARY PAGE

Report Summary:

Number of Other Included Managers:                              0

Form 13F Information Table Entry Total:                         153

Form 13F Information Table Value Total:                         $ 172,731
                                                               (thousands)

List of Other Included Managers:

Provide a numbered list of the name(s) and Form 13F file number(s) of all
institutional investment Managers with respect to which this report is filed,
other than the Manager filing this report.


NONE




                                                FORM 13F INFORMATION TABLE

                                                           VALUE   SHARES/ SH/ PUT/ INVSTMT  OTHER     VOTING AUTHORITY
        NAME OF ISSUER          TITLE OF CLASS    CUSIP   (x$1000) PRN AMT PRN CALL DSCRETN MANAGERS  SOLE  SHARED  NONE
------------------------------ ---------------- --------- -------- ------- --- ---- ------- -------- ------ ------ ------
                                                                                  
AT&T INC                       COMMON STOCK     00206R102     1407   50401 SH       DEFINED           49636      0    765
                                                00206R102      588   21057 SH       DEF/OTH           12551   8506      0
ABBOTT LABORATORIES            COMMON STOCK     2824100       2668   46344 SH       DEFINED           43944    500   1900
                                                2824100        468    8126 SH       DEF/OTH            4426   2800    900
AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC   COMMON STOCK     9158106        445    6500 SH       DEFINED            6500      0      0
ALCOA INC                      COMMON STOCK     13817101       415   18400 SH       DEFINED           18100    200    100
                                                13817101        18     800 SH       DEF/OTH             500      0    300
ALLSTATE CORP                  COMMON STOCK     20002101      1159   25126 SH       DEFINED           25126      0      0
                                                20002101       120    2608 SH       DEF/OTH            1170   1338    100
ALTRIA GROUP INC               COMMON STOCK     02209S103       17     870 SH       DEFINED             870      0      0
                                                02209S103      859   43300 SH       DEF/OTH           37800   5500      0
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO            COMMON STOCK     25816109       938   26482 SH       DEFINED           24782    200   1500
                                                25816109       302    8534 SH       DEF/OTH            6734   1800      0
ANHEUSER BUSCH COS INC         COMMON STOCK     35229103       786   12117 SH       DEFINED           10517    800    800
                                                35229103       208    3200 SH       DEF/OTH             200   3000      0
APPLIED MATERIALS INC          COMMON STOCK     38222105       318   21000 SH       DEFINED           17800      0   3200
                                                38222105         3     200 SH       DEF/OTH             200      0      0
AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING INC  COMMON STOCK     53015103       860   20125 SH       DEFINED           18625      0   1500
                                                53015103        56    1300 SH       DEF/OTH             500    700    100
BP PLC                         FOREIGN STOCK    55622104      1690   33688 SH       DEFINED           29388   3100   1200
                                                55622104       346    6904 SH       DEF/OTH            3100   3704    100
BAKER HUGHES INC               COMMON STOCK     57224107       183    3025 SH       DEFINED            3025      0      0
                                                57224107        24     400 SH       DEF/OTH             100      0    300
BANK OF AMERICA                COMMON STOCK     60505104       167    4768 SH       DEFINED            4768      0      0
CORP                                            60505104       515   14715 SH       DEF/OTH           12461   2254      0
THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY   COMMON STOCK     64058100       379   11623 SH       DEFINED           11623      0      0
INC
BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB CO        COMMON STOCK     110122108      111    5300 SH       DEFINED            1700   3600      0
                                                110122108      246   11800 SH       DEF/OTH            3200   8600      0
CGM                            MUTUAL           125325407      295   10394 SH       DEFINED           10394      0      0
                               FUND/STOCK
CATERPILLAR FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATE BONDS  14912L4C2      400  400000 PRN      DEF/OTH          400000      0      0
CHEVRON CORP NEW               COMMON STOCK     166764100     3363   40776 SH       DEFINED           37776    600   2400
