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<P align="center" style="font-size: 14pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 18pt"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 10, 2009</B>

<P align="center">

<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.<BR></B>
<FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
</FONT>

<TABLE border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">
<TR>
    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>000-23975</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>42-1556195</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

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<TR>
    <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>6950 South Transit Road, P.O. Box 514, Lockport, NY<BR></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>14095-0514</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="top">
    <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

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


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</TR>
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    <TD nowrap style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Not Applicable<BR></B></TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">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:

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>


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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">1
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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;10, 2009, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. issued a press release stating that it would report results
for the quarter ended March&nbsp;31, 2009 on April&nbsp;13, 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.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">The information disclosed under Item&nbsp;2.02 in this report, including Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 hereto, is being furnished and
shall not be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor
shall it be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth in such filing.


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


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

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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>

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<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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    <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;10, 2009*</TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">&#149;&nbsp;Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any registration
statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth in such
filing.

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">2
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURE</B>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 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.

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    <TD width="42%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="3"><B>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.</B></TD>
</TR>

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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">DATE: April&nbsp;10, 2009
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By:
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Michael W. Harrington</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 1px">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" valign="top" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Michael W. Harrington</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Financial Officer</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">(Duly authorized representative)</TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">3
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>EXHIBIT INDEX</B>

<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>

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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;10, 2009*</TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">4




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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 10, 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 10, 2009, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. issued a press release stating that it would report results
for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 on April 13, 2009.
A copy of the press release is included as exhibit 99.1 to this report.
The information disclosed under Item 2.02 in this report, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and
shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor
shall it be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth in such filing.
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 10, 2009*
• Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any registration
statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as expressly set forth in such
filing.
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 10, 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 10, 2009*