form11k.htm





United States
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K



(Mark One)

X
      ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 or


 
      TRANSACTION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 
For the transaction period from _____ to _____


Commission File Number 001-13695

A.  
Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
5790 Widewaters Parkway
DeWitt, New York 13214


B.  
Name of Issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office.

Community Bank System, Inc.
5790 Widewaters Parkway
DeWitt, New York 13214

 
 

 


REQUIRED INFORMATION

1.  
Not applicable

2.           Not applicable

3.           Not applicable

4.
The Community Bank System, Inc. 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”) is subject to the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).  Attached hereto as Appendix I is a copy of the most recent financial statements of the Plan prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of ERISA.

Exhibits

(23)  
Consent of Dannible & McKee, LLP.



 
 

 


Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustee (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Community Bank, N. A., Trustee

Dated: June 30, 2008                                                                                     .
/s/ Scott Kingsley
Scott Kingsley
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer




 
 

 
APPENDIX I
 

COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
401(K) EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
*     *     *
DECEMBER 31, 2007 AND 2006


 
 

 
Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Index
December 31, 2007 and 2006



 
Page(s)
   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
1
   
Financial Statements:
 
   
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
2
   
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits,
3
   
Notes to Financial Statements
4-9
   
Supplemental Schedule:
 
   
Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) (Schedule H, Part IV, Item (i))
10



  Note:
 All other schedules are omitted since they are not applicable or are not required based on the disclosure requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and applicable regulations issued by the Department of Labor.


 

 
 

 


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
June 26, 2008
 
 
To the Participants and Administrators of Community Bank System, Inc. 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Community Bank System, Inc. 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“the Plan”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles  (United States).
 
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes at End of Year as of December 31, 2007, is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.



/s/ Dannible & McKee, LLP

Dannible & McKee, LLP
Syracuse, New York

 
1

 
Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2007 and 2006



   
2007
   
2006
 
Assets
           
Investments, at fair value (Notes B and C):
           
Mutual funds
  $ 36,835,176     $ 29,648,801  
Community Bank System, Inc. common stock
    15,992,529       17,216,217  
Collective trust fund
    14,458,238       14,222,419  
Participant loans
    2,166,994       1,927,513  
Self-directed brokerage
    705,308       620,068  
Money market fund
    406,447       360,048  
Total investments
    70,564,692       63,995,066  
                 
Contributions receivable – employer
    769,806       672,285  
                 
Net assets available for benefits at fair value
    71,334,498       64,667,351  
                 
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for
               
fully benefit-responsive investments
    372,868       374,339  
                 
Net assets available for benefits
  $ 71,707,366     $ 65,041,690  
                 




The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 
 
2

 
Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006



   
2007
   
2006
 
             
Additions
           
Employee contributions
  $ 4,045,568     $ 3,735,218  
Employer contributions
    1,859,744       1,726,158  
Interest income
    159,762       154,210  
Dividend income
    4,122,111       2,718,538  
Net (depreciation) appreciation in the fair value of investments
    (2,697,894 )     2,298,048  
Transfer from merged plan (Note F)
    5,046,146       5,172,272  
Total additions
    12,535,437       15,804,444  
                 
Deductions
               
Benefit payments
    5,780,078       7,860,236  
Administrative fees
    89,683       89,284  
Total deductions
    5,869,761       7,949,520  
                 
Net increase in net assets available for benefits
    6,665,676       7,854,924  
                 
Net assets available for benefits
               
Beginning of Year
    65,041,690       57,186,766  
                 
End of Year
  $ 71,707,366     $ 65,041,690  




3

401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
 

 
A.
Description of the Plan

The following description of the Community Bank System, Inc. 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information.  Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions.

General
The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company”) who are age 18 or older.  Employees must have one year of service to be eligible for the Company’s contribution.  The Plan also qualifies as an employee stock ownership plan under the meaning of Section 4975(e)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Plan Amendments
In 2007, the Plan was amended to comply with final regulations issued under Sections 401(k) and 401(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Effective January 1, 2008, the Plan was amended to allow Roth Elective Contributions, to provide automatic enrollment into the Plan for employees once they satisfy eligibility requirements, and the creation of automatic deferral payments which increase by 1% annually from 3% to a maximum of 6% absent employee direction to the contrary.

Contributions
Participants may make voluntary contributions of up to 90% of their total compensation on a pre-tax or after-tax basis up to a maximum contribution of $15,500 for 2007.  Voluntary cash contributions of up to 6% of total eligible compensation are matched 50% by the Company and such match was $1,079,510 and $1,043,113 in 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The amount of the Company’s annual discretionary profit sharing contribution is determined by the Board of Directors, within certain maximum limitations.  These discretionary profit sharing contributions to the Plan are allocated to individual participant accounts.  Such discretionary profit sharing contributions were $769,474 and $683,045 in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Participant Accounts
Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution and allocations of the Company's contribution as well as Plan earnings and charged with an allocation of administrative expenses.  Allocation of Plan earnings and administrative expenses are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined.  The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account.  Forfeited accounts are allocated annually to eligible participant accounts based on the ratio of each eligible participant's compensation to total eligible participant compensation.  Forfeited accounts allocated to eligible participants amounted to $18,312 and $2,896 for 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in their contributions and the Company's discretionary profit sharing contributions.  Vesting in the Company's matching contribution portion plus actual earnings thereon is based on years of continuous service.  A participant is 100 percent vested after three years of service.

