<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001564590-18-023151.txt : 20180914
<SEC-HEADER>0001564590-18-023151.hdr.sgml : 20180914
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180914163103
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001564590-18-023151
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180912
ITEM INFORMATION:		Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant's Employee Benefit Plans
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180914
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180914

FILER:

	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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26481
		FILM NUMBER:		181071491

	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>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>fisi-8k_20180912.htm
<DESCRIPTION>FISI-8-K-09142018 (401K VENDOR CHANGE BTR NOTICE)
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:4pt;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:6pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:18pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">UNITED STATES</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:18pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:18pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">FORM 8-K </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;line-height:4pt;border-bottom:Solid 1pt;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left:40%;margin-right:40%;text-indent:0%;font-size:6pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">CURRENT REPORT </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 12, 2018 </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;line-height:4pt;border-bottom:Solid 1pt;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left:40%;margin-right:40%;text-indent:0%;font-size:6pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:24pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Financial Institutions, Inc. </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">0-26481</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">16-0816610</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">of Incorporation)</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(IRS Employer</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Identification No.)</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">220 Liberty Street </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Warsaw, New York</p></td>
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<p style="line-height:2pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:4pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">14569</p></td>
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<p style="line-height:2pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:4pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Zip Code)</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Registrant&#8217;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (585) 786-1100 </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Not Applicable </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:9pt;line-height:4pt;border-bottom:Solid 1pt;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left:40%;margin-right:40%;text-indent:0%;font-size:6pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">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 (see General Instructions A.2. below): </p>
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<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </p></td></tr></table></div>
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<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </p></td></tr></table></div>
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<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </p></td></tr></table></div>
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<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </p></td></tr></table></div>
<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;&#8201;230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#167;&#8201;240.12b-2 of this chapter).</p>
<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Emerging growth company&#160;<font style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></font></p>
<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.&#160;<font style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></font></p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;line-height:1pt;border-top:Solid 0.75pt #000000;padding-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:4pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:1pt;line-height:1pt;border-top:Solid 1pt;padding-top:1pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:4pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="margin-top:6pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top:18pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a name="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU2"></a>Item 5.04 Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant&#8217;s Employee Benefit Plans.</p>
<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a name="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU3"></a>On September 12, 2018, Financial Institutions, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) received a notice from the Financial Institutions, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;) pursuant to Section 101(i)(2)(E) of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 informing the </p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Company of an impending blackout under the Plan.&nbsp;&nbsp;</font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">On September 14, 2018, the Company delivered to its directors and executive officers (collectively, the &#8220;Section 16 Insiders&#8221;) a notice contemplated by Rule 104 of </font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Securities and Exchan</font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">ge Commission Regulation BTR (Blackout Trading Restriction) (&#8220;Regulation BTR&#8221;)</font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">, </font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">to notify the Section 16 Insiders of </font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">a &#8220;blackout period&#8221; as contemplated by Section 306(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Regulation BTR </font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">impacting the Company&#8217;s equity s</font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">ecurities, including the </font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Company&#8217;s common stock, Series A preferred stock and Series B-1 preferred stock, as well as options and other derivatives either convertible into or based on the value of the Company&#8217;s equity securities</font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">.&nbsp;&nbsp;The blackout period under </font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">the Plan was imposed to implement a change in the Plan&#8217;s administrator from Milliman to Vanguard.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the blackout period, Plan participants will be temporarily unable to move money between funds, change the funds in which the participant invests, or r</font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">equest withdrawals or distributions.&nbsp;&nbsp;The blackout period covers the Company Stock Fund within the Plan in addition to all additional funds within the Plan.</font></p>
<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The blackout period will begin on October 10, 2018 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time and is expected to end during the calendar week of October 21, 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company has so advised the Section 16 Insiders.&nbsp;&nbsp;A copy of the Company&#8217;s Notice to the Section 16 Insiders is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.</p>
