Exhibit 32

Certification pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

as adopted pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Gary M. Crosby, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Gregory W. Norwood, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”), each certify in his capacity as an officer of the Company that he has reviewed the Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and that to the best of his knowledge:

1. the report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. the information contained in the report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

The purpose of this statement is solely to comply with Title 18, Chapter 63, Section 1350 of the United States Code, as amended by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	/s/ Gary M. Crosby
Date: November 10, 2014	Gary M. Crosby
	President and Chief Executive Officer

	/s/ Gregory W. Norwood
Date: November 10, 2014	Gregory W. Norwood
	Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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