<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-21-004252.txt : 20210205
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-21-004252.hdr.sgml : 20210205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210205190228
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-21-004252
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210205

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Johnson Patricia A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001362027

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12709
		FILM NUMBER:		21597880

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TOMPKINS TRUSTCO INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 460
		CITY:			ITHACA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14851

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001005817
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				161482357
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		118 E SENECA STREET
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 460
		CITY:			ITHACA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14850
		BUSINESS PHONE:		607-274-2078

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		118 E. SENECA STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 460
		CITY:			ITHACA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14850

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TOMPKINS TRUSTCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990512

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TOMPKINS COUNTY TRUSTCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960117
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-02-04</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001005817</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001362027</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Johnson Patricia A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 460</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ITHACA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14851</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Drip</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>617.485</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>757.3</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>617.485</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>617.485</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2469.94</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes change in beneficial ownership of 617.485 shares from Indirect to Direct as a result of a distribution pursuant to the Directors' Deferred Stock Retainer Agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock. Phantom stock represents deferred stock compensation under the Amended and Restated Retainer Plan for Eligible Directors of Tompkins Financial Corporation and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries. These shares are held in a rabbi trust pending distribution upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the Plan. The reporting person has no voting or investment power over the shares prior to such distribution.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Patricia A. Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
