UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 8, 2025

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-13695	16-1213679
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York	13214
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (315) 445-2282

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share	CBU	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 8.01

Other Matters.

On September 8, 2025, Community Financial System, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that it has made a minority investment in Leap Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Leap”). The Company acquired approximately $37,350,000 in various classes of preferred and common stock.

A copy of the press release, dated September 8, 2025, issued by the Company, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a)

Not applicable.

(b)

Not applicable.

(c)

Not applicable.

(d)

Exhibits.

Exhibit No.             Description

99.1

Press Release, dated September 8, 2025, issued by Community Financial System, Inc.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded in the cover page formatted in Inline XBRL)

Forward-Looking Statements

This Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future and are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause the actual results of the Company’s operations to differ materially from its expectations: the actual results of Leap’s business and the growth of the Insurtech market; the macroeconomic and other challenges and uncertainties related to or resulting from current and future economic and market conditions, including the effects on commercial real estate 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 the Company’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 the Company’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 the Company 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.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Community Financial System, Inc.

	By:	/s/ Michael N. Abdo
	Name:	Michael N. Abdo
	Title:	Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Dated: September 8, 2025

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Description

99.1		Press Release, dated September 8, 2025, issued by Community Financial System, Inc.

104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded in the cover page formatted in Inline XBRL)

Community Financial System Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Other Events, Financial Statements and Exhibits