Exhibit 99.1            Press Release dated May 1, 2001

For More Information:                                     For Immediate Release:
Peter G. Humphrey                                                    May 1, 2001
         President and Chief Executive Officer

716-786-1101

      FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, INC. AND BATH NATIONAL CORPORATION COMPLETE
                                     MERGER

WARSAW, N.Y. -- Financial Institutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:FISI) today announced the
completion of its acquisition of Bath National Corporation and its banking
subsidiary Bath National Bank.

Bath National Bank (BNB) will continue to operate as an independently managed
community bank while enjoying the benefits of being a subsidiary of Financial
Institutions, Inc. (FII). Douglas L. McCabe, President and CEO of BNB said, "We
are pleased and proud to become FII's fifth banking subsidiary. FII's long
standing commitment to its customers and the communities it serves matches
perfectly with BNB's mission. We are excited about the additional products and
services we will now be able bring to our customers as a result of our
relationship with FII."

Peter G. Humphrey, President and CEO of FII said, "BNB is a very nice strategic
fit, allowing us to expand into contiguous markets which present a wealth of
opportunities. BNB gives FII the number one market share in Steuben County along
with an increased presence in the southern Finger Lakes region."

FII acquired BNB for $48.00 per share in a transaction valued at $62.6 million.
The merger was accounted for as a purchase transaction.

Financial Institutions, Inc. has total assets of $1.6 billion and is the parent
company of Wyoming County Bank, The National Bank of Geneva, Bath National Bank,
The Pavilion State Bank, and First Tier Bank and Trust. The five banks provide a
wide range of consumer and commercial banking services to individuals,
municipalities, and businesses through a network of 43 offices and 53 ATMs in
Western and Central New York State. Financial Institutions, Inc. is also the
parent company of The FI Group, Inc., a brokerage subsidiary. More information
about Financial Institutions, Inc. is available at the Company's web site:
www.fiiwarsaw.com.