SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 14, 2002
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FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 0-23975 16-1545669
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File No.) (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) Identification No.)
6950 South Transit Road, P.O. Box 514, Lockport, New York 14095-0514
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (716) 625-7500
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9: Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Events
On November 15, 2002, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (the "Company")
issued a press release reporting that First Niagara Bank, has received approval
from the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) for the second step conversion of
First Niagara Financial Group, MHC, the mutual holding company for First Niagara
Financial Group, Inc. Additionally, the Company reported information regarding
the conversion, offering and First Niagara Financial Group's Stock Information
Center. A copy of the press release is filed as exhibit 99.1 to this report.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Not Applicable.
(b) Not Applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Press release dated November 15, 2002
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: November 18, 2002 By: /s/ Paul J. Kolkmeyer
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Paul J. Kolkmeyer
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
Officer and Chief Financial Officer
(Duly authorized representative)