** Shares of regional lender NBT Bancorp NBTB.O fall as much as 7.3%; last down 6.4% at $45.56

** NBTB late Monday posted a Q4 profit of 77 cents/shr, in line with Wall Street expectations, according to data compiled by LSEG

** However, Q4 non-interest expense jumped 13.7% to $100.8 mln, above analysts' estimates of $94.1 mln

** The jump came as NBTB shelled out more on salaries and benefits in Q4 compared with the quarter a year earlier

** Meanwhile, non-performing assets to total assets was 0.38% compared with 0.28% a year earlier, driven by a commercial real estate relationship that was written down to fair value

** Raymond James says slip in credit metrics raises concerns about future provisioning

** Adds that it expected a modestly negative stock reaction, given the credit slip-up and elevated expenses during Q4

** NBTB shares jumped 14% in 2024

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)

((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))