# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000723188
**File Stem:** 0001104659-26-065800
**Filing Date:** 2026-5
**Character Count:** 8373
**Document Hash:** c88699ada06bd74149de550eebbbacf0
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001104659-26-065800.hdr.sgml**: 20260522

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001104659-26-065800

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 12

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260520

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260522

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260522

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000723188
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 02 Finance
- **EIN:** 161213679
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-13695
- **FILM NUMBER:** 261014872

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 333 BUTTERNUT DRIVE
- **CITY:** SYRACUSE
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 13214
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 8007242262

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 333 BUTTERNUT DRIVE
- **CITY:** SYRACUSE
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 13214

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20130806

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** COMMUNITY BANK NA, a subsidiary of Community Bank System Inc
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20130729

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** COMMUNITY BANK NA, a subsidiary of Community Bank System Inc.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20130726

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'?

**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**

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): **May 20, 2026**

![](tm2614393d1_8k-img01.jpg)

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Delaware** | **001-13695** | **16-1213679** |
| (State or other jurisdiction of<br> incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |

---

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **333 Butternut Drive, Syracuse, New York** | **13214** |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |

---

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: **(315) 445-2282**

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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Title of each class | &nbsp;&nbsp;Trading<br> Symbol(s) | &nbsp;&nbsp;Name of each exchange on which registered |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share | &nbsp;&nbsp;CBU | &nbsp;&nbsp;New York Stock Exchange |

---

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ◻

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ◻

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 5.07** | **Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.** |

---

On May 20, 2026, Community Financial System, Inc. (the "Company") held its Annual Shareholders Meeting virtually. At the Annual Meeting, the Company's Shareholders (i) elected 12 Directors, each for a one-year term, (ii) approved on an advisory basis the Company's executive compensation as set forth in the proxy statement, and (iii) ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2026.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company's Shareholders elected 12 individuals to the Board to serve one-year terms, as set forth below:

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name of Director** | **Number of Votes** | **Number of Votes** | **Number of Votes** | **Number of Votes** |
| **Name of Director** | **For** | **Against** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Abstain** | **Broker Non-Votes** |
| Mark J. Bolus | 40020617 | 488590 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;108074 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Neil E. Fesette | 39864573 | 593920 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;158788 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Brenda M. Hall | 40299084 | 279204 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;38993 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Dimitar A. Karaivanov | 40292552 | 250032 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;74697 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Jeffery J. Knauss | 39182068 | 1384863 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;50350 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Kerrie D. MacPherson | 39110529 | 1457481 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;49271 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| John Parente | 38668170 | 1878778 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;70333 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Raymond C. Pecor, III | 39163485 | 1407958 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;45838 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Savneet Singh | 40220651 | 318640 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;77990 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Eric E. Stickels | 39092718 | 1481480 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;43083 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| Michele P. Sullivan | 40246624 | 332662 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;37995 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |
| John A. Vaccaro | 40130426 | 431444 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;55411 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5090737 |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company's Shareholders approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the Company's executive compensation programs, as described in the proxy statement, as set forth below:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **For** | **Against** | **Abstain** | **Broker Non-Votes** |
| 39,052,791 | 1,367,203 | 197,287 | 5,090,737 |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Company's Shareholders ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026, as set forth below:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **For** | **Against** | **Abstain** |
| 45,216,738 | 457,737 | 33,543 |

---

**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.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Community Financial System, Inc.** | **Community Financial System, Inc.** |
| By: | /s/ Michael N. Abdo |
| Name: Michael N. Abdo | Name: Michael N. Abdo |
| Title: Executive Vice President and General Counsel | Title: Executive Vice President and General Counsel |

---

Dated: May 22, 2026