<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Stockholders or other interested persons may obtain, without charge, the actual beginning and ending dates of the blackout period (during the blackout period and for a period of two years after the ending date of the blackout period) by contacting: William L. Kreienberg, Esq., General Counsel, Financial Institutions, Inc., 220 Liberty Street, Warsaw, New York 14569.</p>
<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.</p>
<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"> (d) <font style="text-decoration:underline;">Exhibits</font>. </p>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Number</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-size:8pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:90.9%; border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a href="fisi-ex991_41.htm"><font style="text-decoration:underline;">Notice to Directors and Executive Officers of Financial Institutions, Inc. dated September 14, 2018</font></a></p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a name="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU4"></a><font style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">SIGNATURES</font></p>
<p style="margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">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 thereunto duly authorized.</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Financial Institutions, Inc.</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Date: September 14, 2018</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">By:</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">/s/&#160;Kevin B. Klotzbach</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&nbsp;</p></td>
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<TYPE>EX-99.1
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<FILENAME>fisi-ex991_41.htm
<DESCRIPTION>NOTICE TO DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. DATED SEPTEMBER 14, 2018
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="margin-top:0pt;text-align:center;margin-bottom:24pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;text-transform:uppercase;font-variant: small-caps;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;">memorandum</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">September 14, 2018</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Notice Regarding Blackout Period and Regulation BTR Trading Restrictions</p></td>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:7.69%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Please be advised that on September 10, 2018, Financial Institutions, Inc. (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;">Company</font>&#8221;) notified participants in the Financial Institutions, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;">Plan</font>&#8221;) of a &#8220;blackout period&#8221; under the Plan, which is being imposed to implement a change in the Plan&#8217;s administrator from Millman to Vanguard (the &#8220;<font style="font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;">Blackout Period</font>&#8221;). During the Blackout Period, participants in the Plan will be temporarily unable to move money between funds, change the funds in which the participant invests, or request withdrawals or distributions. The Blackout Period covers the Company Stock Fund within the Plan in addition to all additional funds within the Plan.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Blackout Period </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:7.69%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">The Blackout Period will begin on October 10, 2018 at 4 p.m. Eastern Time and is expected to end during the calendar week of October 21, 2018. You may contact William L. Kreienberg, the Company&#8217;s General Counsel, for the exact end date of the Blackout Period.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Trading Restrictions for Directors and Executive Officers </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:7.69%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 104 under the Securities and Exchange Commission&#8217;s Regulation BTR, you, as directors and executive officers of the Company, will generally be prohibited from engaging in transactions involving Company equity securities during the Blackout Period.&nbsp;&nbsp;This includes the Company&#8217;s common stock, Series A preferred stock and Series B-1 preferred stock, as well as options and other derivatives based on Company equity securities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Transactions covered by this trading prohibition are not limited to those involving your direct ownership, but include any transaction in which you may have a pecuniary interest (e.g., transactions by members of your immediate family who share your household, as well as by certain entities in which you have financial involvement).</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:7.69%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Please note that these trading restrictions are in addition to those imposed by the Company&#8217;s Insider Trading Policy.&nbsp;&nbsp;The blackout period for that policy is already in effect for this quarter and is expected to extend past this Blackout Period. Therefore, you will not be able to resume trading activity in the Company&#8217;s common stock when the Blackout Period under the Plan ends.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Recommendation</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:7.69%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><a name="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU2"></a>Although certain transactions are exempt from this trading prohibition (such as bona fide gifts, transfers by will or laws of descent and distribution, and sales of stock not acquired in connection with service or employment as a director officer), those exemptions are limited.&nbsp;&nbsp;These rules are complex and criminal and civil penalties may be imposed upon directors and </p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">September 14, 2018</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Page 2</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><font style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">executive officers who violate the rules. Accordingly, and given that Insider Trading Policy blackout period is currently in effect, we recommend that you avoid any change in your beneficial ownership of Company equity </font><font style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">and derivative securities during the Blackout Period. </font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Questions</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:7.69%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">If you have any questions concerning transactions in the Company&#8217;s equity or derivative securities, this notice or the Blackout Period, including whether the Blackout Period has started or ended, please contact, without charge, the Company&#8217;s General Counsel: </p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">William L. Kreienberg, Esq.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">General Counsel</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Financial Institutions, Inc.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">220 Liberty Street</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Warsaw, NY 14569</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(585) 786-1100</p>
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