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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>
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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>
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<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>
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<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>
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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: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="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>
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<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>
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<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>
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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;">Description</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;"> 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: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="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:90.9%;">
<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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<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:90.9%;">
<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;">&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;">&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;">&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;">&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;">&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;">&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;">&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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<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="_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>
<p style="margin-bottom:0pt;margin-top:0pt;text-indent:0%;font-size:12pt;">&nbsp;</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;">&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>
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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;">&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>
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<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: 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>
<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>
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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;;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>
<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="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>
<td valign="bottom"  BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" style="padding-left:0pt;padding-Right:0.75pt;padding-Top:0.75pt;padding-Bottom:0pt;width:45%;">
<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;">and Treasurer</p></td>
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fisi-8k_20180912.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 12, 2018
Financial Institutions, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
New York
0-26481
16-0816610
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
220 Liberty Street
Warsaw, New York
14569
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (585) 786-1100
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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):
☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
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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.
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Item 5.04 Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant's Employee Benefit Plans.
On September 12, 2018, Financial Institutions, Inc. (the "Company") received a notice from the Financial Institutions, Inc. 401(k) Plan (the "Plan") pursuant to Section 101(i)(2)(E) of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 informing the
Company of an impending blackout under the Plan.
On September 14, 2018, the Company delivered to its directors and executive officers (collectively, the "Section 16 Insiders") a notice contemplated by Rule 104 of
Securities and Exchan
ge Commission Regulation BTR (Blackout Trading Restriction) ("Regulation BTR")
,
to notify the Section 16 Insiders of
a "blackout period" as contemplated by Section 306(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Regulation BTR
impacting the Company's equity s
ecurities, including the
Company'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's equity securities
.  The blackout period under
the Plan was imposed to implement a change in the Plan's administrator from Milliman to Vanguard.  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
equest withdrawals or distributions.  The blackout period covers the Company Stock Fund within the Plan in addition to all additional funds within the Plan.
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.  The Company has so advised the Section 16 Insiders.  A copy of the Company's Notice to the Section 16 Insiders is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.
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.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
.
Exhibit
Number
Description
99.1
Notice to Directors and Executive Officers of Financial Institutions, Inc. dated September 14, 2018
SIGNATURES
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.
Financial Institutions, Inc.
Date: September 14, 2018
By:
/s/ Kevin B. Klotzbach
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer