<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001005477-03-000600
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030507
<FILING-DATE>20030508
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>STITT JAMES E
<CIK>0001223217
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26481
<FILM-NUMBER>03688674
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>220 LIBERTY STREET
<CITY>WARSAW
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>14569
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC
<CIK>0000862831
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6021
<IRS-NUMBER>160816610
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>220 LIBERTY STREET
<CITY>WARSAW
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>14569
<PHONE>7167861100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>220 LIBERTY STREET
<CITY>WARSAW
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>14569
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>3</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-07</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>
<issuer>        <issuerCik>0000862831</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>FISI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
        <rptOwnerCik>0001223217</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STITT JAMES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>200</value>
            </transactionShares>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>22.51</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-02-18</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-02-18</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>200</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option vests and becomes exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning on February 18, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sonia M. Dumbleton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
