First Niagara Financial (FNFG) 8-K Great Lakes Bancorp Shareholders Approve Merger with First Niagara Financial Group

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): February 12, 2008

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FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Delaware	42-1556195
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

6950 South Transit Road, P.O. Box 514, Lockport, NY	14095-0514
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

(716) 625-7500 

(Registrant’s telephone number)

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Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c))

Item 8.01Other Events.

On February 12, 2008, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. issued a joint press release with Great Lakes Bancorp, Inc. disclosing that the shareholders of Great Lakes approved at a special meeting held this morning the merger of Great Lakes into First Niagara.

A copy of the press release is included as exhibit 99.1 to this report.

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a) Not Applicable.

(b) Not Applicable.

(c) Not Applicable.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.Description

99.1Press release dated February 12, 2008

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
DATE:  February 12, 2008	By:	/s/ Michael W. Harrington
		Michael W. Harrington Chief Financial Officer (Duly authorized representative)