Community Bank System, Inc. and Oneida Financial Corp. Announce Signing of Definitive Merger Agreement

Combined #4 Market Share in Syracuse MSA
Attractive Deployment of Shareholder Capital
Over 50% Premium to ONFC Shareholders and Significant per Share Cash Earnings Accretion to CBU Shareholders

SYRACUSE, N.Y. & ONEIDA, N.Y.-- Community Bank System, Inc. (CBU) and Oneida Financial Corp. (ONFC) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which Community Bank System, Inc. will acquire Oneida Financial Corp., parent company of Oneida Savings Bank in Oneida, NY, for approximately $142 million in Community Bank System, Inc. stock and cash, or $20 per share. Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of Oneida Financial Corp. can elect to receive either 0.5635 shares of Community Bank System, Inc. common stock or $20.00 in cash for each share of Oneida Financial Corp. common stock they hold, subject to an overall 60% stock and 40% cash split. The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of both companies.

The merger will combine two institutions with a long history of community-focused service and will result in the creation of the fourth largest institution by market share in the Syracuse, New York metropolitan statistical area (MSA). In addition, Oneida Financial Corp.’s significant insurance, benefits administration, and wealth management businesses will meaningfully strengthen and complement Community Bank System, Inc.’s existing non-banking service capacity. Oneida Financial Corp. has total assets of nearly $800 million, deposits of $690 million, and 12 banking offices across Madison and Oneida Counties.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Oneida Financial Corp. to further extend and strengthen our Central New York service area,” said Community Bank System, Inc. President & Chief Executive Officer Mark E. Tryniski. “Oneida Financial Corp. has a leading market presence in Madison County, attractive share in Oneida County, and has built impressive businesses in insurance, benefits, and wealth management. Even more important to us, Oneida Financial Corp. has an impeccable history of service to its customers and its communities, and a culture that aligns very well with that of Community Bank System, Inc.”

Michael R. Kallet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oneida Financial Corp. commented, “This is an ideal opportunity for Oneida Financial Corp. to partner with a true community bank that has been nationally recognized for its financial strength and exceptional customer service. Their focus on customers and communities is identical to ours, and our customers will benefit from an expanded network of branch locations and ATM’s, and broader product and service offerings.” Mr. Kallet continued, “We are pleased with the attractive market premium our shareholders will be receiving, in addition to a greater dividend and substantial market liquidity. Community Bank System, Inc. has an impressive history of creating shareholder value through both earnings and dividend growth.”

Community Bank System, Inc. expects the transaction to be accretive in 2015 excluding merger costs, and approximately $0.07 per share accretive to 2016 GAAP earnings and $0.11 per share accretive to 2016 cash earnings.

The merger agreement provides for Michael Kallet and Eric Stickels from Oneida Financial Corp. to be added to the Board of Directors of Community Bank System, Inc. The merger is expected to close in July 2015 and is subject to approval by the shareholders of Oneida Financial Corp. and required regulatory approvals.

RBC Capital Markets, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Community Bank System, Inc. and Bond Schoeneck & King, PLLC acted as its legal advisor. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company acted as exclusive financial advisor to Oneida Financial Corp. and rendered a fairness opinion and Luse Gorman, P.C. acted as its legal advisor.

About Community Bank System, Inc.

Community Bank System, Inc. operates more than 190 customer facilities across Upstate New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania through its banking subsidiary, Community Bank, N.A. With assets of approximately $7.5 billion, the DeWitt, N.Y. headquartered company is among the country's 150 largest financial institutions. In addition to a full range of retail and business banking services, Community Bank System, Inc. offers comprehensive financial planning and wealth management services and operates a full service insurance agency providing personal and business insurance products. Community Bank System, Inc.'s Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. subsidiary is a leading provider of employee benefits administration and trust services, and actuarial and consulting services to customers on a national scale. Community Bank System, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and its stock trades under the symbol CBU. For more information about Community Bank System, Inc. visit www.communitybankna.com or http://ir.communitybanksystem.com.

About Oneida Financial Corp.

Oneida Financial Corp. reported total assets at December 31, 2014 of $798.2 million and stockholders' equity of $95.8 million. Oneida Financial Corp.'s wholly owned subsidiaries include The Oneida Savings Bank, a New York State chartered FDIC insured stock savings bank; State Bank of Chittenango, a state chartered limited-purpose commercial bank; OneGroup NY, Inc. (formerly Bailey & Haskell Associates, Inc.), an insurance, risk management and employee benefits company; and Oneida Wealth Management, Inc., a financial and investment advisory firm. Oneida Savings Bank was established in 1866 and operates twelve full-service banking offices in Madison and Oneida counties. For more information, visit Oneida Financial Corp.'s website at www.oneidafinancial.com.

Additional Information about the Merger

In connection with the proposed merger, Community Bank System, Inc. will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a Proxy Statement of Oneida Financial Corp., as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. Stockholders of Oneida Financial Corp. are urged to read the registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant materials filed with the SEC when they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

A free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, when available, as well as other filings containing information about Oneida Financial Corp. and Community Bank System, Inc., may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, when available, free of charge from Oneida Financial Corp. at http://www.oneidafinancial.com/ under the heading “Investor Relations” and then “Documents” or from Community Bank System, Inc. by accessing its website at www.communitybankna.com under the heading of “Investor Relations” and then “SEC Filings & Annual Report.” Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, free of charge and when available, by directing a request to Oneida Financial Corp., 182 Main Street, Oneida, New York 13421, Attention: Investor Relations, Telephone: (315) 363-2000 or to Community Bank System, Inc., 5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York 13214, Attention: Investor Relations, Telephone: (315) 445-2282.

Oneida Financial Corp. and Community Bank System, Inc. and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to participate in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Oneida Financial in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of Oneida Financial Corp. and their ownership of Oneida Financial Corp. common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on March 25, 2014. Information about the directors and executive officers of Community Bank System, Inc. and their ownership of Community Bank System, Inc. common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on April 4, 2014. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document when available may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following factors, among others listed in the Companies’ Form 10-K filings, could cause the actual results of the Companies’ operations to differ materially from the Companies’ expectations: the successful integration of operations of its acquisitions; competition; changes in economic conditions, interest rates and financial markets; and changes in legislation or regulatory requirements. The Companies do not assume any duty to update forward-looking statements.

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