First Niagara Financial Group to Announce 3rd Quarter 2009 Results on October 29, 2009

First Niagara Financial Group to Announce 3rd Quarter 2009 Results on October
29, 2009

LOCKPORT, N.Y., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First Niagara Financial
Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FNFG),today announced that it will release 2009 third
quarter earnings before the market opens on Thursday, October 29, 2009. A
conference call will follow at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, in which management
will discuss the Company's financial results and business strategy, followed
by a question-and-answer session.

Those wishing to participate in the call may dial toll-free 1-877-709-8150. A
replay of the call will be available until November 12, 2009 by dialing
1-877-660-6853, account #240, ID # 335041.

About First Niagara Financial Group: With the addition of 57 acquired branches
from National City Bank in Western Pennsylvania, First Niagara now has
approximately $14.0 billion in assets and provides financial services to
individuals, families and businesses through 170 branches and five Regional
Market Centers across Upstate New York and Western Pennsylvania. In July 2009,
First Niagara announced its plans to acquire Harleysville National Corporation
and its $5.6 billion in assets and 83 branches in the Philadelphia area,
subject to regulatory and Harleysville shareholder approval. For more
information, visit www.fnfg.com.

SOURCE First Niagara Financial Group, Inc.

John R. Koelmel, President and Chief Executive Officer; Michael W. Harrington,
Chief Financial Officer; Anthony M. Alessi, Investor Relations Manager,
+1-716-625-7692, tony.alessi@fnfg.com; Leslie G. Garrity, Public Relations and
Corporate Communications Manager, +1-716-625-7528, leslie.garrity@fnfg.com