WARSAW, N.Y., July 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Financial Institutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:FISI), today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016.  Financial Institutions, Inc. (the “Company”) is the parent company of Five Star Bank, Scott Danahy Naylon Insurance, LLC (“Scott Danahy Naylon”) and Courier Capital, LLC (“Courier Capital”).  The Company’s financial results since January 5, 2016 include the results of operations of Courier Capital, our wealth management subsidiary whose business we acquired from Courier Capital Corporation on that date.

Second Quarter 2016 Highlights:

  • Successful proxy contest defense against Clover Partners, L.P.; Financial Institutions’ director nominees elected with overwhelming shareholder support
  • Proxy contest expenses of $1.7 million recorded in second quarter
  • Diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.47 in second quarter, up 7% from EPS of $0.44 in prior year
  • Increased net interest income to a record $25.2 million in the second quarter
  • Increased noninterest income to $8.9 million in the second quarter, up 38% from $6.5 million in the prior year period
    • Driven by the acquisition of Courier Capital to expand the Company’s investment advisory services
    • Also includes a 12% year-over-year increase in insurance income and investment securities gains
  • Strong contributions from all three business platforms resulted in return on average tangible common equity of 12.22% (1) for the quarter
  • Total earning assets reach new record of $3.3 billion, up 6% from a year ago
  • Total assets increased to $3.6 billion, up $226.1 million or 7% from a year ago
  • Grew total loans $202.6 million or 10% from a year ago to a record of $2.2 billion
  • Increased total deposits by $202 million or nearly 8% from a year ago
  • Quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per common share represented a 3.09% dividend yield as of June 30, 2016 and a return of 43% of second quarter net income to common shareholders
  • Shareholders’ equity reached a new record of $322.2 million at June 30, 2016
  • Common book value per share increased to $20.98 at June 30, 2016
  • Total risk-based capital remained above 13%, enabling a strong capital position to support future growth
  • Credit quality remains solid with total non-performing loans to total loans reducing to .30% in the second quarter from .53% last year

Net income for the second quarter 2016 was $7.2 million, compared to $7.6 million for the first quarter 2016, and $6.6 million for the second quarter 2015.  After preferred dividends, second quarter 2016 net income available to common shareholders was $6.8 million or $0.47 per diluted share, compared with $7.3 million or $0.50 per diluted share for the first quarter 2016, and $6.2 million or $0.44 per diluted share for the second quarter 2015.

(1) See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this Non-GAAP measure.

The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Martin K. Birmingham stated, “We are committed to continuing to deliver results for our customers and shareholders, and in the second quarter of 2016, we did just that.  Financial Institutions delivered very solid results in the quarter, with all of our major businesses performing well, despite the distraction and expense of the successfully concluded proxy contest defense.  Organic loan production initiatives resulted in strong commercial and residential real estate portfolio growth in the second quarter, with commercial loans and residential real estate loans increasing by 16% and 12% from the second quarter last year, respectively.  New records were set for total assets, total earning assets and total loans.

“We feel strongly that our strategic plan is delivering its intended results.  Beyond the progress and improvements achieved to date, we continue to have robust opportunities in our markets to further expand as a diversified financial services provider.  Our branch expansion initiatives are moving forward with the opening of another Rochester branch later in the year and we continue to assess opportunities in Rochester and Buffalo, resulting from local market disruption.  We believe Financial Institutions is primed for continued growth with the right plan, marketplace, people, service and products.” 

Kevin B. Klotzbach, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer noted that, “We implemented several initiatives designed to reduce operating expenses late in the first quarter of 2016 and the savings were reflected in the second quarter, although those savings were more than offset by the proxy contest expenses. 

“We have adeptly been managing our results despite the current interest rate environment.  Our strong loan growth has had an offsetting effect on margin compression.  Along with our growing loan portfolio, it is important to observe the Company’s strategic imperative to maintain strong credit quality.  In the second quarter we continued to hold up to this high standard.  Total loans grew to a record $2.2 billion as we reported a 6% increase from year-end.  Since year-end, total non-performing assets have declined to $6.8 million, the allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans has increased to 435% and year-to-date net charge-offs are down from prior year at 0.27%.”