 
4

Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
 
 
 
Participant Loans
Participants may borrow from the Plan a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50 percent of their vested account balance.  Loans are collateralized by the balance in the participant's account.  Interest accrues at the prime rate in effect at the inception of the loan plus 1% for residential loans and plus 2.9% for Reserve Plus loans.

Payment of Benefits
Normal retirement date for participants under the Plan is the later of age 65 or the completion of 5 years of service.  Upon termination of service due to death, disability or retirement, the participant will receive either a lump sum amount or installment payments equal to the value of the participant's vested interest in his or her account.  If some or all of a participant’s account balance is allocated to the employee stock option feature of the Plan, that portion of the Plan benefit may be paid in the form of Company stock.  Upon termination of employment, if the account balance is less than $5,000, the participant will receive a single lump sum amount equal to the value of his or her account, otherwise, the participant may elect to defer payment up to age 65.  Hardship withdrawals of up to 100% of employee contributions are available if Internal Revenue Service guidelines are met.

Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue contributions at any time and terminate the Plan subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA.  In the event the Plan terminates, the net assets of the Plan are to be set aside for participating employees based upon balances then credited to individual accounts.  Participants shall be vested 100% in the assets so allocated to their accounts.

B.
Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements are prepared on an accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Valuation of Investments
Investments are stated at aggregate fair value, except for the SEI Stable Asset GIC Fund, which is stated at contract value.  Securities that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the Plan year.  Shares of mutual funds are valued at the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end.  Participant loan receivable balances are reported at cost, which approximates fair value.

The Plan presents in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets the net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of its investments, which consists of realized gains or losses as well as unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on those investments.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on the trade date.  Gains or losses on sales of securities are based on average cost.  Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.  Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

5

 
 
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
 
 
The SEI Stable Asset GIC Fund is stated according to the Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position, FSP AAG INV-1 and SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans (“FSP”), which states that contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined-contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the plan. As required by the FSP, the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits presents the fair value of the investment contracts as well as the adjustment of the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts from fair value to contract value.  The accompanying Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits is prepared on a contract value basis.  Contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses.  Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investments at contract value.  There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of the contract issuer or otherwise.  If an event occurs that may impair the ability of the contract issuer to perform in accordance with the contract terms, fair value may be less than contract value.  For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 the average yields utilized were 5.84% and 5.71% and the crediting interest rates to the fund were 4.44% and 4.95% respectively.

Payment of Benefits
Benefits are recorded when paid.

Administrative Expenses
Certain administrative expenses are paid by the Company. These amounted to approximately $349,000 and $260,000, including approximately $273,000 and $216,000 paid to Benefit Plans Administrative Services, Inc. (“BPA”), in 2007 and 2006, respectively.  (See Note D).

Inactive Accounts
Account balances of individuals who have withdrawn from participation in the Plan had an accumulated basis of approximately $11,689,367 and $12,473,617 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Risks and Uncertainties
The plan provides for various investment options in mutual funds and Company stock.  Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit.  Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risk in the near term would materially affect participants' account balances and the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits and the Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.


6

Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
 

 
 
C.
Investments

Investments are held within various common funds maintained by the Community Bank, N.A. Trust Department.  Participants, at their discretion, may allocate contributions and account balances between various investment options offered by the Plan.  A brief description of these investment options, as provided by the plan administrator, follows:

Community Bank System, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Fund – these Funds invest in the common stock of the Plan sponsor, which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CBU”.

SEI Stable Asset GIC Fund – a collective trust fund that holds primarily a diversified portfolio of stable value contracts issued by insurance companies and banks.  Investments in the SEI Stable Asset GIC Fund are not marketable securities and are reported at contract value.

American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class A – a mutual fund that invests in common stocks and securities convertible into such common stocks.

Federated Total Return Bond Fund – a mutual fund seeking to provide total return by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of investment grade fixed income securities.

Managers Special Equity Fund – a mutual fund that invests in equity securities of small- and medium-sized U.S. companies.

American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund Class A – a mutual fund that invests in stocks of issuers located in Europe and the Pacific Basin.

Dreyfus S&P 500 Index Fund – a mutual fund that invests in equities and seeks to match the performance of the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index.

Federated Mid-Cap Index Fund – a mutual fund primarily that invests in stocks of U.S. companies.

T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund – a mutual fund primarily that invests in stocks of U.S. companies.

 
TD Waterhouse IDA Account – participants select the individual investment securities, including equity securities, mutual funds and bonds.
 

