Investment securities - Amortized Cost and Fair Value of Investment Securities Aggregated by Investment Category (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	$ 450,454	$ 543,953
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Gains		93
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	51,527	66,343
Available-for-sale	398,927	477,703
Held-to-maturity, Amortized Cost	84,851	91,179
Held-to-maturity, Gross Unrealized Gains	1	1
Held-to-maturity, Gross Unrealized Losses	13,154	14,617
Held-to-maturity, Fair value	71,698	76,563
U.S. Treasury securities
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	197,920	199,937
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	13,863	19,640
Available-for-sale	184,057	180,297
U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises state and municipals
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	2,539	16,955
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	387	585
Available-for-sale	2,152	16,370
State and municipals, Taxable
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	67,831	68,946
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	10,731	13,588
Available-for-sale	57,100	55,358
State and municipals, Tax-exempt
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	75,742	99,774
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Gains		93
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	8,618	11,460
Available-for-sale	67,124	88,407
Tax-exempt state and municipals
Investment Securities
Held-to-maturity, Amortized Cost	11,201	11,237
Held-to-maturity, Gross Unrealized Gains	1	1
Held-to-maturity, Gross Unrealized Losses	660	841
Held-to-maturity, Fair value	10,542	10,397
Residential mortgage-backed securities, U.S. government agencies
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	758	982
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	34	40
Available-for-sale	724	942
Held-to-maturity, Amortized Cost	15,400	17,304
Held-to-maturity, Gross Unrealized Losses	2,653	3,016
Held-to-maturity, Fair value	12,747	14,288
Residential mortgage-backed securities, U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	89,935	141,231
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	17,264	20,112
Available-for-sale	72,671	121,119
Held-to-maturity, Amortized Cost	58,250	62,638
Held-to-maturity, Gross Unrealized Losses	9,841	10,760
Held-to-maturity, Fair value	48,409	51,878
Commercial mortgage-backed Securities, U.S. government-sponsored enterprises
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	11,729	12,128
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	360	544
Available-for-sale	11,369	11,584
Corporate Debt Securities
Investment Securities
Available-for-sale, Amortized Cost	4,000	4,000
Available-for-sale, Gross Unrealized Losses	270	374
Available-for-sale	$ 3,730	$ 3,626

Amount, before tax, of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before tax, of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-2

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost excluding accrued interest, before allowance for credit loss, of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479130/326-30-45-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAmortizedCostExcludingAccruedInterestBeforeAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest, of investment in debt security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in other comprehensive income (available-for-sale).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479130/326-30-45-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleExcludingAccruedInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest, before allowance for credit loss, of investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479344/326-20-45-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-3B

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesHeldToMaturityExcludingAccruedInterestBeforeAllowanceForCreditLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accumulated unrecognized gain on investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-5A

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrecognizedHoldingGain
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accumulated unrealized loss on investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-5A

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesAccumulatedUnrecognizedHoldingLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value of investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(1))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479440/944-210-S99-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5A
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-5A

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(6))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479853/942-210-S99-1

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (aa)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147481800/320-10-50-5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfTradingSecuritiesAndOtherTradingAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_USTreasurySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_USGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_TaxableMunicipalBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_NontaxableMunicipalBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=pfis_StateAndMunicipalTaxExemptBondsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=pfis_MortgageBackedUsGovernmentAgenciesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_MortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=pfis_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesIssuedByUSGovernmentSponsoredEnterprisesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: