Exhibit 99.1


      CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER UNDER 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

I, Robert G. Wilmers, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer of M&T Bank Corporation, hereby certify, to my knowledge:

         (1)      that the Annual Report on Form 10-K of M&T Bank Corporation
                  for the annual period ended on December 31, 2002 filed with
                  the Securities and Exchange Commission at File No. 1-9861 (the
                  "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section
                  13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act
                  of 1934; and

         (2)      that the information contained in such Report fairly presents,
                  in all material respects, the financial condition and results
                  of operations of M&T Bank Corporation.


The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate
disclosure document.





/s/ Robert G. Wilmers
-------------------------
Robert G. Wilmers
February 27, 2003