                                                166764100     1142   13847 SH       DEF/OTH           11260   1787    800
CISCO SYSTEMS INC              COMMON STOCK     17275R102     1399   62019 SH       DEFINED           61169    600    250
                                                17275R102       64    2850 SH       DEF/OTH            1150   1200    500
CITIGROUP INC                  COMMON STOCK     172967101      940   45811 SH       DEFINED           44911    900      0
                                                172967101       97    4742 SH       DEF/OTH            1942   2400    400
CITIGROUP CAPITAL XVI          PREFERRED STOCK  17310L201      149   10000 SH       DEF/OTH           10000      0      0
COCA COLA CO                   COMMON STOCK     191216100     2864   54166 SH       DEFINED           53266    900      0
                                                191216100      661   12500 SH       DEF/OTH            8300   4200      0
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO           COMMON STOCK     194162103     2165   28728 SH       DEFINED           28228    500      0
                                                194162103      316    4200 SH       DEF/OTH             300   3400    500
CURTISS WRIGHT CORP            COMMON STOCK     231561101     2925   64352 SH       DEFINED           64352      0      0
DISNEY WALT CO                 COMMON STOCK     254687106     1455   47395 SH       DEFINED           44795    200   2400
                                                254687106      223    7250 SH       DEF/OTH            4150   3000    100
DOMINION RESOURCES INC VA NEW  COMMON STOCK     25746U109       29     686 SH       DEFINED             686      0      0
                                                25746U109      275    6418 SH       DEF/OTH            6418      0      0
DOW CHEMICAL CO                COMMON STOCK     260543103      320   10075 SH       DEFINED            9275    800      0
                                                260543103       93    2925 SH       DEF/OTH            1825   1100      0
DU PONT E I DE NEMOURS & CO    COMMON STOCK     263534109      792   19643 SH       DEFINED           16057   1686   1900
                                                263534109      135    3360 SH       DEF/OTH             710   2450    200
ECOLAB INC                     COMMON STOCK     278865100      488   10067 SH       DEFINED            9067      0   1000
                                                278865100       19     400 SH       DEF/OTH             200      0    200
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO            COMMON STOCK     291011104      337    8250 SH       DEFINED            7850      0    400
                                                291011104      114    2800 SH       DEF/OTH            1000   1800      0
EXELON CORP                    COMMON STOCK     30161N101      849   13550 SH       DEFINED           12950    600      0
                                                30161N101      131    2090 SH       DEF/OTH            1590    500      0
EXXON MOBIL CORP               COMMON STOCK     30231G102     9203  118505 SH       DEFINED          100557  14884   3064
                                                30231G102     2612   33632 SH       DEF/OTH           20556  11720   1356
FPL GROUP INC                  COMMON STOCK     302571104      604   12004 SH       DEFINED           12004      0      0
FIDELITY NEW YORK MUNICIPAL    MUTUAL           316337203      249   20855 SH       DEFINED           20855      0      0
                                                316337203      196   16465 SH       DEF/OTH           16465      0      0
FORTUNE BRANDS INC             COMMON STOCK     349631101      184    3200 SH       DEFINED            2800    200    200
                                                349631101      189    3300 SH       DEF/OTH            2800    400    100
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO            COMMON STOCK     369604103    17589  689746 SH       DEFINED          647197  31689  10860
                                                369604103     6940  272149 SH       DEF/OTH          198788  59961  13400
GENERAL MILLS INC              COMMON STOCK     370334104      497    7233 SH       DEFINED            6333    700    200
                                                370334104      295    4300 SH       DEF/OTH            4100    200      0
GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC            FOREIGN STOCK    37733W105      459   10566 SH       DEFINED            9966    600      0
                                                37733W105      187    4314 SH       DEF/OTH            3114   1100    100
HEWLETT PACKARD CO             COMMON STOCK     428236103      580   12547 SH       DEFINED           12547      0      0
                                                428236103        5     104 SH       DEF/OTH             104      0      0
HOME DEPOT INC                 COMMON STOCK     437076102      419   16199 SH       DEFINED           14599    100   1500