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income was $25.2 million in the second quarter 2016 compared to $24.7 million in the first quarter 2016 and $23.4 million in the second quarter 2015.  Average earning assets were up $98.7 million, led by a $50.8 million increase in loans in the second quarter of 2016 compared to the first quarter of 2016.  When comparing the second quarter 2016 to the same quarter in 2015, average earning assets increased $236.9 million, including increases of $191.1 million and $45.6 million in loans and investment securities, respectively.  Second quarter 2016 net interest margin was 3.23%, down 4 basis points from 3.27% for the first quarter of 2016 and down slightly from 3.24% for the second quarter of 2015. 

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $8.9 million for the second quarter 2016 compared to $9.2 million for the first quarter 2016 and $6.5 million in the second quarter 2015.  Included in noninterest income for the first quarter 2016 is $911 thousand of death benefit proceeds from company owned life insurance.  Net gain on sale of investment securities totaled $613 thousand and $1.4 million in the first and second quarters of 2016, respectively.  Exclusive of these items, noninterest income was $7.5 million in the second quarter 2016 compared to $7.7 million in the first quarter 2016 and $6.5 million in the second quarter 2015.  The main factor contributing to the lower noninterest income in the second quarter 2016 compared to the first quarter 2016, other than the decrease in death benefit proceeds from corporate owned life insurance, was a decrease in insurance income.  Compared to first quarter 2016, the lower second quarter 2016 insurance income was due in part to contingent commission revenue that is generally received during the first quarter of each year, coupled with the variable nature of the annual renewals of our customers’ insurance policies which causes our quarterly revenue to fluctuate.  The higher noninterest income in the second quarter 2016 compared to the second quarter 2015 was primarily the result of an $824 thousand increase in investment advisory income, reflecting the contribution from Courier Capital as part of our strategy to diversify our business lines and increase noninterest income through additional fee-based services. 

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $22.1 million for the second quarter 2016 compared to $21.2 million for the first quarter 2016 and $19.2 million for the second quarter 2015.  The increase in noninterest expense in second quarter 2016 compared to first quarter 2016 was primarily a result of professional services associated with responding to the proxy contest with Clover Partners, L.P.  The professional services incurred in connection with the proxy contest totaled $360 thousand and $1.7 million in the first and second quarters of 2016, respectively.  The higher professional fees in the second quarter 2016 were partly offset by lower salaries and employee benefits as a result of cost reduction initiatives implemented late in the first quarter of 2016.  The increase in noninterest expense during the second quarter 2016 compared to the second quarter 2015 was largely due to the higher professional services expense incurred in connection with the proxy contest coupled with higher salaries and employee benefits and occupancy and equipment expenses.  The higher year-over-year operating expenses are primarily a result of the Courier Capital acquisition and organic growth initiatives, partly offset by the cost reduction strategies implemented late in the first quarter of 2016.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense was $2.9 million in the second quarter 2016, compared to $2.7 million in the first quarter 2016 and $2.8 million in the second quarter 2015.  The effective tax rate was 28.8% for the second quarter 2016, compared with 26.4% for the first quarter of 2016 and 29.5% in the second quarter 2015.  The lower effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2016 is a result of the non-taxable death benefit proceeds on corporate owned life insurance received in that quarter.

Balance Sheet and Capital Management

Total assets were $3.59 billion at June 30, 2016, up $69.0 million from $3.52 billion at March 31, 2016 and up $226.1 million from $3.36 billion at June 30, 2015.  The increases were attributable to loan growth and higher investment security balances that were funded by deposit growth.

Total loans were $2.21 billion at June 30, 2016, up $96.8 million or 5% from March 31, 2016 and up $202.6 million or 10% from June 30, 2015.  The increase in loans is primarily attributable to organic commercial and residential real estate loan growth.  Commercial loans totaled $963.6 million as of June 30, 2016, an increase of $55.5 million or 6% from March 31, 2016 and an increase of $134.2 million or 16% from June 30, 2015.  Residential real estate loans increased $25.9 million or 7% from March 31, 2016 and $43.2 million or 12% from June 30, 2015. 

Total deposits were $2.86 billion at June 30, 2016, a decrease of $102.2 million from March 31, 2016 and an increase of $201.8 million from June 30, 2015.  The decrease during the second quarter of 2016 was mainly due to seasonal outflows of municipal deposits, while the year-over-year increase was due to higher municipal deposits and successful business development efforts in both municipal and retail banking.  Public deposit balances represented 27% of total deposits at June 30, 2016, compared to 30% at March 31, 2016 and 26% at June 30, 2015.

