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: December 10, 1997
                        (Date of earliest event reported)


                           COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        Delaware                         0-11716                 16-1213679
(State or other Jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)    (I. R. S. Employer
of incorporation)                                        Identification number)


                 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)





Items 1-4.                          Not Applicable

Item 5.                             Other Events

     News Release dated December 10, 1997 announcing  CBSI filed  application to
list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.



NEWS RELEASE
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.                              For further information
5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York  13214                 please contact:

                                                    David G. Wallace, S.V.P. and
                                                         Chief Financial Officer
                                                           Office:  315/445-2282
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         Fax:  315/445-2997



         COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC. TO LIST ON NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

     Syracuse,  New York,  December 10, 1997 -----  Community Bank System,  Inc.
(Nasdaq NMS: CBSI)  announced today that it has filed an application to list its
common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.  The Company's shares will continue
trading on the Nasdaq  National  Market System until its New York Stock Exchange
listing under the symbol "CBU" is effective, which is anticipated to be December
31, 1997.

     Sanford A. Belden, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Based on
our  research,  stock of companies of CBSI's size which are traded in an auction
market, such as the New York Stock Exchange,  versus in a dealer market, such as
Nasdaq,  experience  less  price  volatility,  offer more  efficient  pricing to
investors, and benefit from greater market depth. We believe that our listing on
the New York Stock  Exchange will offer similar  value to CBSI  shareholders  in
addition to enhancing our visibility to the investor community."

     CBSI is a registered bank holding  company based in DeWitt,  New York, with
assets in excess of $1.6 billion. Its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Community
Bank,  N.A.,  has 66 customer  facilities  offering a broad  range of  financial
services to both retail and commercial customers located throughout Northern New
York, the Finger Lakes Region,  the Southern Tier,  and  Southwestern  New York.
CBSI is also parent to Benefit Plans  Administrative  Services,  Inc.  (BPAS), a
pension  actuarial  and  recordkeeping  firm located in Utica New York,  serving
sponsors of defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
                                     * * *


                                   SIGNATURES


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



                                                    Community Bank System, Inc.
                                                    (Registrant)


                                                    by:/s/ Sanford A. Belden
                                                       Sanford A. Belden
                                                       President and
                                                       Chief Executive Officer



December 10, 1997