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/ James H. Wyckoff
						-------------------------------
							James H. Wyckoff
							Director
							Financial Institutions, Inc.