Exhibit 32.1

                            Certification pursuant to
                             18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
                             as adopted pursuant to
                  Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Paul J. Kolkmeyer, President and Chief Executive Officer, and John R. Koelmel,
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Niagara Financial
Group, Inc. (the "Company"), each certify in his capacity as an officer of the
Company that he has reviewed the Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 and that to the best of his knowledge:

      1     the report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      2.    the information contained in the report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Company.

The purpose of this statement is solely to comply with Title 18, Chapter 63,
Section 1350 of the United States Code, as amended by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


Date: November 9, 2006         /s/ Paul J. Kolkmeyer
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Paul J. Kolkmeyer
                               President and Chief Executive Officer


Date: November 9, 2006         /s/ John R. Koelmel
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               John R. Koelmel
                               Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer