Community Financial System 401(k) and pension plans

Community Financial System, Inc., Dewitt, NY. EIN 16-1213679. Annual reports 2009–2025. Also filed as Merchants Bank; The Merchants Bank; Community Bank System, Inc.; Community Financial System, Inc.

Community Financial System, Inc. has 2 active retirement plans on file. The largest is the Community Financial System, Inc 401K Employee Stock Ownership Plan, with 3,799 participants and $509 million in assets in 2025. Benefit Plans Admin Services has been its recordkeeper since 2015.

Active plans: 2
Participants: 7,662
Plan assets: $782 million
401(k) recordkeeper: Benefit Plans Admin Services
Plans on file: 4
Industry: Finance and insurance

All 4 plans

Active plans first

Community Financial System, Inc 401K Employee Stock Ownership Plan

401(k) with ESOPActive

Active. The plan filed its annual report for the 2025 plan year.

Plan number: 002Employer EIN 16-1213679
Participants (2025): 3,799
Net assets (2025): $509 million
Recordkeeper: Benefit Plans Admin ServicesEarlier: Milliman (2013–2014), Benefit Plans Admin Services (2012)
Plan administrator: Community Financial System, Inc
333 Butternut Drive
Syracuse, NY 13214
(315) 991-3692As filed for 2025
In effect since: July 1, 1978

Plans merged into this one: The Oneida Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan (2016).

Earlier sponsors: Merchants Bank (2009–2014); Community Bank System, Inc. (2012–2023).

Earlier plan names: The Merchants Bank 401K Esop Plan; The Merchants Bank 401(k) Esop Plan; Community Bank System, Inc. 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Year by year, 2009 to 2025

Plan year	Participants	Net assets	Recordkeeper
2025	3,799	$509 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2024	3,729	$474 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2023	3,795	$416 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2022	3,900	$379 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2021	3,652	$449 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2020	3,563	$402 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2019	3,438	$349 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2018	3,389	$293 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2017	340	$38.9 million	not listed
2016	2,849	$242 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2015	2,450	$157 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2014	439	$47.9 million	Milliman
2013	438	$48.2 million	Milliman
2012	2,441	$112 million	Benefit Plans Admin Services
2011	426	$38.4 million	not listed
2010	420	$36.3 million	not listed
2009	379	$30.4 million	not listed

Community Financial System, Inc. Pension Plan

Pension (defined benefit)Active

Active. The plan filed its annual report for the 2024 plan year.

Plan number: 001Employer EIN 16-1213679
Participants (2024): 3,863
Net assets (2024): $273 million
Plan administrator: Community Financial System, Inc.
5790 Widewaters Pkwy
Dewitt, NY 13214
(315) 991-3692As filed for 2024
In effect since: July 7, 1976

Plans merged into this one: Steuben Trust Company Pension Plan As a Member of the New York State Bankers Retirement System (2020).

Earlier sponsor: Community Bank System, Inc. (2016–2023).

Earlier plan names: Community Bank System, Inc. Pension Plan.

Year by year, 2016 to 2024

Plan year	Participants	Net assets	Recordkeeper
2024	3,863	$273 million	not listed
2023	3,842	$267 million	not listed
2022	3,704	$244 million	not listed
2021	3,710	$291 million	not listed
2020	3,712	$273 million	not listed
2019	3,508	$227 million	not listed
2018	3,330	$204 million	not listed
2017	3,299	$217 million	not listed
2016	2,878	$183 million	not listed

Steuben Trust Company Pension Plan As a Member of the New York State Bankers Retirement System

Pension (defined benefit), frozenMerged

Merged. In 2020 its assets moved to the Community Bank System, Inc. Pension Plan, sponsored by Community Financial System, Inc. (EIN 16-1213679, plan 001). Accounts moved with them, so that plan is the one to contact.

Plan number: 015Employer EIN 16-1213679
Participants (2019): 136
Net assets (2019): $18.6 million
Plan administrator: Community Bank System, Inc.
5790 Widewaters Parkway
Dewitt, NY 13214
(315) 445-7334As filed for 2020
In effect since: June 26, 1953

Earlier sponsor: Steuben Trust Company (2009–2018).

Earlier plan names: New York State Bankers Retirement System Volume Submitter Plan.

Year by year, 2009 to 2020

Plan year	Participants	Net assets	Recordkeeper
2020	0	$0	not listed
2019	136	$18.6 million	not listed
2018	142	$14.0 million	not listed
2017	143	$13.3 million	not listed
2016	144	$13.5 million	not listed
2015	148	$11.1 million	not listed
2014	150	$10.6 million	not listed
2013	153	$11.0 million	not listed
2012	154	$10.5 million	not listed
2011	161	$9.3 million	not listed
2010	168	$7.8 million	not listed
2009	174	$7.7 million	not listed

The Oneida Savings Bank Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)Merged

Merged. In 2016 its assets moved to the Community Bank System, Inc., sponsored by Community Financial System, Inc. (EIN 16-1213679, plan 002). Accounts moved with them, so that plan is the one to contact.

Plan number: 003Employer EIN 16-1213679
Participants (2015): 319
Net assets (2015): $9.5 million
Plan administrator: Community Bank Systems, Inc
5790 Widewaters Parkway
Dewitt, NY 13214
(315) 445-7312As filed for 2016
In effect since: January 1, 1998

Earlier sponsor: The Oneida Savings Bank (2009–2014).

Year by year, 2009 to 2016

Plan year	Participants	Net assets	Recordkeeper
2016	0	$0	not listed
2015	319	$9.5 million	not listed
2014	380	$6.4 million	not listed
2013	326	$5.9 million	not listed
2012	327	$5.0 million	not listed
2011	325	$4.2 million	not listed
2010	330	$3.2 million	not listed
2009	315	$3.3 million	not listed

If you had money in one of these plans

Call Benefit Plans Admin Services, which runs the Community Financial System, Inc 401K Employee Stock Ownership Plan. With your Social Security number and the plan name, it can tell you whether you still have a balance and, if not, where it went.
Or call the plan administrator listed on the plan below ((315) 991-3692). That number was filed for 2025; ask for the benefits or retirement plan office.
If your plan was merged, your account moved with it. Follow the link on the plan to the plan it went into, and contact that one.
Still stuck? The Department of Labor's benefits advisers help for free: askebsa.dol.gov or 1-866-444-3272. Never pay anyone to find your own money.

What these numbers are

They come from the Form 5500 annual reports each plan files with the Department of Labor, as the plan filed them. A plan year is usually a calendar year.
Participants counts everyone in the plan at year end: current employees, former employees who still have a balance or a pension coming, and retirees or beneficiaries being paid.
The recordkeeper is the service provider whose Schedule C entry says it keeps the plan's records. Small plans do not file Schedule C, so some plans show none.
We cannot see anyone's account. Only the plan or its recordkeeper can tell you your balance.

Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, Form 5500 datasets and PBGC trusteed plans. How we read them.