Exhibit No.11.1 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST EMPIRE STATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE Amounts in thousands, except per share Three months ended Nine months ended September 30 September 30 1997 1996 1997 1996 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Primary Average common shares outstanding 6,592 6,722 6,634 6,651 Common stock equivalents * 335 382 351 381 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Primary common shares outstanding 6,927 7,104 6,985 7,032 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $45,891 35,871 129,941 110,683 Less: Cash dividends on preferred stock -- -- -- 900 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income available to common shareholders $45,891 35,871 129,941 109,783 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings per common share --primary $ 6.62 5.05 18.60 15.61 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fully diluted Average common shares outstanding 6,592 6,722 6,634 6,651 Common stock equivalents * 390 384 390 391 Assumed conversion of 9% convertible preferred stock -- -- -- 163 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fully diluted average common shares outstanding 6,982 7,106 7,024 7,205 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net income $45,891 35,871 129,941 110,683 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings per common share - fully diluted $ 6.57 5.05 18.50 15.36 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Represents shares of First Empire's common stock issuable upon the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options granted pursuant to the First Empire State Corporation 1983 Stock Option Plan under the "treasury stock" method of accounting.