<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-18-056902.txt : 20181102
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-18-056902.hdr.sgml : 20181102
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20181102155528
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-18-056902
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20181024
FILED AS OF DATE:		20181102
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20181102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bigham Justin K.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001757135

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26481
		FILM NUMBER:		181156904

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 LIBERTY STREET
		CITY:			WARSAW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14569

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000862831
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				160816610
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 LIBERTY STREET
		CITY:			WARSAW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14569
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5857861100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		220 LIBERTY STREET
		CITY:			WARSAW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14569
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-10-24</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000862831</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FISI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001757135</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bigham Justin K.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>220 LIBERTY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WARSAW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14569</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sonia M. Dumbleton, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-11-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.3_815428
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POA DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SECTION 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS


      The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Michael D. Grover,
Sonia M. Dumbleton and Kevin B. Klotzbach as the undersigned's true and lawful
attorney-in-fact, and grants each of them full power to act on behalf of the
undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, for the purpose of
completing and signing, on behalf of the undersigned, any Form 3, Form 4 or Form
5 (including any amendments thereto) required or permitted to be filed by the
undersigned pursuant to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), with regard to the undersigned's holdings of or
transactions in the securities of Financial Institutions, Inc., and to file such
forms (and amendments thereto) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and
to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done
in connection with such forms (and amendments thereto,) as fully and to all
intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person.

      The authority of Michael D. Grover, Sonia M. Dumbleton and Kevin B.
Klotzbach under this Limited Power of Attorney shall continue until the
undersigned is no longer required to file forms under Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act with regard to the undersigned's holdings of or transactions in the
securities of Financial Institutions, Inc., unless earlier revoked by the
undersigned in writing.

      The undersigned acknowledges that Michael D. Grover, Sonia M. Dumbleton
and Kevin B. Klotzbach are not assuming any of the undersigned's
responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.


/s/ Justin K. Bigham
Signature
Name:  Justin K. Bigham
Date:  October 24, 2018

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