Short-term borrowings were $338.3 million at June 30, 2016, up $159.1 million from March 31, 2016 and down $12.3 million from June 30, 2015.  Short-term borrowings are typically utilized to manage the seasonality of municipal deposits.

Shareholders’ equity was $322.2 million at June 30, 2016, compared with $314.0 million at March 31, 2016 and $284.4 million at June 30, 2015.  Common book value per share was $20.98 at June 30, 2016, an increase of $0.52 or 3% from $20.46 at March 31, 2016 and $2.15 or 11% from $18.83 at June 30, 2015.  The increases in shareholders’ equity and the common book value per share are attributable to net income, stock issued for the acquisition of Courier Capital and higher net unrealized gains on securities available for sale, a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

During the second quarter 2016, the Company declared a common stock dividend of $0.20 per common share.  The second quarter 2016 dividend returned 43% of second quarter net income to common shareholders. 

The Company’s leverage ratio was 7.39% at June 30, 2016, compared to 7.46% at March 31, 2016 and 7.31% at June 30, 2015.  The decrease in the leverage ratio from March 31, 2016 was primarily due to an increase in average quarterly assets.  The increase in the leverage ratio from June 30, 2015 was due to higher regulatory capital, which excludes changes in accumulated other comprehensive income. 

Credit Quality

Non-performing loans were $6.6 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $8.6 million at March 31, 2016 and $10.7 million at June 30, 2015.  The $4.1 million decrease from the second quarter 2015 was due to lower commercial non-performing loans resulting from the payoff of one $2.5 million relationship during the third quarter of 2015 and pay-downs on two relationships totaling $1.8 million during the second quarter of 2016.  The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.30% at June 30, 2016 compared with 0.41% at March 31, 2016, and 0.53% at June 30, 2015.

The provision for loans losses for the second quarter 2016 was $2.0 million, a decrease of $416 thousand from the prior quarter and an increase of $664 thousand from the second quarter 2015.  Net charge-offs were $1.0 million during the second quarter 2016, an $890 thousand decrease compared to the prior quarter and a $16 thousand increase from the second quarter 2015.  The ratio of annualized net charge-offs to total average loans was 0.19% in the current quarter, compared to 0.36% in the prior quarter and 0.20% in the second quarter 2015.

The ratio of allowance for loans losses to total loans was 1.29% at June 30, 2016, compared with 1.30% at March 31, 2016, and 1.37% at June 30, 2015.  The ratio of allowance for loans losses to non-performing loans was 435% at June 30, 2016, compared with 322% in the prior quarter and 257% at June 30, 2015.

About Financial Institutions, Inc.

Financial Institutions, Inc. provides diversified financial services through its subsidiaries, Five Star Bank, Scott Danahy Naylon and Courier Capital.  Five Star Bank provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking services to individuals, municipalities and businesses through a network of over 50 offices and more than 60 ATMs throughout Western and Central New York State.  Scott Danahy Naylon provides a broad range of insurance services to personal and business clients across 44 states.  Courier Capital provides customized investment management, investment consulting and retirement plan services to individuals, businesses, institutions, foundations and retirement plans.  Financial Institutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries employ approximately 700 individuals.  The Company’s stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol FISI and is a member of the NASDAQ OMX ABA Community Bank Index.  Additional information is available at the Company’s website: www.fiiwarsaw.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

This news release contains financial information, such as tangible common equity, determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide a meaningful comparison of the underlying operational performance of the Company, and facilitate investors’ assessments of its business and performance trends.  These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that may be presented by other companies. Where non-GAAP disclosures are used in this news release, the comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as the reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure, can be found in Appendix A to this document.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Statements herein are based on certain assumptions and analyses by the Company and are factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such statements for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to:  the Company’s ability to implement its strategic plan, the Company’s ability to redeploy investment assets into loan assets, whether the Company experiences greater credit losses than expected, whether the Company experiences breaches of its, or third party, information systems, the attitudes and preferences of the Company’s customers, the Company’s ability to successfully integrate and profitably operate Scott Danahy Naylon and Courier Capital, the competitive environment, fluctuations in the fair value of securities in its investment portfolio, changes in the regulatory environment and the Company’s compliance with regulatory requirements, changes in interest rates, general economic and credit market conditions nationally and regionally.  Consequently, all forward-looking statements made herein are qualified by these cautionary statements and the cautionary language in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with the SEC.  Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this press release.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.
Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

