SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
[X] Filed by the registrant
[ ] Filed by a party other than the registrant
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12
Community Bank System, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:_____________________________________________________
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:_______________________________
(3) Filing Party:_______________________________________________________________
(4) Date Filed:_________________________________________________________________
<PAGE>
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
5790 Widewaters Parkway
DeWitt, New York 13214-1883
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
April 5, 2000
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.:
At the direction of the Board of Directors of COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the "Meeting") will be held at 1:00 p.m.
on Wednesday, May 17, 2000 at the Wyndham Syracuse Hotel in East Syracuse, New
York for the purpose of considering and voting upon the following matters:
1. The election of three directors to hold office for a term of
three years and until their successors have been duly elected.
2. The transaction of any other business which may properly be
brought before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Donna J. Drengel
Secretary
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. YOU ARE THEREFORE REQUESTED TO SIGN AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, EVEN IF YOU EXPECT TO BE
PRESENT AT THE MEETING. YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE
MEETING, OR IF YOU DO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AT
THAT TIME AND VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU WISH.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
5790 Widewaters Parkway
DeWitt, New York 13214-1883
PROXY STATEMENT
FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS, MAY 17, 2000
This Proxy Statement is furnished as part of the solicitation of proxies by
the Board of Directors of Community Bank System, Inc. (the "Company"), the
holding company for Community Bank, N.A. (the "Bank"), for use at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the "Meeting") to be held at 1:00 p.m.
on Wednesday, May 17, 2000, at the Wyndham Syracuse Hotel in East Syracuse, New
York. This Proxy Statement and the form of Proxy are first being sent to
Shareholders on approximately April 5, 2000.
At the Meeting, the Shareholders will be asked to vote for the election of
directors. Three of the total of nine directors who serve on the Company's Board
of Directors will stand for re-election to the Board at the Meeting. In
addition, voting will be conducted on any other matters which are properly
brought before the Meeting.
VOTING RIGHTS AND PROXIES
The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on
March 27, 2000 as the record date for determining which Shareholders are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. At the close of business on
the record date, 7,093,059 shares of common stock, no par value, were
outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting. This is the Company's only
class of voting stock outstanding. Each share of outstanding common stock is
entitled to one vote with respect to each item to come before the Meeting. There
will be no cumulative voting of shares for any matter voted upon at the Meeting.
The Bylaws of the Company provide that one-third of the outstanding shares of
the Company, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a
shareholder meeting.
If the enclosed form of Proxy is properly executed and returned to the
Company prior to or at the Meeting, and if the Proxy is not revoked prior to its
exercise, all shares represented thereby will be voted at the Meeting and, where
instructions have been given by a Shareholder, will be voted in accordance with
such instructions.
Any Shareholder executing a Proxy which is solicited hereby has the power
to revoke it at any time prior to its exercise. A Proxy may be revoked by giving
written notice to the Secretary of the Company at the Company's address set
forth above, by attending the Meeting and voting the shares of stock in person,
or by executing and delivering to the Secretary a later-dated Proxy.
The solicitation of Proxies will be by mail, but Proxies may also be
solicited by telephone, telegram, or in person by directors, officers, and other
regular employees of the Company or of the Bank. The Company will bear all costs
of soliciting Proxies. Should the Company, in order to solicit Proxies, request
the assistance of other financial institutions, brokerage houses, or other
custodians, nominees, or fiduciaries, the Company will reimburse such persons
for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials to Shareholders and
obtaining their Proxies.
The Annual Report of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999, incorporating the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, is being sent to Shareholders with this
Proxy Statement.
<PAGE>
ITEM 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND INFORMATION WITH
RESPECT TO DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The first Item to be acted upon at the Meeting is the election of three
directors, each to hold office for three years and until his successor shall
have been duly elected and qualified. The nominees receiving a plurality of the
votes represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting will be elected
directors.
All Proxies in proper form which are received by the Board prior to the
election of directors at the Meeting will be voted "FOR" the nominees listed
below, unless authority is withheld in the space provided on the enclosed Proxy.
Each nominee is presently a director of the Company, and each director of the
Company is also a director of the Bank. In the event any nominee declines or is
unable to serve, it is intended that the Proxies will be voted for a successor
nominee designated by the Board. All nominees have indicated a willingness to
serve, and the Board knows of no reason to believe that any nominee will decline
or be unable to serve if elected. The nine members of the Board (including the
nominees for re-election at the Meeting, if elected) are expected to continue to
serve on the Board until their respective terms expire.
The information set forth below is furnished for each nominee for director
to be elected at the Meeting and each director of the Company whose term of
office continues after the Meeting. The share ownership numbers for certain
directors include shares that would be issuable upon exercise of "Offset
Options" granted to these directors in order to reduce the Company's liability
under its Stock Balance Plan. The purpose of the Offset Options, which were
approved by the Company's Shareholders at the 1998 Annual Meeting, is explained
on page 7. See footnote "(e)" on page 5 for the number of currently exercisable
stock options (including, without limitation, Offset Options) held by specific
directors.
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF COMPANY COMMON
STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED (c)
BUSINESS AS OF MARCH 27, 2000 (d)
NAME AND DIRECTOR OF THE EXPERIENCE DURING -----------------------------
AGE (a) COMPANY SINCE PAST FIVE YEARS (b) NUMBER(e) PERCENT
- --------------------------- ----------------- -------------------------------------- -------------- --------------
NOMINEES (FOR TERMS TO EXPIRE AT ANNUAL MEETING IN 2003):
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sanford A. Belden 1992 President and Chief Executive Officer 57,425 .81%
Age 57 of the Company since October 1, 1992.