7

Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
 
 
The fair value of individual investments which represent 5% or more of net assets available for benefits ($3,585,368 for 2007 and $3,252,084 for 2006) at either December 31, 2007 or 2006 are as follows:

   
2007
   
2006
 
Community Bank System, Inc. common stock
  $ 15,992,529     $ 17,216,217  
SEI Stable Asset GIC Fund
    14,458,238       14,222,419  
American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class A
    9,216,851       8,438,585  
American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund Class A
    6,640,176       4,633,176  
Manager Special Equity Fund
    4,190,719       3,803,606  
Federated Total Return Bond Fund
    4,920,314       3,685,093  
T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund
    5,036,759       3,525,900  
Dreyfus S&P 500 Index Fund
    3,624,196       2,897,196  

The Plan’s investments (depreciated) appreciated in value as follows:

   
2007
   
2006
 
Community Bank System, Inc. common stock
  $ (2,252,647 )   $ 392,660  
Mutual funds
    (445,247 )     1,905,388  
Total net (depreciation) appreciation in fair value of investments
  $ (2,697,894 )   $ 2,298,048  

 
D.
Transactions with Parties-in-Interest

The assets of the Plan are administered by BPA, a subsidiary of Community Bank System, Inc.  The Company paid BPA approximately $273,000 and $216,000 for record keeping, trustee, and other services in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Plan held 804,858 and 748,531 shares of the Plan sponsor’s common stock at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The cost of these shares at December 31, 2007 and 2006 is $11,893,330 and $10,790,133, respectively, and their fair value at December 31, 2007 and 2006 is $15,992,529 and $17,216,217, respectively.

Dividends received on the investment in Community Bank System, Inc. common stock amounted to $647,596 and $554,819 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The Plan sold 232,602 and 198,641 shares of Community Bank System, Inc. common stock during 2007 and 2006, respectively, and purchased 291,641 and 235,325 shares of Community Bank System, Inc. common stock during 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 
E.
Income Tax Status

The Plan obtained its most recent determination letter in July 2003, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the plan, as then designed, was in compliance with Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, however, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code.

8
 

Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
 
 
F.        Plan Mergers

On December 1, 2006 the Company acquired ONB Corporation, the parent company of Ontario National Bank and merged the Ontario National Bank 401(K) Savings Plan into the Plan.  Accordingly, total plan assets of $1,633,945 were transferred to the Plan for the year ended December 31, 2007.  On May 18, 2007, Benefit Plan Administrative Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company acquired Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc. and merged the Hand Benefits & Trust, Inc Employees 401(k) Savings Plan into the Plan.  Accordingly, total plan assets of $2,908,136 were transferred to the Plan for the year ended December 31, 2007.  On June 1, 2007, the Company acquired TLNB Financial Corporation, the parent company of Tupper Lake National Bank and merged the Tupper Lake National Bank 401(K) Plan into the Plan.  Accordingly, total plan assets of $504,065 were transferred to the Plan for the year ended December 31, 2007.  On August 11, 2006, the Company acquired ES&L Bancorp, the parent company of Elmira Savings and Loan and merged the Elmira Savings and Loan ESOP Plan into the Plan.  Accordingly, total plan assets of $5,172,272 were transferred to the Plan for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 
9

 
Community Bank System, Inc.
401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
(Schedule H, Part IV, Item (i))
December 31, 2007



(a)
 
(b) Identify of issue, borrower, lessor or similar party
(c) Description of investment including maturity date, rate of interest, collateral, par or maturity value
 
(e) Current value
 
             
   
Mutual Funds
       
             
   
American Funds Washington Mutual Investors Fund Class A
 
Mutual fund – 274,066 shares
  $ 9,216,851  
   
American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund Class A
Mutual fund – 130,532 shares
    6,640,176  
   
Managers Special Equity Fund
Mutual fund – 65,215 shares
    4,190,719  
   
Federated Total Return Bond Fund
Mutual fund – 459,842 shares
    4,920,314  
   
T. Rowe Price Blue Chip Growth Fund
Mutual fund – 125,199 shares
    5,036,759  
   
Dreyfus S&P 500 Index Fund
Mutual fund – 87,668 shares
    3,624,196  
   
Federated Mid-Cap Index Fund
Mutual fund – 147,207 shares
    3,206,161  
            36,835,176  
               
   
Common stock of plan sponsor
         
   
Community Bank System, Inc.
Common stock – 804,858 shares
    15,992,529  
               
   
Collective Trust Fund
         
   
SEI Stable Asset GIC Fund
Collective trust fund – 14,831,106 shares
    14,831,106  
               
   
Loan Fund
         
   
Participant loans
Loan, 5.0% – 10.5%
    2,166,994  
               
   
Self Directed brokerage
         
   
TD Waterhouse IDA Account
Self-directed brokerage
    705,308  
               
   
Money Market Fund
         
   
ReservePlus Money Market
Money market fund  - 406,447 shares
    406,447  
   
Total investments
    $ 70,937,560  
               
               
               
               
  *  
– Denotes party-in-interest
         
  **  
– Investment stated at Contract Value.  The fair value of the investment was $14,458,238.
       



 
10