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

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: 12/31/2008

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. Provost         Glenville, NY        01/13/2009
------------------------       ---------------      -----------
[Signature]                    [City,State]         [Date]

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



COLUMN TOTALS                                      750
AGGREGATE TOTAL                                 112738


                                          FORM 13F SUMMARY PAGE


Report Summary:

Number of Other Included Managers:                0

Form 13F Information Table Entry Total:           124

Form 13F Information Table Value Total:           $ 112,738

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     1462   51315 SH       DEFINED            50550      0    765
                                                00206R102      603   21157 SH       DEF/OTH            12651   8506      0
ABBOTT LABORATORIES            COMMON STOCK     002824100     2452   45944 SH       DEFINED            43544    500   1900
                                                002824100      482    9026 SH       DEF/OTH             4726   3400    900
AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC   COMMON STOCK     009158106      322    6400 SH       DEFINED             6400      0      0
ALTRIA GROUP INC               COMMON STOCK     02209S103       13     870 SH       DEFINED              870      0      0
                                                02209S103      652   43300 SH       DEF/OTH            37800   5500      0
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO            COMMON STOCK     025816109      469   25288 SH       DEFINED            23588    200   1500
                                                025816109      149    8034 SH       DEF/OTH             6734   1300      0
APPLIED MATERIALS INC          COMMON STOCK     038222105      204   20100 SH       DEFINED            16900      0   3200
                                                038222105        2     200 SH       DEF/OTH              200      0      0
AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING INC  COMMON STOCK     053015103      615   15625 SH       DEFINED            14125      0   1500
                                                053015103       24     600 SH       DEF/OTH              500      0    100
BP PLC                         FOREIGN STOCK    055622104     1592   34053 SH       DEFINED            29753   3100   1200
                                                055622104      323    6904 SH       DEF/OTH             3100   3704    100
BANK OF AMERICA CORP           COMMON STOCK     060505104       70    4969 SH       DEFINED             4969      0      0
                                                060505104      207   14715 SH       DEF/OTH            12461   2254      0
THE BANK OF NEW YORK COMPANY   COMMON STOCK     064058100      330   11637 SH       DEFINED            11637      0      0
INC
BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB CO        COMMON STOCK     110122108      126    5409 SH       DEFINED             1809   3600      0
                                                110122108      274   11800 SH       DEF/OTH             3200   8600      0
CHEVRON CORP NEW               COMMON STOCK     166764100     2959   40001 SH       DEFINED            37001    600   2400
                                                166764100     1076   14547 SH       DEF/OTH            11360   2387    800
CISCO SYSTEMS INC              COMMON STOCK     17275R102      830   50942 SH       DEFINED            50092    600    250
                                                17275R102       43    2650 SH       DEF/OTH              950   1200    500
CITIGROUP INC                  COMMON STOCK     172967101      262   39086 SH       DEFINED            38186    900      0
                                                172967101       28    4242 SH       DEF/OTH             1942   1900    400
COCA COLA CO                   COMMON STOCK     191216100     2525   55766 SH       DEFINED            54866    900      0
                                                191216100      602   13300 SH       DEF/OTH             9100   4200      0
COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO           COMMON STOCK     194162103     1935   28228 SH       DEFINED            27728    500      0
                                                194162103      295    4300 SH       DEF/OTH              400   3400    500
DISNEY WALT CO                 COMMON STOCK     254687106     1023   45100 SH       DEFINED            42500    200   2400
                                                254687106      165    7250 SH       DEF/OTH             4150   3000    100
DOMINION RESOURCES INC VA NEW  COMMON STOCK     25746U109       25     686 SH       DEFINED              686      0      0
                                                25746U109      230    6418 SH       DEF/OTH             6418      0      0
DOW CHEMICAL CO                COMMON STOCK     260543103      175   11575 SH       DEFINED            10775    800      0
                                                260543103       47    3125 SH       DEF/OTH             2025   1100      0
DU PONT E I DE NEMOURS & CO    COMMON STOCK     263534109      475   18793 SH       DEFINED            15207   1686   1900
                                                263534109       85    3360 SH       DEF/OTH              710   2450    200
