content: <?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>0001253903</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>ATWELL ROBERT BRUCE</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>6904</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>962882.97</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>15079193</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>07/21/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>07/21/2025</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>6904</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>07/21/2025</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>Robert Atwell</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>111 North Washington Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Green Bay</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>WI</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>54301</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>04/23/2025</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>6192</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>717358.00</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>Robert Atwell</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>111 North Washington Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Green Bay</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>WI</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>54301</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>05/30/2025</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>3208</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>395937.18</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>Robert Atwell</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>111 North Washington Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Green Bay</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>WI</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>54301</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>06/09/2025</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>3126</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>369815.75</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>07/21/2025</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Daniel Tucci, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Robert Atwell</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 4602}]
text: 144
  0001253903
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0001174850
  NICOLET BANKSHARES INC
  001-37700
  111 N WASHINGTON ST
  GREEN BAY
  WI
  54301
  920 430 1400
  ATWELL ROBERT BRUCE
  Director
  Common
  Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  900 Salem Street
  Smithfield
  RI
  02917
  6904
  962882.97
  15079193
  07/21/2025
  NYSE
  Common
  07/21/2025
  Stock Option Exercise
  Issuer
  N
  6904
  07/21/2025
  Cash
  N
  Robert Atwell
  111 North Washington Street
  Green Bay
  WI
  54301
  Common
  04/23/2025
  6192
  717358.00
  Robert Atwell
  111 North Washington Street
  Green Bay
  WI
  54301
  Common
  05/30/2025
  3208
  395937.18
  Robert Atwell
  111 North Washington Street
  Green Bay
  WI
  54301
  Common
  06/09/2025
  3126
  369815.75
  07/21/2025
  /s/ Daniel Tucci, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Robert Atwell