Lee T. Hirschey 1991 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 64,173 .90%
Age 64 Climax Manufacturing Company,
converter and manufacturer of paper
products with facilities in
Castorland, Lowville, and West
Carthage, New York.
David C. Patterson 1991 President and owner of Wight and 50,218 .70%
Age 58 Patterson, Inc., manufacturer and
seller of livestock feed located in
Canton, New York.
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF COMPANY COMMON
STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED (c)
BUSINESS AS OF MARCH 27, 2000 (d)
NAME AND DIRECTOR OF THE EXPERIENCE DURING -----------------------------
AGE (a) COMPANY SINCE PAST FIVE YEARS (b) NUMBER(e) PERCENT
- --------------------------- ----------------- -------------------------------------- -------------- --------------
DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
TERMS EXPIRING AT ANNUAL MEETING IN 2002:
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Richard C. Cummings 1983 Partner, law firm of Cummings, 33,403 .47%
Age 70 Dunckel and Campany, LLP, Lowville,
New York.
William M. Dempsey 1984 Assistant to the President, Rochester 40,174 .56%
Age 61 Institute of Technology, Rochester,
New York; President/Dean, American
College of Management and Technology
(RIT), Dubrovnik, Croatia (August
1997 - July 1999); prior to August
1997, Vice President of Finance and
Administration, RIT.
William N. Sloan 1991 Vice President for Administration 37,224 .52%
Age 65 Emeritus, The State University of
New York College at Potsdam,
Potsdam, New York; prior to 1997,
Associate Professor of
Mathematics.
TERMS EXPIRING AT ANNUAL MEETING IN 2001:
John M. Burgess 1991 Retired. Prior to 1991, President of 47,201 .66%
Age 63 Kinney Drugs, Inc., a drug and retail
chain with stores located throughout
northern New York.
Nicholas A. DiCerbo 1984 Partner, law firm of DiCerbo and 104,729 1.47%
Age 53 Palumbo, Olean, New York.
James A. Gabriel 1984 Owner, law firm of Franklin & 71,630 1.00%
Age 52 Gabriel, Ovid, New York.
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
In addition to the information provided above, the following summarizes the
security ownership of the highest paid executive officers who are not also
directors of the Company:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF COMPANY COMMON
STOCK BENEFICIALLY OWNED (c)
AS OF MARCH 27, 2000 (d)
--------------------------------
NUMBER(e) PERCENT
--------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
James A. Wears President, Banking 64,909 .91%
Michael A. Patton President, Financial Services 67,170 .94%
David G. Wallace Executive Vice President 56,225 .79%
and Chief Financial Officer
Girard H. Mayer Chief Executive Officer, 89,751 1.26%
Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc.(f)
Number of shares of Company stock beneficially owned by all Directors and 784,232 10.46%
Executive Officers of the Company as a group (13 persons)
</TABLE>
(a) No family relationships exist between any two or more of the nominees
for director or executive officers of the Company.
(b) No nominee for director or continuing director of the Company holds a
directorship with any company (other than the Company) which is
registered pursuant to Section 12 or subject to the requirements of
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or with any
company which is a registered investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(c) Represents all shares as to which named individual possessed sole or
shared voting or investment power as of March 27, 2000, including
shares held by, in the name of, or in trust for, spouse and dependent
children of named individual and other relatives living in the same
household, even if beneficial ownership has been disclaimed as to any
of these shares by the nominee or director.
(d) The listed amounts include shares as to which certain directors and
named executive officers are beneficial owners but not the sole
beneficial owners as follows: Mr. Burgess' wife holds 5,100 shares;
Mr. Cummings' wife holds 356 shares; Mr. DiCerbo holds 25,053 shares
jointly with his wife, 33,156 shares are held in the name of the law
partnership of DiCerbo and Palumbo, and 743 shares are held by his
wife; Mr. Hirschey's wife holds 1,000 shares and Mr. Hirschey holds
14,000 shares as Trustee for the Retirement Plan of Employees of
Climax Manufacturing Company; Mr. Patterson holds 2,380 shares jointly
with his wife and 1,375 shares as Trustee for the Wight and Patterson
Retirement Plan; Mr. Patton is the beneficial owner of 9,817 shares
held by the Company's 401(k) plan, his wife holds 1,400 shares, and
his daughter holds 706 shares; Mr. Sloan holds 159 shares jointly with
his wife, and his wife holds 492 shares; Mr. Wallace is the beneficial
owner of 12,177 shares held by the Company's 401(k) plan, and 400
shares are held by the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, for which Mr.
Wallace serves as a Finance Committee member; Mr. Wears is the
beneficial owner of 16,263 shares held by the Company's 401(k) plan,
he holds 5,803 shares jointly with his wife, and his wife holds 4,510
shares in her own name; and Mr. Mayer is the beneficial owner of 1,236
shares held by the Company's 401(k) plan.
4
<PAGE>
(e) Includes shares that the following individuals currently have the
right to acquire, or will have the right to acquire within 60 days of
March 27, 2000, through exercise of stock options issued by the
Company: Mr. Belden, 20,614 shares; Mr. Burgess, 34,481 shares; Mr.
Cummings, 16,975 shares; Mr. Dempsey, 38,574 shares; Mr. DiCerbo,
39,967 shares; Mr. Gabriel, 42,744 shares; Mr. Hirschey, 34,481
shares; Mr. Patterson, 39,265 shares; Mr. Sloan, 35,159 shares; Mr.
