SYRACUSE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Community Financial System, Inc. (NYSE: CBU) (“CFSI”) announced today that its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A., has entered into an agreement to acquire ClearPoint Federal Bank & Trust (“ClearPoint”). The transaction significantly expands the revenue and offerings of Nottingham Financial Group (“NFG”), CFSI’s wealth management services business, and contributes to CFSI’s strategic capital deployment into durable, recurring, growing income streams.
ClearPoint is a national leader in trust administration for the approximately $20 billion death care industry, with over $1.5 billion of assets under management and 3-year revenue CAGR of 8.8%. Following the consummation of the transaction, ClearPoint is expected to retain its brand and offerings while benefiting from deeper capabilities as part of both NFG and Community Bank, N.A.
The all-cash transaction is valued at $40 million, subject to potential purchase price adjustment. The consummation of the transaction is subject to receipt of the shareholder approval of ClearPoint and requisite regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. CFSI expects the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2026.
D.A. Davidson & Co. served as financial advisor, and Luse Gorman, PC served as legal advisor to Community Financial System, Inc. ClearPoint Federal Bank & Trust was advised by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., a Stifel Company, and Covington & Burling LLP served as its legal counsel.
About Community Financial System, Inc.
Community Financial System, Inc. (the “Company”) is a diversified financial services company that is focused on four main business lines – banking services, employee benefit services, insurance services and wealth management services. Its banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A., is among the country’s 100 largest banking institutions with over $16 billion in assets and operates approximately 200 customer facilities across Upstate New York, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Vermont, Western Massachusetts, and Southern New Hampshire. The Company’s Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. subsidiary is a leading provider of employee benefits administration, trust services, collective investment fund administration, and actuarial consulting services to customers on a national scale. The Company’s OneGroup NY, Inc. subsidiary is a top 68 U.S. insurance agency. The Company also offers comprehensive financial planning, trust administration and wealth management services through its Nottingham Financial Group operating unit. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Company’s stock trades under the symbol CBU. For more information about the Company and each of its four main business lines visit https://communityfinancialsystem.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of CBU’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause the actual results of CBU’s operations to differ materially from its expectations: the macroeconomic and other challenges and uncertainties related to or resulting from current and future economic and market conditions, including the effects on CRE and housing or vehicle prices, unemployment rates, high inflation, U.S. fiscal debt, budget and tax matters, geopolitical matters, tariffs and global economic growth; fiscal and monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board; the potential adverse effects of unusual and infrequently occurring events; litigation and actions of regulatory authorities; management’s estimates and projections of interest rates and interest rate policies; the effect of changes in the level of checking, savings, or money market account deposit balances and other factors that affect net interest margin; future provisions for credit losses on loans and debt securities; changes in nonperforming assets; ability to contain costs in inflationary conditions; the effect on financial market valuations on CBU’s fee income businesses, including its employee benefit services, wealth management services, and insurance services businesses; the successful integration of operations of its acquisitions and performance of new branches; competition; changes in legislation or regulatory requirements, including capital requirements; and the timing for receiving regulatory approvals and completing merger and acquisition transactions. For more information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from CBU’s expectations, refer to its annual, periodic and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the discussion under the “Risk Factors” section of such reports filed with the SEC and available on CBU’s website at https://communityfinancialsystem.com and on the SEC’s website at https://sec.gov. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and CBU undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Marya Burgio Wlos,
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
Office: (315) 299-2946
