FISI
Financial ServicesFinancial Institutions, Inc. · Banks - Regional · $700M
What is Financial Institutions, Inc.?
Financial Institutions, Inc. is the holding company behind Five Star Bank, a New York-chartered community bank serving individuals, businesses, and municipalities across upstate New York. The company also extends into insurance and wealth management services.
Five Star Bank generates revenue primarily through traditional banking activities — accepting deposits and extending loans across commercial, mortgage, and consumer categories. Beyond banking, the company earns fee income through personal and commercial insurance products and wealth management services, including investment advisory, retirement planning, and annuities. This diversified community-bank model keeps revenue tied closely to the economic health of its upstate New York footprint.
The holding company was established in 1999 and is headquartered in Warsaw, New York.
- Checking, savings, and money market deposit accounts
- Commercial, mortgage, and consumer loan products
- Personal and commercial insurance coverage
- Wealth management and retirement planning services
Is FISI a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates FISI as Below Average overall, reflecting a mixed profile across its five scoring pillars.
Valuation stands out as the relative bright spot in FISI's profile, rated Good — suggesting the market may not be pricing in an optimistic outlook. Quality and Growth both register as Neutral, indicating neither a clear drag nor a standout advantage in those dimensions.
The Moat pillar is rated Weak, which is a meaningful concern for a community bank competing in a crowded regional landscape where differentiation is difficult to sustain.
Pro members can view the complete pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics to form a more complete picture. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does FISI pay dividends?
Yes — Financial Institutions, Inc. pays a dividend.
FISI pays a regular dividend, consistent with the income-oriented tradition of community banks. Management's commitment to returning capital to shareholders reflects the bank's relatively stable deposit-funded business model. Investors focused on income should review the current yield and payout history directly on the company's investor relations page, as dividend levels can shift with earnings and regulatory requirements.
When does FISI report earnings?
Financial Institutions, Inc. reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed bank holding companies.
The company's Neutral Quality and Growth pillar ratings suggest performance has been broadly in line with expectations — neither accelerating meaningfully nor deteriorating sharply. Community banks in competitive regional markets often face pressure on net interest margins and loan growth, themes that likely shape FISI's quarterly results.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance commentary, visit Financial Institutions, Inc.'s investor relations page.
FISI Price History
+36.1% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Financial Institutions, Inc.?
Based on Financial Institutions, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
FISI Long-term Outlook
FISI's Neutral Growth rating points to a trajectory that is neither expanding rapidly nor contracting — a pattern common among established community banks with limited geographic reach. The Neutral Risk rating suggests the balance sheet does not carry outsized credit or liquidity concerns at this time, though the Weak Moat rating means competitive pressures could weigh on margins over the medium term. The Good Valuation label indicates the current price may already reflect a cautious fundamental outlook.
Growth drivers
- Expansion of fee-based insurance and wealth management revenue
- Loan growth tied to upstate New York commercial and agricultural activity
- Cross-selling banking, insurance, and advisory services to existing customers
Key risks
- Weak competitive moat in a crowded regional banking market
- Interest rate sensitivity affecting net interest income
- Geographic concentration limiting diversification of credit risk
FISI vs Peers
FISI operates in a competitive community and regional banking space alongside several peers of similar scale.
Peapack-Gladstone has placed a stronger strategic emphasis on private banking and wealth management, giving it a differentiated fee-income profile compared to FISI's more traditional community-bank mix.
VersaBank operates as a branchless digital bank focused on specialized lending niches, contrasting with FISI's branch-based, full-service community banking model in upstate New York.
Shore Bancshares serves the Mid-Atlantic region, offering a comparable community-bank footprint but with a different geographic exposure and loan-mix concentration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Financial Institutions, Inc. do?
Financial Institutions, Inc. is the holding company for Five Star Bank, a community bank serving upstate New York. It offers deposit accounts, loans, insurance products, and wealth management services to individuals, businesses, municipalities, and agricultural customers.
Does FISI pay dividends?
Yes, FISI pays a regular dividend. Community banks like Five Star Bank have historically returned capital to shareholders through dividends, supported by their deposit-funded, relatively stable business model. Check the investor relations page for current dividend details.
When does FISI report earnings?
Financial Institutions, Inc. reports earnings quarterly, as is standard for US-listed bank holding companies. For the exact schedule and most recent results, refer to the company's investor relations page.
Is FISI a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates FISI as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is rated Good, but the Weak Moat and Neutral Quality ratings temper the overall picture. Whether FISI fits your portfolio depends on your income goals, risk tolerance, and view on community banking. Pro members can access the full pillar breakdown.
Is FISI overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, FISI is rated Good — suggesting the stock is not obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals. This may reflect the market pricing in limited growth expectations for a community bank with a Weak Moat rating.
How does FISI compare to its competitors?
FISI competes with regional and community banks such as Peapack-Gladstone Financial, VersaBank, and Shore Bancshares. Each peer has a distinct geographic focus or business model emphasis. FISI's full-service, branch-based model in upstate New York is its defining characteristic. See the UQS competitor table for a side-by-side quality comparison.
What is FISI's market cap bracket?
FISI is classified as a small-cap stock. This places it among smaller publicly traded companies, which typically carry higher liquidity risk and greater sensitivity to local economic conditions than large-cap peers.
Who founded Financial Institutions, Inc.?
Financial Institutions, Inc. was established as a holding company in 1999. The founding history and leadership background are publicly available through the company's official investor relations materials and SEC filings.
Is FISI a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, FISI's Below Average UQS Score — driven by a Weak Moat and Neutral Quality — suggests limited structural advantages that would compound value over time. The Good Valuation rating may offer some near-term cushion, but long-term quality investors typically seek stronger moat and growth profiles.
What is the main competitive advantage of Financial Institutions, Inc.?
FISI's primary advantage is its established community banking relationships and multi-service platform across upstate New York. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, reflecting the difficulty of sustaining differentiation in a competitive regional banking market.
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Pro Analysis
FISI — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2026 | 46.9 | 64.7 | 17.0 | 52.6 | 35.1 | 71.2 | +0.4 |
| May 3, 2026 | 46.5 | 59.9 | 17.0 | 52.2 | 41.6 | 70.8 | -0.1 |
| May 2, 2026 | 46.6 | 59.9 | 17.0 | 52.2 | 41.6 | 71.0 | +0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 46.5 | 59.9 | 17.0 | 51.9 | 41.6 | 70.8 | +0.1 |
| Apr 25, 2026 | 46.4 | 59.9 | 17.0 | 51.9 | 41.6 | 70.6 | +0.7 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 45.7 | 57.6 | 17.0 | 51.9 | 41.2 | 69.8 | +0.1 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 45.6 | 57.4 | 17.0 | 51.9 | 41.2 | 69.5 | 0.0 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 45.6 | 57.4 | 17.0 | 51.9 | 41.2 | 69.3 | 0.0 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 45.6 | 57.4 | 17.0 | 51.9 | 41.2 | 69.5 | +0.2 |
| Apr 15, 2026 | 45.4 | 57.5 | 17.0 | 51.9 | 41.2 | 68.2 | -0.1 |
FISI — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 64.7/100 (25%)Financial Institutions, Inc. shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 52.6/100 (20%)Financial Institutions, Inc. shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 35.1/100 (15%)Financial Institutions, Inc. has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 71.2/100 (15%)Financial Institutions, Inc. trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 17/100 (25%)Financial Institutions, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for FISI.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the FISI UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Financial Institutions, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Financial Institutions, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Financial Institutions, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.