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): January 22, 2004

                          FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC.
                -------------------------------------------------
                Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

            New York                       0-26481                16-0816610
------------------------------      --------------------     -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of     (Commission File No.)     (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

  220 Liberty Street, Warsaw, New York                                14569
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(Address of principal executive offices)                           (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (585) 786-1100




Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (c)   Exhibit

            99.1  Press release issued by Financial Institutions, Inc. dated
                  January 22, 2004.

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

      The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 9, "Regulation FD
      Disclosure" and Item 12, "Results of Operations and Financial Condition."

      On January 22, 2004, Financial Institutions, Inc. issued a press release
      reporting its results of operations for the fiscal quarter and year ended
      December 31, 2003. Attached and incorporated herein by reference, as
      Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release dated January 22, 2004.


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                                   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.
                                                    (Registrant)

January 22, 2004                                  /s/ Ronald A. Miller
----------------                           ---------------------------------
      Date                                 Ronald A. Miller, Senior VP & CFO

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