FORM 5 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16, Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Form 3 Holdings Reported Form 4 Transactions Reported

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ANNUAL STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES 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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Pecor Raymond C III 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) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC. , 5790 WIDEWATERS PARKWAY 3. Statement for Issuer's Fiscal Year Ended (Month/Day/Year) 2025-12-31 (Street) DEWITT NY 13214 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Join/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

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

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivate Security

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

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date

7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security

8. Price of Derivative Security

9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expriation Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Pecor Raymond C III C/O COMMUNITY FINANCIAL SYSTEM, INC. 5790 WIDEWATERS PARKWAY DEWITT, NY13214	X

Signatures

/s/ Danielle M. Cima, pursuant to a Confirming Statement executed by Raymond C. Pecor, III		2026-02-11
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

(*)	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(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).
(1)	Includes 242.0560 shares acquired pursuant to the Community Financial System, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(2)	Includes 262.4190 shares acquired pursuant to the Community Financial System, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(3)	The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and the inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.
(4)	The units of phantom stock were acquired through Merchants Bancshares, Inc.'s ("Merchants") deferred compensation plan. Each unit of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of Community Financial System, Inc. common stock. The units of phantom stock relating to such deferred compensation plan will be settled in Community Financial System, Inc. common stock at future dates selected by the reporting person.
(5)	Includes 87.8432, 75.6053, and 82.7615 units of phantom stock acquired as dividend equivalents on April 10, 2025, July 10, 2025, and October 10, 2025, respectively, under the Deferred Compensation Plan.
(6)	Each unit of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of one share of Community Financial System, Inc. common stock. The units of phantom stock relating to the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (the "DCP for Directors"), will be settled in Community Financial System, Inc. common stock at future dates selected by the reporting person.
(7)	Includes 76.0958, 66.4144, and 73.4440 units of phantom stock acquired as dividend equivalents on April 10, 2025, July 10, 2025, and October 10, 2025, respectively, under the DCP for Directors.
(8)	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.
(9)	Includes 51.3870, 54.3197, and 60.0685 units of phantom stock acquired as dividend equivalents on April 10, 2025, July 10, 2025, and October 10, 2025, respectively, under the LTIP.

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