LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES - Loan Portfolio (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	$ 1,311,906	$ 1,311,824
Interest receivable on loans	3,703	3,758
Total ending loans balance	1,315,609	1,315,582
Residential mortgages held for sale	502	542
Commercial, and Agricultural
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total ending loans balance	203,412	199,576
Commercial mortgages:
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total ending loans balance	662,988	646,174
Commercial mortgages: \| Construction
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	54,476	45,558
Total ending loans balance	54,626	45,688
Commercial mortgages: \| Commercial mortgages
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	606,694	598,772
Total ending loans balance	608,362	600,486
Residential Mortgages
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	182,724	194,440
Total ending loans balance	183,225	194,937
Loans pledged as collateral	132,500	149,700
Consumer Loans
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total ending loans balance	265,984	274,895
Consumer Loans \| Credit cards
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	1,449	1,517
Total ending loans balance	1,450	1,516
Consumer Loans \| Home equity lines and loans
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	98,145	100,591
Total ending loans balance	98,466	100,878
Consumer Loans \| Indirect Consumer Loans
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	149,380	153,060
Total ending loans balance	149,806	153,532
Consumer Loans \| Direct consumer loans
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	16,184	18,879
Total ending loans balance	16,262	18,969
Commercial and industrial \| Commercial, and Agricultural
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	202,526	198,463
Total ending loans balance	203,083	199,030
Agricultural \| Commercial, and Agricultural
Composition of loan portfolio [Abstract]
Total loans, net of deferred loan fees	328	544
Total ending loans balance	$ 329	$ 546

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of interest earned but not received. Also called accrued interest or accrued interest receivable.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allowance and after deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82891408&loc=d3e4428-111522

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5074-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetOfDeferredIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetOfDeferredIncomeAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of loans that have been pledged as collateral for borrowings. If the secured party has the right by contract or custom to sell or re-pledge the collateral, then the debtor reclassifies that asset and report that asset in its statement of financial position separately from other assets not so encumbered.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66007379&loc=d3e113888-111728

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5086-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansPledgedAsCollateral
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for bad debt, of loan receivables held-for-sale that are not part of a disposal group. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements and loans classified as debt securities.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableHeldForSaleNetNotPartOfDisposalGroup
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net amount of the investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, credit card receivables, notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets. Excludes trade accounts receivable with contractual maturity of one year or less and arose from the sale of goods or services.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=chmg_CommercialAndAgriculturalPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_ConstructionLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=chmg_CommercialMortgagesOtherLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_ResidentialPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_ConsumerPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_CreditCardReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=us-gaap_HomeEquityLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=chmg_IndirectConsumerLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis=chmg_DirectConsumerLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=us-gaap_CommercialAndIndustrialSectorMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesByIndustryAxis=us-gaap_AgriculturalSectorMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: