AUTHORIZATION TO FILE SECTION 16 REPORTS

I hereby authorize and

designate Ronald A. Miller, Sonia M. Dumbleton
or Michael D. Grover to

execute and file or cause to be filed, on my
behalf any Forms 3, 4 and
5,
including any amendments thereto, that I
may voluntarily or be
required
to file with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission as a
result of
my ownership of, or transactions in,
securities of Financial

Institutions, Inc.  This authority shall
continue until I am no longer

required to file such forms, or until
sooner revoked by me in writing.



In witness whereof, I have executed this authorization this 4th day
of

December 2002.

						    /s/ Ronald A Miller


						-------------------------------
							Ronald A Miller


							Chief Financial Officer
							Financial Institutions, Inc.