Retirement Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table Text Block]

The following tables set forth changes in the plans’ benefit obligations (projected benefit obligation for pension benefits and accumulated benefit obligation for postretirement benefits) and changes in the plans’ assets and the funded status of the pension plans and other postretirement benefit plan at December 31:

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Disclosures
	Employees' Pension Plan			Select Executive Retirement Plan			Postretirement Benefit Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Funded Status
December 31, 2015
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$	47,234		$	—		$	—
Benefit Obligation	35,982			4,784			7,701
Funded Status of Plan	$	11,252		$	(4,784	)	$	(7,701	)
December 31, 2014
Fair Value of Plan Assets	$	45,704		$	—		$	—
Benefit Obligation	36,966			5,072			9,170
Funded Status of Plan	$	8,738		$	(5,072	)	$	(9,170	)
Change in Benefit Obligation
Benefit Obligation, at January 1, 2015	$	36,966		$	5,072		$	9,170
Service Cost	1,503			32			250
Interest Cost	1,545			211			394
Plan Participants' Contributions	—			—			481
Amendments	277			91			—
Actuarial Gain	(1,670		)	(152		)	(1,715		)
Benefits Paid	(2,639		)	(470		)	(879		)
Benefit Obligation, at December 31, 2015	$	35,982		$	4,784		$	7,701

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Disclosures
	Employees' Pension Plan			Select Executive Retirement Plan			Postretirement Benefit Plans
Benefit Obligation, at January 1, 2014	$	33,259		$	4,459		$	7,619
Service Cost	1,410			10			173
Interest Cost	1,621			206			374
Plan Participants' Contributions	—			—			383
Amendments	—			—			570
Actuarial Loss	2,909			870			884
Benefits Paid	(2,233		)	(473		)	(833		)
Benefit Obligation, at December 31, 2014	$	36,966		$	5,072		$	9,170
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets
Fair Value of Plan Assets, at January 1, 2015	$	45,704		$	—		$	—
Actual Return on Plan Assets	1,169			—			—
Employer Contributions	3,000			470			398
Plan Participants' Contributions	—			—			481
Benefits Paid	(2,639		)	(470		)	(879		)
Fair Value of Plan Assets, at December 31, 2015	$	47,234		$	—		$	—
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets, continued
Fair Value of Plan Assets, at January 1, 2014	$	44,653		$	—		$	—
Actual Return on Plan Assets	3,284			—			—
Employer Contributions	—			473			450
Plan Participants' Contributions	—			—			383
Benefits Paid	(2,233		)	(473		)	(833		)
Fair Value of Plan Assets, at December 31, 2014	$	45,704		$	—		$	—
Accumulated Benefit Obligation at December 31, 2015	$	35,582		$	4,784		$	7,701
Amounts Recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2015
Prepaid Pension Asset	$	11,252		$	—		—
Accrued Benefit Liability	—			(4,784		)	(7,701		)
Net Benefit Recognized	$	11,252		$	(4,784	)	$	(7,701	)
December 31, 2014
Prepaid Pension Asset	$	8,738		$	—		—
Accrued Benefit Liability	—			(5,072		)	(9,170		)
Net Benefit Recognized	$	8,738		$	(5,072	)	$	(9,170	)
Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
Net Unamortized Gain Arising During the Period	$	472		$	(152	)	$	(1,715	)
Net Prior Service Cost Arising During the Period	277			91			—
Amortization of Net Loss	(601		)	(131		)	(114		)
Amortization of Prior Service (Cost) Credit	83			(58		)	31
Total Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income for Pension and      Other Postretirement Benefit Plans	$	231		$	(250	)	$	(1,798	)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Net Unamortized Loss Arising During the Period	$	2,855		$	871		$	884
Net Prior Service Cost Arising During the Period	—			—			570
Amortization of Net Loss	(356		)	(93		)	(25		)
Amortization of Prior Service (Cost) Credit	45			(72		)	114
Total Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income for Pension and      Other Postretirement Benefit Plans	$	2,544		$	706		$	1,543

