FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * BIRMINGHAM MARTIN KEARNEY   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC [FISI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Executive Vice President (Last) (First) (Middle) 220 LIBERTY STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/23/2010 (Street) WARSAW, NY 14569 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/23/2010   A   2,500 A $ 0 (1) 16,124 D   Common Stock 02/23/2010   A   3,985 A $ 0 (2) 20,109 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
BIRMINGHAM MARTIN KEARNEY 220 LIBERTY STREET WARSAW, NY 14569			Executive Vice President

Signatures

Michael D. Grover for Martin K. Birmingham		02/25/2010
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Represents a grant of restricted stock pursuant to the Company's 2009 Management Stock Incentive Plan. The award vests on February 23, 2014, subject to the participant's continued employment with the Company and subject to accelerated vesting upon the death of the participant. However, as long as the Company is a "TARP recipient," as defined under the Interim Final Rules, the award may become transferable only in 25% increments at the time of the Company's repayment of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively, of the financial assistance it received under the U.S. Treasury's Capital Purchase Program, or as may be required to satisfy tax obligations incurred in connection with the vesting of the restricted shares.
(2)	Represents a grant of restricted stock pursuant to the Company's 2009 Management Stock Incentive Plan. The award vests 50% on February 23, 2012 and 50% on February 23, 2013, subject to the acheivement of the Company's performance goals for the year, subject to the participants continued employment with the company and subject to accelerated vesting upon the death of the participant. However, as long as the Company is a "TARP recipient," as defined under the Interim Final Rules, the award may become transferable only in 25% increments at the time of the Company's repayment of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively, of the financial assistance it received under the U.S. Treasury's Capital Purchase Program, or as may be required to satisfy tax obligations incurred in connection with the vesting of the restricted shares.

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