  2016   2015
  June 30,   March 31,   December 31,   September 30,   June 30,
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA:                  
Cash and cash equivalents $ 67,624     110,944   60,121   51,334     52,554  
Investment securities:                  
  Available for sale   619,719     610,013   544,395   577,509     772,639  
  Held-to-maturity   478,549     476,283   485,717   490,638     320,820  
   Total investment securities   1,098,268     1,086,296   1,030,112   1,068,147     1,093,459  
Loans held for sale   209     609   1,430   1,568     448  
Loans:                  
  Commercial business   349,432     317,776   313,758   297,876     292,791  
  Commercial mortgage   614,141     590,316   566,101   548,529     536,590  
  Residential real estate loans   408,367     382,504   381,074   376,552     365,172  
  Residential real estate lines   125,054     126,526   127,347   128,361     128,844  
  Consumer indirect   696,908     679,846   676,940   665,714     666,550  
  Other consumer   17,929     18,066   18,542   19,204     19,326  
   Total loans   2,211,831     2,115,034   2,083,762   2,036,236     2,009,273  
  Allowance for loan losses   28,525     27,568   27,085   26,455     27,500  
   Total loans, net   2,183,306     2,087,466   2,056,677   2,009,781     1,981,773  
Total interest-earning assets   3,292,528     3,189,582   3,114,530   3,097,315     3,104,631  
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net   76,252     76,567   66,946   67,925     68,158  
Total assets   3,585,589     3,516,572   3,381,024   3,357,608     3,359,459  
Deposits:                  
  Noninterest-bearing demand   626,240     617,394   641,972   623,296     602,143  
  Interest-bearing demand   560,284     622,443   523,366   563,731     530,861  
  Savings and money market   960,325     1,042,910   928,175   942,673     910,215  
  Certificates of deposit   711,156     677,430   637,018   623,800     613,019  
   Total deposits   2,858,005     2,960,177   2,730,531   2,753,500     2,656,238  
Short-term borrowings   338,300     179,200   293,100   241,400     350,600  
Long-term borrowings, net   39,025     39,008   38,990   38,972     38,955  
Total interest-bearing liabilities   2,609,090     2,560,991   2,420,649   2,410,576     2,443,650  
Shareholders’ equity   322,176     313,953   293,844   295,434     284,435  
Common shareholders’ equity   304,836     296,613   276,504   278,094     267,095  
Tangible common equity (1)   228,584     220,046   209,558   210,169     198,937  
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities,
  net of tax
$ 10,886     7,555   443   5,270     (924 )
                   
Common shares outstanding   14,528     14,495   14,191   14,189     14,184  
Treasury shares   164     197   207   209     214  
CAPITAL RATIOS AND PER SHARE DATA:                  
Leverage ratio   7.39 %   7.46   7.41   7.29     7.31  
Common equity Tier 1 ratio   9.63 %   9.83   9.77   9.74     9.50  
Tier 1 risk-based capital   10.33 %   10.56   10.50   10.49     10.25  
Total risk-based capital   13.08 %   13.39   13.35   13.37     13.17  
Common equity to assets   8.50 %   8.43   8.18   8.28     7.95  
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)   6.51 %   6.40   6.32   6.39     6.04  
                   
Common book value per share $ 20.98     20.46   19.49   19.60     18.83  
Tangible common book value per share (1) $ 15.73     15.18   14.77   14.81     14.03  
Stock price (Nasdaq:FISI):                  
  High $ 29.49     29.53   29.04   25.21     25.50  
  Low $ 24.56     25.38   24.05   23.54     22.50  
  Close $ 26.07     29.07   28.00   24.78     24.84  

________
(1)       See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this Non-GAAP measure.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.
Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