Patton, 28,087 shares; Mr. Wallace, 30,590 shares; Mr. Wears, 34,137
shares; and Mr. Mayer, 7,177 shares. These shares are included in the
total number of shares outstanding for the purpose of calculating the
percentage ownership of the foregoing individuals and of the group as
a whole, but not for the purpose of calculating the percentage
ownership of other individuals listed in the foregoing table.
(f) Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
The following table sets forth information with respect to persons known to
the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the
Company's common stock as of March 27, 2000.
NAME AND ADDRESS NUMBER OF SHARES
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED PERCENT OF CLASS
---------------------------------- --------------------- ------------------
Perkins, Wolf, McDonnell & Company 473,600(1) 6.68%
53 West Jackson Boulevard
Suite 722
Chicago, Illinois 60604
(1) Based solely on information contained in Schedule 13G filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2000, Perkins, Wolf,
McDonnell & Company has indicated that it is an investment advisory firm
having shared voting and dispositive power (but not sole voting or
dispositive power) with respect to all shares listed.
BOARD COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS
The Board of Directors of the Company held 12 regularly scheduled meetings
and four special meetings during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999. During
this period, each director of the Company attended at least 75% of the aggregate
of the total number of meetings of the Board and the total number of meetings
held by committees of the Board on which he served.
Among its standing committees, the Board of the Bank has an
Audit/Compliance/Risk Management Committee which also serves as the Company's
Audit Committee. The Audit/Compliance/Risk Management Committee reviews internal
and external audits of the Company and the Bank and the adequacy of the
Company's and the Bank's accounting, financial, and compliance controls, and
investigates and makes recommendations to the Company's Board and the Bank's
Board regarding the appointment of independent auditors. During 1999, this
Committee held four meetings and its present members are Directors William M.
Dempsey (Chair), John M. Burgess, and William N. Sloan.
The Bank's Board also has a Personnel Committee which reviews and makes
recommendations to the Bank's Board regarding compensation adjustments and
employee benefits to be instituted and which also serves as the Company's
Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee reviews the compensation of
nonofficer employees in the aggregate, and the salaries and performance of
executive officers are reviewed individually. The Personnel Committee held six
meetings in 1999, and its present members are Directors William N. Sloan
(Chair), Nicholas A. DiCerbo, and Lee T. Hirschey.
5
<PAGE>
The Company has a Nominating Committee which makes recommendations to the
Board for nominees to serve as directors. The Nominating Committee will consider
written recommendations from shareholders for nominees to serve on the Board
that are sent to the Secretary of the Company at the Company's main office. The
Nominating Committee held one meeting in 1999, and its present members are
Directors Richard C. Cummings (Chair), William M. Dempsey, and David C.
Patterson.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company serves as an ex
officio member of all Board committees and receives no compensation for serving
in this capacity. Mr. Gabriel, as Chair of the Board, also serves as a member of
all Board Committees.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
As directors of both the Company and the Bank, Board members receive an
annual retainer of $8,000, $500 for each Board meeting they attend, and $350 for
each committee meeting they attend. Mr. Belden does not receive an annual
retainer or compensation for attending Board and committee meetings. The Chair
of the Board receives an all inclusive $46,000 retainer for serving in that
capacity. The Chair of the Loan Committee, the Personnel Committee, and the
Strategic/Executive Committee each receives an annual retainer of $2,500; and
the Chair of the Investment Committee, the Trust Committee, and the
Audit/Compliance/Risk Management Committee each receives an annual retainer of
$750. The Company pays the travel expenses incurred by each director in
attending meetings of the Board.
Directors may elect to defer all or a portion of their director fees
pursuant to a Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors. Directors who elect to
participate in the Plan designate the percentage of their director fees which
they wish to defer (the "deferred fees") and the date to which they wish to
defer payment of benefits under the plan (the "distribution date"). The plan
administrator establishes an account for each participating director and credits
to such account (i) on the date a participating director would have otherwise
received payment of his deferred fees, the number of deferred shares of Company
Common Stock which could have been purchased with the deferred fees, and (ii)
from time to time such additional number of deferred shares which could have
been purchased with any dividends which would have been received had shares
equal to the number of shares credited to the account actually been issued and
outstanding. On the distribution date, the participating director shall be
entitled to receive shares of Company common stock equal to the number of
deferred shares credited to the director's account either in a lump sum or in
annual installments over a three, five or ten year period. The effect of the
plan is to permit directors to invest deferred director fees in stock of the
Company, having the benefit of any stock price appreciation and dividends as
well as the risk of any decrease in the stock price. To the extent that
directors participate in the plan, the interests of participating directors will
be more closely associated with the interests of shareholders in achieving
growth in the Company's stock price.
In 1995, the directors re-evaluated their total compensation arrangement,
in light of the increased responsibility associated with the changing nature of
the Company and the "Blue Ribbon Report" issued by the National Association of
Corporate Directors. Among other things, the Blue Ribbon Report suggests that
director compensation be structured so that it is specifically aligned with the
long-term interests of shareholders. Effective January 1, 1996, the Company's
1994 Long Term Incentive Compensation Program (the "Incentive Plan") was amended
to allow for the issuance of Non-Qualified Stock Options to nonemployee
directors. The Board believes that providing for the grant of Non-Statutory
Stock Options to nonemployee directors is in the best interests of the Company.
In the spirit of the Blue Ribbon Report, such a provision more closely aligns
the interests of individual directors with the long-term interests of the
Company's Shareholders, and enables the Company to continue to attract qualified
individuals to serve on the Board. In particular, when directors receive
equity-based compensation such as stock options, their overall compensation is
enhanced when the market price of the Company's common stock increases and is
adversely affected when the market price of the Company's common stock
decreases.
