-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ObtdWY6wKuf0ZJGaHAEKpPhdOp3+tWbWfnxGWlvtH+jqBpSZsSLkRIZmz4X6sJXM
 cHtxGOAJLLkZs041P5YV7A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001299911-08-000020.txt : 20080501
<SEC-HEADER>0001299911-08-000020.hdr.sgml : 20080501
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080501161256
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001299911-08-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080501
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080501
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080501

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051741
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6036]
		IRS NUMBER:				161545669
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1219

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6950 SOUTH TRANSIT ROAD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 514
		CITY:			LOCKPORT
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14095
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7166257500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6950 SOUTH TRANSIT ROAD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 514
		CITY:			LOCKPORT
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14095

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NIAGARA BANCORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19971218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Philip George M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001307342

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23975
		FILM NUMBER:		08794854

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		518-447-2700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 CORPORATE WOODS DRIVE
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12211-2395
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001051741</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FNFG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001307342</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Philip George M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6950 SOUTH TRANSIT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOCKPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14094</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Director</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>22</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.863</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14228</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.6</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-05-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-05-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>33060</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33060</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Ann M. Segarra, power of attorney  For: George M. Philip</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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