  Six months ended   2016   2015
  June 30,   Second   First   Fourth   Third   Second
    2016     2015   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
SELECTED INCOME STATEMENT DATA:                          
Interest income $ 55,881     50,956   28,246   27,635   27,487     27,007     25,959
Interest expense   5,963     4,405   3,047   2,916   2,856     2,876     2,555
  Net interest income   49,918     46,551   25,199   24,719   24,631     24,131     23,404
Provision for loan losses   4,320     4,029   1,952   2,368   2,598     754     1,288
  Net interest income after provision                          
   for loan losses   45,598     42,522   23,247   22,351   22,033     23,377     22,116
Noninterest income:                          
  Service charges on deposits   3,479     3,843   1,755   1,724   1,862     2,037     1,964
  Insurance income   2,855     2,665   1,183   1,672   1,236     1,265     1,057
  ATM and debit card   2,746     2,476   1,421   1,325   1,311     1,297     1,283
  Investment advisory   2,608     1,028   1,365   1,243   642     523     541
  Company owned life insurance   1,854     960   486   1,368   514     488     493
  Investments in limited partnerships   92     529   36   56   30     336     55
  Loan servicing   228     263   112   116   87     153     96
  Net gain on sale of loans held for sale   156     108   78   78   88     53     39
  Net gain on investment securities   2,000     1,062   1,387   613   640     286    
  Net gain on sale of other assets   86     20   82   4   7         16
  Amortization of tax credit investment                 (390 )  
  Other   2,029     1,798   1,011   1,018   2,163     957     911
   Total noninterest income   18,133     14,752   8,916   9,217   8,580     7,005     6,455
Noninterest expense:                          
  Salaries and employee benefits   22,432     20,829   10,818   11,614   11,332     10,278     10,606
  Occupancy and equipment   7,289     7,074   3,664   3,625   3,365     3,417     3,375
  Professional services   4,280     1,834   2,833   1,447   1,604     1,064     866
  Computer and data processing   1,717     1,512   913   804   895     779     810
  Supplies and postage   1,058     1,071   464   594   544     540     508
  FDIC assessments   877     833   441   436   442     444     415
  Advertising and promotions   724     477   347   377   331     312     238
  Goodwill impairment charge             751        
  Other   4,961     4,617   2,640   2,321   2,564     2,484     2,418
   Total noninterest expense   43,338     38,247   22,120   21,218   21,828     19,318     19,236
   Income before income taxes   20,393     19,027   10,043   10,350   8,785     11,064     9,335
Income tax expense   5,624     5,641   2,892   2,732   2,150     2,748     2,750
   Net income   14,769     13,386   7,151   7,618   6,635     8,316     6,585
Preferred stock dividends   731     731   366   365   365     366     366
Net income available to common shareholders $ 14,038     12,655   6,785   7,253   6,270     7,950     6,219
FINANCIAL RATIOS:                          
Earnings per share – basic $ 0.97     0.90   0.47   0.50   0.44     0.56     0.44
Earnings per share – diluted $ 0.97     0.90   0.47   0.50   0.44     0.56     0.44
Cash dividends declared on common stock $ 0.40     0.40   0.20   0.20   0.20     0.20     0.20
Common dividend payout ratio   41.24 %   44.44   42.55   40.00   45.45     35.71     45.45
Dividend yield (annualized)   3.09 %   3.25   3.09   2.77   2.83     3.20     3.23
Return on average assets   0.86 %   0.85   0.82   0.90   0.78     0.99     0.81
Return on average equity   9.48 %   9.43   9.07   9.91   8.86     11.41     9.19
Return on average common equity   9.54 %   9.49   9.10   10.00   8.89     11.60     9.24
Return on average tangible common equity (1)   12.86 %   12.73   12.22   13.54   11.73     15.47     12.37
Efficiency ratio (2)   63.97 %   61.13   65.03   62.90   64.55     59.46     62.00

________
(1)       See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this Non-GAAP measure.
(2)       Efficiency ratio equals noninterest expense less other real estate expense and amortization and impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets as a percentage of net revenue, defined as the sum of tax-equivalent net interest income and noninterest income before net gains on investment securities, proceeds from company owned life insurance, adjustments to contingent liabilities and amortizations of tax credit investment.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.
Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
 (Amounts in thousands)