6
<PAGE>
The Incentive Plan provides that each eligible nonemployee director is to
receive an option to purchase 2,000 shares of common stock on or about January
1st of each year. Each option granted to a nonemployee director is granted at an
option price per share equal to the market value per share of the Company's
common stock on the date of grant, and is fully exercisable upon its date of
grant, provided that shares of common stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of
such options may not be sold or otherwise transferred by a director within six
months of the grant. Each option is exercisable until the earlier of (i) ten
years from the date of grant, or (ii) termination of the optionee's service on
the Board for cause (as defined in the Incentive Plan). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, to the extent that the Committee appointed by the Board to administer
the Incentive Plan determines that grants may be exempt from Section 16(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Non-Statutory Stock Options
granted to eligible nonemployee directors shall relate to a number of shares of
common stock to be determined based upon the financial performance of the
Company. Such financial performance shall be determined based upon factors
including (but not limited to) the Company's asset quality, return on equity,
and CAMELS rating (a measurement of capital, assets, management, earnings,
liquidity and sensitivity utilized by the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, the Bank's primary regulator). Pursuant to the 1996 amendment to the
Incentive Plan, each eligible nonemployee director received an option to
purchase 4,321 shares effective January 1, 1999.
In addition, in keeping with the spirit of the Blue Ribbon Report,
effective January 1, 1996, the Board adopted a "Stock Balance Plan" for
nonemployee directors of the Company who have completed at least six months of
service as director. The plan establishes an account for each eligible director.
Amounts credited to those accounts reflect the value of 200 shares of the
Company's Common Stock for each year of service between 1981 and 1995 at the
December 31, 1995 market value, plus an annual amount equal to 200 additional
shares of Common Stock beginning in 1996, plus an annual earnings credit equal
to the one-year average total return on the Company's Common Stock. The
crediting of additional units beginning in 1996 is subject to an adjustment
factor which reflects the Company's asset quality, return on equity and CAMELS
rating. The account balance is payable to each director in the form of a
lifetime annuity or, at the election of the director, monthly installment
payments over a three, five, or ten year period following the later of age 55 or
disassociation from the Board, is subject to a six-year vesting schedule, and is
forfeitable in the event of termination from the Board for cause.
In 1998, amendments to the Stock Balance Plan and the Incentive Plan were
approved by the Company's shareholders allowing the grant of "Offset Options" to
directors under the Incentive Plan. The effect of these Offset Options is to
permit the Company to reduce the grantee's Stock Balance Plan account balance by
an amount equal to the growth in value of the Offset Options (i.e., the amount
by which the aggregate fair market value of the Common Stock underlying the
Offset Options exceeds the aggregate exercise price of the Offset Options) as of
the date on which the director's account is valued, provided that a director's
account may not be reduced below zero. As such, the Offset Options are not
intended to materially change the level of compensation to participating
directors under the Stock Balance Plan, but are intended to reduce the cost of
director compensation to the Company. In the event that the growth in value of a
director's Offset Options is less than the value of the director's Stock Balance
Plan account as of the date that the Offset Options are exercised, the shortfall
will be paid to the director either in cash or, at the Company's option in the
case of an exercise prior to retirement, by the issuance of additional Offset
Options. In the event that the growth in value of a director's Offset Options
exceeds the value of the director's Stock Balance Plan account, no adjustment
will be made.
7
<PAGE>
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth information concerning compensation paid by
the Bank to those persons who were, at December 31, 1999, (i) the chief
executive officer and (ii) the other most highly compensated executive officers
whose annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Long-Term
Compensation
Annual Compensation Awards
-------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Other
Annual All Other
Name and Bonus ($) Compensation Stock Compensation
Principal Position Year Salary ($) (1) ($) (2) Options (#) ($)(3)
- ----------------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sanford A. Belden 1999 398,000 159,200 3,270 18,420 227,181
President and Chief 1998 350,000 140,000 4,437 15,000 179,368
Executive Officer 1997 300,000 120,000 3,667 0 101,768
James A. Wears 1999 155,000 46,500 4,278 6,275 11,062
President, Banking 1998 149,000 44,700 3,572 5,680 10,602
1997 142,000 42,600 3,706 0 10,418
Michael A. Patton 1999 155,000 46,500 4,446 6,275 12,108
President, Financial 1998 149,000 44,700 3,385 5,680 12,440
Services 1997 142,000 42,600 2,990 0 12,132
David G. Wallace 1999 142,500 42,750 0 5,770 21,651
Executive Vice President 1998 137,000 41,100 0 5,240 19,558
and Chief Financial 1997 131,000 39,300 0 0 17,448
Officer
Girard H. Mayer 1999 138,000 19,160 1,363 7,952 10,047
Chief Executive 1998 133,000 16,157 1,320 3,550 10,672
Officer, Benefit 1997 127,000 30,000 1,735 0 10,408
Plans Administrative
Services, Inc.
</TABLE>
(1) The amounts shown in this column for Messrs. Belden, Wears, Patton, and
Wallace reflect payments under the Company's Management Incentive Plan, an
annual cash award plan based on performance and designed to provide
incentives for employees. The amount shown in this column for Mr. Mayer
reflects payment under Mr. Mayer's Employment Agreement.
(2) The amounts disclosed in this column include the reportable value of the
personal use of Company-owned vehicles for Messrs. Belden, Wears, Patton,
and Mayer, which amounted to $3,270, $4,278, $4,446, and $1,363
respectively, in 1999.
(3) The amounts in this column include: (a) the value of group term life
insurance benefits in excess of $50,000 under a plan available to all
full-time employees for which Messrs. Belden, Wears, Patton, Wallace, and
Mayer received $2,304, $1,313, $1,147, $1,795 and $1,112 in 1999,
respectively; (b) Company contributions to the Employee Savings and
Retirement Plan, a defined contribution plan, amounting to $5,000 for Mr.
