<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950170-24-040134.txt : 20240402
<SEC-HEADER>0000950170-24-040134.hdr.sgml : 20240402
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240402160510
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950170-24-040134
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20240327
FILED AS OF DATE:		20240402
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240402

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BYERS SANDRA L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0002017961
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26481
		FILM NUMBER:		24814131

	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]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	02 Finance
		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>ownership.xml
<DESCRIPTION>3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-03-27</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0002017961</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BYERS SANDRA L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>220 LIBERTY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WARSAW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14569</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>true</isOther>
            <otherText>Principal Accounting Officer</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2025-03-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-03-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>410</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2025-07-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2025-07-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2026-03-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2026-03-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>690</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2027-03-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-03-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1232</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of FISI common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Sandra L. Byers</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-04-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>fisi-ex24_1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EX-24.1
<TEXT>
<html>
 <head>
  <title>EX-24.1</title>
 </head>
 <body style="margin: auto!important;padding: 8px;">
  <div style="min-height:1in;"></div>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:center;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR SECTION 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;"> </font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;"> </font></p>
  <p style="text-indent:6.667%;font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints each of Michael D. Grover and William Jack Plants II as the undersigned&#x2019;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&#x2019;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 &#x201c;Exchange Act&#x201d;), with regard to the undersigned&#x2019;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.</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;"> </font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">The authority of Michael D. Grover and William Jack Plants II 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&#x2019;s holdings of or transactions in the securities of Financial Institutions, Inc., unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in writing.</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;"> </font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">The undersigned acknowledges that Michael D. Grover and William Jack Plants II are not assuming any of the undersigned&#x2019;s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;"> </font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;"> </font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:italic;min-width:fit-content;">/s/ Sandra L. Byers</font><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-weight:bold;font-size:10pt;font-family:Times New Roman;font-style:italic;min-width:fit-content;">  </font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">Signature</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">Name:  </font><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-weight:bold;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">Sandra L. Byers</font></p>
  <p style="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman;margin-bottom:0;text-align:left;"><font style="color:#000000;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:12pt;font-family:Times New Roman;min-width:fit-content;">Date:  March 28, 2024</font></p>
  <div style="flex-direction:column;display:flex;min-height:1in;justify-content:flex-end;"></div>
  <hr style="page-break-after:always;">
 </body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
