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<TITLE>Form 8-K</TITLE>
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 13, 2009</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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<TD nowrap align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>000-23975
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>42-1556195</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(State or other jurisdiction<BR>
of incorporation)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Commission File Number)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
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<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>6950 South Transit Road, <BR>
P.O. Box 514, Lockport, NY
</B></TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top"><B>&nbsp;<BR> 14095-0514 </B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of principal executive offices)
</TD>
<TD>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <B>(716) 625-7500 </B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B> Not Applicable </B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><FONT style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)</FONT></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: </DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

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<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
<TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
<TD width="3%" nowrap align="left"><FONT face="wingdings" size="2">&#111;</FONT></TD>
<TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD>Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio --><!-- /Folio --> </DIV>
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;2.02 </B><U><B>Results of Operations and Financial Condition </B></U>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">On April&nbsp;13, 2009, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) issued a press release which disclosed
earnings results for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2009.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">A copy of the press release is included as exhibit 99.1 to this report and is being furnished to the SEC and shall
not be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for any purpose, except for the tabular presentation, which is filed herein.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01 </B><U><B>Other Events</B></U>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">On April&nbsp;13, 2009, the Company issued a press release announcing that it expects to offer and sell approximately
$300&nbsp;million of common stock in an underwritten public offering through Keefe, Bruyette &#038; Woods and Goldman, Sachs &#038;
Co. The shares will be issued pursuant to a prospectus supplement filed as part of an existing shelf registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-3.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">A copy of the press release is included as exhibit 99.2 to this report.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01 </B><U><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits</B></U>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
</TR>

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    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


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<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Not Applicable.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


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<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Exhibits.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="12%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="83%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press release dated April&nbsp;13, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press release dated April&nbsp;13, 2009</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">




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<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
</DIV>

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<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left" nowrap><B>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">DATE:  April 13, 2009&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ Michael W. Harrington
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Michael W. Harrington&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Chief Financial Officer<br>
(Duly authorized representative)&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
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<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 10pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="12%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="83%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press release dated April&nbsp;13, 2009</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press release dated April&nbsp;13, 2009</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

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Form 8-K
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 (Date of earliest event reported): April 13, 2009
FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
000-23975
42-1556195
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
6950 South Transit Road,
P.O. Box 514, Lockport, NY
14095-0514
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(716) 625-7500
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
On April 13, 2009, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release which disclosed
earnings results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009.
A copy of the press release is included as exhibit 99.1 to this report and is being furnished to the SEC and shall
not be deemed "filed" for any purpose, except for the tabular presentation, which is filed herein.
Item 8.01
Other Events
On April 13, 2009, the Company issued a press release announcing that it expects to offer and sell approximately
$300 million of common stock in an underwritten public offering through Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and Goldman, Sachs &
Co. The shares will be issued pursuant to a prospectus supplement filed as part of an existing shelf registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-3.
A copy of the press release is included as exhibit 99.2 to this report.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a)
Not Applicable.
(b)
Not Applicable.
(c)
Not Applicable.
(d)
Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press release dated April 13, 2009
99.2
Press release dated April 13, 2009
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
DATE:  April 13, 2009
By:
/s/ Michael W. Harrington
Michael W. Harrington
Chief Financial Officer
(Duly authorized representative)
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press release dated April 13, 2009
99.2
Press release dated April 13, 2009