Belden; $3,788 for Mr. Wears; $5,000 for Mr. Patton; $3,784 for Mr.
Wallace; and $8,935 for Mr. Mayer in 1999; (c) Company contributions under
the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan, amounting to $15,729 for Mr.
Belden; $5,961 for Mr. Wears; $5,961 for Mr. Patton; and $5,480 for Mr.
Wallace in 1999; and (d) the expense associated with Mr. Belden's
supplemental retirement plan, which amounted to $204,148 in 1999, and the
expense associated with Mr. Wallace's supplemental retirement plan, which
amounted to $10,591 in 1999. The Company does not maintain any
"split-dollar" arrangements for any of the named executives.
8
<PAGE>
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
The following table provides further information on grants of stock options
pursuant to the Company's Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program in fiscal
year 1999 to the named executives as reflected in the Summary Compensation Table
on page 8.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable
% of Total Value at
Options Assumed Annual Rates
Granted to of Stock Price
Employees Exercise Appreciation
Options in or Market for Option Term
Granted Fiscal Base Price Expiration Value on ------------------------
Name (#) Year ($/Sh) Date Grant Date 5% 10%
- ------------------- ---------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sanford A. Belden 18,420 14.13% 29.3125 1/1/09 29.3125 339,563 860,519
James A. Wears 6,275 4.81% 29.3125 1/1/09 29.3125 115,676 293,147
Michael A. Patton 6,275 4.81% 29.3125 1/1/09 29.3125 115,676 293,147
David G. Wallace 5,770 4.43% 29.3125 1/1/09 29.3125 106,367 269,555
Girard H. Mayer 5,600 4.30% 29.3125 1/1/09 29.3125 103,233 261,613
Girard H. Mayer 2,352 1.80% 25.3750 6/30/09 25.3750 37,534 95,118
</TABLE>
Effective January 1, 1999, the Board of Directors issued incentive stock
options to Messrs. Belden, Wears, Patton, Wallace, and Mayer at the then current
market price of $29.3125 per share. Such options granted to Messrs. Belden,
Wears, Patton and Wallace become exercisable over the course of five years, with
one-fifth of the options becoming exercisable on January 1, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003 and 2004. Such options granted to Mr. Mayer become exercisable over the
course of two years, with one-half of the options becoming exercisable on
January 1, 2000 and 2001. Effective June 30, 1999, the Board of Directors issued
incentive stock options to Mr. Mayer at the then current market price of
$25.3750 per share. These options become exercisable over the course of two
years, with one-half of the options becoming exercisable on June 30, 2000 and
2001.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES
The following table provides information for the named executive officers,
with respect to (i) stock options exercised in fiscal year 1999, (ii) the number
of stock options held at the end of fiscal year 1999, and (iii) the value of
in-the-money stock options at the end of fiscal year 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Number of Unexercised Value of Unexercised
Acquired Options In-the-Money Options
on at 12/31/99 (#) at 12/31/99 ($) (1)
Exercise Value --------------------------- ----------------------------
Name (#) Realized ($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- ----------------------- ------------ ------------- ----------- ------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sanford A. Belden 13,621 144,049 7,001 49,348 16,004 121,392
James A. Wears 0 0 29,076 18,329 292,743 49,570
Michael A. Patton 0 0 23,036 18,319 198,593 49,470
David G. Wallace 4,000 73,941 24,268 20,442 201,758 82,930
Girard H. Mayer 0 0 3,194 10,988 8,040 2,680
</TABLE>
(1) Based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on December 31,
1999 of $23.125 per share.
9
<PAGE>
PENSION PLAN TABLE
YEARS OF SERVICE
Highest Five
Year Average
Compensation(1) 15 20 25 30 35
- --------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
20,000 2,700 3,600 4,500 5,400 6,300
50,000 8,402 11,202 14,003 16,803 19,604
100,000 20,027 26,702 33,378 40,053 46,729
125,000 25,839 34,452 43,065 51,678 60,291
150,000 31,652 42,202 52,753 63,303 73,854
160,000 33,977 45,302 56,628 67,953 79,279
(1) For 1999, the Internal Revenue Code limits the total compensation that may
be taken into account in calculating benefits to $160,000.
The table above sets forth the estimated annual benefits under the formula
adopted for post-1988 years of service, payable upon retirement at age 65 in the
form of a single life annuity. Benefits are computed based on the average annual
compensation for the highest consecutive five years in the 10 years preceding
retirement. The amounts are not subject to any deduction for Social Security.
For purposes of calculating the benefit, an employee may not be credited with
more than 35 years of service. The base salary and cash award amounts in the
Summary Compensation Table on page 9 reflect the covered compensation under the
plan for Messrs. Belden, Wears, Patton, Wallace, and Mayer. Messrs. Belden,
Wears, Patton, Wallace, and Mayer have been credited with 7, 29, 29, 11, and 19
years of service, respectively, under the plan.
The pension plan maintained by the Company is a noncontributory defined
benefit plan which is funded by the Company and administered by a retirement
committee which consists of persons appointed by the Board of Directors. The
plan covers all employees of the Company who have completed one full year of
continuous service. The Company first entered into a nonqualified supplemental
retirement plan agreement with Mr. Belden in January 1995, and with Mr. Wallace
in March 1997. The Company does not currently maintain any nonqualified
retirement plans for any of the other named executives.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company has an employment agreement with Mr. Belden providing for his
employment as the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer until December
31, 2002. The agreement requires that Mr. Belden devote his full business time
and attention to the performance of his duties for a base salary of $300,000 for
1997, $350,000 for 1998, $400,000 for 1999, and $450,000 for 2000; Mr. Belden's
base salary for 2001 and 2002 is to be negotiated during the year 2000. In the
event that the Company fails to meet certain defined performance targets during
a given fiscal year, the Company may renegotiate the scheduled increase in Mr.