                                                437076102       93    3589 SH       DEF/OTH            2589    600    400
ITT CORP                       COMMON STOCK     450911102      228    4100 SH       DEFINED            4100      0      0
INTEL CORP                     COMMON STOCK     458140100     1904  101650 SH       DEFINED           99250      0   2400
                                                458140100      116    6200 SH       DEF/OTH            3200   2500    500
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS         COMMON STOCK     459200101     4488   38372 SH       DEFINED           37522    850      0
MACHINES
                                                459200101      450    3850 SH       DEF/OTH             500   3300     50
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO            COMMON STOCK     46625H100     1592   34084 SH       DEFINED           32856    964    264
                                                46625H100      636   13616 SH       DEF/OTH            9850   3766      0
JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC   COMMON STOCK     469814107      246    4525 SH       DEFINED            4425    100      0
                                                469814107       11     200 SH       DEF/OTH             200      0      0
JOHNSON & JOHNSON              COMMON STOCK     478160104     6485   93600 SH       DEFINED           90600   3000      0
                                                478160104      653    9425 SH       DEF/OTH            5225   3100   1100
JOHNSON CONTROLS               COMMON STOCK     478366107      422   13900 SH       DEFINED           13900      0      0
INC                                             478366107      123    4050 SH       DEF/OTH             900   3000    150
KEYCORP                        COMMON STOCK     493267108      804   67316 SH       DEFINED           67316      0      0
KRAFT FOODS INC                COMMON STOCK     50075N104       20     602 SH       DEFINED             602      0      0
                                                50075N104      981   29964 SH       DEF/OTH           26158   3806      0
ELI LILLY & CO                 COMMON STOCK     532457108      590   13400 SH       DEFINED           12500    900      0
                                                532457108       26     600 SH       DEF/OTH             300    300      0
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP IN       COMMON STOCK     534187109      110    2564 SH       DEFINED            2564      0      0
                                                534187109      116    2700 SH       DEF/OTH               0   2700      0
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP           COMMON STOCK     539830109        5      50 SH       DEFINED              50      0      0
                                                539830109      219    2000 SH       DEF/OTH            1600    400      0
LOWES COMPANIES INC            COMMON STOCK     548661107      389   16417 SH       DEFINED           16417      0      0
                                                548661107       47    2000 SH       DEF/OTH             600   1400      0
MCGRAW HILL COS INC            COMMON STOCK     580645109      213    6734 SH       DEFINED            6734      0      0
                                                580645109       32    1000 SH       DEF/OTH             400    600      0
MEDTRONIC INC                  COMMON STOCK     585055106     2480   49510 SH       DEFINED           43010    700   5800
                                                585055106       45     900 SH       DEF/OTH             300    300    300
MICROSOFT CORP                 COMMON STOCK     594918104     4498  168524 SH       DEFINED          157124    800  10600
                                                594918104      454   17021 SH       DEF/OTH           13321   3000    700
MOTOROLA INC                   COMMON STOCK     620076109      133   18645 SH       DEFINED           18045      0    600
                                                620076109        4     600 SH       DEF/OTH               0    600      0
NBT BANCORP INC                COMMON STOCK     628778102      723   24158 SH       DEFINED             672  23486      0
NIKE INC                       COMMON STOCK     654106103      338    5050 SH       DEFINED            5050      0      0
                                                654106103       13     200 SH       DEF/OTH             200      0      0
PEPSICO INC                    COMMON STOCK     713448108     4078   57214 SH       DEFINED           53964   1250   2000
                                                713448108      449    6300 SH       DEF/OTH            1700   4300    300
PFIZER INC                     COMMON STOCK     717081103      478   25947 SH       DEFINED           23847      0   2100
                                                717081103      189   10226 SH       DEF/OTH            3466   6760      0
PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL    COMMON STOCK     718172109       42     870 SH       DEFINED             870      0      0
INC
                                                718172109     2083   43300 SH       DEF/OTH           37800   5500      0
PRIVATE EXPORT                 CORPORATE BONDS  742651DC3      259  250000 PRN      DEFINED          250000      0      0
FUNDING CORP PROCTER & GAMBLE  COMMON STOCK     742718109     6207   89072 SH       DEFINED           85082    790   3200
CO
                                                742718109      920   13200 SH       DEF/OTH            3197   8708   1295
ROCHESTER FUND MUNICIPALS INC  MUTUAL           771362100      387   26214 SH       DEFINED           26214      0      0
LIMITED                        MUTUAL           771740107       72   23353 SH       DEFINED           23353      0      0
SLM CORP                       CORPORATE BONDS  78490FKQ1      180  400000 PRN      DEF/OTH          400000      0      0
SCHERING PLOUGH CORP           COMMON STOCK     806605101      238   12900 SH       DEFINED            8600   4300      0
SCHLUMBERGER LTD               COMMON STOCK     806857108      570    7300 SH       DEFINED            6400    200    700
                                                806857108       31     400 SH       DEF/OTH             400      0      0
SOUTHERN CO                    COMMON STOCK     842587107     2997   79508 SH       DEFINED           77808   1400    300
                                                842587107      219    5800 SH       DEF/OTH            1700   3300    800
TARGET CORP                    COMMON STOCK     8.76E+110      805   16417 SH       DEFINED           15617    100    700
                                                8.76E+110       98    2000 SH       DEF/OTH             900   1100      0
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC          COMMON STOCK     882508104      360   16730 SH       DEFINED           16730      0      0
                                                882508104       11     500 SH       DEF/OTH             300      0    200
3M CO                          COMMON STOCK     88579Y101     1120   16399 SH       DEFINED           16399      0      0
                                                88579Y101      323    4730 SH       DEF/OTH             580   4150      0
TRUSTCO BANK CORP NY           COMMON STOCK     898349105    10893  930205 SH       DEFINED          647786  25487 256932
                                                898349105     7533  643305 SH       DEF/OTH               0      0 643305
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE          COMMON STOCK     911312106      457    7259 SH       DEFINED            6809    400     50
                                                911312106        9     150 SH       DEF/OTH               0    100     50
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP       COMMON STOCK     913017109     3316   55209 SH       DEFINED           50009    400   4800
                                                913017109      210    3500 SH       DEF/OTH            1700   1400    400
UNITRIN INC                    COMMON STOCK     913275103     5626  225568 SH       DEFINED          225568      0      0
VANGUARD CALIFORNIA TAX FREE   MUTUAL           922021308      327   31552 SH       DEFINED           31552      0      0
VANGUARD NEW YORK TAX FREE     MUTUAL           92204H103      157   15285 SH       DEFINED           15285      0      0
FUNDS
VANGUARD NEW YORK TAX FREE     MUTUAL           92204H301     3432  333538 SH       DEFINED          333538      0      0
FUNDS
                                                92204H301      330   32117 SH       DEF/OTH           32117      0      0
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC     COMMON STOCK     92343V104     1723   53703 SH       DEFINED           51903   1300    500
                                                92343V104      318    9898 SH       DEF/OTH            4624   5074    200
WAL-MART STORES INC            COMMON STOCK     931142103     1960   32724 SH       DEFINED           31724      0   1000
                                                931142103      192    3200 SH       DEF/OTH            2800    200    200
WELLS FARGO & CO NEW           COMMON STOCK     949746101     1999   53272 SH       DEFINED           52472    800      0
                                                949746101      199    5300 SH       DEF/OTH            1200   3500    600
WYETH                          COMMON STOCK     983024100      329    8900 SH       DEFINED            8900      0      0
                                                983024100      104    2815 SH       DEF/OTH            1415   1400      0
98.9% LIMITED PARTNERSHIP      PARTNERSHIPS     9X00004A3     3217       1 SH       DEFINED               1      0      0
NOBLE CORP                     COMMON STOCK     G65422100     1040   23700 SH       DEFINED           23700      0      0
                                                G65422100       13     300 SH       DEF/OTH             200      0    100