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

Financial Institutions, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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:

[  ]  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))

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

On January 5, 2016, Financial Institutions, Inc. (the "Company"), completed its previously announced acquisition of Courier Capital Corporation ("Courier"), a leading SEC-registered investment advisory and wealth management firm based in Western New York, with operations in Buffalo and Jamestown. In connection with the closing of the acquisition, the Company issued a total of 294,705 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (the "Issuance"), to the four shareholders of Courier as partial consideration for the merger of Courier into a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Issuance was completed in reliance upon the exemption from registration set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 because the Issuance did not involve a public offering. The Company reached this conclusion based on the offering being limited to the four shareholders of Courier who are each accredited investors, financially sophisticated and were given access to information about the Company relevant to their potential investment in the Company. Additionally, the Issuance did not involve any form of general solicitation or general advertising and the four shareholders of Courier represented to the Company their intention to acquire the common stock for investment purposes and not with a view to, or in connection with, any distribution thereof.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On January 6, 2016, the Company announced that it completed its acquisition of Courier. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit 99.1 Press Release issued by Financial Institutions, Inc. on January 6, 2016

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 hereunto duly authorized.

Exhibit Index