Belden's base salary for the next succeeding fiscal year. The agreement may be
terminated by the Board for good cause at any time. If Mr. Belden's employment
is terminated by the Company prior to December 31, 2002 for reasons other than
cause, Mr. Belden will be entitled to severance pay equal to the greater of (i)
the sum of Mr. Belden's annual base salary at the time of the termination and
the most recent payment to Mr. Belden under the Company's Management Incentive
Plan, or (ii) amounts payable to Mr. Belden through the unexpired term of his
employment. If Mr. Belden's employment is terminated for reasons other than
cause within two years following a change of control, the Company will retain
him as a consultant for three years at an annual consulting fee equal to his
base salary plus the award to Mr. Belden under the Management Incentive Plan for
the year immediately preceding the change in control, will reimburse him for any
loss incurred on the sale of his home, and all of his stock options will become
fully exercisable. In addition, Mr. Belden may voluntarily terminate his
employment within two years following a change in control, in which event Mr.
Belden shall be entitled to receive the payments described in the preceding
sentence, with the consulting fees to be reduced by any non-Company wages or
self-employment income derived by Mr. Belden during the three-
10
<PAGE>
year consulting period. As an alternative to paying change of control benefits
to Mr. Belden over a three-year period, the Board of Directors may elect, in its
sole discretion, to pay all benefits due to Mr. Belden in a single lump sum
payment within 90 days following the change of control and Mr. Belden's
termination of employment. In the event this lump sum payment is made, the
amount of the payment will be increased to hold Mr. Belden harmless from any
increased tax liability resulting from the accelerated payment.
The Company also maintains four year employment agreements with Messrs.
Wears, Patton, and Wallace, providing for their continued employment until
December 31, 2000. These agreements provide for severance pay, in the event of a
termination for reasons other than cause, equal to the greater of (i) the sum of
the employee's annual base salary at the time of termination and the most recent
payment to the employee under the Company's Management Incentive Plan, or (ii)
amounts payable to the employee through the unexpired term of his employment. In
addition, if the Company elects not to renew the agreement upon expiration, the
employee is entitled to severance pay equal to one year of the employee's then
current annual base salary, provided that such severance pay shall be reduced to
the extent that the employee receives wages or self-employment income during the
one year period following expiration of the agreement. The agreements also
provide change of control benefits which include a three year consulting
engagement and accelerated vesting on all outstanding stock options. The
employee may voluntarily terminate his employment within two years following a
change in control, in which event the employee shall be entitled to full change
in control benefits, with his consulting fees to be reduced by any non-Company
wages or self-employment income derived by the employee during the three-year
consulting period. As an alternative to paying change of control benefits to the
employee over a three-year period, the Board of Directors may elect, in its sole
discretion, to pay all benefits due to the employee in a single lump sum payment
within 90 days following the change of control and the employee's termination of
employment. In the event this lump sum payment is made, the amount of the
payment will be increased to hold the employee harmless from any increased tax
liability resulting from the accelerated payment.
The Company has an agreement with Mr. Mayer and Benefit Plans
Administrative Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company ("BPA"),
providing for Mr. Mayer's employment as BPA's Chief Executive Officer until July
9, 2001. The Agreement requires that Mr. Mayer devote his best efforts to the
performance of his duties for a base salary of $127,000 per year, subject to
increase by the Company's Compensation Committee. In addition, the Agreement
provides that Mr. Mayer shall receive annual incentive bonuses based upon a
percentage of BPA's pre-tax income (as defined in the Agreement), but in no
event less than the following amounts, subject to potential reduction based upon
factors set forth in the Agreement: $15,000 for calendar year 1996, $30,000 for
1997, $10,000 for 1998, $10,000 for 1999, $10,000 for 2000, and $10,000 for
2001. The Agreement may be terminated by the Company for "cause" (as defined in
the Agreement) at any time. The Agreement also provides change-in-control
benefits which include payment of Mr. Mayer's base salary through the unexpired
term of the Agreement, as well as payment of annual incentive bonuses through
the unexpired term of the Agreement in an amount equal to the last annual bonus
paid to Mr. Mayer prior to the occurrence of the change-in-control.
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN AGREEMENTS
The Company has Supplemental Retirement Plan Agreements with Mr. Belden and
Mr. Wallace. Under Mr. Belden's Supplemental Retirement Plan Agreement, the
Company must provide Mr. Belden with an annual supplemental retirement benefit
which amounts to the sum of (i) 5% of his final five year average salary, for
each of his first ten years of service, plus (ii) 2% of his final five year
average salary, for each year of service in excess of ten years. The
supplemental retirement benefits are reduced by the benefit payable under the
Company's pension plan, Mr. Belden's Social Security benefit, the benefits
payable from two other pension plans in which Mr. Belden participated prior to
joining the Company in 1992, and certain additional amounts. The supplemental
retirement benefit is payable at age 65 in the form of an actuarially reduced
joint and 50% survivor benefit, provided that benefits payable prior to age 65,
or in another form, are subject to the same actuarial adjustments as benefits
under the Company's pension plan.
Under Mr. Wallace's Supplemental Retirement Plan Agreement, the Company
must contribute to the Company's deferred compensation plan, on behalf of Mr.
