First Niagara Financial Group To Announce Third Quarter 2012 Results On October 19, 2012

BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FNFG), today announced that it will release 2012 third quarter results before the market opens on Friday, October 19, 2012. A conference call will follow at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time, during which management will discuss the Company's financial performance, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Those wishing to participate in the call may dial toll-free 1-888-606-8413, Passcode: FNFG. A replay of the call will be available until November 2, 2012 by dialing 1-866-353-3016, Passcode 7253.

About First Niagara

First Niagara, through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Niagara Bank, N.A., is a multi-state community-oriented bank with nearly 430 branches, approximately $35 billion in assets, $28 billion in deposits, and approximately 6,000 employees providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com .

CONTACT: First Niagara Contacts
         Investors:
         Ram Shankar
         Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
         [phone]
         [e-mail]
         
         News Media:
         David Lanzillo
         Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
         [phone]
         [e-mail]