POWER OF ATTORNEY


To: Christopher J. Thome

You are hereby appointed to act as my true and lawful attorney-in-fact with
authority to execute on my behalf any Form 3, 4 or 5 or any amendment
thereto required to be filed by First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. under
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, with the appropriate regulatory
authorities and to do all things incident and necessary to that end, until such
time as I notify you in writing that your authority to act on my behalf in this
manner has been withdrawn.

I have signed this power of attorney on May 21, 2002.


by: /s/ James Miklinski *
      Mr. James Miklinski


In presence of: /s/ Robert Murphy *
                         Robert Murphy

At             Lockport                    New York
                    City                           State


*Please sign on the line and print name below the line.