Wallace, certain additional amounts as of the last day of each calendar year
11
<PAGE>
for which Mr. Wallace is credited with a "Year of Service" under the Company's
pension plan. In addition, in the event that Mr. Wallace's employment is
terminated within two years following a change in control, Mr. Wallace's
Supplemental Retirement Plan Agreement provides for crediting for retirement
purposes in the greater amount of actual years of service or 20 years.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS
AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The members of the Personnel Committee of the Bank's Board of Directors
during the last fiscal year were William N. Sloan (Chair), Nicholas A. DiCerbo,
James A. Gabriel and Lee T. Hirschey. The Personnel Committee reviews and makes
recommendations regarding compensation levels and employee benefits. As noted on
page 15, the law firms of DiCerbo and Palumbo, of which Director DiCerbo is a
partner, and Franklin & Gabriel, of which Director Gabriel is owner, provided
legal services to the Bank during 1999.
REPORT OF THE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Company has adopted a multi-faceted approach towards compensating all
of its employees, including senior management. The underlying philosophy and
description of major components of the total compensation program are described
below.
Philosophy
The total compensation program is intended to align compensation with
business objectives and enable the Company to attract and retain individuals who
are contributing to the long-term success of the Company. Towards this end:
The Company pays competitively. The Company regularly compares its cash,
equity and benefits based compensation practices with those of other companies
of similar size, operating in similar geographic market areas, many of which are
represented in the stock performance graph included on page 14, and establishes
compensation parameters based on that review.
The Company encourages teamwork. The Company recognizes that its long-term
success results from the coordinated efforts of employees working towards
common, well established objectives. While individual accomplishments are
encouraged and rewarded, the performance of the Company is a determining factor
in total compensation opportunities.
The Company strives for fairness in the administration of pay. The Company
strives to ensure that compensation levels accurately reflect the level of
accountability that each individual has within the Company; employees are
informed of the total compensation program; decisions made regarding individual
performance which affect compensation matters are based upon an objective
assessment of performance; and all employees have equal access to positions
within the Company which provide for increased levels of total compensation.
The process of assessing performance involves the following:
1. Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the Chief Executive
Officer establishes and distributes written goals, which must be approved by the
full Board. Those goals include specific financial targets relative to earnings
and asset quality. The Company strives to achieve financial results which are in
the upper third of the results published by its peer group.
12
<PAGE>
2. Individuals at each successive level of management establish written
goals, which must be approved by their respective managers.
3. All goals are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the Company
is responding to changes in the marketplace and economic climate, and that
accomplishment of retained goals is ensured.
4. At the end of the fiscal year, performance is evaluated against goals
and other key position responsibilities. Such evaluations affect decisions on
salary, cash incentive, and stock option matters.
Compensation Programs
The Company defines itself as a super-community bank which provides
products of a more comprehensive and advanced nature than those offered by
smaller institutions, while simultaneously providing a level of service which
exceeds the service quality delivered by larger regional and money center
organizations. The delivery of those products and services, in ways that enhance
shareholder value, requires that the Company attract key people, promote
teamwork, and reward results. In furtherance of those requirements, the Company
maintains the following compensation programs.
Cash-Based Compensation
Salary. The Company sets base salaries for employees by reviewing the
total cash compensation opportunities for competitive positions in the market.
In order to more closely align employee compensation to the Company's
performance, the Company uses a combination of competitive base salaries and
performance incentive opportunities to provide for total compensation that may
exceed those in comparable companies which do not generate comparable financial
results.
Management Incentive Plan. The Company maintains an annual incentive
plan in which 33% of its employees participate. The Company's performance to
targeted asset quality, return on equity, and CAMELS rating, which targets are
approved by the Board, triggers the payment of cash awards for all employees in
this group. Award levels, which amount to a percentage of salary, have been
established for different organizational levels within the Company. For Mr.
Belden, 100% of his award is determined by the Company's performance relative to
the financial targets described above. For Messrs. Wears, Patton, and Wallace,
80% of their respective award opportunities reflect the Company's performance
relative to the financial targets, and 20% of their respective award
opportunities reflect performance to other quantitative and qualitative goals
specific to their areas of responsibility. 100% of Mr. Mayer's award opportunity
reflects the performance of Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. relative
to certain financial targets.
Equity-Based Compensation
Stock Option Program. The purpose of this program is to provide
additional incentives to employees to work to maximize shareholder value. The
option program serves as an effective tool in recruiting key individuals and
utilizes vesting periods to encourage these individuals to continue in the
employ of the Company. The Board frequently awards options in years during which
the Company has achieved its financial targets. The number of stock options
issued generally reflects a percentage of salary; and various percentages have
been established for different organizational levels within the Company.
Restricted Stock. The Company has, on occasion, issued limited amounts
of restricted stock to individuals to support a variety of business objectives.
Examples include: performance unit shares have been issued in start-up and
turnaround assignments, with vesting schedules tied to specific performance
criteria; and restricted shares have been issued to newly promoted and hired
individuals who received initial stock option awards with no in-the-money
exercisable value.
13
<PAGE>
The Company believes that the use of equity-based compensation such as
stock options and restricted stock is important in that it aligns the interests
of key personnel with those of the Shareholders. In particular, when personnel
receive equity-based compensation, their overall compensation is enhanced when
the market price of the Company's common stock increases and is adversely
affected when the market price of the Company's common stock decreases.
CEO Compensation
In December 1999, the full Board formally reviewed Mr. Belden's performance
for fiscal year 1999, his seventh full year as the Company's President and CEO.
