<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001299933-05-003587
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20050720
<ITEMS>7.01
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20050720
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050720
<FILER>
<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>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-26481
<FILM-NUMBER>05964394
</FILING-VALUES>
<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>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>htm_5942.htm
<DESCRIPTION>LIVE FILING
<TEXT>
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<TITLE> Financial Institutions, Inc. (Form: 8-K) </TITLE>
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		UNITED STATES<BR>
	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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	FORM 8-K
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	CURRENT REPORT
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	Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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	Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
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	&nbsp;
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	July 20, 2005
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	Financial Institutions, Inc.
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<BR>__________________________________________<BR>
	(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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	New York
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	0-26481
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	16-0816610
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_____________________<BR>
	(State or other jurisdiction
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_____________<BR>
	(Commission
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	(I.R.S. Employer
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	of incorporation)
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	File Number)
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	Identification No.)
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	220 Liberty Street, Warsaw, New York
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	14569
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_________________________________<BR>
	(Address of principal executive offices)
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	&nbsp;
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___________<BR>
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	Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code:
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	585-786-1100
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	Not Applicable
<BR>______________________________________________<BR>
	Former name or former address, if changed since last report
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	&nbsp;
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<!-- CoverPageRegistrant END --><P><FONT SIZE="2">
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
of the following provisions:</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE="2">
[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<br>
[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<br>
[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<br>
[&nbsp;&nbsp;]&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<br>
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	Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
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On July 20, 2005, Financial Institutions, Inc. issued a press release announcing the sale of loans.  The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated by reference herein.<br><br>The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 is furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
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	Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(c) Exhibits<br><br>99.1 Press Release dated July 20, 2005.
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	SIGNATURES
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	Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
	registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
	undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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	Financial Institutions, Inc.
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<I>
	July 20, 2005
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<I>
	By:
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<I>
	Ronald A. Miller
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<I>
	Name: Ronald A. Miller
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	Title: Executive Vice President and CFO
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	Exhibit&nbsp;Index
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	Exhibit No.
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	99.1
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Press Release
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<TYPE>EX-99.1
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<FILENAME>exhibit1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99.1
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<P align="left" style="margin-left:70%; font-size: 10pt"><FONT style="font-size: 10pt"><B>For More Information:</B>
<BR>
Ronald A. Miller
<BR>
Executive VP and CFO
<BR>
Phone: 585.786.1102
<BR>
Email:
ramiller@fiiwarsaw.com
</FONT>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT style="font-size: 11.5pt">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
</FONT>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 11.5pt"><FONT style="font-size: 16pt"><B>Financial Institutions, Inc. Announces Sale of Loans</B></FONT>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 16pt"><FONT style="font-size: 11pt">WARSAW, N.Y., &#151; Financial Institutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: FISI) (&#147;FII&#148;) announced that its
subsidiary banks have sold or are in the process selling, to a number of buyers, approximately $100
million in criticized and classified loans. The resulting loss will be recorded in the second
quarter of 2005, which ended
</FONT>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 11pt">June&nbsp;30. The loans were part of the portfolios of the National Bank of Geneva, Bath National Bank
and Wyoming County Bank. The sale was a part of FII&#146;s efforts to improve its overall credit
quality. Keefe, Bruyette &#038; Woods, Inc. was the financial advisor on the sale.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 11pt">Peter G. Humphrey, Chairman, President and CEO, commented, &#147;We are pleased with the value we expect
to receive for the loans, which were concentrated among a relatively small number of our customers,
and are comfortable that the buyers are interested in continuing to service the borrowers. Our
corporate and subsidiary Boards have approved the sale of an additional $73&nbsp;million in problem
commercial loans.&#148;


<P align="left" style="font-size: 11pt">He continued saying, &#147;these actions significantly reduce the credit risk in our subsidiary banks&#146;
balance sheets, and we have improved our lending processes substantially. Our strategy is to
continue serving our local communities with friendly, secure and comfortable financial services.
We believe the strength of our franchise lies in Western and Central New York and is vital to our
success.&#148;


<P align="left" style="font-size: 11pt">The Company has also started to actively market the approximately $73&nbsp;million in additional problem
commercial loans and anticipates receiving bids prior to the end of the third quarter. The
estimated charge to the company&#146;s allowance for loan losses for these loans, as well as the $100
million in loans that have been sold or are currently in the process of settling, has not been
finalized and will be reflected in the second quarter financial results.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 11pt">FII will discuss the loan sale and the results of its second quarter on its Second Quarter
Financial Results Teleconference and Webcast, which is scheduled for Wednesday, August&nbsp;10, 2005 at
11:00&nbsp;a.m. ET. The live webcast can be found at <U>http://www.fiiwarsaw.com</U>. Participants
should go to the website 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled conference in order to download any
necessary audio software. The teleconference can be accessed by dialing (303)&nbsp;262-2131
approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the call.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 11pt">There will also be an archive of the call on FII&#146;s website following the live call. The archived
webcast will be at <U>http://www.fiiwarsaw.com</U>. A transcript will also be posted once
available. A replay can also be heard by calling (303)&nbsp;590-3000, and entering passcode 11034752#.
The telephonic replay will be available through Wednesday August&nbsp;17, 2005 at 11:59&nbsp;p.m. ET.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 11pt"><B>ABOUT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.</B>
<BR>
With total assets of $2.2&nbsp;billion, Financial Institutions, Inc. is the parent company of Wyoming
County Bank, National Bank of Geneva, Bath National Bank and First Tier Bank &#038; Trust. The four
banks provide a wide range of consumer and commercial banking services to individuals,
municipalities and businesses through a network of 50 offices and 72 ATM&#146;s in Western and Central
New York State. FII affiliates also provide diversified financial services to its customers and
clients, including brokerage, trust, insurance, employee benefits administration and compensation
consulting. More information on FII and its subsidiaries is available through the Company web site
at <U><I>www.fiiwarsaw.com</I></U>.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 11pt"><B>Safe Harbor Statement</B>
<BR>
<I>This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by federal securities laws.
These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and
assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current beliefs or
projections. There are a number of important factors that could affect the Company&#146;s
forward-looking statements which include the availability of cash to continue to pay a dividend,
the impact of regulatory restrictions, the effect of credit administration consolidation and
changes in lending practices, results of the sale of problem loans, including the estimates used to
establish the fair value of loans held for sale, and other factors discussed in the Company&#146;s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to
revise these statements following the date of this press release.</I>


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