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Disclosures
	Employees' Pension Plan			Select Executive Retirement Plan			Postretirement Benefit Plans
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
Net Unamortized Loss Arising During the Period	$	(8,438	)	$	(554	)	$	(1,648	)
Net Prior Service Cost Arising During the Period	—			—			—
Amortization of Net Loss	(1,231		)	(140		)	(142		)
Amortization of Prior Service (Cost) Credit	(37		)	(79		)	114
Total Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income for Pension and      Other Postretirement Benefit Plans	$	(9,706	)	$	(773	)	$	(1,676	)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
December 31, 2015
Net Actuarial Loss	$	10,727		$	2,169		$	90
Prior Service (Credit) Cost	150			603			410
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax	$	10,877		$	2,772		$	500
December 31, 2014
Net Actuarial Loss	$	10,856		$	2,452		$	1,919
Prior Service (Credit) Cost	(210		)	570			379
Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Before Tax	$	10,646		$	3,022		$	2,298
Amounts that will be Amortized from Accumulated   Other Comprehensive Income the Next Year
Net Actuarial Loss	$	559		$	112		$	—
Prior Service (Credit) Cost	$	(57	)	$	57		$	(12	)
Net Periodic Benefit Cost
For the Year Ended December 31, 2015
Service Cost	$	1,503		$	32		$	250
Interest Cost	1,545			211			394
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(3,311		)	—			—
Amortization of Prior Service (Credit) Cost	(83		)	58			(31		)
Amortization of Net Loss	601			131			114
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	255		$	432		$	727
For the Year Ended December 31, 2014
Service Cost	$	1,410		$	10		$	173
Interest Cost	1,621			206			374
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(3,230		)	—			—
Amortization of Prior Service (Credit) Cost	(45		)	72			(114		)
Amortization of Net Loss	356			93			25
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	112		$	381		$	458
For the Year Ended December 31, 2013
Service Cost	$	1,506		$	—		$	211
Interest Cost	1,261			163			308
Expected Return on Plan Assets	(2,889		)	—			—
Amortization of Prior Service (Credit) Cost	37			79			(114		)
Amortization of Net Loss	1,232			139			142
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	$	1,147		$	381		$	547

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Disclosures
	Employees' Pension Plan		Select Executive Retirement Plan		Postretirement Benefit Plans
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in   Calculating Benefit Obligation
December 31, 2015
Discount Rate	4.73	%	4.61	%	4.69	%
Rate of Compensation Increase	3.50	%	3.00	%	3.50	%
Interest Rate Credit for Determining   Projected Cash Balance Account	3.03	%
Interest Rate to Annuitize Cash       Balance Account	5.00	%
Interest Rate to Convert Annuities to Actuarially   Equivalent Lump Sum Amounts	5.00	%	5.00	%
December 31, 2014
Discount Rate	4.31	%	4.26	%	4.31	%
Rate of Compensation Increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%
Interest Rate Credit for Determining   Projected Cash Balance Account	3.04	%
Interest Rate to Annuitize Cash       Balance Account	4.75	%
Interest Rate to Convert Annuities to Actuarially   Equivalent Lump Sum Amounts	4.75	%	4.75	%
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used in   Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost
December 31, 2015
Discount Rate	4.31	%	4.26	%	4.31	%
Expected Long-Term Return on Plan Assets	7.50	%
Rate of Compensation Increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%
Interest Rate Credit for Determining       Projected Cash Balance Account	3.04	%
Interest Rate to Annuitize Cash       Balance Account	4.75	%
Interest Rate to Convert Annuities to Actuarially   Equivalent Lump Sum Amounts	4.75	%	4.75	%
December 31, 2014
Discount Rate	5.10	%	4.85	%	5.10	%
Expected Long-Term Return on Plan Assets	7.50	%
Rate of Compensation Increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%
Interest Rate Credit for Determining       Projected Cash Balance Account	4.00	%
Interest Rate to Annuitize Cash       Balance Account	5.25	%
Interest Rate to Convert Annuities to Actuarially   Equivalent Lump Sum Amounts	5.25	%	5.25	%