  Six months ended   2016   2015  
  June 30,   Second   First   Fourth   Third   Second  
    2016     2015   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter  
SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES:                            
Federal funds sold and interest-earning deposits $ 193     75   316   70       26  
Investment securities (1)   1,051,411     969,091   1,075,220   1,027,602   1,049,217   1,067,815   1,029,640  
Loans:                            
  Commercial business   323,022     274,729   329,901   316,143   297,033   297,216   284,535  
  Commercial mortgage   594,251     494,095   606,360   582,142   554,327   545,875   509,317  
  Residential real estate loans   386,952     356,658   391,826   382,077   379,189   371,318   357,442  
  Residential real estate lines   126,264     129,305   125,212   127,317   127,688   127,826   129,167  
  Consumer indirect   680,927     662,982   683,722   678,133   671,888   663,884   664,222  
  Other consumer   17,744     19,290   17,562   17,926   18,626   18,680   18,848  
   Total loans   2,129,160     1,937,059   2,154,583   2,103,738   2,048,751   2,024,799   1,963,531  
Total interest-earning assets   3,180,764     2,906,225   3,230,119   3,131,410   3,097,968   3,092,614   2,993,197  
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net   76,380     68,410   76,437   76,324   67,692   68,050   68,294  
Total assets   3,456,605     3,189,721   3,507,760   3,405,451   3,353,702   3,343,802   3,263,111  
Interest-bearing liabilities:                            
  Interest-bearing demand   575,960     556,564   579,497   572,424   545,602   516,448   561,570  
  Savings and money market   991,770     884,709   1,017,911   965,629   960,768   903,491   929,701  
  Certificates of deposit   678,521     609,169   698,505   658,537   628,944   619,459   616,145  
  Short-term borrowings   217,576     239,103   213,826   221,326   241,957   329,050   226,577  
  Long-term borrowings, net   39,006     16,618   39,015   38,997   38,979   38,962   33,053  
   Total interest-bearing liabilities   2,502,833     2,306,163   2,548,754   2,456,913   2,416,250   2,407,410   2,367,046  
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits   619,751     576,011   621,912   617,590   619,423   625,131   587,396  
Total deposits   2,866,002     2,626,453   2,917,825   2,814,180   2,754,737   2,664,529   2,694,812  
Total liabilities   3,143,426     2,903,560   3,190,589   3,096,263   3,056,541   3,054,573   2,975,762  
Shareholders’ equity   313,179     286,161   317,171   309,188   297,161   289,229   287,349  
Common equity   295,839     268,821   299,831   291,848   279,821   271,889   270,009  
Tangible common equity (2) $ 219,459     200,411   223,394   215,524   212,129   203,839   201,715  
Common shares outstanding:                            
  Basic   14,415     14,071   14,434   14,395   14,095   14,087   14,078  
  Diluted   14,477     14,118   14,489   14,465   14,163   14,139   14,121  
SELECTED AVERAGE YIELDS:                            
(Tax equivalent basis)                            
Investment securities   2.48 %   2.46   2.48   2.48   2.47   2.46   2.44
Loans   4.19 %   4.22   4.17   4.21   4.22   4.16   4.18
Total interest-earning assets   3.63 %   3.63   3.61   3.64   3.63   3.57   3.58
Interest-bearing demand   0.14 %   0.13   0.14   0.14   0.15   0.15   0.14
Savings and money market   0.13 %   0.12   0.13   0.13   0.14   0.14   0.12
Certificates of deposit   0.88 %   0.86   0.89   0.88   0.88   0.89   0.87
Short-term borrowings   0.63 %   0.37   0.65   0.62   0.49   0.41   0.38
Long-term borrowings, net   6.33 %   6.20   6.33   6.34   6.34   6.34   6.23
Total interest-bearing liabilities   0.48 %   0.38   0.48   0.48   0.47   0.47   0.43
Net interest rate spread   3.15 %   3.25   3.13   3.16   3.16   3.10   3.15
Net interest rate margin   3.25 %   3.33   3.23   3.27   3.26   3.20   3.24

________
(1)       Includes investment securities at adjusted amortized cost.
(2)       See Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the computation of this Non-GAAP measure.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.
Selected Financial Information (Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands)

    2016     2015
  Second   First   Fourth   Third   Second
  Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
ASSET QUALITY DATA:                  
Allowance for Loan Losses                  
Beginning balance $ 27,568        27,085     26,455   27,500      27,191  
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries):                  
  Commercial business   (27 )     502     133   68     (73 )
  Commercial mortgage   2       (1 )   23   12     194  
   Residential real estate loans   34       21     110   37     38  
   Residential real estate lines   44           24   30     116  
  Consumer indirect   904       1,328     1,519   1,475     645  
  Other consumer   38       35     159   177     59  
   Total net charge-offs   995       1,885     1,968   1,799     979  
Provision for loan losses   1,952       2,368     2,598   754     1,288  
Ending balance $ 28,525        27,568     27,085    26,455     27,500   
                   
