Corporate Social Responsibility

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

At Tompkins Financial Corporation, our communities are at the heart of who we are and what we do. We’ve been serving our communities since 1836, so you could say we know how to roll up our sleeves, get involved, and do what’s right.

Core values

One of our company’s core values is “Community Impact.” Each of our markets have embraced this value to create thriving employee volunteer programs and community donation programs.

Philanthropy

we keep it local

By working closely with local organizations, we’ve made an impact by addressing multiple areas of need in the communities we serve. This includes annual donations of approximately $850,000 across our four markets and 19,000 hours of community service hours by Tompkins employees.

Community Based Programs

educational opportunities

There is a critical need for financial education in the communities we serve. We’re proud to offer many opportunities to help people thrive and grow on their financial journey. Each of our markets offer various educational opportunities, including complimentary home-buyer seminars, fraud prevention classes, investment education, and more.

Financial Literacy & Education

HUMAN RESOURCES INITIATIVES

At Tompkins Financial, our culture is underpinned by our core values, including Commitment to and from our Employees.

successful work environment

The success and growth of our business is largely dependent on our ability to attract, develop, and retain a diverse population of talented and high-performing team members at all levels of our organization. Accordingly, the company strives to offer competitive salaries and benefits that are consistent with employee positions, skill levels, experience, and geographic location.

Commitment to our Employees

encouraging leaders

Tompkins Learning and Development provides access to internal development classes around communication, management, leadership and personal development. For the year 2022, the average Tompkins employee spent 23 hours on their learning, for a total of more than $440 spent per learner.

Trainings and Professional Development

CLIMATE-RELATED INITIATIVES

building knowledge

During 2022 and 2023, we increased our investment in executive education and training on the potential impacts of climate change to our business, and on the role that Tompkins can play in helping our customers access or invest in alternative energy sources.

Executive Education

Partner with local energy company

Tompkins has partnered with NOCO to offer competitive financing for residential geothermal HVAC systems across Upstate New York. NOCO, established in 1933, is a family-owned, locally operated, full-service energy company serving Western and Central New York. Our pilot program with NOCO emphasizes the benefits of cleaner energy systems and assists customers looking to explore geothermal options.

Tompkins Clean Energy Loan Program

Reducing carbon footprint

Tompkins is proud to do our small part in reducing our carbon footprint by offering incentives to employees working at our Corporate Headquarters Building to car share, walk and use public transportation.

Encouraging Reduced/Alternate Employee Commutes

PRODUCTS

Developing our community

We’re committed to help meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including those living in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. As a community bank, it is our duty and privilege to do what is right.

Community Reinvestment Act

Socially responsible

The ESG portfolio is a mix of investments that utilize qualitative screens to invest in companies that adhere to the principals of socially responsible investing while delivering long-term capital growth.

Tompkins Financial Advisors Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Fund

Safe, affordable banking

Our Smart Spend Checking is a checking account specifically designed for young people starting out in their financial lives and those taking steps toward financial wellness. The account is Bank On-certified which ensures everyone has access to safe, affordable transactional bank accounts.

SmartSpend Checking - Bank On

Helping home owners

In response to a volatile housing market, Tompkins has created a No Closing Cost Mortgage. The bank pays all non-personal, third-party fees on behalf of the mortgage applicant, bringing more homes into reach for new homeowners and leaving purchasers with more cash on hand for repairs and other expenses.

No Closing Cost Mortgage

COVID-19 RESPONSE

expediting protection

Paycheck Protection Program

Leading by example

Tompkins was proud to offer loan payment deferment for various loan types, including consumer and commercial loans and mortgages. We were quick to offer these programs prior to government orders issuing the guidance across the board, setting an example for financial institutions across our communities.

Loan Relief

Low interest loans

Tompkins offered low interest loans to employees who were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognized that some of our team members may have experienced increased expenses or loss of household income, and we were pleased to be able to offer this program on an as needed basis.

Team Member Support

Volunteerism and Community Support

In Central New York, Tompkins contributes to over 200 organizations annually, with employees consistently dedicating their time to service opportunities in the community as well. The bank supports a large number of arts and theater projects such as community theaters, concert bands, and high school plays. The bank also supports projects for children – including science, education, sports, and research – as well as supporting quality and affordable childcare. Tompkins supported organizations providing care to the members of the community such as the Cortland Memorial Foundation who supports Guthrie Cortland Medical Center’s efforts to guarantee quality health care remains close to home in their region of Cortland or Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services who are dedicated to expanding low income housing options in the Central New York area.

The bank administers two awards programs that recognize exceptional efforts in volunteer work and education: the James J. Byrnes Awards for Excellence honors unpaid volunteer efforts with a monetary donation to the recipient’s non-profit of choice; and the Raymond Van Houtte Teacher Awards recognize outstanding teachers and administrators with monetary awards as well. The bank is the annual presenting sponsor of the Fab5 Young Professionals Awards, which recognizes leaders, entrepreneurs and volunteers ages 21 to 40 in Tompkins County. The awards have become a highly-regarded program that brings attention and credit to the strong work being done by young professionals.

In Western New York, in the wake of the senseless violence that occurred at a local grocery store in an underserved area of Buffalo, there was an immediate need to help the local community access food. Tompkins committed a $40,000 donation to FeedMore WNY as they worked to distribute food to members of the community affected by this tragedy. Later in 2022, Tompkins continued its partnership with FeedMore WNY through volunteer efforts by local employees packing boxes of food to be sent to those most in need.

In addition, Tompkins continued its support of local arts and education opportunities in the community, creating family friendly community events as well as supporting the institutions that create educational pathways for members of the community. This includes annual support of the Genesee Country Village & Museum, the largest living history museum in New York State, with the mission of preserving and sharing history, nature and art for generations to come. In Western New York, Tompkins also continued its long-term support for impactful organizations such as United Way and the YMCA in multiple of their local community chapters within the market.

In the Hudson Valley market of New York, Tompkins supports more than 200 organizations on an annual basis. Teams of our employees volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, Local farms, Second Chance Foods, animal rescues, and so much more. Tompkins recently created a local program called the “Acorn Alliance,” in which employees may participate in up to 15 volunteer opportunities during business hours throughout the year, allowing employees the opportunity to volunteer and assist their local communities. In the Hudson Valley, Tompkins sponsored a walk to support the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, who provide for children in need of critical pediatric care. Tompkins is also dedicated to assisting members of the community find employment through Greyston foundation. Greyston works to unlock the potential of members of the community through inclusive employment and services to promote self-sufficient learning.

Tompkins in our Pennsylvania market is a longtime supporter of organizations that help children. For the past 20 years, Tompkins has participated in the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC), which supports numerous youth educational programs across southeastern Pennsylvania. Participating in EITC is a way we can direct tax dollars to positively impact children where we live and work. In recent years, Tompkins donated more than $332,000 to 51 local programs through the EITC program, bringing the total amount of donations though our participation over the years to more than $3.7 million. In addition, Tompkins committed to supporting students from Reading Area Community College (RACC) through the creation of ‘Tompkins Treats’ a communal area providing free snacks to students. RACC is granting learning opportunities to students in the local communities and Tompkins is proud to play a role in assisting students on their journey.

Paycheck Protection Program

In 2020 more than 3,000 businesses received a total of $465,000,000 under the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, thanks to all Tompkins community banks and their work to expedite the program. These efforts have protected more than 30,000 jobs across New York State and Pennsylvania. Our teams worked around the clock to process applications because we knew how important it was to protect the paychecks of as many local members of the community as possible.