ECOLAB INC                     COMMON STOCK     278865100      389   11067 SH       DEFINED            10067      0   1000
                                                278865100       14     400 SH       DEF/OTH              200      0    200
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO            COMMON STOCK     291011104      286    7800 SH       DEFINED             7400      0    400
                                                291011104      103    2800 SH       DEF/OTH             1000   1800      0
EXELON CORP                    COMMON STOCK     30161N101      745   13400 SH       DEFINED            12800    600      0
                                                30161N101      166    2990 SH       DEF/OTH             1890   1100      0
EXXON MOBIL CORP               COMMON STOCK     30231G102     8867  111075 SH       DEFINED            93127  14884   3064
                                                30231G102     2637   33032 SH       DEF/OTH            19956  11720   1356
FORTUNE BRANDS INC             COMMON STOCK     349631101      144    3500 SH       DEFINED             3100    200    200
                                                349631101      124    3000 SH       DEF/OTH             2800    100    100
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO            COMMON STOCK     369604103    10076  621956 SH       DEFINED           579407  31689  10860
                                                369604103     4402  271749 SH       DEF/OTH           199288  59061  13400
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP  CORPORATE BONDS  36967HAD9     1034 1000000 PRN      DEF/OTH          1000000      0      0
GENERAL MILLS INC              COMMON STOCK     370334104      578    9520 SH       DEFINED             8620    700    200
                                                370334104      292    4800 SH       DEF/OTH             4400    400      0
GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC            FOREIGN STOCK    37733W105      420   11266 SH       DEFINED            10666    600      0
                                                37733W105      161    4314 SH       DEF/OTH             3114   1100    100
HEWLETT PACKARD CO             COMMON STOCK     428236103      146    4011 SH       DEFINED             4011      0      0
                                                428236103       94    2604 SH       DEF/OTH              604   2000      0
HOME DEPOT INC                 COMMON STOCK     437076102      361   15699 SH       DEFINED            14099    100   1500
                                                437076102       83    3589 SH       DEF/OTH             2589    600    400
INTEL CORP                     COMMON STOCK     458140100     1389   94750 SH       DEFINED            92350      0   2400
                                                458140100       75    5100 SH       DEF/OTH             3100   1500    500
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS         COMMON STOCK     459200101      580    6892 SH       DEFINED             6042    850      0
MACHINES
                                                459200101      400    4750 SH       DEF/OTH             1000   3700     50
ISHARES                        MUTUAL           464287226      208    2000 SH       DEF/OTH             2000      0      0
                               FUND/CORPORATE
                               BOND
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO            COMMON STOCK     46625H100     1147   36390 SH       DEFINED            35162    964    264
                                                46625H100      407   12916 SH       DEF/OTH             9850   3066      0
JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC   COMMON STOCK     469814107      232    4825 SH       DEFINED             4725    100      0
                                                469814107       10     200 SH       DEF/OTH              200      0      0
JOHNSON & JOHNSON              COMMON STOCK     478160104     5515   92178 SH       DEFINED            89178   3000      0
                                                478160104      648   10825 SH       DEF/OTH             5525   4200   1100
JOHNSON CONTROLS INC           COMMON STOCK     478366107      250   13750 SH       DEFINED            13750      0      0
                                                478366107       74    4050 SH       DEF/OTH              900   3000    150
KRAFT FOODS INC                COMMON STOCK     50075N104       17     628 SH       DEFINED              628      0      0
                                                50075N104      805   29964 SH       DEF/OTH            26158   3806      0
ELI LILLY & CO                 COMMON STOCK     532457108      594   14740 SH       DEFINED            13840    900      0
                                                532457108       24     600 SH       DEF/OTH              300    300      0
LOWES COMPANIES INC            COMMON STOCK     548661107      361   16768 SH       DEFINED            16768      0      0
                                                548661107       22    1000 SH       DEF/OTH              600    400      0
MEDTRONIC INC                  COMMON STOCK     585055106     1505   47912 SH       DEFINED            41412    700   5800
                                                585055106       19     600 SH       DEF/OTH              300      0    300
