CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balances, beginning at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 1,443	$ 334,649	$ 108,709	$ (2,106)	$ (2,787)	$ 1,452	$ 441,360
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation			11,510			33	11,543
Other comprehensive income				(3,089)			(3,089)
Total Comprehensive Income							8,454
Cash dividends			(5,472)				(5,472)
Net exercise of stock options and related tax benefit	1	475					476
Stock-based compensation expense		307					307
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan	2	968					970
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan	2	715					717
Directors deferred compensation plan		(17)			17		0
Restricted stock activity							0
Balances, ending at Mar. 31, 2013	1,448	337,097	114,747	(5,195)	(2,770)	1,485	446,812
Balances, beginning at Dec. 31, 2013	1,479	346,096	137,102	(25,119)	(3,071)	1,452	457,939
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation			12,569			33	12,602
Other comprehensive income				5,434			5,434
Total Comprehensive Income							18,036
Cash dividends			(5,905)				(5,905)
Net exercise of stock options and related tax benefit	2	460					462
Stock-based compensation expense		342					342
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan	2	1,293					1,295
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan	3	1,525					1,528
Directors deferred compensation plan		(29)			29		0
Restricted stock activity	0	125					125
Balances, ending at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 1,486	$ 349,812	$ 143,766	$ (19,685)	$ (3,042)	$ 1,485	$ 473,822