The company operates primarily in smaller cities and towns where superior service is valued and customer loyalty can be earned. CBU ranks first or second in deposit market share in approximately 70% of the towns it does business in. It has significantly enhanced its franchise over the past decade, making 19 acquisitions during the last 15 years, while nearly tripling its assets and more than doubling its customer facilities in the last 10 years.

In addition to traditional banking products, CBU delivers personal trust, insurance and other financial services products through various bank branches and four subsidiaries, including: BPAS, an employee benefits administration and consulting firm with offices in Upstate New York, Pittsburgh, and Houston; the CBNA Insurance Agency, with three offices in Northern New York; Community Investment Services, a broker-dealer delivering financial products throughout the company's branch network; and Nottingham Advisors, a wealth management and advisory firm with offices in Buffalo, N.Y., and North Palm Beach, Fla.

CBU has consistently generated superior shareholder returns, underscored by a total return to shareholders of 11.7% for the five years ending April 30, 2008 -- outpacing both the S&P 600 Commercial Bank Index (0.1%) and NASDAQ Bank Index (4.7%) during that time. In addition, it is one of just 321 of the more than 15,000 publicly traded companies in the nation to raise annual dividend payments for at least 10 consecutive years, having done so 16 consecutive. As of April 30, 2008, the annualized dividend yield on its stock was 3.2%.