MICROSOFT CORP                 COMMON STOCK     594918104     2944  151461 SH       DEFINED           140061    800  10600
                                                594918104      311   16021 SH       DEF/OTH            13321   2000    700
MOTOROLA INC                   COMMON STOCK     620076109       83   18645 SH       DEFINED            18045      0    600
                                                620076109        3     600 SH       DEF/OTH                0    600      0
NBT BANCORP INC                COMMON STOCK     628778102      675   24158 SH       DEFINED              672  23486      0
NIKE INC                       COMMON STOCK     654106103      263    5150 SH       DEFINED             5150      0      0
                                                654106103       10     200 SH       DEF/OTH              200      0      0
NUVEEN                         MUTUAL           67062X101      103   10000 SH       DEF/OTH            10000      0      0
PEPSICO INC                    COMMON STOCK     713448108     3086   56348 SH       DEFINED            53098   1250   2000
                                                713448108      345    6300 SH       DEF/OTH             1700   4300    300
PFIZER INC                     COMMON STOCK     717081103      394   22235 SH       DEFINED            20135      0   2100
                                                717081103      179   10126 SH       DEF/OTH             3366   6760      0
PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL    COMMON STOCK     718172109       38     870 SH       DEFINED              870      0      0
INC
                                                718172109     1884   43300 SH       DEF/OTH            37800   5500      0
POWERSHARES CO                 MUTUAL           73935A104      818   27500 SH       DEF/OTH            22000   5500      0
                               FUND/STOCK
PROCTER & GAMBLE               COMMON STOCK     742718109     5458   88290 SH       DEFINED            84300    790   3200
                                                742718109      853   13800 SH       DEF/OTH             3297   9208   1295
SCHERING PLOUGH CORP           COMMON STOCK     806605101      221   12996 SH       DEFINED             8696   4300      0
SCHLUMBERGER LTD               COMMON STOCK     806857108      315    7437 SH       DEFINED             6537    200    700
                                                806857108        8     200 SH       DEF/OTH              200      0      0
SOUTHERN CO                    COMMON STOCK     842587107     1478   39958 SH       DEFINED            38258   1400    300
                                                842587107      218    5900 SH       DEF/OTH             1800   3300    800
TARGET CORP                    COMMON STOCK     87612E106      555   16082 SH       DEFINED            15282    100    700
                                                87612E106       52    1500 SH       DEF/OTH              900    600      0
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC          COMMON STOCK     882508104      250   16130 SH       DEFINED            16130      0      0
                                                882508104        8     500 SH       DEF/OTH              300      0    200
3M CO                          COMMON STOCK     88579Y101      938   16299 SH       DEFINED            16299      0      0
                                                88579Y101      272    4730 SH       DEF/OTH              580   4150      0
TRUSTCO BANK CORP NY           COMMON STOCK     898349105     5918  622307 SH       DEFINED           342902  23843 255562
                                                898349105     6023  633305 SH       DEF/OTH                0      0 633305
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE          COMMON STOCK     911312106      400    7259 SH       DEFINED             6809    400     50
                                                911312106        8     150 SH       DEF/OTH                0    100     50
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP       COMMON STOCK     913017109     2880   53731 SH       DEFINED            48531    400   4800
                                                913017109      193    3600 SH       DEF/OTH             1800   1400    400
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC     COMMON STOCK     92343V104     1807   53309 SH       DEFINED            51509   1300    500
                                                92343V104      293    8648 SH       DEF/OTH             4524   3924    200
WAL-MART STORES INC            COMMON STOCK     931142103     1855   33081 SH       DEFINED            32081      0   1000
                                                931142103      230    4100 SH       DEF/OTH             3100    800    200
WELLS FARGO & CO NEW           COMMON STOCK     949746101     1596   54127 SH       DEFINED            53327    800      0
                                                949746101      156    5300 SH       DEF/OTH             1200   3500    600
WYETH                          COMMON STOCK     983024100      312    8306 SH       DEFINED             8306      0      0
                                                983024100      106    2815 SH       DEF/OTH             1415   1400      0
NOBLE CORP                     COMMON STOCK     G65422100      602   27250 SH       DEFINED            27250      0      0
                                                G65422100       42    1900 SH       DEF/OTH              400   1400    100