<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<!-- PAGEBREAK -->

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">



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


<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): November 25, 2008</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>
</TR>
<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>

<TABLE border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">
<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>


<TABLE border="0" width="30%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center">
<TR>
    <TD width="100%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <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>


<P>
<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>

</DIV>

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

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">1
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; margin-left: .25in; width: 7.20in">

<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"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD><U><B>Other Events </B></U></TD>
    <TD width="5%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">On November&nbsp;25, 2008, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. issued a press release announcing completion of its
Capital Purchase Program transaction with the United States Department of the Treasury. A copy of the press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1.


<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="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. Not applicable.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<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="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pro Forma Financial Information. Not applicable.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<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="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Shell Company Transactions. Not applicable.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<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="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Exhibits.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="11%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="84%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 10pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Description</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<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 November&nbsp;25, 2008</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</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.

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="44%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="42%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<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>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<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: November&nbsp;25, 2008
</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 align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap colspan="2" 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>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



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

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




</DIV>
</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "c77759e8vk.htm", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10109}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP INC", "cik": "0001051741", "assigned-sic": "6036", "irs-number": "161545669", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-23975", "film-number": "081212969"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6950 SOUTH TRANSIT ROAD", "street2": "PO BOX 514", "city": "LOCKPORT", "state": "NY", "zip": "14095", "phone": "7166257500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6950 SOUTH TRANSIT ROAD", "street2": "PO BOX 514", "city": "LOCKPORT", "state": "NY", "zip": "14095"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "NIAGARA BANCORP INC", "date-changed": "19971218"}}
Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
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): November 25, 2008
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 8.01
Other Events
On November 25, 2008, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. issued a press release announcing completion of its
Capital Purchase Program transaction with the United States Department of the Treasury. A copy of the press release is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a)
Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired. Not applicable.
(b)
Pro Forma Financial Information. Not applicable.
(c)
Shell Company Transactions. Not applicable.
(d)
Exhibits.
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release dated November 25, 2008
SIGNATURES
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: November 25, 2008
By:
/s/ Michael W. Harrington
Michael W. Harrington
Chief Financial Officer
(Duly authorized representative)