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Disclosures
	Employees' Pension Plan		Select Executive Retirement Plan		Postretirement Benefit Plans
December 31, 2013
Discount Rate	3.55	%	3.15	%	3.55	%
Expected Long-Term Return on Plan Assets	7.50	%
Rate of Compensation Increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	3.50	%
Interest Rate Credit for Determining       Projected Cash Balance Account	3.00	%
Interest Rate to Annuitize Cash       Balance Account	4.50	%
Interest Rate to Convert Annuities to Actuarially   Equivalent Lump Sum Amounts	4.50	%	4.50	%

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Disclosures Information about Defined Benefit Plan Assets - Employees' Pension Plan
Fair Value Measurements Using:
Asset Category	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total		Percent of Total		Target Allocation Minimum		Target Allocation Maximum
December 31, 2015
Cash	$	44	$	—	$	—	$	44	0.1	%	—	%	15.0	%
Interest-Bearing Money Market Fund	2,471		—		—		2,471		5.2	%	—	%	15.0	%
Arrow Common Stock1	4,554		—		—		4,554		9.6	%	—	%	10.0	%
North Country Funds - Equity 2	19,625		—		—		19,625		41.6	%
Other Mutual Funds - Equity	13,194		—		—		13,194		27.9	%
Total Equity Funds	32,819		—		—		32,819		69.5	%	55.0	%	85.0	%
North Country Funds - Fixed income 2	7,346		—		—		7,346		15.6	%
Other Mutual Funds - Fixed Income	—		—		—		—		—	%
Total Fixed Income Funds	7,346		—		—		7,346		15.6	%	15.0	%	30.0	%
Total	$	47,234	$	—	$	—	$	47,234	100.0	%
December 31, 2014
Cash	$	20	$	—	$	—	$	20	—	%	—	%	15.0	%
Interest-Bearing Money Market Fund	4,322		—		—		4,322		9.5	%	—	%	15.0	%
Arrow Common Stock1	4,551		—		—		4,551		10.0	%	—	%	10.0	%
North Country Funds - Equity 2	18,975		—		—		18,975		41.4	%
Other Mutual Funds - Equity	10,954		—		—		10,954		24.0	%
Total Equity Funds	29,929		—		—		29,929		65.4	%	66.0	%	85.0	%
North Country Funds - Fixed income 2	5,436		—		—		5,436		11.9	%
Other Mutual Funds - Fixed Income	1,446		—		—		1,446		3.2	%
Total Fixed Income Funds	6,882		—		—		6,882		15.1	%	15.0	%	30.0	%
Total	$	45,704	$	—	$	—	$	45,704	100.0	%

¹ Acquisition of Arrow Financial Corporation common stock was under 10% of the total fair value of the employee's pension plan assets at the time of acquisition.

² The North Country Funds - Equity and the North Country Funds - Fixed Income are publicly traded mutual funds advised by Arrow's subsidiary, North Country Investment Advisers, Inc.

Schedule of Defined Benefit Plan Disclosures
	Employees' Pension Plan		Select Executive Retirement Plan		Postretirement Benefit Plans
Expected Future Benefit Payments
2016	$	2,264	$	443	$	539
2017	2,254		433		523
2018	2,195		422		545
2019	2,353		410		568
2020	2,566		397		566
2021 - 2025	13,477		1,814		2,944
Estimated Contributions During 2016	$	—	$	443	$	539
Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates
December 31, 2015
Health Care Cost Trend   Rate Assumed for Next Year					7.75		%
Rate to which the Cost Trend   Rate is Assumed to Decline   (the Ultimate Trend Rate)					3.89		%
Year that the Rate Reaches    the Ultimate Trend Rate					2075
December 31, 2014
Health Care Cost Trend   Rate Assumed for Next Year					8.00		%
Rate to which the Cost Trend   Rate is Assumed to Decline   (the Ultimate Trend Rate)					3.89		%
Year that the Rate Reaches    the Ultimate Trend Rate					2075
Effect of a One-Percentage Point Change in Assumed   Health Care Cost Trend Rates
Effect of a One Percentage Point Increase on   Service and Interest Cost Components					$	73
Effect of a One Percentage Point Decrease on   Service and Interest Cost Components					(61		)
Effect of a One Percentage Point Increase on   Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation					541
Effect of a One Percentage Point Decrease on   Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation					(466		)