Community Financial (NYSE: CBU) EVP granted new RSUs and long-term options

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC. executive Michael N. Abdo, EVP and General Counsel, received new equity compensation. He was granted 1,373 restricted stock units, each representing one share of common stock, and 5,246 stock options with a $56.64 exercise price, all held directly.

The restricted stock units vest in three equal annual installments beginning March 1, 2027. The stock options vest ratably on March 17 of each year from 2027 through 2031 and expire in 2036. Following these awards, Abdo also directly holds 8,010 common shares and indirectly holds 2,812.655 shares through the company’s 401(K) plan.

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^*

Abdo Michael N

(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)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	EVP and General Counsel

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
Common Stock								8,010	D
Common Stock								2,812.655(1)	I	By 401(K)

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
Restricted Stock Units	(2)	03/17/2026		A		1,373		(3)	(3)	Common Stock	1,373	$0	1,373	D
Stock Option	$56.64	03/17/2026		A		5,246		(4)	03/17/2036	Common Stock	5,246	$0	5,246	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The number of shares reported herein were acquired pursuant to Community Financial System, Inc.'s 401(K) Plan and are based on a current plan statement.

2. Each restricted stock unit represents the contingent right to receive one share of Community Financial System, Inc. common stock.

3. The restricted stock units vest in three equal annual installments beginning March 1, 2027.

4. The option vests ratably on March 17, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031.

	/s/ Danielle M. Cima, pursuant to a Confirming Statement executed by Michael N. Abdo	03/19/2026
	** 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 equity awards did CBU executive Michael N. Abdo receive?

Michael N. Abdo received two equity awards: 1,373 restricted stock units and 5,246 stock options. Each restricted stock unit equals one share of common stock, while the options have a $56.64 exercise price and vest over several years as long-term compensation.

How do the new restricted stock units for CBU’s EVP vest?

The 1,373 restricted stock units granted to CBU’s EVP and General Counsel vest in three equal annual installments. Vesting begins on March 1, 2027, providing a multi-year incentive structure tied to continued service and alignment with shareholder interests over time.

What are the terms of the stock options granted to CBU’s EVP?

Abdo received 5,246 stock options on common stock with a $56.64 exercise price. These options vest ratably on March 17, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031, and carry an expiration date in 2036, creating a long-term incentive horizon.

What are Michael N. Abdo’s CBU common stock holdings after these awards?

After the reported awards, Abdo directly holds 8,010 shares of Community Financial System, Inc. common stock. He also indirectly holds 2,812.655 shares through the company’s 401(K) plan, based on a current plan statement referenced in the filing’s footnotes.

Are the CBU equity transactions open-market buys or compensation grants?

The reported transactions are compensation-related grants, not open-market purchases or sales. They consist of restricted stock units and stock options awarded with a zero dollar grant price, classified as grant or award acquisitions rather than discretionary trading in the market.