# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001264816
**File Stem:** 0000723188-26-000080
**Filing Date:** 2026-3
**Character Count:** 8932
**Document Hash:** e4051d1c66e69b9efbb579cfe1c7c4ca
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0000723188-26-000080.hdr.sgml**: 20260323

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0000723188-26-000080

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 4

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 2

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260319

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260323

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260323

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** STEELE SALLY A
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001264816

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 4
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-13695
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26780594
**ISSUER**: 

**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

**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

## Ex-24

```

Confirming Statement

This Confirming Statement (?Statement?) confirms that the undersigned,
 Sally A. Steele, has authorized, directed and designated each of
 Brian Fancher, George J. Getman and Danielle McCann Cima (each a
?Designee? and together, the ?Designees?), or either of them acting
singly, to: (1) prepare, execute and file for and on behalf of the
undersigned with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the ?SEC?)
 a Form ID, including amendments thereto, enabling the undersigned to
make electronic filings with the SEC of reports required by Section 16(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any rule or regulation
thereunder; and (2) prepare, execute and file for and on behalf of the
undersigned with the SEC and any stock exchange or similar authority, all
Forms 3, 4, and 5, including any amendments thereto, that the undersigned
is required to file as an officer and/or director of Community Bank
 System, Inc. (the ?Company?) in accordance with Section 16(a) of the
 Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any rule or regulation thereunder.

The authority of the Designees under this Statement shall continue until
the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with
respect to the undersigned?s holdings of and/or transactions in
securities of the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a
signed writing delivered to the Designees.  The undersigned acknowledges
that the Designees are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of
the undersigned?s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  This Statement is not intended to be a
 power of attorney as defined in the New York General Obligations Law,
 Article 5, Title 15, Section 5-1501, and in the event this Statement is
 determined to be a power of attorney under such statute, this Statement
shall not revoke any power of attorney previously executed by the
undersigned and shall not be revoked by any subsequent power of attorney
unless such subsequent power of attorney expressly provides that it
revokes this Statement by referring to the date and subject hereof.

Date: September 19, 2012

			Undersigned?s Name:  Sally A. Steele
							(Print)

			Undersigned?s Signature: /s/ Sally A. Steele

```

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 4

### STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

[ ] Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **1. Name and Address of Reporting Person**<sup>*</sup><br>STEELE SALLY A<br><sub>(Last) (First) (Middle)</sub><br>C/O COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC.<br>333 BUTTERNUT DRIVE<br><sub>(Street)</sub><br>SYRACUSE, NY 13214<br><sub>(City) (State) (Zip)</sub> | **3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)**<br>2026-03-19 | **5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer**<br>(Check all applicable)<br>[X] Director [ ] 10% Owner<br>[ ] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)<br>_ _ |
| **2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol**<br>COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC. [ CBU ] | **4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)**<br>  | **6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)**<br>[X] Form filed by One Reporting Person<br>[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person |

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | Amount | (A) or (D) | Price | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Common Stock | 2026-03-19 |  | M |  | 1254 | A | <sup>(1)</sup> | 41218 | D |  |
| Common Stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4585 | I | Joint with brother |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | (A) | (D) | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Phantom Stock (Deferred Stock Units) | <sup>(2)</sup> | 2026-03-19 |  | M |  |  | 1254 | <sup>(2)</sup> | <sup>(2)</sup> | Common Stock | 1254 | <sup>(1)</sup> | 1230.7635 | D |  |

---

### Footnotes:

(1) On March 19, 2026, the reporting person's phantom stock units were settled for 1,254 shares of Community Financial System, Inc. common stock, and .5514 shares were settled in cash at the price of $55.61 per share.

(2) The reporting person has received deferred stock units under the Community Financial System, Inc. 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the "LTIP"). Each phantom stock unit which represents a deferred stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of Community Financial System, Inc. common stock and will be settled in common stock at a predetermined date.

**Signature:** /s/ Danielle M. Cima, pursuant to a Confirming Statement executed by Sally A. Steele  
**Date:** 2026-03-20

### Remarks:

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

**Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.**