Financial Institutions, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year-End 2005 Conference Call and Webcast

January 19, 2006

WARSAW, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2006--Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISI) announced today that it will release its fourth quarter and fiscal year-end 2005 results before the opening of the financial markets on Friday, January 27, 2006.

The release of the financial results will be followed by a company-hosted teleconference at 11:00 a.m. eastern time on Friday, January 27, 2006. During the teleconference, Peter G. Humphrey, Chairman, President and CEO, and Ronald A. Miller, Executive Vice President and CFO, will review the financial and operating results for the period and review Financial Institutions' corporate strategy and outlook. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The Financial Institutions conference call can be accessed the following ways:

    --  The live webcast can be found at http://www.fiiwarsaw.com.
        Participants should go to the website 10-15 minutes prior to
        the scheduled conference in order to download any necessary
        audio software.

    --  The teleconference can be accessed by dialing (303) 205-0066
        approximately 5-10 minutes prior to the call.

    To listen to the archived call:

    --  The archived webcast will be at http://www.fiiwarsaw.com. A
        transcript will also be posted once available.

    --  A replay can also be heard by calling (303) 590-3000, and
        entering passcode 11051203#. The telephonic replay will be
        available through Friday, February 3, 2006 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

    ABOUT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.

With total assets of $2.1 billion, Financial Institutions, Inc. is the parent company of Five Star Bank which provides a wide range of consumer and commercial banking services to individuals, municipalities and businesses through a network of 50 offices and 72 ATM's in Western and Central New York State. FII affiliates also provide diversified financial services to its customers and clients, including brokerage, trust, and insurance. More information on FII and its subsidiaries is available through the Company web site at www.fiiwarsaw.com.

    CONTACT: Financial Institutions, Inc.Matthew T. Murtha, 585-786-1167
             mtmurtha@five-starbank.com
             or
             Kei Advisors LLC
             Deborah K. Pawlowski, 716-843-3908
             dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com

    SOURCE: Financial Institutions, Inc.