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans (annualized):                  
  Commercial business   -0.03 %     0.64     0.18   0.09     -0.10  
  Commercial mortgage   0.00 %     0.00     0.02   0.01     0.15  
   Residential real estate loans   0.03 %     0.02     0.12   0.04     0.04  
   Residential real estate lines   0.14 %     0.00     0.07   0.09     0.36  
  Consumer indirect   0.53 %     0.79     0.90   0.88     0.39  
  Other consumer   0.87 %     0.79     3.39   3.76     1.26  
   Total loans   0.19 %     0.36     0.38   0.35     0.20  
                   
Supplemental information (1)                  
Non-performing loans:                  
  Commercial business $ 2,312        4,056     3,922    3,064       4,643   
  Commercial mortgage   1,547       1,781     947   1,802     3,070  
   Residential real estate loans   1,485       1,601     1,848   2,092     2,028  
   Residential real estate lines   182       165     235   223     219  
  Consumer indirect   1,015       943     1,467   1,292     728  
  Other consumer   15       21     21   20     20  
   Total non-performing loans   6,556       8,567     8,440   8,493     10,708  
Foreclosed assets   281       187     163   286     165  
 Total non-performing assets $ 6,837        8,754     8,603    8,779      10,873   
                   
Total non-performing loans to total loans   0.30 %     0.41     0.41   0.42     0.53  
Total non-performing assets to total assets   0.19 %     0.25     0.25   0.26     0.32  
Allowance for loan losses to total loans   1.29 %     1.30     1.30   1.30     1.37  
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans   435 %     322     321   311     257  

________
(1)       At period end.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.
Appendix A – Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

  Six months ended   2016   2015
  June 30,   Second   First   Fourth   Third   Second
    2016     2015   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
Ending tangible assets:                          
Total assets           3,585,589     3,516,572     3,381,024     3,357,608   3,359,459
Less: Goodwill and other intangible
  assets, net
          76,252     76,567     66,946     67,925   68,158
Tangible assets           3,509,337     3,440,005     3,314,078     3,289,683   3,291,301
                           
Ending tangible common equity:                          
Common shareholders’ equity           304,836     296,613     276,504     278,094   267,095
Less: Goodwill and other intangible
  assets, net
          76,252     76,567     66,946     67,925   68,158
Tangible common equity           228,584     220,046   $ 209,558     210,169   198,937
                           
Tangible common equity to tangible
  assets (1)
          6.51 %   6.40     6.32     6.39   6.04
                           
Common shares outstanding           14,528     14,495     14,191     14,189   14,184
Tangible common book value per share (2)           15.73     15.18     14.77     14.81   14.03
                           
Average tangible assets:                          
Average assets $ 3,456,605     3,189,721     3,507,760     3,405,451     3,353,702     3,343,802   3,263,111
Less: Average goodwill and other
  intangible assets
  76,380     68,410     76,437     76,324     67,692     68,050   68,294
Average tangible assets $ 3,380,225     3,121,311     3,431,323     3,329,127     3,286,010     3,275,752   3,194,817
                           
Average tangible common equity:                          
Average common equity $ 295,839     268,821     299,831     291,848     279,821     271,889   270,009
Less: Average goodwill and other
  intangible assets
  76,380     68,410     76,437     76,324     67,692     68,050   68,294
Average tangible common equity $ 219,459     200,411     223,394     215,524     212,129     203,839   201,715
                           
Net income available to
  common shareholders
$ 14,038     12,655     6,785     7,253     6,270     7,950   6,219
Return on average tangible common
  equity (3)
  12.86 %   12.73     12.22     13.54     11.73     15.47   12.37

________
(1)       Tangible common equity divided by tangible assets.
(2)       Tangible common equity divided by common shares outstanding.
(3)       Net income available to common shareholders (annualized) divided by average tangible common equity.

CONTACT: For additional information contact:	 
Kevin B. Klotzbach
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer	
Phone:  585.786.1130
Email:  [email protected]	 		 		

Jordan Darrow
Darrow Associates
Phone: 512.551.9296
Email: [email protected]