<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001564590-18-029915.txt : 20181120
<SEC-HEADER>0001564590-18-029915.hdr.sgml : 20181120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20181120163817
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001564590-18-029915
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20181120
ITEM INFORMATION:		Regulation FD Disclosure
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20181120
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20181120

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:		181195967

	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_20181120.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K (Q4 DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT)
<TEXT>
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<title>
fisi-8k_20181120.htm
</title>
</head>
<!-- NG Converter v5.0.18157.137 -->
<body>

<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:4pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:1pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;line-height:1pt;border-top:Solid 0.75pt #000000;padding-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top: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="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>
<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: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): November 20, 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>
<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-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:9pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">&#160;</p>
<div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%;">
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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;">New York</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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;">(State or Other Jurisdiction</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;">of Incorporation)</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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;">(Commission File Number)</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
</tr>
<tr style="height:12pt;">
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  style="padding-left:7.2pt;padding-Right:0pt;padding-Top:0pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:33%;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  style="padding-left:7.2pt;padding-Right:0pt;padding-Top:0pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:33%;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  style="width:33%;">
<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>
</tr>
</table></div>
<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>
<div align="left">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"  style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%;">
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="width:4.54%;white-space:nowrap">
<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';"></font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<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>
<div align="left">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"  style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%;">
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="width:4.54%;white-space:nowrap">
<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';"></font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<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>
<div align="left">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"  style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%;">
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="width:4.54%;white-space:nowrap">
<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';"></font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<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>
<div align="left">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"  style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%;">
<tr>
<td valign="top" style="width:4.54%;white-space:nowrap">
<p style="margin-top:9pt;margin-bottom:0pt;font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';"></font><font style="font-size:10pt;font-family:'Times New Roman'">&#9744;</font></p></td>
<td valign="top">
<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="text-align:center;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<hr style="page-break-after:always;width:100%;">
<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;"><a name="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU2"></a><font style="font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.</font></p>
<p style="margin-top:6pt;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;">On November 20, 2018, Financial Institutions, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) issued a press release announcing the declaration of a cash dividend of $0.24 per common share.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company also announced dividends of $0.75 per share on Series A 3% Preferred Stock and $2.12 per share on Series B-1 8.48% Preferred Stock.&nbsp;&nbsp;All dividends are payable January 2, 2019 to shareholders of record as of December 13, 2018.</p>
<p style="margin-top:6pt;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 copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K pursuant to Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed to be &#8220;filed&#8221; for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (&#8220;Exchange Act&#8221;), as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date of this report, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.</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>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%;">
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<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;">Exhibit</p>
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;width:2.02%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt transparent;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:66.7%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<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;">Description<font style="font-size:10pt;font-weight:normal;"> </font></p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt transparent;">
<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>
<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>
<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="width:22.54%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<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>
<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>
<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;">Location</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%; border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<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;"> 99.1</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:2.02%;">
<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:66.7%; 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_6.htm"><font style="text-decoration:underline;">Press Release issued by Financial Institutions, Inc. on November 20, 2018</font></a></p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:22.54%; border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<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;">Filed Herewith</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%;">
<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:2.02%;">
<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:66.7%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:22.54%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%;">
<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:2.02%;">
<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:66.7%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:22.54%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%;">
<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:2.02%;">
<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:66.7%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:22.54%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%;">
<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:2.02%;">
<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:66.7%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:22.54%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%;">
<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:2.02%;">
<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:66.7%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:22.54%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%;">
<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:2.02%;">
<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:66.7%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:22.54%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:7.08%;">
<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:2.02%;">
<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:66.7%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:1.66%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="width:22.54%;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="border-bottom:Solid 0.75pt;padding-bottom:1pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-right:83.33%;text-indent:0%;font-size:6pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<hr style="page-break-after:always;width:100%;">
<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="_AEIOULastRenderedPageBreakAEIOU3"></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>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:100%;">
<tr>
<td valign="top"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:45%;">
<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:5%;">
<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 colspan="2" valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:49%;">
<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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="middle"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:45%;">
<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:5%;">
<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:3%;">
<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:45%;">
<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>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;width:45%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt transparent;">
<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: November 20, 2018</p></td>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;width:5%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt transparent;">
<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="top"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;width:3%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt transparent;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:45%; border-bottom:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<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;">/s/&#160;Kevin B. Klotzbach</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:45%;">
<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:5%;">
<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="middle"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:3%;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:45%; border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<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;">Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:45%;">
<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:5%;">
<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:3%;">
<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>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:45%;">
<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;">and Treasurer</p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:11pt;">&nbsp;</p></body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>fisi-ex991_6.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. ON NOVEMBER 20, 2018
<TEXT>
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
<head>
<title>
fisi-ex991_6.htm
</title>
</head>
<!-- NG Converter v5.0.18157.137 -->
<body>

