Financial Institutions (FISI) S-3 Shelf registration

EXHIBIT 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Financial Institutions, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby appoints Peter G. Humphrey or Ronald A. Miller or any one of them as his or her attorney-in-fact, to sign on his or her behalf, individually and in each capacity stated below, and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 relating to the Company’s common stock issuable pursuant to the Warrant issued to the U.S. Treasury on or about December 23, 2008 and all amendments and/or supplements thereto, and all documents and instruments ancillary or relating thereto.

Signature	Title	Date
/s/ Karl V. Anderson, Jr.Karl V. Anderson, Jr.	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ John E. BenjaminJohn E. Benjamin	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ Thomas P. ConnollyThomas P. Connolly	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ Barton P. DambraBarton P. Dambra	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ Samuel M. GulloSamuel M. Gullo	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ Susan R. HollidaySusan R. Holliday	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ Peter G. HumphreyPeter G. Humphrey	Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	January 14, 2009
/s/ Erland E. KailbourneErland E. Kailbourne	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ Robert N. LatellaRobert N. Latella	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ James L. RobinsonJames L. Robinson	Director	January 14, 2009

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Signature	Title	Date
/s/ John R. Tyler, Jr.John R. Tyler, Jr.	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ James H. WyckoffJames H. Wyckoff	Director	January 14, 2009
/s/ Ronald A. MillerRonald A. Miller	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	January 14, 2009