Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands		Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests	Total
Balances at at Dec. 31, 2008		$ 973	$ 152,842	$ 73,779	$ (7,602)	$ (2,083)	$ 1,452	$ 219,361
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation				31,831			131	31,962
Other comprehensive income					4,515			4,515
Total Comprehensive Income								36,477
Cash dividends				(13,208)				(13,208)
Net exercise of stock options and related tax benefit		3	1,115					1,118
Common stock repurchased and returned to unissued status		(1)	(177)					(178)
Stock-based compensation expense			938					938
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan		2	629					631
Directors deferred compensation plan			243			(243)		0
Net shares issued related to restricted stock		1	(1)					0
Dividend to noncontrolling interests							(131)	(131)
Balances at at Dec. 31, 2009		978	155,589	92,402	(3,087)	(2,326)	1,452	245,008
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation				33,831			131	33,962
Other comprehensive income					1,827			1,827
Total Comprehensive Income								35,789
Cash dividends				(14,381)				(14,381)
Net exercise of stock options and related tax benefit		6	1,755					1,761
Effect of 10% stock dividend	[1]	98	35,301	(35,399)				0
Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares				(7)				(7)
Stock-based compensation expense			1,219					1,219
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan		7	2,865					2,872
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan		4	1,274					1,278
Directors deferred compensation plan			111			(111)		0
Dividend to noncontrolling interests							(131)	(131)
Balances at at Dec. 31, 2010		1,093	198,114	76,446	(1,260)	(2,437)	1,452	273,408
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation				35,419			131	35,550
Other comprehensive income					(2,417)			(2,417)
Total Comprehensive Income								33,133
Cash dividends				(15,420)				(15,420)
Net exercise of stock options and related tax benefit		2	880					882
Common stock repurchased and returned to unissued status								0
Stock-based compensation expense			1,261					1,261
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan		6	2,429					2,435
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan		3	1,050					1,053
Directors deferred compensation plan			151			(151)		0
Net shares issued related to restricted stock		4	(17)					(13)
Dividend to noncontrolling interests							(131)	(131)
Stock issued for purchase acquisition		8	2,527					2,535
Balances at at Dec. 31, 2011		$ 1,116	$ 206,395	$ 96,445	$ (3,677)	$ (2,588)	$ 1,452	$ 299,143

[1] Included in the shares issued for the 10% stock dividend in 2010 were treasury shares of 3,264, and director deferred compensation plan shares of 4,620.