Community Financial System (NYSE: CBU) director receives 1,220 deferred phantom stock units

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Hall Brenda M reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC. director Brenda M. Hall received a grant of 1,220 phantom stock units, reported as deferred stock units, under the company’s 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan. These units are the economic equivalent of 1,220 shares of common stock and will be settled in common stock at a predetermined future date. Following this compensation-related award, she holds 1,220 phantom stock units directly.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Hall Brenda M

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC.

333 BUTTERNUT DRIVE

(Street)

SYRACUSE NEW YORK 13214

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC. [ CBU ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/17/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock (Deferred Stock Units)	(1)	03/17/2026		A		1,220		(1)	(1)	Common Stock	1,220	$0	1,220	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The reporting person has received deferred stock units under the Community Financial System, Inc. 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the "LTIP"). Each phantom stock unit which represents a deferred stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of Community Financial System, Inc. common stock and will be settled in common stock at a predetermined date.

	/s/ Danielle M. Cima, attorney-in-fact for Brenda M. Hall	03/18/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What insider transaction did Brenda M. Hall report for CBU on this Form 4?

Brenda M. Hall reported receiving a grant of 1,220 phantom stock (deferred stock) units. The award is a compensation-related grant rather than an open-market trade and is tied to Community Financial System, Inc.’s 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Is Brenda M. Hall’s CBU Form 4 transaction a stock purchase or sale?

The transaction is not a stock purchase or sale. It is a grant of phantom stock units as compensation, classified as a derivative award, with no price paid and no open-market trading involved in this specific filing.

How many CBU phantom stock units does Brenda M. Hall hold after this grant?

After the reported grant, Brenda M. Hall holds 1,220 phantom stock (deferred stock) units. Each unit is economically equivalent to one share of Community Financial System, Inc. common stock and will be settled in common stock at a predetermined future date.

What is the nature of the phantom stock units granted to Brenda M. Hall at CBU?

The phantom stock units are deferred stock units granted under the Community Financial System, Inc. 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan. Each unit mirrors the value of one common share and will ultimately be settled in actual common stock at a future, predetermined time.

Does the CBU Form 4 indicate any remaining option or derivative positions for Brenda M. Hall?

The filing shows a single derivative transaction involving phantom stock units and lists no additional remaining derivative positions in the derivative summary. The 1,220 deferred stock units reported represent her visible phantom stock holdings in this specific disclosure.

Was any cash paid or received in Brenda M. Hall’s CBU phantom stock award?

No cash consideration is shown; the units were granted at a reported price of 0.0000 per unit. This indicates a compensation award rather than a purchase, consistent with typical long-term incentive plan grants for directors or executives.