BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FNFG) announced that the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of eight cents($0.08) per share on outstanding FNFG common stock.

The Company's Board of Directors also declared a prorated quarterly preferred stock dividend of $0.365365 per share on its fixed-to-floating rate perpetual non-cumulative preferred stock, Series B, issued December 14, 2011.

Both dividends will be payable on February 15, 2012 to shareholders of record on February 3, 2012.

About First Niagara

First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary First Niagara Bank, N.A., has $31 billion in assets, $20 billion in deposits, more than 330 branches and approximately 5,000 employees, as of September 30, 2011. First Niagara is a community-oriented bank providing financial services to individuals, families and businesses across Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.firstniagara.com. 


CONTACT: Investors:
         Ram Shankar
         Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
         (716) 270-8623
         ram.shankar@fnfg.com

         News Media:
         David Lanzillo
         Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
         (716) 819-5780
         david.lanzillo@fnfg.com
Source: First Niagara Financial Group, Inc.