<p style="text-align:right;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:12pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:14pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;"><font style="text-decoration:underline;">Exhibit 99.1</font></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:12pt;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:right;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;;font-size:12pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:102.06%;">
<tr>
<td style="width:48.68%;"></td>
<td style="width:53.38%;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:7.2pt;">
<td valign="top"  style=" border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
<td valign="top"  style=" border-top:solid 0.75pt #000000;">
<p style="text-align:right;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:41.85pt;">
<td valign="top" >
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:28pt;font-family:Calibri;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">NEWS RELEASE</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">For Immediate Release</p>
<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>
<td valign="top" >
<p style="text-align:right;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">220 Liberty Street</p>
<p style="text-align:right;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-family:Calibri;font-size:11pt;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Warsaw, NY&nbsp;&nbsp;14569</p></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:4pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Financial Institutions, Inc. Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:5.43%;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:9pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">WARSAW, N.Y. &#8211; November 20, 2018 <font style="font-weight:normal;">&#8211; Financial Institutions, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) (NASDAQ: FISI) announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per outstanding common share. The Company also announced dividends of $0.75 per share on its Series A 3% preferred stock and $2.12 per share on its Series B-1 8.48% preferred stock. All dividends are payable January 2, 2019, to shareholders of record on December 13, 2018.</font></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:4pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">About Financial Institutions, Inc. </p>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:9pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Financial Institutions, Inc. provides diversified financial services through its subsidiaries Five Star Bank, Scott Danahy Naylon, LLC (&#8220;SDN&#8221;), Courier Capital, LLC (&#8220;Courier Capital&#8221;) and HNP Capital, LLC (&#8220;HNP Capital&#8221;). Five Star Bank provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking and lending services to individuals, municipalities and businesses through a network of more than 50 offices throughout Western and Central New York State. SDN provides a broad range of insurance services to personal and business clients across 45 states. Courier Capital and HNP Capital provide customized investment management, investment consulting and retirement plan services to individuals, businesses, institutions, foundations and retirement plans.&#160;Financial Institutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries employ approximately 700 individuals. The Company&#8217;s stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol FISI. Additional information is available at <font style="text-decoration:underline;">www.fiiwarsaw.com</font>.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">*****</p>
<div align="left">
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse; width:502.2pt;;">
<tr>
<td style="width:224.8pt;"></td>
<td style="width:75.1pt;"></td>
<td style="width:202.3pt;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:11.5pt;">
<td colspan="2" valign="bottom" >
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">For additional information contact:</p></td>
<td valign="bottom" >
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:7.2pt;">
<td valign="bottom" >
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">Shelly J. Doran </p></td>
<td style="border:none;padding:0;"></td>
<td style="border:none;padding:0;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height:7.2pt;">
<td valign="bottom" >
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-left:0pt;;text-indent:0pt;;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-transform:none;font-variant: normal;">(585) 627-1362 or <font style="text-decoration:underline;">SJDoran@five-starbank.com</font></p></td>
<td style="border:none;padding:0;"></td>
<td style="border:none;padding:0;"></td>
</tr>
</table></div>
<p style="text-align:justify;margin-bottom:4pt;margin-top:12pt;text-indent:0%;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">&nbsp;</p></body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