Having determined that the Company's level of performance relative to the
majority of its previously approved annual and long-term financial targets had
been surpassed, the Board, operating under the terms of the Management Incentive
Plan disclosed in this Report, authorized the payment of Mr. Belden's cash award
for 1999, which amounted to $159,200. Mr. Belden's $398,000 base salary level
for 1999 is well supported by competitive wage survey data, and the increase
over his 1998 base salary level is well supported by the Company's strategic
accomplishments and financial performance during the 1998 evaluation period.
The foregoing report has been provided by William N. Sloan (Chair),
Nicholas A. DiCerbo, James A. Gabriel and Lee T. Hirschey, members of the
Personnel Committee.
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares cumulative total shareholder returns on the
Company`s common stock over the last five fiscal years to the Russell 2000 Index
and the Nasdaq Bank Stocks Index. Total return values were calculated as of
December 31 of each indicated year assuming $100 investment on December 31, 1994
and reinvestment of dividends.
[GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF PERFORMANCE GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Community Bank System, Inc. 100 127.04 162.30 266.11 256.21 210.05
Nasdaq Bank Stocks Index 100 144.81 182.69 298.85 263.68 242.63
Russell 2000 Index 100 126.21 144.84 174.56 168.54 201.61
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE>
TRANSACTIONS WITH MANAGEMENT
Some of the directors and executive officers of the Company and the Bank
(and the members of their immediate families and corporations, organizations,
trusts, and estates with which these individuals are associated) are indebted to
the Bank. However, all such loans were made in the ordinary course of business,
do not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other
unfavorable features, and were made on substantially the same terms, including
interest rate and collateral requirements, as those prevailing at the same time
for comparable loan transactions with unaffiliated persons. No such loan is
nonperforming at present. The Company expects that the Bank will continue to
have banking transactions in the ordinary course of business with the Company's
executive officers and directors and their associates on substantially the same
terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those then prevailing for
comparable transactions with others.
Outside of these normal customer relationships, none of the directors or
executive officers of the Company or the Bank and no 5% shareholders of the
Company (or members of the immediate families of any of the above or any
corporations, organizations, or trusts with which such persons are associated)
maintains any significant business or personal relationship with the Company or
the Bank, other than as arises by virtue of his ownership interest in the
Company or his position with the Company or the Bank. The law firms of (i)
Cummings, Dunckel and Campany, LLP of which Director Cummings is a partner,
provided legal services to the Bank's operations in its Northern Region Markets,
(ii) Franklin & Gabriel, owned by Director Gabriel, provided legal services to
the Bank's operations in its Finger Lakes Market, and (iii) DiCerbo and Palumbo,
of which Director DiCerbo is a partner, provided legal services to the Bank's
operations in its Southern Region Markets. For services rendered during 1999 and
for related out-of-pocket disbursements, Cummings, Dunckel and Campany, LLP
received $82,299 and DiCerbo and Palumbo received $101,473 from the Bank. The
amount received by Franklin and Gabriel from the Company or Bank was less than
5% of the gross revenues of the law firm for the last fiscal year.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors, executive officers and holders of more than 10% of the Company's
common stock (collectively, "Reporting Persons") to file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in
ownership of the common stock. Such persons are required by regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission to furnish the Company with copies of all
such filings. Based solely on its review of the copies of such filings received
by it and written representations of Reporting Persons with respect to the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, the Company believes that all Reporting
Persons complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements in the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If shareholder proposals are to be considered by the Company for inclusion
in a proxy statement for a future meeting of the Company's Shareholders, such
proposals must be submitted on a timely basis and must meet the requirements
established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for shareholder proposals.
Shareholder proposals for the Company's 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will
not be deemed to be timely submitted unless they are received by the Company at
its principal executive offices by December 7, 2000. Such shareholder proposals,
together with any supporting statements, should be directed to the Secretary of
the Company. Shareholders submitting proposals are urged to submit their
proposals by certified mail, return receipt requested.
15
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P., Independent Certified Public Accountants,
were retained by the Company at the direction of the Board of Directors. The
independent auditors have audited the financial statements of the Company for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 and performed such other nonaudit
services as the Board requested.
A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. will be present at the
Meeting. This representative will have the opportunity to make a statement, if
he so desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from
Shareholders.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any other matters
that may come before the Meeting. However, the Proxies may be voted with
discretionary authority with respect to any other matters that may properly come
before the Meeting.
Date: April 5, 2000 By Order of the Board of Directors
Donna J. Drengel
Secretary
16
<PAGE>
[FORM OF PROXY CARD]
PROXY
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
5790 WIDEWATERS PARKWAY
DEWITT, NEW YORK 13214-1883
The undersigned hereby appoints Charles M. Ertel and Donna J. Drengel,
proxies, with power to act without the other and with power of substitution, and
hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as designated on the other side,
all the shares of stock of Community Bank System, Inc. standing in the name of
the undersigned with all powers which the undersigned would possess if present
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held May 17, 2000 or
any adjournment thereof.
(CONTINUED, AND TO BE MARKED, DATED AND SIGNED, ON THE OTHER SIDE)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[X] Please mark your votes as indicated in this example
FOR WITHHELD
ITEM 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR ALL
Nominees: Sanford A. Belden, Lee T. Hirschey
David C. Patterson [ ] [ ]
WITHHELD FOR: (Write that nominee's name in the
space provided below.)
- ----------------------------------------------
In their discretion, such attorneys-in-fact and proxies are authorized to vote
upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
This Proxy, when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned.
IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" PROPOSAL 1.
Please check at right to indicate whether you plan to attend the Annual Meeting.
will attend will not attend
[ ] [ ]
Signature_________________________Signature_________________________Date________
Note: Please sign as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign.
When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give full title as such.
