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, 2006 FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. -------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) Delaware 000-23975 42-1556195 - ---------------------------- ----------- ------------------- (State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer of Incorporation) File No.) 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) 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: |_| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |_| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c)) Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition On July 14, 2006, First Niagara Financial Group, Inc. issued a press release disclosing second quarter 2006 financial results and its outlook for the remainder of the year. A copy of the press release is included as exhibit 99.1 to this report. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits (a) Not Applicable. (b) Not Applicable. (c) Exhibits. Exhibit No. Description ----------- ----------- 99.1 Press release dated July 14, 2006 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, 2006 By: /s/ John R. Koelmel -------------------------------- John R. Koelmel Chief Financial Officer (Duly authorized representative)