-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-11-004815.txt : 20110210
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-11-004815.hdr.sgml : 20110210
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110210160238
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-11-004815
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110210
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110210

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Fessenden Daniel J.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001463126

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12709
		FILM NUMBER:		11592497

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 460
		CITY:			ITHACA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14851

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001005817
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				161482357
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 460 THE COMMONS
		CITY:			ITHACA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14851
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6072733210

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE COMMONS
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 460
		CITY:			ITHACA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14851

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TOMPKINS TRUSTCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990512

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TOMPKINS COUNTY TRUSTCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960117
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form5.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001005817</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TMP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001463126</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fessenden Daniel J.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 460</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ITHACA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14851</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Drip</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>L</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>226.4</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>673</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Rabbi Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Drip</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>L</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10.5</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock - Ira</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>866</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired through deferral of retainer and/or meeting attendance fees, and reinvestment of quarterly cash dividends.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares acquired for service on business development board and payment of meeting(s) fees, and reinvestment of quarterly cash dividends.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Daniel J. Fessenden</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----