Loans, net and allowance for credit losses - Changes in Allowance for Loan Losses Account by Major Classification of Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2026	Mar. 31, 2025
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning Balance	$ 39,007	$ 41,776
Charge-offs	(976)	(1,233)
Recoveries	168	311
Provisions (Credits)	1,387	200
Ending balance	39,586	41,054
Commercial
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning Balance	6,036	6,004
Charge-offs		(157)
Recoveries	21	13
Provisions (Credits)	(72)	562
Ending balance	5,985	6,422
Municipal
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning Balance	1,413	1,072
Provisions (Credits)	77	177
Ending balance	1,490	1,249
Commercial real estate
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning Balance	19,998	21,804
Recoveries	3
Provisions (Credits)	2,170	(943)
Ending balance	22,171	20,861
Residential real estate
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning Balance	4,963	4,924
Charge-offs		(92)
Recoveries	9	1
Provisions (Credits)	99	236
Ending balance	5,071	5,069
Consumer
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning Balance	1,759	2,540
Charge-offs	(594)	(387)
Recoveries	101	173
Provisions (Credits)	444	(45)
Ending balance	1,710	2,281
Equipment Financing
Allowance for loan losses:
Beginning Balance	4,838	5,432
Charge-offs	(382)	(597)
Recoveries	34	124
Provisions (Credits)	(1,331)	213
Ending balance	$ 3,159	$ 5,172

Amount excluding accrued interest, of allowance for credit loss on financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479344/326-20-45-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossExcludingAccruedInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, excluding accrued interest, of increase in allowance for credit loss on financing receivable from recovery. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (e)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestAllowanceForCreditLossRecovery
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, excluding accrued interest, of decrease in allowance for credit loss on financing receivable from writeoff. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-6

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestAllowanceForCreditLossWriteoff
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, excluding accrued interest, of credit loss expense (reversal of expense) on financing receivable. Excludes net investment in lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479319/326-20-50-13

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 40
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147476148/220-40-50-22

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestCreditLossExpenseReversal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember
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_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=pfis_EquipmentFinancingPortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: