Exhibit 23.1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT




The Board of Directors
Financial Institutions, Inc.

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form
S-4 of Financial Institutions, Inc. related to the merger agreement with Bank of
Avoca of our report dated January 31, 2001, relating to the consolidated
statements of financial condition of Financial Institutions, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated
statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each
of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000, which report
appears in the December 31, 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Financial
Institutions, Inc.

We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the
registration statement.


                                  /s/ KPMG LLP



         February 1, 2002
         Albany, New York