UNITED STATES
                       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): July 14, 2003

                       FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
                       -----------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

           Delaware                      0-23975                  42-1556195
- ----------------------------     ---------------------       -------------------
(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
- ---------------------------------------------------------         ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                          (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (716) 625-7500

                                 Not Applicable
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10: Not Applicable.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)   Not Applicable.

(b)   Not Applicable.

(c)   Exhibits.

      Exhibit No.                Description
      -----------                -----------

         99.1                    Press release dated July 14, 2003

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

      The following information is furnished pursuant to this Item 9 and in
satisfaction of Item 12, "Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition." On July 14, 2003, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. (the
"Company") issued a press release disclosing second quarter 2003 financial
results and providing earnings guidance for the full year. A copy of the press
release is filed as exhibit 99.1 to this report.


                                    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: July 14, 2003                By: /s/ Paul J. Kolkmeyer
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Paul J. Kolkmeyer
                                       Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
                                       Officer and Chief Financial Officer
                                       (Duly authorized representative)