<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001667436</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0001174850</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>NICOLET BANKSHARES INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-37700</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>111 N WASHINGTON ST</com:street1>
        <com:city>GREEN BAY</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>WI</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>54301</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>920 430 1400</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Witczak Eric James</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Charles Schwab &amp; Co., Inc.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3000 Schwab Way</com:street1>
          <com:city>Westlake</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>76262</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>1215</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>206112.60</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>21251905</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>07/27/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/06/2015</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>272</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/06/2015</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash option exercise</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/14/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>38</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/14/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Payroll deduction ESPP participation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>10/13/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>45</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>10/13/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Payroll deduction ESPP participation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>11/14/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>279</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>11/14/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Shares withheld to cover vesting tax liability; residual shares issued.</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>11/20/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>160</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>11/20/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Shares withheld to cover vesting tax liability; residual shares issued.</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>11/22/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>316</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>11/22/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Shares withheld to cover vesting tax liability; residual shares issued.</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/12/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>34</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/12/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Payroll deduction ESPP participation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>04/12/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>40</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>04/12/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Payroll deduction ESPP participation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>07/12/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Eric J. Witczak</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>31</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>07/12/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Payroll deduction ESPP participation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>07/27/2026</noticeDate>
      <signature>Eric J. Witczak</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
